By Dylana Milobar

Switch to summer gas blend expected to bring higher prices at the pumps

Mar 17, 2019 | 8:53 AM

KAMLOOPS — While the weather warms up in Kamloops, gas prices are also expected to go up.

Gas Buddy Senior Analyst Dan McTeague says gasoline providers are starting to change over to the summer blend of gas, and that means a more costly fill up at the pumps.

“Prices will likely go up this week by about 8 or 9 cents a litre,” He says, “So you will see some stations offering gasoline in the $1.29.9 range if we’re lucky, but more likely $1.31 or $1.32, or even $1.33.9.”

McTeague adds, those price changes are expected by Monday or Tuesday. 

According to McTeague, some areas of Canada will see price increases due to refinery maintenance.

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However, he says because the Interior mainly gets gasoline via the Trans Mountain pipeline from Edmonton, the Interior’s pricing is largely dependent on what happens in the U.S Midwest.

“Their refineries will of course be going through maintenance, the large BP Whiting plant near Chicago,” He explains, “But what’s really critical is prices there have jumped there about 3 cents a litre. They are starting to change over to summer blends of gasoline.”

As for when prices will go back down, McTeague says they were expecting 2019 to be the most expensive year for gasoline since 2014, so it’s hard to say just how much it’ll lower. 

“We’re heading into the higher demand season, and of course April 1st, your provincial government will be going to another slight tax increase of about 1.16 cents a litre, plus G.S.T,” McTeague says, “So all these factors are contributing to much higher prices as we head towards summer.”