It’s always a bit of a shock driving to the servo and realising that the prices have dramatically increased since the last time you saw them. The Victorian Government has announced a plan that will address these turbulent fuel cycles. The Fair Fuel Plan, which will be rolled in throughout 2025, will both cap and lock fuel price rises for drivers in Victoria. Fuel companies will have to publicly report their price changes the day before they are in effect, and keep the prices locked for 24 hours.
“You know how much fuel prices fluctuate,” said Premier Jacinta Allan. “Under our plan, you can find out tomorrow’s fuel price at every single servo on your way to work and make your decisions accordingly. We know this won’t change everything for families who are doing it tough, but these savings can add up to hundreds of dollars a year.”
Fair Fuel Plan
According to data from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, in 2023, drivers around Melbourne could have saved up to $333 a year by securing the best deal and filling up at the lowest point of the fuel price cycles. And while there are websites and apps that monitor fuel prices, such as Petrol Spy, these places rely on volunteer reporting.
With the Fair Fuel Plan, it will become compulsory for over 1500 fuel retailers around Victoria to provide their pricing data in real time. The numbers will then be fed into a new fuel finder feature on the Service Victoria app, so that you can look around for the best deal.
Fuel price rises will be capped to once a day, instead of fluctuating multiple times a day. The prices will be locked in the day before, and stay that way for 24 hours. And while the servo can’t raise the price, they are welcome to reduce it if they wish.
New regulations and legislation will be needed, and the government will consult with the industry and do further work to outline the enforcement structure and penalties.
This plan will be phased in gradually throughout the year, and the fuel finder feature will launch on the Service Victoria app later this year.