Mexican Gas Pumps Updated

The long-term practice in Mexico of charging customers for a liter of fuel when only 900 ml of fuel (or less) is actually dispensed is now prohibited and expected to change starting today, October 26.

Pursuant to the institution of “normas” (national standards) 005 and 185, gas-station owners are mandated to have software installed in their pumps that ensures only complete liters of fuel are dispensed. Also, tamper-proof computer chips and barrier seals are intended to prevent manipulation of equipment. The measures are expected to save consumers millions of pesos, said economy secretary Bruno Ferrari.

At an October 25 conference with federal consumer agency (Profeco) head Bernardo Altamirano, Ferrari said the updated pump software will give gasoline consumers certainty of their purchases. Franchisees who refuse to comply will be fined and have their franchise operations canceled.

Altamirano announced that so far this year Profeco has sent requests to Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) to cancel the permission of 11 stations to operate for various offenses. However, despite the new regulations, not all service stations will be prepared to have the new technology immediately.

José Antonio Torre, undersecretary of the regulations and competitiveness arm of the Secretaría de Economía, explained that 30 percent of the 10,000 gas stations in the country will not have the new equipment ready and therefore will have until January 31, 2013, to comply.

Source: El Vigia