Bulk LPG - Cheapest suppliers / supply route?

Poundnote

mcmullank wrote: »

Regardless of what they say, Calor do not have a standard rate. If you asked 30 people on here that are with Calor, I would guess none of them are on 56p.

My response was to answer the original poster's question and not intended to be a debate on whether or not Calor has a standard rate. This is what Calor told me and I have no reason to doubt it.

chubbs85240

Daveso wrote: »

Very interested into what people are paying in Scotland for this.
We are in East Lothian and being charged 57.26ppl by J Gas for Propane/LPG and no sign of it decreasing due to falling energy prices.
Competition here seems to be very limited so J Gas have a captive market with no incentive to bring down prices.
Any Scottish comments welcome.

Firstly, I live in Aberdeenshire


There is not a lack of competition, most of the major suppliers will supply you. Just phone and ask!


I switched 2 years ago to Avanti Gas, and have just been in touch with them about renewing (as well as checking out some competition.)


I phoned Avanti, told them to renew I would need them to beat a price of 38 pence per litre fixed for year 1

They agreed to this, by offering 37 ppl fixed for 1 year and variable in year 2.


I then asked if they could give me a fixed rate for year 2 and the offered 40.5 ppl + £75 off my yearly bill


I use around 3,500 litres per year, so this works out at around 38 ppl in year 2.


I then phoned Calor, who said they would match that if I moved and give me £100 off my bill.


However, I have opted to stay with Avanti as I am around £250 in debit, so would have to clear that first, and to be honest, I am pretty happy with Avanti's service etc.


Hope this helps someone as this site was where I picked up my knowledge to haggle prices, otherwise I'd probably still be paying 85ppl that I was in Oct 2012

mcmullank

Poundnote wrote: »

My response was to answer the original poster's question and not intended to be a debate on whether or not Calor has a standard rate. This is what Calor told me and I have no reason to doubt it.

My post was not intended as the commencement of a debate. However, if you read this thread then you will see there is plenty of reason to doubt that Calor have a standard rate.

thozza

I noticed on my way home this evening that LPG autogas at my local BP station is now at £0.56 per litre, if my maths is correct, that makes it equivalent to £0.307 before tax (take off VAT at 20% and duty of 16ppl).

Another tool in the haggling with suppliers armoury?

HateLPG

Well, as has been widely reported, wholesale prices have gone through the floor. It is good to see that at least some suppliers are passing on this reduction pretty much in its entirety.

For reference, I am also posting a graph, showing the wholesale price back to January 2005, which clearly shows just how low the current wholesale price really is.

LittleVermin

thozza wrote: »

............autogas at my local BP station is now at £0.56 per litre, if my maths is correct, that makes it equivalent to £0.307 before tax (take off VAT at 20% and duty of 16ppl)........

Birmingham Autogas have been selling at £0.43 per litre since 12th (they tweet).

They also sell bulk LPG - for domestic and industrial use. Domestic bulk LPG is 35ppl - their website says "Call for Best Price" so I did. You'll get a better price if you're a large user, and if you own your tank (otherwise rental £60 above ground, £150 underground).

They also sell 47kg cylinders for £40 (£25 deposit on their cylinders).

Supplying the Birmingham area (and further afield for big users like metered estates).

tel.: 0121 326 7171 http://www.birminghamautogas.co.uk/

....so, as thozza says, another tool in the armoury when haggling!

[PS Apologies for saying in an earlier post that independents are cheaper than major suppliers - not always so, e.g. J Gas! And also if you get quotes the majors will usually undercut the independent's quote - knowing they can get their profit back in the second year of the 2 yr contract. If necessary the majors can use their magic 'get out of contract' clause in the small print by invoking exceptional and unspecified extra costs of product or delivery.]

JCarter_2

I have just contacted Calor before my contract ends in 2 months time on the Norfolk/Suffolk border.
At present I am paying 55p + 16.15 a day rental (this was 48p originally +£100 credit in 2013)
I have now been offered 44p fixed for a year at 18.10p a day + £100 again. I did mention that Norfolklpg.co.uk transparently offer 38p.

However, I am not sure if the tanks I inherited when I moved here are within the COP1 guidelines.
There is no emergency shutoff valve fitted where the supply pipe enters the building and the tanks are installed within one meter of the boundary with my neighbour.
As the tanks were installed by Calor sometime before 2004, I think they are ignoring the non compliance as the only option would be to place in underground tanks or move to 47kg cylinders. Are they liable for the tank uplift costs?
Has anyone else had tanks installed before the new COP and had them accepted by another supplier?

J_B

JCarter wrote: »

I have just contacted Calor before my contract ends in 2 months time on the Norfolk/Suffolk border.
At present I am paying 55p + 16.15 a day rental (this was 48p originally +£100 credit in 2013)
I have now been offered 44p fixed for a year at 18.10p a day + £100 again. I did mention that Norfolklpg.co.uk transparently offer 38p.

However, I am not sure if the tanks I inherited when I moved here are within the COP1 guidelines.
There is no emergency shutoff valve fitted where the supply pipe enters the building and the tanks are installed within one meter of the boundary with my neighbour.
As the tanks were installed by Calor sometime before 2004, I think they are ignoring the non compliance as the only option would be to place in underground tanks or move to 47kg cylinders. Are they liable for the tank uplift costs?
Has anyone else had tanks installed before the new COP and had them accepted by another supplier?

Get quotes without a site visit, then call Calor's bluff -

thozza

LittleVermin wrote: »

Birmingham Autogas have been selling at £0.43 per litre since 12th (they tweet).

They also sell bulk LPG - for domestic and industrial use. Domestic bulk LPG is 35ppl

Which makes their autogas 19.8ppl before tax, compared to bulk LPG at 35ppl, which I suppose makes some sense in that you go to them for autogas, they come to you for bulk gas.

dch222

Thanks to all who have responded to my post 2376, especially to LittleVermin for that very detailed reply.


I will start looking at the options suggested and report back.