Canberra petrol prices higher than regional NSW

The NSW government launched FuelCheck in August and several mobile apps now publish live data. In Canberra, app developers rely on user reports.

For the week ending January 22, the average price for unleaded petrol in Canberra was 142.6c; in Sydney it was 132.9 and the NSW regional average was 138.3.

Angry motorists on Facebook reported a huge spike earlier this month and variations across the ACT from 121c in Fyshwick to 156 in Chisholm.

The NRMA says more competition is needed to put downward pressure on prices.

Spokesman Peter Khoury said the ACT government should follow NSW's lead and mandate real-time monitoring.

"This sadly further demonstrates how Canberra is lacking competition. It's been like this now for a number of years," he said.

"When Costco came into the market we did see prices come down a little, but to be more expensive than most regional towns in NSW shows how much Canberra needs more independents.

"The silver bullet is having more independents because they compete on price, which puts downward pressure on all prices in the area."

Mr Khoury also called on the ACT government to enforce live price reporting.

"The reason we want to make it available in Canberra is because what it's done in NSW is make it much easier for motorists to find the cheapest service stations," he said.

"There's always one or two that are a little cheaper. Giving that information to motorists makes it much easier to pay the lowest price.

"The ACT government just needs to sign a piece of paper like they did in NSW to enforce real-time price reporting.

"It's put under the microscope those who are the most expensive. It's made a difference in NSW and the NRMA will continue to ask the ACT government to do the same."

Mr Khoury said motorists in the meantime could monitor daily average prices to compare service stations.

Commenters on The Canberra Times website urged consumer action to pressure fuel companies.

"Time for the public to systematically put an embargo on fuel outlets for up to a month at a time, so they don't sell a drop. They'll soon come around. Pick a brand, any brand," one reader wrote.

"Completely agree ... totally boycott one supplier until it drops prices to attract business again. The other suppliers will soon follow. Apparently, this consumer tactic has worked well elsewhere. Time to give it a go here," another said.