Gas prices in Edmonton and Calgary hit a record high Friday, as Albertans get ready for their summer road trips.
The average price for fuel was close to to $1.39/litre in Edmonton, while in Calgary it rose to $1.41/litre.
Dan McTeague, president of Canadians for Affordable Energy, said these prices are in record territory for Edmonton and Calgary.
Drivers like Kelsey Parsons said it’s a frustrating reality.
“I’m thinking of selling my car — not because of gas specifically, but other things.
“Still, I think prices are ridiculous.”
Patrick De Haan, petroleum analyst with Gas Buddy, said the price spike is the result of a problem at a refinery in Edmonton.
“There is a refinery issue at Suncor in Edmonton, which may be boosting prices, but we are seeing stations increase margins through that hike.
But driver Chris Morton isn’t convinced the refinery issue is the only factor.
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“Every time there’s a refinery issue, they jack them up. The gas isn’t that hard to get. We don’t have to outsource. They’re using that to gouge us again,” Morton said.
De Haan said it’s more about demand.
“Last year prices dropped under 70 cents because few people were going anywhere and demand was plummeting.”
“That fuelled declines in the price, but as we recovered, as vaccines have allowed the economy to reopen, Canadians have wasted no time hitting roads, getting out and about. That is spurring gasoline demand,” De Haan said.
Prices aren’t expected to go down anytime soon.
“We are within a week or two of seeing it plateau but they won’t go down significantly; they will stabilize,” De Haan said. “But then, into fall, we will see prices drop 10 to 20 cents a litre.”
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