Bulk LPG - Cheapest suppliers / supply route?

Mister_G

You may find that the HSE have a bearing on this.
https://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/lpg/separationdistances.htm

mitchelkitman

I think you'll find that's for industrial. Whether it is on not, it shouldn't be applied retrospectively. How would you take it if your 5-year-old car was 'outlawed' due to not meeting a new emission rule, although it is within the rules for when it was built. "You need a new engine sir, or you can only buy your petrol from BP, and they can charge what they like, you can, of course, try to haggle" - would that be acceptable?
Not intending to be personal (just an conservation) but maybe you just roll over and do whatever people tell you to? My late Father fought in WW2, so I was brought up to defend my corner.  

mitchelkitman

JerryW said:

mitchelkitman said:

This is a Cartel they are running. ....

Well, certainly this is an industry that could be more competitive than it is. But it is better than it used to be.
I'm sorry to hear of the problems you've had but they are solvable, and I know this because I had the same problems. What I did was:

1. telephone calor and ask to speak to a sales representative. Tell them you have had a much cheaper quote from ... - all of them will quote, even if the tank subsequently fails a survey. Actually it is best to have the survey, and thus find out exactly how and where the tank fails.

2. Agree the best price you can with calor, and then tell them that in order to sign a contract, the tank will have to be made fully compliant with current regulations. Note: THEY HAVE A LEGAL OBLIGATION TO DO THIS! - It is their tank, I am assuming, after all. If you aren't renting it from them, as most do, but own the tank, you must sort that yourself ..

3. At my request Calor sent someone to survey the tank, they agreed with me, they replaced the tank and moved it to a compliant location and what is more, replaced all of the pipework between the tank and the house. I had to provide a concrete bed to secure the tank to, but that is all.

My advice would be not to get emotional or frustrated about it (as you did in your post), they are just ordinary people like you and me, doing a daily job. Calor engineers are decent people. Learn the regulations, and hold the supplier to them. Don't take any nonsense, but be polite... Put your problem-soving hat on, good luck and do let us know how you get on ..

Thanks for you helpful comments. We cannot negotiate with them (we tried a year ago) THEY dictate the price.
There is nowhere the tanks can go and be compliant. Underground is a problem as evidenced by others with a high water table being told their tanks need renewing and they (customer) having to pay for excavation every 10 years.

cairndog

mitchelkitman said:

Glad you were satisfied with your outcome. ours can't be moved to another position. This 'compliance' all part of their 'game' to get more money out of us! there is no law (only guidelines) that says the tanks have to be 3m from anything. Ther is nothing wrong with the position they are in (try telling me otherwise, when they have been there 30 years and not gone bang, despite leaking on 2 occassions). Also try to convince me 1m to properties/fence or 3m will make any difference - if they go bang they'll take the whole village with them! Dramatics aside, they make the rules up as they go along, as they do with the price. I can see I'll have to go to the ombudsman. BTW you best agreed price, was it fixed? variable? in the 35p to 45p or the pensioner's 60p rate?

I find your thoughts reashuring, I had never considered that there is no law, only HSE Guidance. Our tank has also been in same place,( and was recently replaced by Calor), 20+ years and they seem ok with this.

Mister_G

mitchelkitman said:

I think you'll find that's for industrial. Whether it is on not, it shouldn't be applied retrospectively. How would you take it if your 5-year-old car was 'outlawed' due to not meeting a new emission rule, although it is within the rules for when it was built. "You need a new engine sir, or you can only buy your petrol from BP, and they can charge what they like, you can, of course, try to haggle" - would that be acceptable?
Not intending to be personal (just an conservation) but maybe you just roll over and do whatever people tell you to? My late Father fought in WW2, so I was brought up to defend my corner.  

If you look back at my posts on here over the past 9 years you will see that I was in a similar situation with Calor.  I got them to relocate and replace a tank that they installed back in 1983 under a 11kV power line.  It was only when the rules changed to allow you to shop around every two years, that they finally agreed to move it at their expense including moleing in 30m of pipe.
Fortunately I had a suitable alternative location, but after two years they tried putting the price up beyond the contracted amount.
I left them for a local independent who charged me 30ppl (just gone up to 33ppl after 4 years)  rather than the 45ppl that Calor were charging at the time.

So no, I do not just "roll over", and yes, my late father also fought in WW2.

Badger04

Hi everyone, I am just about to renegotiate my contract with flogas, or switch supplier.
I have renewed a couple of times with flogas as honestly their service has been good and their prices have been competitive. They have never tried to put the price up beyond the second year limit. The automatic top up has worked well and they have stopped refills as I asked them to wait until after renegotiation.
My question is has anyone. renegotiated since the dramatic fall in crude prices. Friends on oil have filled up with as low as 17pence per litre over the last 6 weeks.
I am paying 39 pence per litre. This was originally renegotiated at 34 pence per litre plus 5 pence per litre uplift for second year of contract.I live in Dorset and if anyone knows what independents operate here I would be grateful to know.

Andrew1066

I would also be interested in the response to this question Badger, similarly neighbours with oil all currently refilling. 

I went with Flogas too, almost two years ago, I am in Hampshire. 

33PPL and 5p cap year two. 

I asked for the price for a refill recently, still  38p there’s a surprise despite price falls.  

I am waiting until my contract ends and will purchase cheaper elsewhere and refill then. 

Mister_G

I know that HBS cover most of Hampshire, but don't think they go as far a Dorset.  There is JGas at Southampton, they may go that far.
I currently pay 33ppl, as mentioned in my post above yours.

Ozzysmate

Badger04 said:

I am paying 39 pence per litre. This was originally renegotiated at 34 pence per litre plus 5 pence per litre uplift for second year of contract.I live in Dorset and if anyone knows what independents operate here I would be grateful to know.

If you search through this thread I think you'll find Mole Valley Farmers cooperative supply to the SW, or just give them a call.

LucyBe

Hi,
We recently purchased a property in Suffolk/ Cambridgeshire borders.  There don't seem to be any independent suppliers around here for bulk LPG, only Avanti, FloGas and Calor. If any one lives in the area and is aware of an independent supplier please let me know if there are independent suppliers as they seem to offer better prices/ contract terms than the big players.  Also I would be glad to hear from anyone who has recently renewed a contract within East Anglia, what prices they paid/ were quoted.  I note the main players seem very reluctant to publish current prices and most of the supposed comparison sites talk about price reductions achieved rather than actual pricing.