Thousands of gas stations in Germany flout fuel pricing rule

Nearly 3,000 petrol stations across Germany violated the 12 o'clock rule, which limits fuel price increases to once per day at midday. An investigation found 2,995 of 15,240 stations broke the ban between April 1 and May 11, a rate of 19.7%. Overall, 17,000 unauthorized price hikes were recorded using data compiled from the Market Transparency Agency for Fuels. Bavaria showed the highest share of rule breaking at 25.6%, while Berlin had the lowest at 8.2%. Operators can face fines up to €100,000 for increases outside noon or more than once daily. Gas station representatives dispute deliberate violations and blame a poorly drafted law, citing delays in transmitting price changes through cash register systems and ongoing refuelling operations.

"Nearly 3,000 petrol stations across Germany are violating a law designed to stop multiple daily fuel price increases, a new investigation has found. The German government has introduced measures to relieve drivers at the petrol pump after fuel prices shot up in the wake of conflict in the Middle East. One of them - known as the 12 o'clock rule - prevents gas stations from raising their prices more than once a day."

"However, an investigation by the consumer service Mehr-Tanken has found that 2,995 out of 15,240 German gas stations violated the ban between April 1st and May 11th. That amounts to a rate of 19.7 percent, meaning nearly one in five gas stations nationwide is flouting the rules. Overall, 17,000 price hikes at unauthorised times were logged, according to the data compiled from the Market Transparency Agency for Fuels."

"The highest share of rule breaking was recorded in Bavaria at 25.6 percent, while Berlin had the lowest rate at 8.2 percent. 'Poorly drafted law' Operators are supposed to face fines of up to €100,000 if they raise fuel prices at any time other than noon or more than once a day. However, gas station representatives reject the allegations - and instead blame the government's law."

""We have initial indications that we are dealing with the consequences of a poorly drafted law, not with deliberate violations of the rules," Daniel Kaddik, head of the Federal Association of Independent Gas Stations, told the Sächsische Zeitung. Price changes are transmitted via the cash register system to vending machines, price displays and fuel pumps. It is only after this point that the Federal Cartel Office may be informed, said Kaddik. He therefore attributes the investigation's findings to slow connections or ongoing refuelling operations."

Read at The Local Germany