Bulk LPG - Cheapest suppliers / supply route?

Mister_G

BruceBobby said:

Mister_G said:

Sorting_Hat said:

Mister_G said:

Sorting_Hat said:

Mister_G said:

Well it looks like the recent gas price increases have finally hit the LPG market.

I've just filled up (1000 litres) at 38ppl, that's 5ppl more than earlier in the year.

That works out at 6.3p/kWh, which I suppose is still a lot better than the current wholesale prices!

At least I don't have to pay a daily service charge!

Do HBS not charge you to rent their tank from them? Ive heard of another independent that does similar. 
Rare though.

No, they don't.  I also do not have a fixed term contract with them.

As you know the exclusivity period is the 2 years ie the bit where you cant switch. After that all agreements become in effect rolling contracts (ie its still their tank and only they can fill) but your free to switch if you want. Mostly at this stage LPG firms would put you on a variable rate.

Yes, having had LPG for the past 38 years, I know how it is supposed to work.

I've never had a contract or agreement with them (no paperwork and nothing signed).  Yes. it is a variable rate but I must admit this is the first time that it has gone up recently.

We have a buying group in the village and we have managed to secure preferential rates.

Hello Mister_G - did you have a contract for the first 2 years or are you saying that you have always just called HBS when you needed to fill the tank (no contract/no paperwork/nothing else at all)?
Asking because I am about to move to a property served by a LPG underground tank and I would like to avoid to rely on Calor/Flogas/Avanti if possible after reading many complaints about their contracts and standards here and there.

No, no contract.  Just call when I need gas and they usually deliver within a week, their depot is only 3 miles from me.  I've been with them about 10 years now.

We get through 2500-3000 litres a year.

Being a small local independent, they seem to look after their customers better than the large nationals.

philtrick123

Mister_G if you don't have a contract with anyone- who is responsible for the tank checks/safety? I'm surprised someone will fill it without there being an 'owner' of the tank. 
https://www.liquidgasuk.org/faqs/can-i-own-my-own-bulk-lpg-tank
If its your tank, did you buy it or was it abandoned by an LPG supplier. Do you have insurance for the tank, are you completing the mandatory checks?
 

Mister_G

philtrick123 said:

Mister_G if you don't have a contract with anyone- who is responsible for the tank checks/safety? I'm surprised someone will fill it without there being an 'owner' of the tank. 
https://www.liquidgasuk.org/faqs/can-i-own-my-own-bulk-lpg-tank
If its your tank, did you buy it or was it abandoned by an LPG supplier. Do you have insurance for the tank, are you completing the mandatory checks?
 

The tank is owned by HBS.  They acquired it from Calor when I moved away from them about 10 years ago.

They carry out all the necessary inspections and maintenance (I can confirm that they have been doing it).

I assume that the cost of this is incorporated in the gas ppl price.

BruceBobby

Thanks Mister_G, I will give them a call and see what they say. My position is not as ''strong'' as yours though given that I won't be too close to their depot (but their website says ''wherever you live...'' so that shouldn't be an issue I hope) and it would be just one single customer ie myself, not a buying group like you mentioned or something like that. Will let you know what they say, cheers.

Mister_G

I believe that they only deliver in a 30 mile radius from their base in Chilbolton, Hampshire.

BruceBobby

Mister_G said:

I believe that they only deliver in a 30 mile radius from their base in Chilbolton, Hampshire.

You were right about this, they told me I am too far away unfortunately. Have found another local firm though, not far from me - will try my luck with them. Thanks again for your advice.

Lumphammer2

I am with Flogas and on their telemetry system.  I ordered a full tank in late November in good time before my 2 year contract expired.  When I chased up delivery, telling them that I has ordered in plenty of time before the end of my contract, they assured me I would be charged at the fixed contract price even if delivery was after the end of the contract because I had ordered prior.  I was 55% full at the time.  They said they were prioritising customers with low levels.  Today I chased up again with 30% in my tank - and they estimate delivery on 14th Jan and blamed unplanned maintenance at a refinery which would affect all LPG suppliers and that customers with very low tanks would be prioritised.

Should I be worried?  What price do you think I will be charged?!!

JerryW

Lumphammer2 said:

...
Should I be worried?  What price do you think I will be charged?!!

The only worry will be running out of gas. Flogas are often not prompt at this busy time of year. If you were at 55% late Nov and are 30% now you are using maybe 20%/month so need a top up before the end of Jan. My advice would be to phone them on 15th Jan if the delivery has not arrived. Speak to a real person, record their name and time of call, and generally press them a little, politely of course, to actually deliver..

As for the cost, I would be confident of getting Flogas to honour the contract if the order was placed before it expired. Did you get 3m free credit as well? If not you should have, although having the contract finish might affect that.

All this changes of course, if your new deal is cheaper! Though in current circumstances that would be surprising..

LittleVermin

Lumphammer2 said:

I am with Flogas <snip>  Today I chased up again with 30% in my tank - and they estimate delivery on 14th Jan and blamed unplanned maintenance at a refinery which would affect all LPG suppliers and that customers with very low tanks would be prioritised.

Should I be worried?  <snip>

Yep, I'd back up the advice Jerry gave: talk to a real human, get their name (but it will probably only be a first name) and note the time of the call. BUT I'd also send an email - with a 'read receipt request' - and a request for an answer. Why? Because though we hear "this call will be recorded..." or some such all the time we have also been told "Oh no, we just record the times of the calls, not the content"...and firms have used this to slither out of what was said, and agreed, about prices, contracts, deliveries in phone calls. Something about catching greased pigs comes to mind! Happy (and warm) New Year!

Oh yes - next month may be rather colder (it's about 13 C down here in Cornwall right now!) and I've remembered what happened when there was a big freeze-up quite a few years back. People's tanks ran dry all over the UK. Flogas put their sales team answering delivery requests, ..doh....! But they (and other companies) learnt and the next winter freeze-up the tankers went round putting enough LPG in tanks to let people get by. And they redeployed engineers to drive the tankers so tankers were in operation all hours, etc, etc ...so (as far as I know) everyone was OK - well, no major complaints on this forum. [With oil you can get your tank emptied in the early hours, with LPG you can get your tank filled in the early hours! Well, maybe not filled exactly!]

mcmullank

JerryW said:

Lumphammer2 said:

...
Should I be worried?  What price do you think I will be charged?!!

The only worry will be running out of gas. Flogas are often not prompt at this busy time of year. If you were at 55% late Nov and are 30% now you are using maybe 20%/month so need a top up before the end of Jan. My advice would be to phone them on 15th Jan if the delivery has not arrived. Speak to a real person, record their name and time of call, and generally press them a little, politely of course, to actually deliver..

As for the cost, I would be confident of getting Flogas to honour the contract if the order was placed before it expired. Did you get 3m free credit as well? If not you should have, although having the contract finish might affect that.

All this changes of course, if your new deal is cheaper! Though in current circumstances that would be surprising..

I am sure the 3months credit was for October orders only.