Monday October 17, 2022 | VANCOUVER ISLAND, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
BC Ferries announced today that “sustained high fuel prices require BC Ferries to increase its current fuel surcharge”. The increase is 1.5 per cent starting November 1.
As a result, the cost for an adult will increase 70 cents and $3.15 for a vehicle and driver on the Metro Vancouver – Vancouver Island routes, and an average of 40 cents for an adult and $1.70 for a vehicle and driver on a variety of inter-island routes.
Managing price volatility:
Over the past 18 years, BC Ferries has used a fuel rebate/surcharge mechanism to manage the price volatility.
“When prices are lower, BC Ferries issues a fuel rebate to customers as part of fares. Conversely, higher prices result in a fuel surcharge specifically designed to cover the additional cost of fuel,” the transportation provider said today in a news release.
The company says it does not benefit financially from surcharges or rebates.
Shifting to cleaner fuels:
BC Ferries has made significant investments to reduce its consumption of fuel and use cleaner, lower cost fuels, such as liquefied natural gas to replace the use of ultra-low sulphur diesel fuels.
The company also introduced battery-equipped ships designed for future full electric operation when shore charging infrastructure can be installed in B.C. Despite initiatives to burn fuel more efficiently, a fuel surcharge is necessary at this time.
===== ABOUT ISLAND SOCIAL TRENDS:
Island Social Trends is a news portal with a socioeconomic lens for attentive readers on south Vancouver Island and beyond.
Online since mid-2020, this publication is the emergence from 15 years of journalism on the west shore: MapleLine Magazine (2008-2010), Sooke Voice News (2011-2013), and West Shore Voice News (2014-2020).
Island Social Trends editor is Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., Cert PR.