Currently Canberrans can only search for fuel stations offering petrol and diesel on the FuelCheck app, but EV chargers could be a new feature soon. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Canberrans could soon have the ability to search for EV chargers throughout the Territory by using the FuelCheck app.
The Territory’s fuel stations were added to the NSW-created app and associated website as part of a six month trial, after it was found Canberrans were paying much more for petrol and diesel than motorists just across the border.
At the time it was flagged EV chargers could be added at a later date. Now, with the trial coming to an end, the app’s success is under review by Access Canberra.
Yerrabi MLA Michael Pettersson called on the ACT Government to extend the scheme in the Legislative Assembly this week, noting the Territory’s fuel prices were much more on par with surrounding areas since its introduction.
“Throwing back the curtain on the ACT’s fuel market has allowed users to easily search the best options for them based on their vehicle’s needs, it’s received lots and lots of positive feedback,” he said.
“The massive chasm between us here in the ACT and those elsewhere has been closed, things are better.”
The motion received tri-partisan support, with all members expressing their desire to make the app a permanent feature for Canberrans.
Early data gathered as part of the app’s review by the government has found that in the past six months, Canberrans have been able to save an average of 16 cents per litre on standard unleaded petrol by using the app to shop around.
This rose to an average saving of 24 cents per litre for premium petrol and nearly 27 cents per litre for diesel.
The app has only received 16 complaints from the Territory since November 2022, and a recent sector scan found there had been a 96 per cent compliance rate from fuel retailers.
Compliance and complaints were mainly around retailers not updating FuelCheck with the correct price, with all instances of price mismatching resolved.
In the light of such success, it appears the plans to add EV chargers to the offering is a closer reality.
Consumer Affairs Minister Shane Rattenbury said Access Canberra was finalising its overall review of the scheme in the coming weeks, with plans for new features to be added not long after that.
“One of the features I’m pleased about is that we are integrating into the FuelCheck app the location of EV charging sites,” he said.
“This is an important feature as we transition away from petrol cars to electric cars, and as we rollout our city-wide charging network.”
However accessing the price of charging isn’t expected to be added straight away.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said that would be a potential future element of FuelCheck.
“We don’t take evidence of price gouging lightly … FuelCheck is an important tool, it gives Canberrans the power to make educated decisions as to where they fill up their car,” he said.
“It’s also an important piece of the puzzle in how we keep increasing competitive tension and put downward pressure on fuel prices, in line with expectations in our community.
“A potential future element of FuelCheck might be around the recharge pricing for electric vehicles.”
He noted 58 of Canberra’s 60 fuel retailers had signed up to display their prices on the app, but expressed his disappointment that it took the threat of “major market intervention” for fuel companies to do the “right thing”.
“We’re encouraged by the current state of competition, but we do remain watchful,” Mr Barr said.
“Any significant and sustained deviation from benchmarked pricing will be examined and urgent explanations sought.”
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