Premier Susan Holt expressed bewilderment at the delayed realization by gas price regulators, policy experts, and others responsible for gas price regulation regarding a simple method to reduce prices for consumers, which was only identified at the end of 2025. In an interview with CBC News, Holt admitted that this oversight resulted in New Brunswickers paying excessive amounts for gas in recent years due to the increasing use of a cheaper gasoline variety.
Holt questioned why this oversight was not detected earlier, emphasizing the need for understanding the lapse in identifying such a straightforward solution. The Energy and Utilities Board thwarted Holt’s initial efforts to lower gas prices by repealing the cost-of-carbon adjuster legislation, which mandated passing on the costs of federal clean fuel regulations to consumers at the pump.
Following the repeal, the board substituted the eight-cent per litre charge with a similar surcharge to prevent gas stations from bearing the regulatory costs. After meticulous scrutiny of regulations, a staff member in Holt’s office discovered an alternative mechanism to decrease prices through a simple order-in-council issued by the cabinet, changing the fuel type used in price calculations by the EUB.
The implementation of this order led to a significant drop of 7.9 cents per litre in gas prices. The premier expressed curiosity as to why previous administrations, including the Progressive Conservative government, and her own Liberal government, had not identified this cost-saving measure before.
Opposition Leader Glen Savoie challenged Holt’s narrative, citing industry sources who claimed to have previously informed Holt about the option but saw no action taken. Savoie criticized Holt for prioritizing the repeal of the cost-of-carbon adjuster over exploring alternative solutions to reduce gas prices.
Holt justified the change in fuel type calculation based on the prevalence of E10 gasoline in New Brunswick, noting that consumers had been overpaying for this fuel type due to the delayed adjustment. She acknowledged the complexity of reimbursing consumers for the excess amounts paid and emphasized the need for the EUB to address the issue when setting future industry rates and profit margins to rectify the imbalance.
The EUB, however, currently lacks a mechanism to rectify the price disparities between E10 and conventional gasoline, as stated by executive director Dave Young in a statement. Holt emphasized the importance of addressing this issue to ensure fairness for consumers in the future.