Source: Radio New Zealand
Mobil New Zealand. RNZ / Dan Cook
The Commerce Commission says it is taking legal action against Mobil New Zealand’s head office for pricing methods that it believes breach the Fuel Industry Act.
The regulator alleges Mobil is breaching fuel industry rules by not being transparent in the way it sets prices it charges independent petrrol stations.
The commission has filed proceedings in the High Court, alleging two ongoing breaches, one starting in November 2021, and the other in August 2022.
“We think that the wholesale prices methods Mobil New Zealand’s head office has used to calculate what they charge petrol stations (dealers) aren’t transparent enough to meet their obligations under the Act,” Commissioner Bryan Chapple said.
Chapple said a lack of transparent wholesale prices means independent petrol stations aren’t able to see and question the rates that Mobil is charging them, making it harder for retailers to offer consumers the best prices.
“The flow on effect is that Mobil head office is able to increase prices with minimal pushback, putting pressure on retail prices set by petrol stations.”
The commissioner said they take any suspected breaches very seriously.
More to come…
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
