Bulk LPG - Cheapest suppliers / supply route?

LittleVermin

tonyholwell wrote: »

Hi,
I have just bought a house which has a bulk LPG tank (with BP I beleive) but I probably don't want to keep it, partly the apparent cost and I'd need to move the tank since it is where I want to build an extension!.
Can i just get BP to come and take the tank away (at their cost) and what happens to the remaining gas?
Thanks
Tony

Hi Tony,
Welcome to the forum.

Tanks can only be transported with a max of 2% LPG in them (see here) so the tank owner needs to send a tanker to pump it out. They won't pay you for it! In fact, it'll probably cost them. Then they'll need a Hiab truck to lift and remove the empty tank. Plus an engineer to do the uncoupling, etc.

BP shouldn't be charging you*. But I'd be absolutely sure you don't want LPG before you tell them to remove it.

jeepjunkie wrote: »

........Time to start organising tank removal me thinks

Still got a fair bit of gas in it tho

You don't look at all happy, jeepjunkie! But lots of useful posts on MSE about your replacement heat pump based heating system .. so, Tony, there might be some useful stuff for you if you check out jeepjunkie's posts (just click on his name by his post to get a list).
..

*The contract was not with you - so BP have no grounds to charge you! Sorry the post was ambiguous.

Dr48

I've been looking at this site for several months and found it extremely useful to understand the market and the way different suppliers operate.
I work for a local council which is trying to combat fuel poverty, especially in rural areas which are off mains gas. We've surveyed the market with much help from this site :T and have almost reached an agreement with an independent to supply LPG at a fixed margin above ANSI to any household in the area, subject to existing contracts. We're hoping that this approach will not only secure a fair and transparent price for local people, but also encourage other suppliers to match such a deal.

Can't say anymore until the agreement is signed, but users of LPG might like to contact their council to see what they can do for their residents.

Keep up the good work.

frankie

Dr48 wrote: »

.
I work for a local council which is trying to combat fuel poverty, especially in rural areas which are off mains gas. We've surveyed the market with much help from this site :T and have almost reached an agreement with an independent to supply LPG at a fixed margin above ANSI to any household in the area, subject to existing contracts. We're hoping that this approach will not only secure a fair and transparent price for local people, but also encourage other suppliers to match such a deal.

Keep up the good work.

Can I ask - Which council do you work for, and which department of a council would deal with this?

Dr48

frankie wrote: »

Can I ask - Which council do you work for, and which department of a council would deal with this?

I cannot name the council at this stage but try the Housing department as a first step. And good luck

Seraphinaoflondon

Badger04 wrote: »

Have just joined the forum.

Good to have you aboard and good post, thanks for the update. By pure coincidence I was talking to Calor yesterday - we went from Flogas to Calor when we moved-in in March as C was the lesser of the evils. I put it to the young lady - in a polite respectful way - that Calor and the others are behaving in an outrageous manner with obscure pricing and duopoly here on the IoW. Because our boiler is quite old but still within the limit of 10 years, I'm planning to take on their service contract at £18pm for a one year term. An inspection technician to call the week after next to OK the system.

Mrs S and I have decided that if the boiler is condemned - note that Calor are running a massive boiler scrappage campaign at the moment - that we'll let them turn it off (they are allowed to) and have oil put in right away.

No way will I buy a new LPG boiler unless it is on that insurance basis.

Here on the IoW there is a residents' coop which bulk buys oil on a club basis. I believe much the same happens on the mainland? When we were last living in the UK, in Cornwall, oil prices were murky and not in the least bit transparent. They all wanted your name and postcode before giving a price. Because there are so many oil suppliers I got round it by getting six prices every delivery. Kept 'em on their toes. It surprised me that the largest local supplier always ended up giving us the best price, and quite a bit cheaper than they sold to neighbours. Can't do that with LPG here on the IoW as nobody will maintain the tank on a private basis. Office of Fair Trading anyone? :rotfl:

LittleVermin

Dr48 wrote: »

I've been looking at this site for several months and found it extremely useful to understand the market and the way different suppliers operate.
I work for a local council which is trying to combat fuel poverty, especially in rural areas which are off mains gas. We've surveyed the market with much help from this site :T and have almost reached an agreement with an independent to supply LPG at a fixed margin above ANSI to any household in the area, subject to existing contracts. We're hoping that this approach will not only secure a fair and transparent price for local people, but also encourage other suppliers to match such a deal.

Can't say anymore until the agreement is signed, but users of LPG might like to contact their council to see what they can do for their residents.

Keep up the good work.

Welcome to the forum - it's good to know lurkers find it useful!

All I can find on a quick google is West Mercia Energy - covering Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Telford & Wrekin (here) - and Wychavon. Wychavon's website includes a PowerPoint (here) about heating oil and bulk LPG buying consortia with the statement: "Suggestions apply equally to LPG buying groups" - well, no they don't because of the 2 yr tie-in. Though there are one or two mentions of neighbourhood LPG buying groups on the forum (e.g. here).

So that leaves West Mercia - so if you are in the relevant area and are out of contract it might make sense to hang on for a bit. The tender documents have to be returned by 24 September; the contract appears to run for 41 months.

Of course there may be something I've missed.

It's certainly a very welcome development. And when it's in place it would be worth contacting other councils. Down here in Cornwall there's a council-sponsored heating oil buying consortium (see here).
..

AndyJ52

I'm currently house hunting in West Sussex and have come across a great property in a good location, lovely village etc. Its a small, 5 or 6 houses, fairly new development with an LPG central tank from which the supply to each house is metered.
I'm a total LPG virgin .........and this thread has been an eye opener!
I now know some of the questions to ask the vendor on my next viewing like -

Who is the supplier/What's the current contract length/What price is being charged/How much has it gone up since the houses were first occupied 3 years ago? But still need some help!

Can you guys tell me what other questions might be good to ask?

I didn't even know this stuff came as a result of fixed term contracts etc so I need to be armed with searching inquiries to help with the decision making process. If this LPG is shown to be too expensive and the suppliers have a strangle hold, of sorts, on their customers then I think the search for a new home will go on!

Look forward to any pointers or suggestions from those of you in the know.... and thanks in advance for your input. AndyJ

Seraphinaoflondon

AndyJ52 wrote: »

I'm currently house hunting in West Sussex and have come across a great property in a good location, ...

Andy, I wouldn't lose the house over it. Indeed we didn't and bought. I detest the murky business practice of the LPG lot....really should be stopped. But you can have oil installed instead, of course. If your boiler is over ten years old and LPG that's probably your best bet. Installing an oil boiler isn't a difficult job but they are more noisy because they have a high pressure pump. I used to have a large oil boiler in my home office in my last home and I found it OK -- but listen to one in a quiet environment before you decide. They can be mounted outdoors but the weatherproof box costs a lot more.

In your case you'd need to check that you're not covenanted to stay in the joint LPG scheme. Ask the vendor and neighbours, it would surface in the conveyancing so everyone (except the lawyers) would lose a lot if they were not open up front and the sale fell through.

meagan

Hi Everyone,I have had the following quotes and would like your comments and advise
Avanti 44.9p 6 mths cap
Extra Fuel 46p No limit on anything and have to pay UP Front
LPG Home Heat (part of Northern Energy) 45p 12mth cap

I assume this cap is nothing to do with fuel increases that they will impose on us,I am still waiting on Calor and will not ask Flo Gas.

I live in Lincolnshire and at the moment LPG Home Heat seems to be best but I no nothing about them and how they with their customers.
I would be grateful for any advise going. Meagan

danlojo

Hi Meagan

I'm N Lincs/Yorkshire border and I've just bartered with Calor for

43ppl fixed for 12 months
gas credit of £200
Standing charge 16.9pp day - £61.69 per annum

Capping clause of no more than 3.5ppl in any 3 month period

I use around 900 - 1000 litres per year tops

HTH