The problem of high fuel prices (compared with the national average) does not concern Bolesławiec alone. Residents of other towns in Poland are also struggling with high fuel prices.
The situation is usually similar to that known from our city. Prices are higher than at stations in neighboring cities, counties and voivodeships, but all it took was a trip to the “neighbors” to buy fuel even several dozen groszy cheaper.
Drivers asked themselves why things were so expensive here, while a dozen or so kilometers away, at a station belonging to the same company, they were much cheaper. Orlen explains this by the specific nature of the local market in a given location... and sees nothing unusual in it (even in such large price differences between its stations). Meanwhile, this angers people who have to pay more.
The state has its banks; local governments can have their stations
Since the state has its own banks, which compete with other banking networks, a local government can have its own stations offering residents fuel at attractive prices. Some local governments decided to tackle high prices, take action to support their residents and give them the option of choosing stations with lower prices. In Chełm, Płock, Stalowa Wola, Konin and Ostrołęka, local-government filling stations with competitive prices have been opened.
Such stations were launched by municipal companies owned by local governments (for example, on the premises of Municipal Transport Companies). Residents of cities where such stations opened welcomed them enthusiastically. They are no longer “condemned” to high prices or to filling up completely (in advance) in other cities. They have a choice.
As a result, overall price levels at other stations in those locations fell. Of course, these measures did not mean that drivers completely stopped refueling at stations belonging to other chains. Those stations continue to operate. The only aim is to give residents the option of a cheaper alternative. And if someone prefers to refuel at a higher price, they can do so. See what the fuel market looks like in Ostrołęka.
Expensive fuel in Bolesławiec. Do local-government officials not see the problem?
High fuel prices in Bolesławiec anger residents and drivers. This is evident on websites and social media, where photos showing much lower fuel prices in other towns are posted (the difference reaches several dozen groszy per liter). The photos are taken by frustrated drivers, who point out that fuel in Bolesławiec is very expensive and is now even more expensive than at stations near the highway.
Fuel is also cheaper than in Bolesławiec in Legnica, Lubin, Lubań, Głogów, Jelenia Góra, Zgorzelec and Wrocław... Admittedly, drivers from Bolesławiec can save money at the Pieprzyk station, where prices are lower, but there is no guarantee that this will remain the case all the time.
Interestingly, so far the issue of high fuel prices in Bolesławiec has attracted the attention only of councilor Damian Sawczak, who mentioned it during a city council session. So far, no interest in this important problem for the city’s residents can be seen from other local-government officials. And everyone remembers how, before the elections, candidates ran around with leaflets and posters, met with residents and were ready to solve almost every local problem... Aren’t high fuel prices in our city such a problem?