Gas at a Petro-Canada station on Terminal Ave. in Nanaimo was listed at over $2.00 a litre on Wednesday, May 4. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

PUMP PAIN

Summer spike: gas prices top $2.00 per litre in Nanaimo

May 4, 2022 | 5:05 PM

NANAIMO — Drivers knew it was coming, but it was still a shock.

Gas offered at the Petro-Canada station at the corner of Terminal Ave. and Princess Royal Ave. was priced at 203.9 cents per litre on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 4.

It’s the highest price across the central Island and a potential sign of things to come.

When prices jumped to around 190 cents per litre in early March, the same station was again among the first to increase before others followed suit in the days following.

Prices have already crept up in the past two weeks, from around 185 centre per litre to a current average of 198 cents per litre, according to tracking website GasBuddy.

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Both Parksville and Qualicum Beach stations show an average of around 198 cents per litre, while Ladysmith is roughly 10 cents per litre cheaper.

A handful of Victoria stations along with several in the Courtenay-Comox Valley region are above $2.00, making them one of the most expensive places on the Island for fuel.

The spike is not unexpected.

GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan told NanaimoNewsNOW in early March a switch to costlier summer gas along with a continued conflict between Russia and Ukraine would see prices continue to increase.

“We could see gas prices continue to go up another 15 to 30 cents a litre between [early March] and the start of the summer driving season [in] June. How long until we get there will depend on the global response to the rising prices.”

The province’s one-time gasoline rebate through ICBC is expected to be deposited for customers throughout the month of May for those with direct deposit set up.

People without will receive cheques in June.

Rebates range from $110 for the average driver, while commercial operators will see a $165 return.

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