Tirol opens first cases over fuel prices

Tirol has opened an administrative penalty case against a petrol station operator and launched an investigation into a second case, ORF reported. The proceedings follow a month of checks over high fuel prices, but prices have so far changed little.

The checks were prompted by a gap between fuel prices in western and eastern Austria. Fuel costs in Tirol are higher on average than in the rest of the country. The state government appointed a price investigation commission, called “Tiroler-Sprit-Aufschlag,” to examine the difference.

Authorities have not identified the petrol stations involved because the proceedings are ongoing. Inspectors have carried out more than 400 checks across Tirol, including more than 100 at about 50 stations in the past week.

Inspectors check whether stations apply price increases correctly and report them to E-Control, Austria’s energy regulator, whose data feeds into its fuel price comparison tool.

E-Control figures suggest the price gap has narrowed somewhat since the commission was established, but there has not been a lasting easing. The difference between Austria’s average fuel price and Tirol’s median price has fallen by 2 cents per litre for petrol and 0.007 cents per litre for diesel.

Under the rules, petrol stations may raise prices only once a day, at noon, but can lower them at any time. E-Control’s fuel price tool lists prices at stations across Tirol.