(de-news.net) – The state of Baden-Württemberg has formally urged the federal government to adopt a regulatory framework inspired by Austria’s fuel pricing model, with the objective of curbing erratic price fluctuations at petrol stations. According to media coverage, the proposed measure would allow fuel price reductions to occur at any time, while restricting price increases to a single adjustment per day. The initiative is intended to foster greater transparency and predictability in fuel pricing mechanisms across Germany.

Concretely, the legislative push has been motivated by findings from the Federal Cartel Office, which revealed that certain fuel stations currently alter their prices up to 18 times within a single day, and the trend appears to be intensifying. The proposal argues that such frequent changes undermine consumers’ ability to refuel during low-price intervals, colloquially referred to as “price valleys.” In light of this, the initiative calls upon the Federal Government to evaluate potential instruments that could restore clarity and fairness at the pump.

Supporters of the reform have further emphasized its potential to reduce bureaucratic burdens for both fuel retailers and the Market Transparency Unit for Fuels, which operates under the auspices of the Cartel Office. The unit is responsible for monitoring price movements at approximately 15,000 filling stations nationwide and disseminating the data to digital platforms such as fuel price comparison apps. Streamlining the frequency of price changes could, according to advocates, improve operational efficiency and reduce administrative overhead.

The proposal has garnered endorsement from the petrol station industry association. Its spokesperson, Herbert Rabl, described the initiative as both timely and beneficial. He noted that station operators are often taken by surprise when fuel prices rise abruptly, typically as a result of decisions made by upstream oil companies. Rabl highlighted that retailers frequently bear the brunt of customer dissatisfaction and suggested that the proposed regulation could serve as a stabilizing measure, ultimately enhancing consumer confidence and market reliability.