Bulk LPG - Cheapest suppliers / supply route?

Poundnote

kassy64 said:

Hi, I'm down to about 18% of LPG in my tank (2,000 litre capacity I believe). In contract with Flogas and have an order of about 1,500 litres on my account showing since mid January. Been with Flogas for about 5 years now and tank has never gone as low as it is currently. I have messaged them but had no response (yet). Before I get on the phone to them does anyone know of any shortages or problems at Flogas, i've read on this thread that they are prioritising those that have run out 😢. Hope this is not the case as we regularly have very young and very old people stay with us. I am in East Sussex by the way.Thanks  

Flogas is my supplier and I have been with them for 2 years and am on their auto ordering system with telemetry. I have not been let down by them.

For my latest delivery they put me on their ordering system 13 October 2023 which was delivered on 27 December 2023 and my tank reading was 17%. They emailed me to advise that my delivery would be made the next day and it 1,535 litres duly arrived . As a a fail safe they ask customers to telephone them when the gauge drops to 10% or less.

Lisa_mj

kassy64 said:

Sorting_Hat said:

18% is not bad given the red bit on the dial is 20% and that is the point to think about ordering.
So your tank would be 2200 liter. Of course your usage  is an individual thing.

Thanks for reply, my online account seems to think I have about 34 days fuel remaining, but of course this fluctuates depending on my recent usage which is dependant on the ambient temperature. As we have been very mild in south recently (16c yesterday) I'm not using the heating much over the last week (just evenings), however should we get a cold spell then that 34 days would quickly turn to 15 days or so I suspect. At least we are coming out of winter so more mild days than cold hopefully, but still need boiler for HW. I will give it another week and give them a call. Wouldn't normally be so worried but regularly have grand daughter staying over also my mother in law now and again and would hate to run out. Am i right in saying that if i got down to the last dregs I am within my rights to get the tank filled by a local supplier, I would have thought so as they cant really complain (and tough if they do). Anyone done anything similar?

I've been with Flogas nearly 4 years, not had a problem until my latest fill up.  Full story earlier in the forum above, requested top up early December tank at 30%, didn't turn up on either of the first two dates I was given then left it hanging, kept saying I had at least a month left not allowing for winter usage or lack of accessibility to my property in snow (which a was forecast for my area at the time). I was same, more worried about access to hot water (combi boiler), could use electric heaters for heat.  Finally filled up 6 weeks after order placed, tank was at 14%. I'm in Yorkshire, was told no issues with availability of gas but shortage of drivers. Told me to place future orders when tank gets to 40%. Sorry, not sure about rights to use an alternative supplier if you run out, possibly that would constitute a breach of contract, not sure. Good luck @kassy64 I hope they fill you up soon, it's not a nice feeling getting low, nobody should have to feel anxious about continuity of their energy supply

Sorting_Hat

Sorry to say but no you cant get a fill from another firm if you run low.
As the tanks are owned by the respective LPG firms no one else can fill the said tanks.

Interestingly the now long defunct Countrywide had such a clause in their agreements.

kassy64

Sorting_Hat said:

Sorry to say but no you cant get a fill from another firm if you run low.
As the tanks are owned by the respective LPG firms no one else can fill the said tanks.

Interestingly the now long defunct Countrywide had such a clause in their agreements.

How would this work in reality? Would the firm you request a one off fill up from refuse to sell you an LPG order? How would they know who owns the tank and whether you are in a contract with another supplier.
I have now had a reply from Flogas which does not fill me with confidence. They have basically in a nutshell said you have 17% gas left stop panicking we will do our best to fulfill your order (but can't guarantee it before we run out of gas). If I go below 10% I will be actively looking at sourcing a one off order with another supplier. I may be in breach of our contract but so will Flogas be if they dont supply me with LPG or even state when I can expect a delivery or promise a delivery before the gas runs out ( a contract works both ways). As consumers we have rights, is it acceptable to let a customer run out of heating and hot water (with vulnerable children and adults in the house fairly regularly) just because they own the tank and cant fill it. As a consumer I have a right to break our agreement if they are not providing the service they promised. 

Sorting_Hat

kassy64 said:

Sorting_Hat said:

Sorry to say but no you cant get a fill from another firm if you run low.
As the tanks are owned by the respective LPG firms no one else can fill the said tanks.

Interestingly the now long defunct Countrywide had such a clause in their agreements.

How would this work in reality? Would the firm you request a one off fill up from refuse to sell you an LPG order? How would they know who owns the tank and whether you are in a contract with another supplier.
I have now had a reply from Flogas which does not fill me with confidence. They have basically in a nutshell said you have 17% gas left stop panicking we will do our best to fulfill your order (but can't guarantee it before we run out of gas). If I go below 10% I will be actively looking at sourcing a one off order with another supplier. I may be in breach of our contract but so will Flogas be if they dont supply me with LPG or even state when I can expect a delivery or promise a delivery before the gas runs out ( a contract works both ways). As consumers we have rights, is it acceptable to let a customer run out of heating and hot water (with vulnerable children and adults in the house fairly regularly) just because they own the tank and cant fill it. As a consumer I have a right to break our agreement if they are not providing the service they promised. 

Yes the firm would ask exactly that. who owns the tank. Yes they would I'm afraid refuse to fill. People who own their own tanks are able to prove it and have to before they get deliveries.

kassy64

Sorting_Hat said:

kassy64 said:

Sorting_Hat said:

Sorry to say but no you cant get a fill from another firm if you run low.
As the tanks are owned by the respective LPG firms no one else can fill the said tanks.

Interestingly the now long defunct Countrywide had such a clause in their agreements.

How would this work in reality? Would the firm you request a one off fill up from refuse to sell you an LPG order? How would they know who owns the tank and whether you are in a contract with another supplier.
I have now had a reply from Flogas which does not fill me with confidence. They have basically in a nutshell said you have 17% gas left stop panicking we will do our best to fulfill your order (but can't guarantee it before we run out of gas). If I go below 10% I will be actively looking at sourcing a one off order with another supplier. I may be in breach of our contract but so will Flogas be if they dont supply me with LPG or even state when I can expect a delivery or promise a delivery before the gas runs out ( a contract works both ways). As consumers we have rights, is it acceptable to let a customer run out of heating and hot water (with vulnerable children and adults in the house fairly regularly) just because they own the tank and cant fill it. As a consumer I have a right to break our agreement if they are not providing the service they promised. 

Yes the firm would ask exactly that. who owns the tank. Yes they would I'm afraid refuse to fill.

So what exactly is the consequence to Flogas if my tank runs empty? We all just say oh well these things happen let's have a nice cup of tea and let them get away with it. I presume I would be within my rights to instruct a solicitor and go after them for compensation? Were not talking about running out of milk here its HW and heating which are a necessity especially when the vulnerable are concerned. 

Lisa_mj

kassy64 said:

Sorting_Hat said:

Sorry to say but no you cant get a fill from another firm if you run low.
As the tanks are owned by the respective LPG firms no one else can fill the said tanks.

Interestingly the now long defunct Countrywide had such a clause in their agreements.

How would this work in reality? Would the firm you request a one off fill up from refuse to sell you an LPG order? How would they know who owns the tank and whether you are in a contract with another supplier.
I have now had a reply from Flogas which does not fill me with confidence. They have basically in a nutshell said you have 17% gas left stop panicking we will do our best to fulfill your order (but can't guarantee it before we run out of gas). If I go below 10% I will be actively looking at sourcing a one off order with another supplier. I may be in breach of our contract but so will Flogas be if they dont supply me with LPG or even state when I can expect a delivery or promise a delivery before the gas runs out ( a contract works both ways). As consumers we have rights, is it acceptable to let a customer run out of heating and hot water (with vulnerable children and adults in the house fairly regularly) just because they own the tank and cant fill it. As a consumer I have a right to break our agreement if they are not providing the service they promised. 

With you 100%, it is completely unacceptable and unethical for an energy supplier to have total control over a contracted customers access to hot water and heating. It is a national scandal that the LPG industry remains unregulated and this is allowed to happen. @kassy64 if one of your household has a medical condition and is vulnerable tell Flogas this including what the condition is and ask to be classified as a cold weather priority customer, in theory this means that they guarantee you will never be allowed to run out of gas in cold weather (providing they don't let you get so low and then it snows and they can't reach you if you run out and you're inaccessible due to snow). Keep ringing them every day, ask to be given a single point of contact in the delivery team who will maintain contact with you until your tank is filled up. It really shouldn't be like this and would never be allowed to happen to those on mains gas. I hope you get a fill up soon 

kassy64

Lisa_mj said:

kassy64 said:

Sorting_Hat said:

Sorry to say but no you cant get a fill from another firm if you run low.
As the tanks are owned by the respective LPG firms no one else can fill the said tanks.

Interestingly the now long defunct Countrywide had such a clause in their agreements.

How would this work in reality? Would the firm you request a one off fill up from refuse to sell you an LPG order? How would they know who owns the tank and whether you are in a contract with another supplier.
I have now had a reply from Flogas which does not fill me with confidence. They have basically in a nutshell said you have 17% gas left stop panicking we will do our best to fulfill your order (but can't guarantee it before we run out of gas). If I go below 10% I will be actively looking at sourcing a one off order with another supplier. I may be in breach of our contract but so will Flogas be if they dont supply me with LPG or even state when I can expect a delivery or promise a delivery before the gas runs out ( a contract works both ways). As consumers we have rights, is it acceptable to let a customer run out of heating and hot water (with vulnerable children and adults in the house fairly regularly) just because they own the tank and cant fill it. As a consumer I have a right to break our agreement if they are not providing the service they promised. 

With you 100%, it is completely unacceptable and unethical for an energy supplier to have total control over a contracted customers access to hot water and heating. It is a national scandal that the LPG industry remains unregulated and this is allowed to happen. @kassy64 if one of your household has a medical condition and is vulnerable tell Flogas this including what the condition is and ask to be classified as a cold weather priority customer, in theory this means that they guarantee you will never be allowed to run out of gas in cold weather (providing they don't let you get so low and then it snows and they can't reach you if you run out and you're inaccessible due to snow). Keep ringing them every day, ask to be given a single point of contact in the delivery team who will maintain contact with you until your tank is filled up. It really shouldn't be like this and would never be allowed to happen to those on mains gas. I hope you get a fill up soon 

Hi Lisa, many thanks for the advice. I'm still on 17% so a lot of what I'm saying is speculation as they may turn up tomorrow and everything is sorted. It was just the tone of the reply e-mail that got me thinking. It was a bit like, we will get to you sometime, whether it's before you run out or not is anyone's guess, almost as if its out of their hands and they have no control over it.
Next time i speak with them I will mention the cold weather priority customer situation, although my mother in law doesn't live at the property she stays regularly (not sure if this would count). Thanks again.

Cheery_Daff

Just coming out of a 2 year fix with Avanti (50ppl + VAT and £66 + VAT standing charge per year - fixed for the full 2 years). 

They've just offered: 

• The agreement is a 2-year term
• Standing charge of £66 per year (+5% VAT) to cover use of the aboveground tank, maintenance and our 24/7 emergency service
• Supply of LPG at 55 pence per litre fixed for 12 months (+5% VAT)
• Following the fixed period, your price will be reflective of the LPG market, however we’d like to reassure you that there is a cap on operational increases. Your price cannot increase by more than 5 pence in any given 6-month period due to operational costs

Seems expensive compared to what some on here have had, so I'm off to find some comparisons. Slightly hindered by not being able to get a full size tanker down the drive - in the past I've only been able to get 2 companies to guarantee to send a smaller tanker, and LPG save said they wouldn't guarantee it either. 

Not sure what would happen if I signed a contract, then they couldn't deliver because their tanker was too big? I suppose the summer is the time to find out!

JerryW

Cheery_Daff said:

Not sure what would happen if I signed a contract, then they couldn't deliver because their tanker was too big? I suppose the summer is the time to find out!

All the majors will have more than one size of tanker. My advice would be to carry on getting quotes (the current one is too high, unless you are in Stornoway) without mentioning anything about it, and then when you get to agree the best offer, tell them about the restricted access then. They will not want to lose the business, but if they truly can't manage it, go to the next one until you find one that can. LPG save are brokers and won't want to get involved in details like that. All they will guarantee is the price..