Bulk LPG - Cheapest suppliers / supply route?

JerryW

CircuitW1zard said:

Quote back from Calor is coming in at 39ppl fixed for the entire 2 yrs. Avanti came back with 31ppl in yr1 but variable in yr2. 

My thoughts are that the Avanti one will claw back any savings in yr2 and that the stability of the Calor offer is probably best for our estate.

Not yet heard from other suppliers.

My last contract with Avanti, they confirmed to me in writing that the maximum increase in year 2 would be 3p and they were as good as their word, that time anyway. I recommend you email them and negotiate on year 2, they will have to stick with whatever they say, or void the contract.

Also don't forget LPG Save .. defo worth asking them

LittleVermin

CircuitW1zard said:

....

Not yet heard from other suppliers.

You wrote that your 30 house estate was in Berkshire. So I guess you have tried J Gas - they bought up an excellent independent (south of M4) supplier which got its supplies from Fawley. J Gas came up when I put RG1 1AA in the lpg supplier search box. Maybe also contact HBS - a small independent in Hampshire - they have an excellent reputation and low, stable prices. Someone on this forum did a community deal with HBS and got even better prices. Anyway one of their customers posts regularly on this forum (and makes us wish we lived in their area... no, I prefer to live in Cornwall!). And even Woldlink might quote? - they are a farm supplier based in Lincolnshire ...but subcontract deliveries (several of us have mentioned them. There's certainly enough fat on metered estate supplies for a major to do well from a subcontract from them!). And talk of getting a cut from a contract: several middlemen might be interested (Christmas is coming, etc...)! Good luck! ............. Maybe even Cardiff Gas.... maybe any of the indies are worth asking? 30 houses... big tanks .... cash cows...just send a big tanker down a motorway...!

RandomTask

Had my quote back from Calor - 

They offered 34p/l fixed for 2 years. £66 a year standing charge. 

So my worries about wholesale gas prices affecting LPG seem unfounded thankfully. 

Out of interest, based on my neighbours experience, his overground tank was due for renewal, any idea if this is covered by the LPG supplier, and if not how much they would charge for a new 1000L overground tank? 

LittleVermin

RandomTask said:

<....snip....>

Out of interest, based on my neighbours experience, his overground tank was due for renewal, any idea if this is covered by the LPG supplier, and if not how much they would charge for a new 1000L overground tank? 

If the tank is owned by his supplier they replace it when they wish, but must do the tests/refit every 10 years. My tank is over 30 years old ..and gained a bunch of shiny new fittings a few months ago. The cost would have been c. £600 I was told by the engineer (was that just for parts - or did it include his time?).

If you change supplier the incoming one can either buy the tank off the outgoing one (there is a formula laid down by the Competition Commission / Competition and Markets Authority) or install a new one. The idea behind the max 2yr contract and tank take-over was to increase competition, speed up change-overs and generally loosen the (so-called) market. The major suppliers fought against all liberalisation (check out the docs in the govt archive! LOTS of redaction.). But the process has gone in reverse with the majors buying up the independents.

Juleszoemay

We did look into getting on the mains gas system - quote was £74,622.17 and its only 6 houses away   

We used LPG save and they helped tremendously, got us a better deal than Flogas were offering direct, which makes zero sense.

But then again neither does the fact we are on 36ppl at home, but my husband also on Flogas could only get his new contract at 55ppl because the more you buy the more you pay..... strange business model!!

Sultana12345

Hello.   
We have a 2 year fixed price supply agreement with our LPG supplier.   They have emailed us stating that they will immediately be applying a 8.6ppl 'special levy' to all accounts, including those with a price cap.    
I've checked the contract and. An see no clause allowing this.  
Has anyone else experienced the same? And any advice on how to push back? Thanks

Sorting_Hat

Thats Interesting, should we all expect that? Who is your supplier?

JerryW

Sultana12345 said:

Hello.   
We have a 2 year fixed price supply agreement with our LPG supplier.   They have emailed us stating that they will immediately be applying a 8.6ppl 'special levy' to all accounts, including those with a price cap.    
I've checked the contract and. An see no clause allowing this.  
Has anyone else experienced the same? And any advice on how to push back? Thanks

All my recent contracts (Avanti, Flogas) included a clause permitting unlimited price rises caused by increases in the price of gas .. or would have, if I had not carefully deleted them.

You can easily push back by complaining about it, politely but in writing. You can also give your opinion that their action voids the contract, and leaves you free to go elsewhere. Assuming the contract does not allow it, of course.

Sultana12345

It's a relatively small independent fuel supplier in Cumbria re the 8.6ppl special levy. 

Below is the text from their letter.  In their defence they do say that they will reduce future prices "IF"... But that takes quite a lot of trust in quite an opaque pricing system.

"As you will have heard, seen and read in the news over the past days and weeks, the global energy supply chain has endured an unprecedented situation where wholesale prices have risen beyond any expectations, trends or calculations. Therefore, regrettably, we have been obliged to implement a temporary levy to cover these extraordinary increases in gas prices. This has to be with immediate effect and it has been an extremely difficult decision to make, but due to higher than normal summer time prices, it remained our only option in the run up to the winter heating system. The levy increase will be 5.8ppl plus VAT and will be listed separately on your invoice. This levy has had to be applied to all of our customers, even those in a fixed price supply agreement. If wholesale prices show a sign of restabilising we will immediateley reduce the levy accordingly, and should wholesale prices fall below levels that were initially expected for this winter, we will reduce your fixed price to below the agreed prices in your supply agreement on order to try an doffset those increase which were initially beyond our control. Yours sincerely"

Sorting_Hat

That sounds temporary as long as prices are high and would be removed when prices subside. Its not a blanket price rise, rather a way of coping with an exceptional circumstance. When no -one was flying and refineries had stopped/slowed production due to nobody using the road/aviation fuel that started a shortage that was met with pricier imports.