LPG / LPG prices (merged)

HateLPG

Just found this, as a written response to a commons question, regarding the relative prices (p/kWh) for various domestinc heatiing fuels. It's five years out of date, sadly, but given the way that LPG has shot up since then it doesn't make for pretty reading!

a. Coal 15.6
b. Heating oil 22.2
c. Gas 1.7
d. Electricity 7.4
e. LPG 33.3

There is a great site for those of you that haven't stumbled upon it before: http://www.theyworkforyou.com Basically, it is a database/search engine of the goings-on in parliament and is searchable by postcode/MP/Subject. It a really good way to find out who (if anyone) is saying anything about ANY subject and how they have voted, details of written questions / answers etc. A REALLY good source to find out what is going on with ANY subject, to be honest. And quiet addictive, I suspect ;-)

You can also set up e-mail alerts to find out what your local MP is saying/up to (politically!) on a daily basis and whether anything is being discussed in Parliament on any given subject.

Whether you have concerns on LPG or anything else, this site is WELL worth checking out.

lamplighter2

just to bring you all up to date i have a meeting with my mp on the 9th July when i will bring all these matters up regarding LPG, why should anyone be forced into a contract to get a cheaper rate lpg price, why is it that it is a struggle to purchase the tank at a fair price so if you wish you could go to any supplier when you need a refil as with oil and get the best price, the rural comunity who have to rely on LPG or oil are a nice fat wallet for the oil companies.
this is not the only site that lpg is a issue and must be adressed by our MP,s who have large rural comunities. i trust my MP will do something to start the ball rolling. i sugest you all have a meeting with your local mp, to get this brought up in the house, to alow those on LPG to purchase there tanks at a fair price and buy from the chepest on the day not to have a contract. rant over:D if it is ok can i use the prices quoted to put before my mp, and if you are all in agreament mention this site so he can see the anger omongst lpg users cheers lamplighter 2

ancillotti

Update ……………… since my last post on this subject, I have now received a reply from Charles Hendry (Minister of State for Energy & Climate Change) and had a meeting with my MP. Both of which were disappointing to say the least.

Mr Hendry seems to have totally missed the point of the unfair pricing structure of the bulk LPG market, he is more concerned with the “fuel poor”, “direct support for energy bills” and “household energy efficiency measures”.

He goes on to say “We will need to identify an efficient package of measures and explore better ways of targeting support at vulnerable households off the gas grid”. None of which addresses the root cause of the total rip-off prices of the LPG suppliers, and the lack of a regulator such as Ofgem. Anyway, I have written again (and copied my MP in) to draw his attention back to unfair prices and what can be done to get a regulator set up, if you also plan to write my advice would be to keep it simple at [EMAIL="hendryc@parliament.uk"]hendryc@parliament.uk[/EMAIL]

The 15 minutes I was allocated by my MP were not sufficient for him to absorb this complex LPG subject, and understand all the history surrounding bulk tank supply routes/ownership, as he said he’s only been in the job for five weeks! I on the other hand have had 20 years with three different suppliers, to get a measure of how they constantly try to take advantage over price. More communication will be necessary on this one.

If we are to ever make any headway over these ridiculous prices and get some transparency in the marketplace, we need to get noticed somehow, maybe a petition or similar. I seem to remember on the “Don’t get Done get Dom” programme there was supposed to be a petition set up, has anyone come across it?

lamplighter2

i had a meeting with my mp today but a emergency at work sent me to kent so missed my appoitment so will have to make a new one, interesting that your mp is new to the job like mine and the time allocated was not enought to discuss in details.
when i get a new slot i will try and get a double slot so as to get the info over.
it does need a concerted effort of all those who use LPG to write to there mp and Charles hendry to get our point over that we are the poor relations in the fuel market and have no were to turn to use a different product without a lot of work and expences.
and the lpg suppliers know this hence the price is so high compared to natural gas.
will keep you all updated when i have my meeting with my mp

lexuslass

Hi everyone... new to this forum this evening as we have had huge charges with flogas.. ( I won't repost the huge post I have just wrote on the FloGas over 60p LPG price - Is this legal? thread but feel free to have a read if you want!! )

This LPG lark is disgraceful!! If someone can please, please, give me some pointers, I am more than happy to go through the MP route (whether it's through Charles Hendry and/or my local MP {thanks HateLPG for that website link.. never knew that existed!!}). I am sure I can talk to a lot of other residents in my village too and get extra support!

Interesting reading this evening!! thanks all! x




P.S.. this is obviously a huge problem... why hasn't Martin got onto the case yet? (not having a go at Martin at all... he is :A but surely if he stepped in, he would have a hell of a lot of power?!)

lamplighter2

i wrote to Charles hendry as yet no reply that was over a week ago.
seeing prices being charged of 60p a ltr or 16p a day standing charge something has to be done to resolve this the lpg suppliers know that the rural comunity can not or will ever get mains gas yet they put in a pipeline from Milford haven to fawley to run the power station.
write to your MP or have a meeting if every one was to do this it may start to be listened to. or lpg will just keep rising and we will not be able to do a thing. still how long can you keep getting the goose to lay the golden egg at some point she will stop laying.
same with lpg prices we can only afford so much it will then become to expensive to use and people will switch to oil:mad:

ancillotti

Contacting MPs & Charles Hendry, has started to get the subject noticed, see quote below from yesterday (22 July):-


"Charles Hendry (Minister of State (Renewable Energy), Energy and Climate Change; Wealden, Conservative) With regard to the liquid petroleum gas (LPG) market, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is currently reviewing the effect of the Competition Commission Orders for the domestic bulk LPG market."

Please keep sending the letters to him & your MP to keep the pressure on. :T

HateLPG

You beat me to the punch on this one, ancilloti ;-)

Just thought as an addendum that it might prove rather productive if people were also to make representations directly to the Office of Fair Trading if they have concerns over the way the market is currently working!


See http://www.oft.gov.uk/contactus for up-to-date contact details for the OFT

HateLPG

Just a "heads up": I was speaking to a Gas safe registered engineer this weekend and he said that he has heard that Shelll are aggressively going after new business at the moment and are offering prices to match. He also mentioned that their engineers tend to be pretty good on the whole, so might be worth looking into if your contract renewal is due any time soon!

busybird

That's interesting to know. Having held Calor to the contract I have with them for the past five years, this is renewal in September so it would make sense for me to shop around obviously.