Gas prices in Nova Scotia to see 'significant' change tonight

The price of gasoline in Nova Scotia is going to change at midnight tonight, two days ahead of schedule.

The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board announced Tuesday it will use the interrupter clause to change the price ahead of the weekly scheduled adjustment.

The interrupter clause is a mechanism used by the board to "respond to sudden and significant spikes, up or down, in petroleum product prices," according to its website.

The CBC's Bob Jones predicts gas in New Brunswick will increase by four cents a litre tonight a trend that he believes will also happen in Nova Scotia.

Nova Scotia's gas prices will go "up, up and away," said Jones.

Some gas stations in the Saint John area reported they had run out of gas Monday night and Tuesday.

In Nova Scotia, the Irving station on Prospect Road has run dry before a fuel truck replaced their supply Tuesday afternoon. In the nearby community of Fall River,the Petro-Can station sold out of gas and the Wilsons outlet was out of regular, with just premium gas left.

The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board considers using the interrupter clause for petroleum products when the market price for that product fluctuates by six to eight cents per litre versus the weekly price set by the board.

The boardsaid the price of diesel will not be affected in Tuesday night's adjustment.

The last time the interrupter clause was invoked by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board was in October 2012, and resulted in a reduction of 5.3 cents per litre.

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