The recent dramatic increase in fuel prices prompted me to write letters of inquiry to all the major oil companies serving B.C.

I received prompt replies from all, and as expected, they were polite boiler-plate responses citing everything from the price of crude to numerous vaguely-defined market factors as being reasons for the travesty.

Everything, of course, was beyond their control - notably something called “rack rates”, which are the prices charged to local dealers by the three major terminals in Vancouver, Kamloops, and Prince George (one representative admitted he had no idea how these were set), and the pricing decisions made by local station owners/operators.

I’m astounded there are “local market conditions” existing only in Prince George and surrounding communities and not the rest of B.C. that would justify an overnight price increase of nine cents per litre.

Will any of the local station operators please weigh in on this?

Terry Receveur

Prince George