Motorists took another hit Friday with a bump in the pump prices, putting the price of a litre of gasoline at $1.41.
And consumers aren't the only ones feeling the pinch.
With prices projected to hit between $1.50 and $1.75 per litre by the summer, that puts the cost of fuel outside the District of Maple Ridge's budget projections, said finance general manager Paul Gill.
The budgeted amounts for costs of running the district's fleet of cars and trucks are based on a price of gasoline between $1.30 and $1.40 a litre.
However, Gill doubts council would be willing to open the purse strings to make up the difference, so cuts will have to be made elsewhere.
Maple Ridge has tried to ease its energy costs by buying hybrid vehicles such as its Toyota Priuses and Ford Escapes, which make up 27 of the fleet and also has one completely electric experimental truck. Between 2006 and 2009, the hybrid fleet vehicles consumed 48,000 fewer litres, says the district.
Business at the pumps was slow on mid-Friday morning.
But one motorist filling up at the Petro Canada on Lougheed Highway and 228th Street is already doing what thousands are daily, lining up to cross the border and buy gasoline in the U.S.
The driver of the Safari AWD van lives in White Rock and usually fills up twice a week, saving about $35 each time.
Cheaper groceries also make the trip worth it, he said.