Bulk LPG - Cheapest suppliers / supply route?

mcmullank

molokoid wrote: »

Hi all,

Moved into a house in Jan that has a bulk LPG tank, which was previously supplied (and the tank is owned by) Calor. The contract they were really keen for me to sign was quite a restrictive lock in one and after speaking and a bit of negotiating they dropped the standing charge and discounted the pence per litre by 12%. This only made me sceptical that they had a lot of fat in the price anyway and there seems to be limited information available on the net about bulk lpg supply (lots of websites that will find you the cheapest supply for a fee!). Seems to be crying out for a MSE article if there are enough bulk lpg owners out there.

Anyway, i read that there is some sort of regulation coming into the market which allows me to choose the supplier i wish and in turn they buy the tank off the previous owners. This seems to be a more market competitive way of doing it, but i can't find out when this is due to happen.

Are there any bulk lpg owners out there that can give me some advice?

TIA

It has already happened, it was part of the remedies in 2008 that were introduced when the 2006 investigation was concluded. You can find the actual order here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/55194c0ae5274a142e000365/lpg_order_final.pdf

In short, if you are not in contract with any supplier (including the taking over of a property which has an existing tank), you can choose any supplier and they will either:
a) take over your existing tank if it is compliant with current regulations or ;
b) provide a quote for making the tank compliant

and contract you for a maximum of 2 years.

[Deleted User]

molokoid_TEN_YEARS_AGO wrote: »

Moved into a house in Jan that has a bulk LPG tank....

mcmullank wrote: »

It has already happened it was part of the remedies in 2008

I think the poster you replied to will already be well aware of the changes, the post you quoted is from June 2008 :T

mcmullank

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

I think the poster you replied to will already be well aware of the changes, the post you quoted is almost ten years old:T

Oops, that's what happens when this site keeps switching between old and new format!!! :doh:

Anyway, the point still stands...

[Deleted User]

mcmullank wrote: »

that's what happens when this site keeps switching between old and new format!!!

First I've heard of that one. I switched to the new format some years back and I've not seen the old one since...

mcmullank

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

First I've heard of that one. I switched to the new format some years back and I've not seen the old one since...

Well here is a little image for you to reminisce.

[Deleted User]

mcmullank wrote: »

Well here is a little image for you to reminisce.

Yeah, a blast from the past for me...

AdrianC

Oooh, yes. That's what it looked like... I was wondering the other day.

LadyDee

AdrianC wrote: »

Top lesson for additional question to ask during next year's "how much?" ring-around...

"How long will it take to get a delivery if we've completely run out?"
Ooops.
Calor are sticking to their 3-5 days. The order was first thing Weds morning. <edit: Delivered! First thing Sun am>

We can't have a telemetry auto-order doofer, because we've got no mobile signal at all. And I'm an idiot who didn't check the gauge, because he was sure it wouldn't be getting low yet.

Don't feel bad about not checking the oil, because some years ago when I was on oil I was checking the gauge regularly. Thought "this is lasting well" (I was new to oil), only to find out on Christmas Eve that I had run out, this was the year that the country was frozen ice everywhere, daughter in Australia so nowhere to go. The gauge had stuck half-way! I spent that Christmas wearing so many layers I couldn't move. The tanker couldn't get to me for about a week due to the bad weather. I was in tears when they eventually got through. I think I actually did give the chap a hug!

LittleVermin

Thanks to

Gavin_Livingstone wrote: »

<snip> Quotes as below:
Calor: 34ppl fixed 12 months, max 3.5ppl increase every 3 months in 2nd year, plus £250 free gas
Countrywide (via LPG Compare): 34ppl fixed 12 months, max 7p increase in 2nd year, plus £150 free gas
Extrafuel: 33ppl fixed 12 months, max 3.5ppl increase every 6 months in 2nd year
Flogas (via LPG-Save): 38ppl fixed 12 months, max 5ppl increase in 2nd year, plus £125 free gas
Callow Gas: 39ppl, not fixed.
<snip>

for all these recent quotes. And to bobmac62 for keeping us all informed about Woldlink's monthly {bargain basement Flogas} tracker price

bobmac62 wrote: »

Woldlink pricing for February advised as 32.1ppl +5% VAT, down from 33.9ppl in January.

and to HateLPG for all the charts so we can compare what we pay our suppliers with what the suppliers pay (there are very few refineries producing LPG in the UK)

HateLPG wrote: »

<snip> some new figures, so here goes.






Click Graph for larger version
As always, Hope these are of use.

Enjoy
:beer:

.

From http://www.uklpg.org I saw that Avantigas and J Gas (which took over the excellent Lima Gas based in Southampton) were also potential suppliers for my postcode..... but I didn't bother to contact these two and just sent an email to Extra Fuel quoting the prices posted by Gavin L and Bob M and saying these were far lower than the out-of-contract price I was being quoted - with the obvious implication that I was prepared to move. And adding that I was happy with Extra Fuel (YES, when I ring up .... which I very rarely do.... I speak to a human. With a name. A name I recognise from previous emails or conversations.)

Result! 33ppl for 12 months, max 3.5ppl rise per 6 months. £75 annual rental above ground (covering all bits on the tank). LPG delivered by Flogas.

Yes, I'm sure I could have made a spreadsheet, used my annual consumption figures ...and shaved a few pounds off. But I prefer to spend my time on other things. AND I know I wouldn't trust some of the suppliers .... just read previous posts from quite a few different people! Remember HateLPG got a refund from Calor of nearly £1000 some years ago when he worked out how much they had overcharged him (above his contract). And Flogas has just given an old lady in Pembrokeshire £400 of 'free' gas - after vastly overcharging her AND making it hard to switch. Yes, Flogas is proud to be the supplier of gas to Prince Charles and they also got on the Beeb with the story about the 90 year old lady in Pembrokeshire - maybe not so proud of the latter?
(see earlier post by HateLPG).
..

Mister_G

Just ordered 1000l of LPG from my local independent, HBS. Still at 30ppl + VAT.