Bulk LPG - Cheapest suppliers / supply route?

NeilJ66

I've just been through the usual 2 yearly process of getting quotes as my existing contract with Flogas just expired. So far I have the following replies from suppliers in my area (North Wales):
Calor: not taking on new customers
Cam Gas: also not taking on new customers
Avanti: 38p in Year 1, variable in Year 2.
Flogas: 47.5p in Year 1, variable in Year 2. When I told them the Avanti quote they said they would do a 24 month fix at 47.5p.
LPG Save: Offered a Flogas contract at 44p in Year 1 with a 3p price cap in Year 2 (which they were keen to point out is a special term and supercedes Flogas's standard contract term of a 12p cap in Year 2).

I've gone back to Avanti and asked if they will do anything fixed for the Year 2 price but they've not responded yet. With the current state of the world and energy prices I'm reluctant to sign up to a variable price in Year 2, so the LPG Save quote is currently looking favourite. My current Flogas contract was costing me 40p so I guess a 10% increase this year is not too bad considering what's happened to the general gas & electricity market prices.

If Avanti ever get back to me I'll post an update.

Regards
Neil

Mister_G

Over the past few years mine has been:

June 2015 - September 2019  30ppl
September 2019 - June 2021 33ppl
December 2021 38ppl

So certainly a large recent increase - but still cheaper per kWh that mains gas is going to!

I am with a small local independent and no contract.

JerryW

collectors said:

Hi, has anyone been charged more as yet for LPG. I am on a supposed fixed price for the next 18 months, But i am sure Flogas & many others will find a way around it. I am down to 40% on my tank & wasn't sure if to get a top up now. n 

The LPG industry seems to be curiously immune to the recent hike in world energy prices, and I have no idea why that would be. Russia does provide gas and some lpg is made from gas. Oil for central heating has gone up a lot.

I have not heard of any supplier trying to ditch a fixed price contract, so far. Of course anyone can renege on a contractual agreement at any time, but there are remedies for that and they would not fare well in (eg) the small claims court

Cheery_Daff

We're currently out of contract with Avanti, and they're charging us 43.9ppl I've tried ringing round before but only managed to get Calor and Aventis to quote - we need a small tanker because of location and the others (can't remember who know) wouldn't guarantee that they could send one (stupid really - no point sending a large one!)

I've been meaning to fix again for about 2 years and never got round to it... we've got a delivery due this week, but I might ring round again and try to fix after that - can't imagine prices are going to go down... 

Poundnote

collectors said:

Hi, has anyone been charged more as yet for LPG. I am on a supposed fixed price for the next 18 months, But i am sure Flogas & many others will find a way around it. I am down to 40% on my tank & wasn't sure if to get a top up now. n 

Calor attempted to increase mine to 51p/litre in November 2021 which I rejected and gave notice to terminate contract. Still in the supplier switch proces for many reasons as Calor will not answer any correspondence.

Cheery_Daff

Cheery_Daff said:

We're currently out of contract with Avanti, and they're charging us 43.9ppl I've tried ringing round before but only managed to get Calor and Aventis to quote - we need a small tanker because of location and the others (can't remember who know) wouldn't guarantee that they could send one (stupid really - no point sending a large one!)

I've been meaning to fix again for about 2 years and never got round to it... we've got a delivery due this week, but I might ring round again and try to fix after that - can't imagine prices are going to go down... 

Right - Avanti offered a 2 year contract - 47ppl fixed for 12 months, variable in second 12 months. 
Calor not taking on new customers
Local independent (no contract) currently charging 50.9ppl

Not going to bother fixing with Avanti now - we won't need another tank til about July so I'll ring round then (and probably regret not fixing now but never mind!)

scoobydoob

Hi, I get LPG bulk propane on a metered estate. When we moved to this house last summer I had to take out a 2 year contract with the estate LPG provider. The agreement price was 35.5 ppl. Since then there have been two "temporary surcharges" bringing the price up to 45 ppl and the standing charge has also gone up 5p per day. 
I appreciate the price of all fuels have risen sharply recently, but it seems unfair that I had to commit to a 2 year contract but they can just change the price when they feel like it?

markmorgan

Just had a letter from FloGas this morning introducing a "variable surcharge on all bulk deliveries of LPG" starting 16th March.  The amount starts at £50 per delivery but is, as it states, variable.

So, if you are on an auto top-up contract does that mean they could turn up monthly to rack up the bills?  

Maybe this is more related to the current diesel prices as it is a per delivery charge?  But the letter specifically refers to the "increases in the wholesale cost of energy".

JerryW

markmorgan said:

Just had a letter from FloGas this morning introducing a "variable surcharge on all bulk deliveries of LPG" starting 16th March.  The amount starts at £50 per delivery but is, as it states, variable.

So, if you are on an auto top-up contract does that mean they could turn up monthly to rack up the bills?  

Maybe this is more related to the current diesel prices as it is a per delivery charge?  But the letter specifically refers to the "increases in the wholesale cost of energy".

Things will get worse before they get better, imo. what does your contract say? Is that allowed, or not? If not you can terminate and go elsewhere, if you can find somewhere better.

As for the auto top up thing, you would have to ask Flogas. I won't touch them with a bargepole as I prefer them to deliver when I want, not when they want.

Rhino666

markmorgan said:

Just had a letter from FloGas this morning introducing a "variable surcharge on all bulk deliveries of LPG" starting 16th March.  The amount starts at £50 per delivery but is, as it states, variable.

So, if you are on an auto top-up contract does that mean they could turn up monthly to rack up the bills?  

Maybe this is more related to the current diesel prices as it is a per delivery charge?  But the letter specifically refers to the "increases in the wholesale cost of energy".

I got a similar letter. I am out of contract with them and had asked someone to call me months ago. They have given me 14 days to renew with a price increase from 37ppl to 57ppl, fixed for 6 months.
Strangely the price increase does not happen until 1/4/22 and the surcharge on 16/3/22. I am in a queue on the phone now to speak to them, currently 8th in queue and 1 hour 10 min hold so far. Somehow hoping to get an order in before the brown stuff hits the fan