Mains gas? - you're lucky! Please help!

spiro

OFGEM have become involved in LPG, since April you have been able to change suppliers without having to swap the tank which was not previously the case. That was designed to increase competition. I suspect OFGEM will give it a few years to see if that has worked or not before deciding what to do next.

LittleVermin

spiro wrote: »

OFGEM have become involved in LPG, since April you have been able to change suppliers without having to swap the tank which was not previously the case. That was designed to increase competition. I suspect OFGEM will give it a few years to see if that has worked or not before deciding what to do next.

Ofgem are NOT involved in LPG - we'd like them to be! [If you know different please send me a reference]. Switching suppliers and tanks has been available not since last April but April 2009 - and that was a result of the Competition Commission investigation. Yes, it has improved matters - as well as contracts being now for a maximum of 2 years (they were often 5 before).

Some LPG users are well aware of the limits of the Competition Commission order - and how some companies are trying to circumvent it - which is why we DON'T want to "give it a few years"!

And that's why we are asking other MSE'ers for your support - now -at

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=39205254&postcount=477

frankie

samtheman1k wrote: »

There are at least 5 other options than LPG, including ASHP, GSHP, oil, electric (e7), solid fuel etc...it's a free market, you could always use one of the alternatives that are cheaper?

Whilst these 'alternatives' may be cheaper to run, the installation and switching costs are such that the payback time is just not feasible. I have looked into this and have decided to remain with lpg and to haggle hard with my supplier to get the best price possible.

Yes, I know - MY choice.

I believe that what Littlevermin is trying to achieve is to get support, via the manifesto, for the removal of obscure lpg pricing practices. It is the case that most other fuel prices are pretty transparent and users are able, to some extent shop around. It is not just about the prices we pay, all energy forms have increased.

Please support the lpg manifesto.

Many thanks

WhiteHorse

LittleVermin wrote: »

For LPG you are tied into a 2 yr contract - and the same company can simultaneously charge one customer 30ppl and another 68 ppl.

Point taken. That is a bit hard to swallow.

LittleVermin

WhiteHorse wrote: »

Point taken. That is a bit hard to swallow.

..... so, as a Serious Money Saving Fan, you might support LPG users' efforts to get a more transparent market .. and add your thanks to voisin's post at:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=39205254&postcount=477 ?

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forgotmyname

Wood burner would be my choice. I would love one but presume they are not allowed inside the city limits.
Or you can only use expensive smokeless fuel.
Defeats the object of cheap/free heat if thats the case.

samtheman1k

Moody_Mare wrote: »

This is not always the case, were I live the only option we are allowed is LPG (due to planning regs) and as such we are a captive audience to the horrendous price hikes and locked in contracts.

Rubbish. What planning regs stop you using an electric heater? Or E7? GSHP are permitted developments, so what planning regs stop you using that?

lucyej

Hi. I rent a small cottage and 'kindly landlord' supplied central heating (and hot water) for us in August this year with Calor Gas 47kg bottles x 2. i found only one local supplier on a local telephone number through Calor Gas and they charged me £77.00 a bottle. These last me about 2 and a half to three weeks now its cold.

So, last week i saw an article on BBC breakfast show about bottled Gas being twice as expensive as mains. A woman on the slot stated she paid £97.00 for two bottles. Which made me think. I decided to look at suppliers again and this time rang an 0800 number for Calor Gas. i rang and explained the above. They said they could do me a bottle for £60.00. A £17.00 improvement. i said 'thank you very much'. It was only later that i found that this was the existing supplier i was already using (i found their address, the husband said this is the place we already with?)

So i am now waiting for a 'rep' to ring me back as i stated my confusion this morning (ordered new bottle again, man said 'That's £77.00 please'. when i queried that he said 'alright we can do it for £60.00'?

Am i being completely ripped off? Do they just make it all up?

LittleVermin

kittie wrote: »

why didn`t you get a solid old fashioned second hand wood-burning rayburn?

I do sympathise by the way.

Hi kittie,

Thanks for your sympathy - appreciated! But I asked for your support in trying to get a fairer deal for LPG users - by adding your 'thanks' to the post at

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=39205254&postcount=477

I guess you are not against regulation? (my question to you in my last post).

Thanks too for the idea of getting a second-hand wood-burning rayburn. I've had two - brilliant! Last one I converted back from oil, but it finally died. So in 1991 we (wife, baby, self) switched to LPG - made sense at the time! Now we've a mix - LPG, electricity and woodburner - so we're OK ... but lots and lots of LPG users are not. That's why several MSE LPG users are trying to get the LPG market regulated - just like mains gas and electricity - that's the point of the post I've linked to.

We'd really appreciate support from others on MSE.

We think MSE's backing might work - going down the 'writing to MPs' and 'contacting Trading Standards' doesn't seem to (we get woffly letters back).

By the way, my new LPG contract is fine - thanks to lots of helpful MSE'ers on the Bulk LPG threads. Yes, LPG is still expensive and if I knew I'd be here in 10 years time I'd probably look at getting an ASHP.

Happy Christmas!

LittleVermin

samtheman1k wrote: »

Rubbish. What planning regs stop you using an electric heater? Or E7? GSHP are permitted developments, so what planning regs stop you using that?

"Rubbish"? A bit strong. Of the 5 options listed ASHP need planning permission, oil tanks have to comply with building regs (OK, not PP) .. and I don't know the OP's local situation and size of garden, if any, and any local conditions attached to the original PP (if any)- but the list is reduced. I guess you don't know either - though it looks as if she was wrong with part of her answer.

Many LPG users, e.g frankie (#14), have looked at alternative heating systems - and many of us have alternatives too (look at the Bulk LPG thread!) but that doesn't seem to me to be an argument against bringing LPG into the regulations on energy sources (maybe within ofgem) and that's why we are asking MSE'ers for their support. We've tried writing to MPs (woffle back), contacting Trading Standards (outside remit), blah, blah - but we hope MSE will take it up and we may get somewhere. At the very least Martin Lewis might get a proper answer - not just woffle!

So, please support LPG users by adding your thanks to:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=39205254&postcount=477

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