While petrol prices in Bega have dropped back in recent weeks from their $2-plus-a-litre highs of June and July, they are about to jump back, and then some.
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The federal government cut its fuel excise in half back in March amid spiralling cost-of-living pressures and rising fuel costs due to the war in Ukraine.
However, that grace period for motorists expires on September 29.
At the time it was implemented in March, the government's temporary move saved motorists about 22 cents a litre.
Fuel prices continued to rise though, reaching all time-highs by June.
They have declined somewhat in the meantime, but in Bega the price for unleaded petrol (ULP91) is still 189.9cpl - the highest in the Bega Valley and some 30cpl higher than the Sydney average.
In Merimbula, unleaded is selling for 170.9cpl at Ampol and 171.7 at Metco, while Pambula's United is at 169.5cpl.
According to the NSW FuelCheck app, as of Tuesday, Kiah General Store had the cheapest fuel in the Valley with ULP91 for 157.9cpl.
Meanwhile, diesel in Bega is selling for 213.9cpl at both Caltex and Shell, and 212.7 in Merimbula.
It ranged between a high of 234.9cpl at Wyndham to a low of 159.4cpl at Tilba in the past week according to the latest NRMA fuel report.
After the fuel excise is reinstated on September 29, prices will rise by an expected 25.3cpl.
However, a spokesperson for the NRMA said the price rise could take five to seven days depending on retailers' existing stock levels.
"They won't go up magically on the 29th, there's no evidence to say that every service station will change their prices on that day," they said.
"They are meant to sell through all the fuel they currently have and had purchased at the lower price and then once they purchase more fuel from the wholesaler that's when they need to start charging that higher amount because they have paid more for that fuel.
"We're hopeful that on the 29th, once the excise is returned to the fuel amount, that we won't see prices changing at the bowser, particularly in regional areas, for about a week."
The NRMA's advice to motorists is to fill up soon to avoid paying significantly more for fuel in a few week's time.
As prices do start to rise, they are encouraged to check fuel price monitoring apps, such as MyNRMA, to ensure they fill up at the cheapest retailer.
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Ben Smyth
I have worked as a journalist since 2005 and am now Editor of Australian Community Media mastheads in Bega, Merimbula and Eden
I have worked as a journalist since 2005 and am now Editor of Australian Community Media mastheads in Bega, Merimbula and Eden
