Consumer group, Opposition critical of gas pricing changes

A spokesman for a gas price watchdog group says changing the price of gas once a week in New Brunswick won't save drivers any money.

Last week, the Liberal government announced it would re-evaluate regulated gas prices every week, instead of every two weeks. Energy Minister Jack Keir says the change will provide quicker benefits for retailers as prices increase, and for consumers as prices go down.

George Murphy of the Consumer Group for Fair Gas Prices says consumers will notice price increases more frequently.

"I think the way volatility has been in the markets as of late, I think that would be a good idea," Murphy said. "If you're in a more volatile market, like you are in New Brunswick, more susceptible to outside factors, that prices would be changing once a week. But in the end, it makes no difference as to how often prices are changed."

Opposition energy critic Bruce Fitch said Friday the Liberal government's position on the frequency of price postings has changed dramatically since prior to the election.

He says the Liberals first said they'd scrap regulation, then said they would tweak the legislation, and now they're going to a weekly setting.

Fitch says the regulation system introduced by the previous Conservative government was better, because it set prices every two weeks, yet had an interrupter clause that would allow a change when there was a dramatic swing in the wholesale price.

The regulated price in New Brunswick will begin to change weekly, starting April 25.

The price of gasoline in New Brunswick went up more than three cents Thursday to 108.9, still the cheapest gas in the Maritimes, and almost10 cents less thanin Nova Scotia.