Bulk LPG - Cheapest suppliers / supply route?

ceh209

Just out of contract with Avanti who offered 56ppl for 12 months, variable in 2nd year  (approx 2500 litres usage)

Instead I'm going with Flogas via LPG Save at 46.5ppl fixed for 2 years , not even giving Avanti a chance to come down given that price difference!

(Both £110 + VAT standing charge for underground tank)

JerryW

christie_m said:

Just going through the two-yearly contract process.

I’ve been quoted a deal using Extra Gas that’s several ppl below the typical LPG-Save / Flogas offer.

Anyone got experience of “LPG Compare” and Extra Gas, as I’ve not used either before.

Neither has attracted any negative comment, so far as I can see... Extragas is a well-known independent, usually more expensive for me but I daresay prices vary by location.

christie_m

JerryW said:

christie_m said:

Just going through the two-yearly contract process.

I’ve been quoted a deal using Extra Gas that’s several ppl below the typical LPG-Save / Flogas offer.

Anyone got experience of “LPG Compare” and Extra Gas, as I’ve not used either before.

Neither has attracted any negative comment, so far as I can see... Extragas is a well-known independent, usually more expensive for me but I daresay prices vary by location.

Thanks JerryW.
We’re “outside” of Extra Gas’ home turf hence my nervousness in switching to them. Like you I’ve not found any negative comments so far.

Longfellow78

Hi. I could really use some help please. I have just bought a house which primarily is run by an oil boiler but there is an emergency "back up" LPG boiler that runs a small extension that is rarely used. The vendor told me all about the oil refil but not about the LPG. I assumed that the refills for these worked the same, i.e. when you get low on fuel you ring up a company to refil you - my ignorance there. the vendor filled it up 3/4 before he left so this should last at least the rest of the year.

I just got a letter from FLOGAS saying welcome to them, and to pay an outstanding standing charge, and asking that I sign an exclusive 2 year supplier deal, at 60p+vat per litre and 41p+vat standing charge. I know almost nothing about this, but looking at what ceh209 posted these figures seem like absolute extortion, especially for a system which is rarely used.

Please can anyone offer adice on the competitors to Flogas and/or who I should get as a supplier and how. 

Thank you.

Mister_G

Welcome to the wonderful world (minefield) of LPG.

It was the previous occupant who had the contract with Flogas - you do not, so you shouldn't pay them anything.

You will need to shop around and get quotes from Calor, Avanti, LPGsave and any local independents (if you have any near you).

Looking on here, it looks like you should be able to get LPG at about 50ppl or even less.  You will probably have to sign up for a two year contract, but try to get a fix for the two years.  Often suppliers will give you year 1 at a good price but then increase the price considerably in year 2.

You may even find an independent who does not insist on a contract and does not make a standing charge.

I've had LPG for the past 42 years, so have had quite a lot of experience of the vagaries of the industry!

There are others on here who can offer further advice.

JerryW

Longfellow78 said:

Hi. I could really use some help please. I have just bought a house which primarily is run by an oil boiler but there is an emergency "back up" LPG boiler that runs a small extension that is rarely used. The vendor told me all about the oil refil but not about the LPG. I assumed that the refills for these worked the same, i.e. when you get low on fuel you ring up a company to refil you - my ignorance there. the vendor filled it up 3/4 before he left so this should last at least the rest of the year.

I just got a letter from FLOGAS saying welcome to them, and to pay an outstanding standing charge, and asking that I sign an exclusive 2 year supplier deal, at 60p+vat per litre and 41p+vat standing charge. I know almost nothing about this, but looking at what ceh209 posted these figures seem like absolute extortion, especially for a system which is rarely used.

Please can anyone offer adice on the competitors to Flogas and/or who I should get as a supplier and how. 

Thank you.

Well first of all, don't sign anything just yet!

Was the tank or its contents, or the contract, mentioned at all during the buying process, by your solicitor perhaps? If not, you will need to negotiate a new contract with someone, not necessarily Flogas. I expect that the tank is the property of Flogas and eventually, they will be entitled to remove the tank. If you sign a contract wlsewhere ownership will be transferred automatically to the new supplier. It is very unlikely that Flogas would just leave the tank with you and forget all about it.

So shop around and see what quotes you can get. just googling "lpg bulk supply domestic" or similar will bring up options, also sites like these:

https://www.liquidgasuk.org/domestic/supplier-search

https://lpg-save.co.uk/

LPG save have never been known to provide a quote using anyone but Flogas, but it should still be a competitive quote, a reasonably good guide price.

You should aim for 50p/litre or less but in your case the standing charge may be as important - 16p/day is what I'm paying, and 47p/l fixed for two years, also with Flogas. Always ask for a 2 year fix.

Be aware that the last thing suppliers want is a tank that needs maintaining but is seldom filled .. they will want an estimate of annual usage and the higher your (reasonable) estimate, the better. There is geographic price variation too. Good luck, and please keep us posted!

A trawl through the last 10 or 12 pages here would probably be informative, too.

Sorting_Hat

You will still  need to pay to rent the tank from Flogas as it is theirs not yours and you are using it even if you don't sign an agreement for a while, its still at your property.
If you chose another supplier the new firm will buy the tank from Flogas and you will pay the rent to the new people.
LPG agreements last 2 years and so you can change suppliers at that 2 year point every time.

Cloverleaf2

UPDATE. In autumn 2024 I negotiated with UK Power Networks to move the offending electricity meter box which they installed in the non-compliant position back in 2011.  Despite them doing their part 'free' it still cost me £1200 as I had to buy a new meter box because (you've guessed it) the box they ordered me to buy in 2011 is now non-compliant, and I also had to get that installed plus the new cable to connect to my house etc. Once the work was finished I asked them to compensate me for the £1200 I was out of pocket but they refused, saying that back in 2011 they sited the meter box 'where I told them I wanted it" - a complete and utter lie of course. Therefore I'm about to sue them for the money in small claims court. However, I'M FREE AT LAST! Changed to Flogas in November, and later had my first fill with them for 50ppl, and that price is set for the whole length of my 2-year contract. Meanwhile, I heard on the BBC East news last night that loads of Calor customers in our region have run out of gas and Calor seem unable to fill their tanks. I really believe that awful company seems close to collapse, seems I got away just in time.

mystify5

Hi, could anyone help me?

I am with flogas and have been for 4 years on a variable rate.

for the first 2 years (April 2021-2023) I found my variable rate changed from delivery to delivery. Latterly this went up to 82ppl during the Ukraine war etc.

so I had to renew in the middle of that so elected to continue with a variable rate on the assumption prices were at an all time high so likely to fall.  For the entirety of the second 2 years (April 2023-2025) I have been paying 82ppl.

i have questioned this several times and been advised its due to this that and the other. 

I was shocked therefore to come to renewal time and find the rate has dropped to 52ppl….yet on the same day I was again charged 82ppl for my previous contract delivery.

I have again filed a complaint and been told I am not being overcharged.

have I misunderstood what a variable rate is? 

For year 1&2 it behaved how I would expect a variable rate to - going up and down depending on market rate 
but for year 3&4 it’s acted like a fixed rate and never changed even though for most of this time rates people are being quoted (and therefore the rate I would expect my variable rate to be) are significantly less.

how does a variable rate contract work as it seems to be very different between the 2 contracts (flogas have confirmed I am on variable rates but then said that the new prices I showed aren’t correct as I hasn’t started the new contract - but seem to be missing my point that a variable rate will change and should reflect current market prices).

any help greatfully received as I’m banging my head against a wall currently.

JerryW

Ouch.

The important thing is, what is your contractual status now? Have you actually signed a contract within the last two years?

What you want to do is to agree a two year fixed price. It should really be less than 52p although it depends somewhat on where you are and what your annual consumption is. You can shop around and get prices - plenty of advice about that on this forum - but first you must establish whether you are actually in contract or not. Try telling Flogas you want to leave and see what they say. All contracts are for two years and if you have signed one within that timescale, your only recourse is to ask Flogas to do better, and make sure youe shop around when it approaches expiry.

Good luck!