Switzerland should have a digital platform listing fuel prices at filling stations. The National Economy Committee supports a motion to this effect to fight against rising prices.
In order to bring competition between petrol stations and keep petrol prices below current prices, a digital platform on fuel prices is an effective solution, says a majority of the commission, according to a press release. published on Wednesday.
Austria has been experimenting with this for several years, with success. In 2011, the Ministry of the Economy launched a website to find the cheapest service and charging stations for a given location.
The committee backed the motion by 16 votes to 7, with only the UDC opposing it. Two similar texts from the Center are pending in Parliament. The digital platform may be coordinated with ongoing work on margins in the oil sector by the Price Monitor.
Marges
On this subject, the committee also narrowly decided, by 12 votes to 10, to table a motion calling for an investigation into possible competition problems on the energy markets, in particular fossil fuels (gas/oil) and their derivatives. The Price Monitor will also be involved in the work.
Because gasoline prices have been rising ever since Russia invaded Ukraine. In June, the Price Monitor had already pointed out that the price at the pump was rising faster than the price of crude oil. Since then, the price of crude oil has fallen, but the price at the pump has not fallen to its pre-crisis level.
The Competition Commission (Comco) would be in charge of the investigation. Germany, Austria or Great Britain have already launched similar investigations.
This committee motion aims to exert some pressure so that the subject of gasoline and gas supplier margins is examined in the light of the facts and the increase in end prices, the committee says. In the context of the debate on purchasing power and energy price relief, the question of margins is very important.
/ATS