A Spanish consumer association reported an increase in the price of a liter of fuel by five cents on April 1st. An investigation will be conducted.
Like in France, Spain grants, since April 1, a government discount to cope with soaring fuel prices. Fixed at 20 cents per liter (against 15 cents/litre in France), it will last until June 1 (against July 31, in France).
If in France, the aid is entirely the responsibility of the State, the situation is different in Spain. Indeed, the government allocates 15 cents per litre. The remaining five are the responsibility of the oil companies, who are sometimes also their own distributor. To do so, petrol stations have to advance these five centsbefore being reimbursed.
A system that obviously did not please some gas station attendants, who decided to turn this situation in their favor. How? Well, by increasing the price per liter by… five cents or more !
Consumers sensitive to fuel prices
The Independent reports as well as 230 gas stations in Spain, of which 18 are in Catalonia, increased the price of gasoline the day the government rebate is introduced. A raise of five cents, or even moreto avoid the discount they must make.
The latter probably thought they would go unnoticed, or be legal. Except that a consumer association, Facua, noticed these changes. And she did not fail to point them out. So much so that the Catalan competition authority (ACCO) took up the case. An investigation will be carried out, in order to determine whether offenses have been committed. If that is the case, a disciplinary procedure cannot be excluded…
While waiting for border residents, refueling in Spain remains interesting. The country is still very competitive, with prices lower on average than in France. France is indeed one of the countries where a liter of fuel is the most expensive.
Also read on Auto-Moto.com:
Gasoline prices: what drops this week?
Casino discounts fuel at 85 cents a liter at Easter
Fuel prices: is it cheaper abroad?
A Spanish consumer association reported an increase in the price of a liter of fuel by five cents on April 1st. An investigation will be conducted.
Like in France, Spain grants, since April 1, a government discount to cope with soaring fuel prices. Fixed at 20 cents per liter (against 15 cents/litre in France), it will last until June 1 (against July 31, in France).
If in France, the aid is entirely the responsibility of the State, the situation is different in Spain. Indeed, the government allocates 15 cents per litre. The remaining five are the responsibility of the oil companies, who are sometimes also their own distributor. To do so, petrol stations have to advance these five centsbefore being reimbursed.
A system that obviously did not please some gas station attendants, who decided to turn this situation in their favor. How? Well, by increasing the price per liter by… five cents or more !
Consumers sensitive to fuel prices
The Independent reports as well as 230 gas stations in Spain, of which 18 are in Catalonia, increased the price of gasoline the day the government rebate is introduced. A raise of five cents, or even moreto avoid the discount they must make.
The latter probably thought they would go unnoticed, or be legal. Except that a consumer association, Facua, noticed these changes. And she did not fail to point them out. So much so that the Catalan competition authority (ACCO) took up the case. An investigation will be carried out, in order to determine whether offenses have been committed. If that is the case, a disciplinary procedure cannot be excluded…
While waiting for border residents, refueling in Spain remains interesting. The country is still very competitive, with prices lower on average than in France. France is indeed one of the countries where a liter of fuel is the most expensive.
Also read on Auto-Moto.com:
Gasoline prices: what drops this week?
Casino discounts fuel at 85 cents a liter at Easter
Fuel prices: is it cheaper abroad?
