Government frowns on advance notice of petrol price changes
Aiming for a level playing field among competing fuel retailers, the Energy Ministry’s Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO) will ask petrol station operators to stop announcing price changes in advance.
EPPO director Thawarat Sutabutr said the Commerce Ministry would also be asked to discourage the practice.
Thawarat said retailers would be invited to a meeting to discuss the practice, commonly used to gain advantage over competitors.
He said at least two retailers had announced the same price reduction at the same time, possibly in violation of the Trade Competition Act and government policy on fair business practices.
Retailers often announce price cuts a day in advance via the mainstream and social media, leading to a surge in demand and queues of vehicles at their petrol stations.
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