Bulk LPG - Cheapest suppliers / supply route?

Sorting_Hat

While I think of it. Check the location of the tanks. If its say a barn conversion and the tanks are on adjacent land make sure its clear who owns that land.  Sometimes developers+ the initial installing firm tie the land where the tanks are up in legal leases&cobwebs that makes switching suppliers very hard unless a potential incoming supplier has a big enough legal dept to unravel it all.

Similarly if its individual tanks and say your tank is in someone else's garden (yes really) all fine until neighbours fall out and presto you cant get gas delivered.

Gambler

Sorting_Hat said:

Yes its not a budget option. In normal times LPG is around a 3rd more expensive.
If by communal supply I guess its a metered estate? So you will pay a yearly meter charge.  Also make sure you are joining an existing umbrella agreement so are paying the same as all the rest living there and with the same end date of that agreement so you can all negotiate en-masse for the next 2 year contract.  You will be talking with your neighbours about gas a lot.

Thanks. A third ties in with a report I found (few years old).

https://www.calor.co.uk/-/media/sites/greatbritain/pdfs/new-build-heating-cost-comparison-250419_v4.pdf

It shouldn't be too bad as I'm hoping usage will be low due to being a modern efficient house. So the extra for LPG may be worth it for the views alone.

Gambler

Sorting_Hat said:

While I think of it. Check the location of the tanks. If its say a barn conversion and the tanks are on adjacent land make sure its clear who owns that land.  Sometimes developers+ the initial installing firm tie the land where the tanks are up in legal leases&cobwebs that makes switching suppliers very hard unless a potential incoming supplier has a big enough legal dept to unravel it all.

Similarly if its individual tanks and say your tank is in someone else's garden (yes really) all fine until neighbours fall out and presto you cant get gas delivered.

It's a modern housing estate. Like I said I was quite surprised. Thought it may have been air source pumps but looks like LPG is a lot cheaper for the developers to install.

I've also viewed another property (individual new build) which is up in the sticks. This time I was pleasantly surprised to see it is actually connected to mains gas but the builder has installed underfloor heating on the ground floor and vertical rads on the first floor.

JerryW

Gambler said:

I'm going to view a house on a fairly new (18 months) estate on Saturday and was shocked to notice that they are on LPG. I'm assuming it's a communal supply but will check at the viewing.

Been scouring the web trying to find current prices without much luck. Some sources are stating LPG costs twice as much as normal gas.

Just wondering what people's real world experiences are.

Thanks

Looking through the last few pages here will give you a feel for lpg prices. for a metered estate I would hope to get 35p/l or less, fixed. The problem probably will be that whatever you get will be completely outside your direct control. It will be all down to whoever is in charge of the central contract.

QrizB

Gambler said:

Been scouring the web trying to find current prices without much luck. Some sources are stating LPG costs twice as much as normal gas.

A litre of LPG contains roughly 7kWh of energy. If it costs 42p, that's 6p/kWh.

The current Ofgem capped price for NG is around 4p/kWh but that's less than the current (unusually high) wholesale price of around 7p/kWh. Domestic NG suppliers are having to supply at a loss vs. the commodity price.

Mister_G

I currently pay 33ppl for LPG.  That works out at 5.5p/kWh, using the Notts Energy data Energy Cost Comparison – Nottingham Energy Partnership (nottenergy.com)

mcmullank

Mister_G said:

I currently pay 33ppl for LPG.  That works out at 5.5p/kWh, using the Notts Energy data Energy Cost Comparison – Nottingham Energy Partnership (nottenergy.com)

I find that article rather strange in that it states that LPG has a lower energy conent than Propane or Butane when the vast majority of LPG is provided using a combination of these two gasses.

Mister_G

mcmullank said:

Mister_G said:

I currently pay 33ppl for LPG.  That works out at 5.5p/kWh, using the Notts Energy data Energy Cost Comparison – Nottingham Energy Partnership (nottenergy.com)

I find that article rather strange in that it states that LPG has a lower energy conent than Propane or Butane when the vast majority of LPG is provided using a combination of these two gasses.

Yes, I agree.

I can't seem to find a definitive answer.  I don't know if the propane/butane mix varies depending on which refinery it comes from.

Sorting_Hat

QrizB said:

Gambler said:

Been scouring the web trying to find current prices without much luck. Some sources are stating LPG costs twice as much as normal gas.

A litre of LPG contains roughly 7kWh of energy. If it costs 42p, that's 6p/kWh.

The current Ofgem capped price for NG is around 4p/kWh but that's less than the current (unusually high) wholesale price of around 7p/kWh. Domestic NG suppliers are having to supply at a loss vs. the commodity price.

Dont forget that all the Ofgem type stuff does not apply to LPG as LPG is ungoverned by Ofgem.

QrizB

Sorting_Hat said:

QrizB said:

Gambler said:

Been scouring the web trying to find current prices without much luck. Some sources are stating LPG costs twice as much as normal gas.

A litre of LPG contains roughly 7kWh of energy. If it costs 42p, that's 6p/kWh.

The current Ofgem capped price for NG is around 4p/kWh but that's less than the current (unusually high) wholesale price of around 7p/kWh. Domestic NG suppliers are having to supply at a loss vs. the commodity price.

Dont forget that all the Ofgem type stuff does not apply to LPG as LPG is ungoverned by Ofgem.

I don't think anyone suggested it did? The question was whether LPG is more expensive than NG, and if so by how much.