Bulk LPG - Cheapest suppliers / supply route?

Sorting_Hat

The take off for Autogas is at the bottom of the tank as it needs to be a liquid.
The take off for heating is at the top as its vapour.

Even if its not running the engine, its still liquid that needs to be drawn to fill, so its a bottom take off that is needed.

kassy64

LessImpecunious said:

markmorgan said:

kassy64 said:

Just had a letter from Flogas arrive this morning, yes, they are putting up the standing charge again (2nd time in this current contract). They quote extreme circumstances etc. My daily rate is going from 27 p per day to 41 p per day, not a massive amount in the grand scheme of things but just seems that contracts are not really being honoured (albeit only day rate has gone up on my a/c) but the good news is they have left my p per litre alone (still on 38p I think it is) but contract expires in January next year so expecting a big increase.

I have just had my letter from Flogas yesterday too - I'm sure they just make up numbers.  My standing charge has increased from 21.9ppd to 32.85ppd and the delivery surcharge they added earlier this year has increased from £50 to £75.  Both of these are exactly 50% increases.  They are already stiffing me for 82.95ppl so they have kindly not put that up LOL.

Does your contract not allow you to terminate if they put up prices excessively? For instance, my Calor contract is broken (by them) if they increase prices by more than 3.5p in any three month period...

Possibly in my case, but it’s just been the daily charge gone up and I’m not going to walk away from 38 pence per litre until the contract expires. Last time I queried the daily rate going up they said they were permitted to increase in contract prices in exceptional circumstances and quoted fuel costs/Covid etc etc

LessImpecunious

kassy64 said:

LessImpecunious said:

markmorgan said:

kassy64 said:

Just had a letter from Flogas arrive this morning, yes, they are putting up the standing charge again (2nd time in this current contract). They quote extreme circumstances etc. My daily rate is going from 27 p per day to 41 p per day, not a massive amount in the grand scheme of things but just seems that contracts are not really being honoured (albeit only day rate has gone up on my a/c) but the good news is they have left my p per litre alone (still on 38p I think it is) but contract expires in January next year so expecting a big increase.

I have just had my letter from Flogas yesterday too - I'm sure they just make up numbers.  My standing charge has increased from 21.9ppd to 32.85ppd and the delivery surcharge they added earlier this year has increased from £50 to £75.  Both of these are exactly 50% increases.  They are already stiffing me for 82.95ppl so they have kindly not put that up LOL.

Does your contract not allow you to terminate if they put up prices excessively? For instance, my Calor contract is broken (by them) if they increase prices by more than 3.5p in any three month period...

Possibly in my case, but it’s just been the daily charge gone up and I’m not going to walk away from 38 pence per litre until the contract expires. Last time I queried the daily rate going up they said they were permitted to increase in contract prices in exceptional circumstances and quoted fuel costs/Covid etc etc

My comment was meant for @markmorgan - apologies if any confusion!

LittleVermin

wwally said:

<snip>
Really makes me worry about the operation of the LPG market, and I will be writing to Ofgem about the changes that are needed.

Hi wwally, you need to contact the Competition & Markets Authority. (Ofgem has no say on LPG). The link is to the CMA ... .... AND then you can use the search box to find its adjudications, etc re LPG. Forumites have used CMA and its predecessor extensively - with good results (for LPG users, less good for the suppliers!) over the years! I haven't written to them recently so do not know who the relevant officer is - but you're welcome to mention that members of MSE Bulk LPG forum have contacted them in the past. Please post any response! https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/competition-and-markets-authority

QrizB

JerryW said:

On a separate issue, I have recently acquired a motorhome that has a refillable (Gaslow) LPG tank. It has an automatic cutoff at 80% full, and is designed to be refilled from an autogas pump.

I am wondering if it is possible to refill the tank from my own bulk supply tank. Does anyone know if that can be done?

It's definitely possible. Whether it's practical will depend on your tank, what connections it has and whether you can find a fitter who's prepared to make any necessary modifications.

(I have read that balloonists often have LPG tanks adapted to allow them to fill their cylinders. This might be an avenue worth investigating.)

LittleVermin

Equites said:

Has anyone living on a metered lpg estate renewed their contract recently and if so, what price did you get?

We are on a 50 house metered estate in NE Scotland currently served by Flogas under a umbrella agreement.
The existing 2yr deal ends next month and is 125.13p per cubic metre (32.50p per cubic litre).
As usual with Flogas the renewal letter is badly written as the renewal price quote is this "will move to 288.75" - waiting to find out if that is cubic metre or cubic litre.  And they also choose not to detail the new daily standing charge...

I used to copy the urls for comments from people on metered estates - I have not done it recently so maybe some of these forumites have exited the forum, LPG or the planet...but here's a list (HIH!):

Metered estate, Calor deal, 200+ houses, Exeter (Uptonpark, 24.01.16):
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=69979650&postcount=2608

Metered estate, Flogas deal, 37 houses, Warwickshire (routly, 28.06.13, 21.02.15):

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=62132207&postcount=2022

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=67772534&postcount=2431

Metered estate, BATA, Yorks/Lincs (If in doubt, do sums, 20.10.14, LittleVermin):

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=66790778&postcount=2347

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=66794582&postcount=2348

Metered estate, flat rent, Flogas (Millie_B, 07.03.14):
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=64904901&postcount=1

Metered estate, Flogas, ~50 houses, Taunton (tiff456, 14.02.14):
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=64699668&postcount=2235

Metered estate, Flogas, Dorset, (“Getting Flogas to back down!”) (Lpgnewbie, 05.01.14):

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=64274981&postcount=2193

 Metered estate, Calor deal, 54 houses, Perthshire (bintyandthebeast, 08.08.13, 14.02.14):

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=64701152&postcount=2237

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=62774511&postcount=2045

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=62774340&postcount=2044

 Metered estate, Sussex, Flogas (rembo, 26.03.13):

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=60225601&postcount=1941

 Metered estate – 332 households on ex-RAF base (13.01.12, and follow-up 02.04.12):

http://rainbow.chard.org/2012/01/13/calor-cynically-locks-in-an-entire-village/

 Metered estate, farm, Calor (littlecritterz, 25.11.11):

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=48813613&postcount=1163

 Metered estate and tenants resetting 2yr contract clock, Flogas (Tyringham, 24.10.11):

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=47956929&postcount=1113

 Metered estate, Flogas deal (LPG customer, 28.09.10):

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=37031086&postcount=221

Metered estate, Lima Gas (before/after take-over by J Gas) 23 houses Dorset (Lpgnewbie, 25.03.16):
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=70379906&postcount=2639

 Good luck!

Lumphammer2

Flogas have increased standing charge from 27p to 41p, but confirm gas remains at 42p per litre as per contract.

1517sharps

JerryW said:

Now renewed my lpg contract for the coming 2 years. The old one was fixed at 29p/l and I was braced for a significant increase. Offers were:

- Avanti 50p/l fixed for 24 months, + £66pa standing charge

- Calor: 48p/l + £66, fixed for 12m then variable

- Rose Gas: 68p/l + VAT for the first three fills, then variable, + £66 + VATpa

- LPG Save 52p/l for 12m then no more than 5p pa increase, and £60pa.

I then negotiated with Flogas direct and have accepted an offer from them of 47p/l inc. VAT fixed for 24 months, and £60pa inc. VAT. Given current market conditions, I am not unhappy.

I have asked Flogas to confirm that the price increase clauses in their terms and conditions (8.3 and 8.4) and the delivery charge clause 6.5 are superseded and of no effect.

I should say that over the past two years Flogas have been excellent, and I have no criticism of them or of the renewal discussion which so far has been trouble-free. If asked I would cheerfully recommend them, though I am aware that not everyone has had the same experiences as me.

Please let me know how you all get on, come renewal. The more information we have, the better...

How far out from your contract expiry did you start looking for a renewal?

wwally

1517sharps said

How far out from your contract expiry did you start looking for a renewal?

I got paper work from Flogas about renewal a month in advance. My tank was full so I was out of contract for a few weeks with no issues. If I hadn't had problems with tank transfer it would have taken 2-3 weeks.

Sorting_Hat

You can seek quotes and switch within 1 month of your contract ending.
If you choose to switch in that time the new firm will accept you but is not allowed to complete the switch and fill until after the original contract end date.

The switch forms state
" We confirm the above customer is within one month of their exclusivity period expiring. 
"the tank transfer and customer switch will complete no earlier than   /    /     when the customers exclusivity period ends."