NLIS 2
June 7, 2001
(Government Services and Lands)

The following is being distributed at the request of the Petroleum Products Pricing Commission:

Commissioner says maximum pricing in effect

George Saunders, commissioner of the Petroleum Products Pricing Commission, said today that maximum pricing for gasoline, automotive diesel and automotive propane is in effect across the province.

Commissioner Saunders stated he is in the process of formally notifying oil companies that the Petroleum Products Act was proclaimed on May 30, 2001, and any upward adjustment of the maximum gasoline, automotive diesel or automotive propane can only occur if approved by the commissioner. "Consumers can now be confident that the price of gasoline will only rise if the oil companies can justify an increase in price to consumers," said Saunders. "However, oil companies do have the liberty to adjust gasoline prices downward to the benefit of consumers anytime they see fit."

The office of the Commissioner for Petroleum Products Pricing will be located in Grand Falls-Windsor. Commissioner Saunders says he is in the process of setting up an office and hiring staff. He expects that the office will be open to the public by the first week in July at which time a toll-free number will be available to the public.

Contact information for the commission:

Petroleum Products Pricing Commission
P.O. Box 189
Grand Falls-Windsor, NF
A2A 1C6

Tel: (709) 489-8877
Fax: (709) 489-8879

Media contact: George Saunders, Commissioner, (709) 486-9000.

2001 06 07                                        10:35 a.m.