Bulk LPG - Cheapest suppliers / supply route?

philtrick123

I'm just starting my re-contracting journey, current deal runs out end of January :-(. I'm currently on 52ppl fixed for 2 yrs, use ~2000litres per year. I'm with Flogas via LPG-Save 
Flogas sent out an automated offer for a stupid 70ppl, they have since sent out a revised offer for 52ppl but only fixed for 6 months, then variable. How many old people just rollover and pay thru their nose for LPG!!!
LPG-Save have offered 51ppl fixed for 2yrs. 
I've just messaged LPG-Solutions. I'm not sure I should have told them my existing ppl.
Should I even try Calor and Avanti?

Some of the suppliers mentioned in the thread are very regional and wont serve my RG9 postcode.

Why isn't there a LPG comparison site like you see for Car Insurance, Mortages, Internet, Mobile etc. etc.

JerryW

philtrick123 said:

I'm just starting my re-contracting journey, current deal runs out end of January :-(. I'm currently on 52ppl fixed for 2 yrs, use ~2000litres per year. I'm with Flogas via LPG-Save 
Flogas sent out an automated offer for a stupid 70ppl, they have since sent out a revised offer for 52ppl but only fixed for 6 months, then variable. How many old people just rollover and pay thru their nose for LPG!!!
LPG-Save have offered 51ppl fixed for 2yrs. 
I've just messaged LPG-Solutions. I'm not sure I should have told them my existing ppl.
Should I even try Calor and Avanti?

Some of the suppliers mentioned in the thread are very regional and wont serve my RG9 postcode.

Why isn't there a LPG comparison site like you see for Car Insurance, Mortages, Internet, Mobile etc. etc.

It may all be a bit of a faff, but it can be quite a profitable thing to do .. yes of course contact Calor and Avanti, why not, it's just a phone call (or an email).. Good luck, and tell us who wins!

lordgaz

When I had an extension added to a listed building about 10 years ago, the planners insisted I install a heat pump (ditching LPG heating). Fair enough as the incentives were good, and I received my install costs back over the 7 years grant payout period. Fortunately I asked my installer to leave provision for returning to LPG + Air Source Heat pump hybrid in the future. 10 years on, this future is looming - I still have about 1000ltrs of LPG in the tank under the garden, and I am sick of the heat pump - It costs a fortune to run. Boiler will be added soon. As I have not bought any LPG for some time, I contacted Calor for an up to date cost - 95p+VAT was the reply.. Is this about double what anyone else is being quoted? Of course I will not pay that, but could anyone give me an idea of what they are paying in Worcestershire/Herefordshire/Gloucestershire?

Tinhat

You should currently be paying around 45ppl fixed for two years. 

Keep haggling - LPGSAVE are good for sensible quotes. 

JJSaverUK

Called around. All two year fixed prices
calor 48ppl
avanti 45ppl
flogas 48ppl

AA007

Has anybody had any luck buying their tank off their supplier?   And if so, how much did they want?  Calor currently own my tank.  No other supplier will take me because of the tank location near property boundary.  But if I own the tank, surely they wouldn’t care and would then happily come to fill it up?  I’d be able to shop around (in theory) and would save on the standing charge.   

JerryW

AA007 said:

Has anybody had any luck buying their tank off their supplier?   And if so, how much did they want?  Calor currently own my tank.  No other supplier will take me because of the tank location near property boundary.  But if I own the tank, surely they wouldn’t care and would then happily come to fill it up?  I’d be able to shop around (in theory) and would save on the standing charge.   

It is an interesting idea .. be aware that there are a number of statutory requirements regarding tanks, and you are potentially taking on an installation that the vendor is unhappy about. Google says, amonst other things:

"Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000
The user of a pressure system should not operate it unless they have established a written scheme for the periodic examination by a competent person for certain parts of the system and have it examined as described in this scheme. For an LPG installation, this would include the storage tank and possibly pipework in some cases. However, where the installed system is supplied under lease or hire and the supplier agrees in writing that they will undertake these responsibilities, then the user will be considered as having discharged them. This may often be the case with the storage tank, where the supplier may lease out the tank to the user."

You would need to advise your home insurance too, which might be interesting.

Google also says that some suppliers will not fill privately owned tanks.. this probably will include all the majors like Calor, Flogas, Avanti. It might be a good idea to find a couple that say they will, before proceeding.

Calor have a legal duty to make your installation compliant, if that is possible. In my case, they moved and replaced the tank and all the pipework. All I had to provide was the concrete tank base. Their only way out of doing this would be to say that the property layout makes it impossible. I would get them to send an engineer out to discuss it with you, which they will do, if asked politely.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on!

Mildly_Miffed

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81847548#Comment_81847548

I wish.

Flo have offered me contract renewal with a 6mo fix @ 53p
Callow "market price" currently 69p
Northern have said "too small" (min 3000l/yr)
Avanti and Calor haven't even bothered replying.

As for owning the tank - for £60-100/yr, simply not worth worrying about.

Edit: Calor, 49p/2yr fix
Edit: Avanti, 45p/12mo fix

Aeryn_sun

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81838536#Comment_81838536

You may already have sourced a supplier, but I am in the process of getting quotes (South Worcestershire), so here’s what I’ve got so far (all +5% vat):

Avanti - Year 1 fixed 51ppl, year 2 variable capped, standing charge £110 per year

Calor - 2yr fixed at 49ppl, standing charge £91 per year

Callow - no fix, variable (currently 58ppl, will be lower in summer), standing charge £60 per year

FloGas - Year 1 fixed 62ppl, year 2 variable capped, standing charge £222 per year

Carver - out of their catchment area but currently offering 42ppl

Pure LPG - still awaiting quote

I’m currently with FloGas (have been since underground tank installed 5yrs ago), and they have more than doubled the standing charge since I took out the last contract 2yrs ago, and won’t budge on price. Calor seems a good price, but I’m reluctant to go with them as have heard some horror stories. Have tried Avanti before but haven’t got past the survey as they want me to cut down a nearby tree that was there when the tank was installed, so no point in going down that route again. Have used LGPSave previously but they have advised they can’t help now as 1200l per year is their cut off and I only use approx 950l.

rinroo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81867810#Comment_81867810

Not sure where you're located but have you tried J Gas, Extra Gas or Birmingham Autogas?

You may fare better with an independent supplier.