Picture this: you’re driving along, you check your gas, and see that you need to fill up. No problem– gas prices have been the lowest they’ve been in a long time. You pull into your closest gas station, refuel, and then hit the road again.
You may be thinking that you’ve just gotten a great deal for $1.502c/L. Way better than the $1.822c/L it was a while ago.
Not so, at least where the rest of Canada is concerned. It turns out that everywhere else in the country is sitting pretty at a far lower average price than Vancouver is.
LOWER, BUT NOT LOW ENOUGH
Gas prices are the bane of every driver’s existence. Well, most drivers. Although, things may be changing for EV drivers soon.
This week, gas has gone up by 2.9 cents. While this doesn’t seem huge in the greater scheme of things, what’s important is to note that this means Vancouver’s gas prices are now 25c above Canada’s average.
The current local average is $1.607c/L. Compare that to the national average of $1.338c/L and suddenly Vancouverites are getting the short end of the gasoline stick.
REFINERY ISSUES
So, why are British Columbia’s gas prices so much higher than everybody else’s?
Due to refinery issues, the West Coast has had tightened petroleum supplies. Things like maintenance have caused these problems, but the current outlook is positive for the short-term. Reportedly, the prices should ease off in the coming weeks as the refineries are brought back to their full potential.
As June rolls around, you might notice that the pumps will have notable declines in their price. As long as oil prices remain where they are and supply continues to grow, Vancouver’s average will hopefully reach the rest of Canada’s.
With gas prices seemingly heading for another all-time low since the pandemic, Vancouverites may be able to find some relief for their wallets. At least for gas prices.
