Bulk LPG - Cheapest suppliers / supply route?

AdrianC

Paula6790 wrote: »

But is LPG generally cheaper than gas??

LPG is "gas", just with your hob/boiler/fire fed from a tank rather than the mains.

Did you mean cheaper than mains gas? No, mains would be cheaper - if you can get it - as well as much less hassle.

If you have easy access to mains gas, that'd be a no-brainer.

If you can get mains, but it'll cost to get the pipework laid, then it might be worth doing the sums, but unless it'd be ridiculously expensive, it'd probably be worth getting mains in - at the very least, if/when you want to move, some potential buyers might be scared off by the tank.

LPG compared to an oil tank? That's another thread...

thozza

LittleVermin wrote: »

Current prices on the web (if you know any others please post!):

Lister (Malvern Hills DC deal) 46.81
http://www.malvernhills.gov.uk/cms/communications/news/2012/october/lpg%20fuel%20deal.aspx
Cardiff Gas ............................ 47
http://cardiffgas.wordpress.com/about/
Lister ANSI Tracker .............. 48.83
http://www.listergases.co.uk/anti.aspx
Extra Fuel ..............................50.07
http://www.extrafuel.co.uk/
LPGas Wales Direct.................52.5
http://www.lpgaswalesdirect.co.uk/

Carver Gases 48.0
http://www.carvergases.co.uk/

Also came across Warwickshire Rural Community Council who have an Bulk LPG scheme offering a price of 43.0 through Flogas (!)
http://www.ruralwarwickshire.org.uk/lpg

Some more independent suppliers websites (no prices) not on the list in post #2186
Callow Gas
http://www.callowgas.com/
BATA
http://www.bataltd.co.uk/index.asp?asptarget=fuel
Countrywide Farmers
http://www.countrywidefarmers.co.uk/pws/Content.ice?page=EnergyBulkLPGHome&pgForward=businesshome
Mole Valley Farmers
http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/info/farming/Fuel_Oils
Nova Gas (part of Rose Gas)
http://www.novagas.co.uk/bulk-gas/

HateLPG

thozza wrote: »

Also came across Warwickshire Rural Community Council who have an Bulk LPG scheme offering a price of 43.0 through Flogas (!)
http://www.ruralwarwickshire.org.uk/lpg

I would like to know more about this deal - it all seems a bit "woolly" if you ask me. As far as I can see, there are no Ts & Cs on that site and there are no commitments or promises, other than an OK-ish headline price. It is not even clear whether your contract is with the Council or the supplier.

I am quite certain the Council's intentions are fully honourable, but I fear that (through naivety and lack of experience of this heinous market), they may actually acting merely as a recruitment channel for Flogas. They certainly do not seem to be taking over responsibility for tank maintenance and then buying LPG at the best available spot rate. I do hope they are not then leaving Flogas free to carryout their typical "Dynamo Magician Impossible"-style price inflation tricks on the unsuspecting new recruits, but I fear that is likely to be the case.

In my experience, Councils are often loathe to discuss the finer detail of such matters, especially with those they do not represent or who are not potential "members" - perhaps if there are any forum members in the catchment area, they could do a little more digging (perhaps even get hold of some sample contracts?) and post a little more detail?

td_100

LittleVermin wrote: »

No-one has mentioned using Lima Gas - though at least two have talked to them as potential future customers. And only ironnick has mentioned signing up to Rose Gas, back in June 2012 - so should have a good idea by now.

Sorry - not much help but hope someone doing a web search for a cheap LPG supplier in Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Wiltshire, Dorset, Surrey, southern England (etc, etc!) finds this and can help.
..

Thanks LittleVermin, not been able to find out much on this forum about Lima however they have quoted some good prices at 42ppl variable.

LittleVermin

thozza wrote: »

Carver Gases 48.0
http://www.carvergases.co.uk/ ..

Carver Gases offer a discount off their headline price (i.e. 48.0 at present) ..but also quoted a forum user (Ace Gas Guzzler) an annual tank rental of £239.40! OK, that was for an underground tank, but was still nearly twice the next lowest, and over four times three others. That's why I never mention their prices when I make random 'transparent prices' posts. Apples and oranges.

Carver also made 5 year non-exclusive contracts - they got round the maximum 2yr domestic contracts (brought in by the Competition Commission order) by making their contracts non-exclusive - but it's unlikely other suppliers would want to undercut their price per ppl.

See a longish post from May 2012:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=52891883&postcount=1439

If things have changed, please post..and I'll be happy to revise/delete.
..
Footnote: If you've haggled a potential supplier down to the floor (their floor, not yours!) you might still be able to get them to shave a bit off the rental. It's been done. There are many ways to skin a cat.
..

dinnjo

Alba Gas is now part of J Gas. According to the owner of Alba Gas he could not get hold of sufficient gas to meet demand. I phoned J Gas and they are charging me the same as Alba Gas were. This is presently 48ppl + VAT. I am located in North Argyll in the Highlands of Scotland.

J Gas were very straightforward to deal with. The phone was answered promptly, they gave me all the answers they could and they called me back as promised with the answer to one query they didn't have an immediate answer to. They offered 4 different ways of paying which were a Budget Plan, Invoice Date + 7 days, Invoice Date + 14 days and Invoice Date +21 days. They said that they would top up about every two months which suits me.

HELENCLAIRE

dinnjo wrote: »

Alba Gas is now part of J Gas. According to the owner of Alba Gas he could not get hold of sufficient gas to meet demand. I phoned J Gas and they are charging me the same as Alba Gas were. This is presently 48ppl + VAT. I am located in North Argyll in the Highlands of Scotland.

If I had not been joing a local LPG Scheme, JGas would have been my other choice. Excellent communication, straight forward answers, independant family run company..I was quoted 42ppl and live in the Kelso area. Use roughly 2,5000 litres.

New2lpg

Hi, I've just moved into a house in West Sussex and am new to bulk tanks. Currently have avanti gas tank in my garden which holds 1000L . The previous owner paid for his gas once it had been delivered. I would much rather pay each month on a direct debit. Just wondering how they work out your usage? Our price so far is 45ppl. Is this good? Thanks

AdrianC

New2lpg wrote: »

Hi, I've just moved into a house in West Sussex and am new to bulk tanks. Currently have avanti gas tank in my garden which holds 1000L . The previous owner paid for his gas once it had been delivered. I would much rather pay each month on a direct debit. Just wondering how they work out your usage?

Guesstimation, until you've got something better to go by...

Calor have put us onto £60/mo DD, and it seems to be balancing out so far.

LittleVermin

New2lpg wrote: »

Hi, I've just moved into a house in West Sussex and am new to bulk tanks. Currently have avanti gas tank in my garden which holds 1000L . The previous owner paid for his gas once it had been delivered. I would much rather pay each month on a direct debit. Just wondering how they work out your usage? Our price so far is 45ppl. Is this good? Thanks

Welcome to the forum - and the wonderful world of LPG.

Too much stuff to read on this thread but:
1. the tank is owned by Avantigas - but (unless you've already signed an exclusive 2 yr contract) you're free to find another supplier who'll (usually) buy the tank off them. I hope Avanti told you this - even if previous owner didn't. If you put your postcode in the LPG trade association website www.uklpg.org you'll find which of their members supply your area. Of the independents it might include Rose Gas, Lima and HBS. When you negotiate you say you want to pay by DD (they want to sell you gas!).
2. Average usage is around 2,500l p.a. (according to helpful industry people who sometimes post) - but people here say they use from 1,000 to 6,000! Avanti will know how much the previous owners used, even if the latter didn't tell you.
3. 45ppl is OK - see HateLPG's chart and recent prices posted. 'Unfortunately' the majors have a generous habit of giving fantastic introductory offers - which independents can't match - then clawing it all back during the second year. Lots of posts on this. Lots of posts on contracts too... Your call.