Bulk LPG - Cheapest suppliers / supply route?

AdrianC

AdrianC wrote: »

We've just signed with Calor. 48p/12mo fix + £150 free.

The previous owners of the house were on rolling contract-tail with Flo, who've just caught on to us as new owners, and sent us a shiny new contract to sign at 46p, no fix.

Now that the paperwork's started to go through, we've had a "Oh, but we love you really!" letter from Flo.

44p, 9mo fix.

walpurgis

Does anyone have any experience of Southampton-based Lima Gas? They are quoting me 41p/litre (or 44p for a 12-month fix) and claim to track the wholesale price of LPG.

I can see from a forum search that they have been mentioned in this thread - but I don't know on which of the 103 pages they were discussed!

Update: I have now discovered how to search for individual posts but still can't find any firm recommendations/criticisms of Lima based on experience

LittleVermin

walpurgis wrote: »

Does anyone have any experience of Southampton-based Lima Gas? They are quoting me 41p/litre (or 44p for a 12-month fix) and claim to track the wholesale price of LPG.

........ can't find any firm recommendations/criticisms of Lima based on experience

Welcome to the forum - and thanks for giving everyone Lima's quote.

No-one has mentioned being supplied by Lima, so far as I know.

BUT - you say they "claim to track the wholesale price of LPG" so I suggest you ask them to give you their prices for the last n years - and then you can plot these against the wholesale and retail prices that HateLPG posts - see here for prices from 2005* and here for the last 24 months. [Extra Fuel and Cardiff Gas were happy to provide historic prices].

If you look at the 24 month chart you'll see that 41 ppl is a very good price (beats Cardiff Gas - usually the cheapest) and 44 ppl is a very good 12 month price. What's the tank rental? (One company gives great rates - tied to a massive rental charge!). If Lima's rates don't seem to follow the wholesale chart then you need to ask for a maximum rise per 3/6 months guarantee. But note that HBS - a small independent with excellent reports - gives low, smoothed prices.

Please keep us posted!

*The Bloomberg info is now behind a pay-wall.

..

LittleVermin

Apologies - forum's playing tricks and can't edit my last post to include a link to the post (one of two) from Mister G on HBS and the prices they charged him.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=59590143&postcount=1902

walpurgis

Thanks for the prompt reply, Little Vermin.

I will go back to them and ask for historic figures. But on their web site they claim that the average price they charged domestic customers in 2011 was 40.22p, and in 2012 it was 41.28p. Those figures appear to compare favourably with Cardiff Gas as shown in the graphs.

And it gets better. Their normal quarterly rental is £15 but they were prepared to waive that charge as a sweetner. Also the 12-month 44p fixed price would come with an pledge not to increase the price by more than 5p during the 24-month contract.

Too good to be true?

BTW, one of the earlier posts about Lima Gas said that they are not members of the UKLPG trade association. They are now.

LittleVermin

walpurgis wrote: »

...................

I will go back to them and ask for historic figures. But on their web site they claim that the average price they charged domestic customers in 2011 was 40.22p, and in 2012 it was 41.28p. Those figures appear to compare favourably with Cardiff Gas as shown in the graphs.

And it gets better. Their normal quarterly rental is £15 but they were prepared to waive that charge as a sweetner. Also the 12-month 44p fixed price would come with an pledge not to increase the price by more than 5p during the 24-month contract.

Too good to be true?

BTW, one of the earlier posts about Lima Gas said that they are not members of the UKLPG trade association. They are now.

They're obviously keen to grow their share of the domestic LPG market! Good for them ..the more competition the major suppliers have the better. Lima get their supplies from Fawley - very close to them. They also supply autogas ...so their autogas price will be a useful comparison for their domestic LPG price (it's easy to compare autogas prices nationally on the web!).

Since the previous mention in the forum they've joined UKLPG (thanks, walpurgis for this info) and built a website:

http://www.limagas.co.uk/

LittleVermin

Thought you'd like to know!

More here - a story reporting their annual figures.

jkgray

Hi,

I am currently in the process of purchasing a house which is off the main gas grid. I have no experience of LPG.

The owner (who has developed the properties) told me that when developed the site (it is 5 large barn conversions from a former farmyard) he installed a large communal tank. He said however the LPG supplier was 'taking the mickey' re prices so all but one of the barns has now come off the communal tank.

The one I am buying is currently being run off two 47kg gas cylinders. The developer said I was free to go back on to the communal tank if I wished which is then metered to each house but he would recommend having an individial tank put in just for my property and if I wanted that he would do it prior to completion.

I therefore went with this latter option.

What do I need to do when I move in?!

My initial research on the internet seems to suggest that this is an unusually situation and that in most cases your supplier owns the tank and that you are then tied in to them. Presumably if I have my own tank I can just go with the cheapest price and also will not pay any tank rental charges or the like?

How do I go about finding the cheapest LPG supply only?

Property is in Merseyside.

Many thanks for any assistance.

LittleVermin

jkgray wrote: »

he would recommend having an individial tank put in just for my property and if I wanted that he would do it prior to completion.

I therefore went with this latter option.

Welcome to the forum!

The first thing I suggest you do is to check the tank siting fits the suppliers' spec. If it doesn't (maybe there isn't space?) then I'd think hard about completing!

Basic siting distances and other factors are given by several suppliers - e.g. Calor here and Energas here.

There is also the UKLPG's CoP (Code of Practice) which is available for purchase

jkgray wrote: »

What do I need to do when I move in?!
..............
Property is in Merseyside.

before you move in!

If the siting is OK then I'd put your postcode into the UKLPG supplier finder here - and get a list of their members who might supply your property (they can refuse!).

They have to give a quote over the phone (Competition Commission regs ...) - but subject to inspection.

They'll probably ask how much you use - but you cannot answer that though you can tell them the size and the insulation, etc.

If you've a good range of suppliers you may be able to haggle now.

Remember there are non-UKLPG suppliers - e.g. Extra Fuel here - as well as farmers' co-ops (you don't need to be a farmer!) such as Mole Valley Farmers ('Mole Valley').

Check out HateLPG's latest chart for current prices - but you should get a reduced price as you own your own tank.

jkgray wrote: »

My initial research on the internet seems to suggest that this is an unusually situation and that in most cases your supplier owns the tank and that you are then tied in to them. Presumably if I have my own tank I can just go with the cheapest price and also will not pay any tank rental charges or the like?

Yes, the suppliers own most of the tanks - and then you are tied into a 2 yr contract.

Your tank needs checking once a year - but the tanker driver does this (it's very basic: leaks? vegetation? new walls/flammable material/power cables/etc).

You'll need to pay for 10 yr test - when it's due. And have someone (GasSafe with LPG certs) you can call out if there's a problem - but I believe Extra Fuel have a scheme for tank owners).

HTH!

Please keep us posted. As you say, you are in an uncommon situation.

longforgotten

Received info in the post from Countrywide on a what can only be described as a large postcard.

It says as a loyal customer if I order online before 15 October 2013 they will give me 3p per litre discount, phone up before 15 October 2013 and 1p per litre discount.

Still on 46ppl at the mo so that would make it 43ppl or 45ppl

I will be giving them a ring to discuss this winters price anyway