In short:
New fuel pricing rules now require petrol stations across Victoria to lock in their petrol prices for a full day. Motorists can check prices in advance and report incorrect listings to Consumer Affairs Victoria.
Dodgy Servos Beware!
New fuel pricing rules have come into effect across Victoria, requiring petrol stations to set and publish their fuel prices in advance as part of new state legislation aimed at regulating daily fuel costs.
Under the changes, fuel retailers must set their petrol price for the following day by 2pm each afternoon. The price is then published on the Servo Saver platform at 4pm and must remain capped for a 24-hour period starting at 6am the following day.
While retailers are allowed to reduce the price during that period, they are not permitted to increase it once the daily price has been set.
The rules form part of reforms to Victoria’s fuel pricing system designed to give motorists greater visibility of petrol prices before they take effect.
Petrol stations that fail to register or report their prices under the system face penalties of more than $3,000 for each breach, or over $24,000 if the matter proceeds to court.
The Servo Saver price reporting platform launched in October last year through the Service Victoria app, allowing motorists to compare petrol prices across the state before filling up.
Motorists who believe a petrol station has listed an incorrect price can report it through Consumer Affairs Victoria using the reporting form here.
Drivers submitting a report are encouraged to gather evidence, including:
A screenshot from the Fuel Saver/Servo Saver app showing the listed price
The address of the service station
The time and date the price was observed
A photo of the price displayed on the bowser or service station signage
Providing clear evidence helps Consumer Affairs investigate reports of incorrect pricing.
