LPG

sammybar

The team and Martin do fantastic work on our behalf re energy prices and advice - however for those of us without mains gas we are stuck with LPG (or oil or electric) - there are only a few LPG suppliers and they hold us to ransom increasing prices as and when they feel it necessary.  Is there anything we can do to bring them into the realm of other energy providers?  Many thanks.

J_B

Maybe you could read the second thread down in this section

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1003291/bulk-lpg-cheapest-suppliers-supply-route

It's been running since 2008 and is up to 3.6K replies - when you've read it, you may find that the simple answer to your question is ..... NO!

A._Badger

I'm afraid 'no' probably is the correct answer, too. The government's hyper-aggressive (when it feels like it) Competition and Markets Authority, while it seems willing to shake down almost any other industry for 'anti competitive practices', refuses to look into the LPG business. 

WJB1971

I am sorry but to get the best deal there is nothing else you can do than ring around, haggle, go back to people if you get a better price from somewhere else, haggle some more, keep going back and fore playing them off against each other, leave - then haggle some more because when they think you are leaving your existing provider will try harder, keep playing them off, and finally get to the best deal. They all say they can only do 1 year fixed and second year capped, but I have a 2 year fixed deal with Flogas, so they can do it if they want but you have to keep haggling. No it isn't much fun but it is the only way.

Verdigris

I'm about to complete on the purchase of a hose with LPG heating.

I'm installing a heat pump.

pinkteapot

Out of curiosity... I'm in the process of giving Calor notice even though I'm still in contract, as they've breached contract by increasing my price. My contract has a clause that says I can leave if they increase price by more than 3.5p in three months, and they've put the price up by 9p. 

Now, I assumed that the existence of that clause was at the insistence of a regulator. There is no reason Calor would put that clause in of their own free will, surely? I understand Flogas have a similar clause in their contracts.

So, not completely wild west? Unless suppliers are putting in these clauses out of the goodness of their hearts!

Ectophile

pinkteapot said:

Out of curiosity... I'm in the process of giving Calor notice even though I'm still in contract, as they've breached contract by increasing my price. My contract has a clause that says I can leave if they increase price by more than 3.5p in three months, and they've put the price up by 9p. 

Now, I assumed that the existence of that clause was at the insistence of a regulator. There is no reason Calor would put that clause in of their own free will, surely? I understand Flogas have a similar clause in their contracts.

So, not completely wild west? Unless suppliers are putting in these clauses out of the goodness of their hearts!

The Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 would apply.  Particularly Schedule 2.  Companies aren't allowed to arbitrarily increase the price of a product without giving the customer a chance to cancel the contract.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/2083/schedule/2/made

lohr500

I guess the key question is : Can you get a better deal elsewhere? If you exercise the break clause, what are the benefits? Does it free you up from any tie in to the storage cylinder, or open up the door to any better pricing?  

DiscoverySueP

On a similar note I have been in my house since June 2021, first home ever without mains gas so I researched and got a good deal on LPG at a fixed price for two years with ExtraGas in July 2021.  When it came to fill up after the winter in February 2022 and at the early part of price rise increases on fuel, I was informed there would be a surcharge on my fuel of 10.5p per litre (30% increase)  How can this be a two year fixed deal if only 7 months in I am charged an extra 30%?  Yes you guessed it when I questioned the supplier its in my 'Terms & Conditions' written as - The Company reserves the right to add a temporary surcharge to the price if the wholesale market price increases by more than 20% above that of the Agreement date or increased transportation costs.  Can they really do this?  What then is a fixed price deal?  

lohr500

As the saying goes, "the devil is in the detail".
Can you access any data showing the wholesale market price to track the movement and make sure the surcharge is valid?

Sorting_Hat

I would ensure that any attempt to leave during the 2 years does not leave you vulnerable to the LPG firm removing their tank.
The switch process only applies at the end of the 2 year exclusivity period. Outside of that the LPG firm may remove their infrastructure.