Following the recent media reports about some retailers who are overcharging consumers on the price of LPGas countrywide, the Department of Energy wishes to express concerns over this kind of behaviour that contravenes the Petroleum Products Act, 1977 (Act No. 120 of 1977) as per amended.
In July 2010, the Minister of Energy, Ms Dipuo Peters approved the setting of maximum retail prices for LPGas supplied to residential consumers. From August 2010, LPGas prices are adjusted on the first Wednesday of each month together with petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin (IP).
The LPGas prices differ from one Magisterial District Zone (MDZ) to the next due to the application of different transport tariffis applicable to each MDZ. The Regulations and Working Rules to determine the maximum retail prices are available on the Department of Energy website: http://www.energy.gov.za. Currently the price of LPGas for July 2011 was reduced by 42 cents per kilogram. The reduction of price is effective from Wednesday, 6 July to 2 August 2011.
It must also be emphasised that the regulation of the maximum retail prices for LPGas supplied to residential consumers is (or) and regulated in terms of the Petroleum Products Act. Any violation of the regulation amounts to the contravention of the above-mentioned Act, and will attract penalties as contemplated in Section 12 of the said Act.
(12. (1) Any person who contravenes a provision of this Act, shall be guilty of an offence and be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding R1 000 000,00, or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years, or to both such fine and such imprisonment…)
Consumers, who have complaints about retailers contravening the Act or overpricing them, should contact the regional inspectors in their respective provinces (contact details below).
For all LPGas complaints or non-compliance, please contact the relevant regional offices on the numbers below:
| Region | Cell number | Office number | |
| Limpopo | 079 8767 833 | 015 287 4732 | |
| KwaZulu-Natal | 079 876 7822 | 031 333 9449 | |
| Gauteng | 079 876 7793 | 011 358 9726 | |
| Mpumalanga | 079 876 7829 | 013 656 1448 | |
| Free State | 082 303 7721 | 057 391 1333 | |
| Northern Cape | 079 876 7844 | 053 807 1721 | |
| Western Cape | 021 427 1029 | ||
| North west | 079 876 7842 | 018 464 1631 | |
| Eastern Cape | 079 876 7807 | 041 396 3914 041 396 3910 |
Enquiries:
Thandiwe Maimane
Cell: 083 645 7837
