REGIONAL centres across SA have been hit with petrol price spikes of up to 28 cents a litre in the past week, which the RAA says equates to an extra $14 to the cost of filling the average family sedan.
Since Thursday evening, petrol prices in some regional service stations have jumped to $1.639/L, while others prices remained unchanged.
RAA spokesperson Mark Borlace said regional prices were primarily not exposed to the massive increases of the Adelaide fuel price cycle.
On Friday, the highest unleaded petrol price in Whyalla was $1.639/L - a jump from the city's average price of $1.353/L on Thursday and 29c/L higher than some competitors.
There were other huge price variations - 25c/L in Port Augusta, 24c/L in Clare and Naracoorte, 23.9c/L in Murray Bridge, 22.5c/L in Victor Harbor, 20c/L in Tailem Bend and 18c/L in Bordertown.
Mr Borlace said the advent of price variations of this magnitude in regional towns made calls for the SA government to fulfil its commitment to introduce real-time fuel pricing more urgent.
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"It's too early to say if this is a push to start a price cycle in regional centres,'' he said.
"But if it is, that makes it even more important to introduce real-time fuel pricing to help regional motorists shop around for the cheapest prices.''
Mr Borlace said motorists faced with such price variations could save hundreds of dollars a year at the bowser if the government provided real-time pricing information from individual service stations.
"The NSW, Qld and NT governments already require service stations to provide real-time fuel prices, which are published on websites and used in apps,'' he said.
"SA motorists deserve the same accurate information available interstate so they can take advantage of cheaper prices when buying fuel.
"RAA is disappointed the SA government hasn't delivered on its commitment to help cash-strapped households by providing real-time fuel pricing information for SA.''
But Mr Borlace said RAA was encouraged by a statement to the media by a government spokesperson last week saying investigations into real time fuel pricing were continuing.
"In a two car family, fuel costs can be the largest energy bill a household has, which is why providing motorists with accurate, up to date information on fuel prices to help them buy at the cheapest price in their area is so important,'' he said.
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