Achi news desk-
It may not look like a huge saving at first, but when it comes time to fill up your tank, everything helps.
“If you can save on gas, which will get you to the same place, then you can spend more on other things that are essentials like groceries,” said Phil Sonier. “If you can save a little money here and there, like I said, it’s worth it.”
Colin Hopson refers to his truck as a diesel guzzler, so saving three cents a liter by paying cash or debit instead of credit at Race Trac Gas in Moncton, NB, is a nice treat.
“I saved $1.94,” he said. “That $1.94 might buy me some milk or whatever, but it goes a long way when you’re putting in a lot that’s for sure.”
The president of Canadians for Affordable Energy, Dan McTeague, says that gas stations that offer a discount or incentive are a common practice in many parts of North America and very common across the border in the United States.
He says it benefits both the drivers and the stations themselves.
“Given that gas stations, not the credit card issuer, not the oil company, but actually the retailer pays for, along with the loyalty programs that can work up to four, five, six cents a litre, in as well as having to pay. the one, two or three percent that goes into honoring credit cards, gas stations often feel like they’re missing out if they have a combination of those two things, so by offering cash, sometimes consumers see that as a much better option,” he said.
Additionally, McTeague notes that since this could help attract more drivers to the pump, retailers would likely get a better discount if they can move more volume.
“If cash is essential, and you can save three cents on a 60-65 liter fill, say, $2. You do that once a week, which equates to $120-130 a year,” he said.
In Halifax at the Wilson gas station, drivers were able to save five cents a liter when paying with cash or debit on Friday.
Drivers said they were told between $1-3 a tank and said they went out of their way to fill up at that particular station.
“A lot of people care and three cents over the course of a year, you save $120, $130, $140 which is a lot and it can make a big difference because it works out to two full tanks in many cases,” he said. McTeague.
There is also the chance that those savings could become even more attractive to drivers across the Maritimes.
“My prediction for Atlantic Canada is to expect an additional 15 cents/litre between now and the July 1st long weekend,” McTeague said. “Brace for impact. It could be much higher than 15 cents/litre, but one way or another we are looking at a much higher price correction and prices in 2024 probably going down in the record for being the second most expensive next to 2022.”
