Bulk LPG

A question about : Bulk LPG

Hi all,

Moved into a house in Jan that has a bulk LPG tank, which was previously supplied (and the tank is owned by) Calor. The contract they were really keen for me to sign was quite a restrictive lock in one and after speaking and a bit of negotiating they dropped the standing charge and discounted the pence per litre by 12%. This only made me sceptical that they had a lot of fat in the price anyway and there seems to be limited information available on the net about bulk lpg supply (lots of websites that will find you the cheapest supply for a fee!). Seems to be crying out for a MSE article if there are enough bulk lpg owners out there.

Anyway, i read that there is some sort of regulation coming into the market which allows me to choose the supplier i wish and in turn they buy the tank off the previous owners. This seems to be a more market competitive way of doing it, but i can't find out when this is due to happen.

Are there any bulk lpg owners out there that can give me some advice?

TIA

Best answers:

• I'm trying to get some transparency on LPG rates for home use, so I'm posting on sites like this: There has been government legislation on this with some small regulation, but LPG suppliers tell me not yet law. Thus, one day the tank will be filled by all suppliers rather than solely the owner of the tank. :Flogas: June 2008. I've just been charged 43ppl + 9ppl surcharge for my 1200 litre tank. 13pp days rental. I used 7700 litres this last year June-June 2008. I'm in Bucks. Not a mansion, but circa 1540 Period & G2 Listed so no way to properly insulate, so a real gas guzzler. So I am looking to change. I've searched sites. I'm being ripped off rotten. Have had a survey (they insist) and Calor quote 36.9ppl for one year then 40.xx odd ppl but want 150 to install. 2 year tie-in. But I need Flogas pipe removed at my cost to fit theirs. So add another 5-600. Cos Flogas own my underground pipe and the surface tank. Still cheaper than Flogas after a year. But then I'll have to pay another 600 no doubt to remove Calor's pipe if i wish to change again.
  Please submit your offered deals so that we can all compare. Prices vary wildly and we need to know what is in the market. I'm being taken for 4+K a year. I've looked into owning my own tank which is 1200 to fit, but then I find no one will fill it, or if they do , not at a viable rate. Any one played this game before me? I would love to know if i can get away from Calor gas and Flogas tie ins. It seems I have no choice. Pay or freeze?
• when you change supplier it is normally free to do a roll over they dont touch the pipe work they only change the tank and the first stage regulator. if you buy your own tank most companies will fill it as long as you have the tank test certificate
• Thank you. So a change of pipework is not nomal. Calor's surveyor/salesman wanted to replace the Flogas tank which I understand, and then replace all pipework past the tank regulator up to the gas-tap before it becomes my pipework to the boiler/ hob dryer etc etc. Told me they would not be happy to connect to existing pipework for safety reasons. (pipework is now 6 years old) and I assume was installed by Flogas up to mine. But Flogas pipe is underground for a 25-30 foot run so a new trench is needed. Costly. It ws a deal breaker, and I had to send Calor away even though 150 tank 60 pa rent and 36ppl for a year from June 2008 was atractive. BP over the phone say they won't need new pipework. So who is correct?
• i change tanks ever day you don't need to change the pipe work it is plastic it won't rot. personally i would stay a way from calor
• i spoke to calor today and they mentioned the law coming soon about being able to change supplier easier. 7700 litres i hope my house doesn`t use that much... I have a 1930`s 4 bed with 2" cavity that needs insulating.. whats an average for an old 4 bed house????
  jason
• The competition commission today took another step towards making switching suppliers viable according to some rules.
  https://www.competition-commission.org.uk/
  11 July 2008
  Domestic bulk liquefied petroleum gas investigation: Notice of intention to make an Order (standard domestic installations), explanatory note and response to consultation published
• My bulk calor is now 40.65pl plus standing charge 16.90p per day
  The're asking for a d.debit of 250 per month now.My average use is 5000litrs per year and this is with a new(supposedly more efficient condensing boiler installed 2 years ago) I also have a very old property difficult to insulate;have put thermal lining onsome outside walls.
  Trouble is LPG users have few options and no price controls.We are on fixed income and feel powerless to do anything as moving's not an option.
• I feel for you. We are currently about to move into a home with lpg bottles! After a lot of research Im going for a multifuel boiler stove. Most local tree surgeons sell wood for a relativly cheap price and it means I may loose a bit of my beer gut and become buff......or not! What I do know is that it looks like the cheapest option at the mo.
  Nath
• Changes are in the pipeline. Soon we will be able to switch suppliers without having to have the tank taken out and replaced with the new suppliers tank - a complete waste of time as the new tank and pipework are exactly the same - it's just a way of trying to stop us switching suppliers or squeezing more money out of us is we do decide to switch. If they didn't charge such excessive prices we wouldn't feel obliged to switch. We changed suppliers about 8 years ago. At the time we were given a brilliant new rate but for the last 3 or 4 years have seen it soar - way above our previous supplier's rate. To switch back is a huge upheaval but it looks as if later on this year all that will change. Take a look at lpg-solutions.co.uk - this site will give a clearer indication of what's going to happen soon.
• Once it is settled, this business of not changing the tank, I will be checking lpg prices again.
  The last time I had a phone around Countrywide were the cheapest suppliers of LPG. They usually supply farmers but will supply anyone actually. At the time it was too much hassle to change as the tank would have to be swopped....
  I cannot remember how much cheaper they were but it was a fair bit at the time.
• I to had a letter today (06.09.08) from flogas, they want me to sign a new 2 year contract, charging me 46.25ppl, + a surcharge of 3ppl and 11.71per day standing charge, if i decide to move to another supplier they said that they would also purge the supply pipe from the tank to tap on the out side wall with expanded foam so i have to relay a new pipe, even though i dug trench and put the pipe in, they supplied plastic pipe, so they do seem to hold people to ransom
• We got the same letter. We've had the same LPG tank for 16 years and have nver previously been asked to sign anything other than the initial contract which was with British Gas prior to being taken over by Flogas.
  Will be phoning them to jump up and down on monday. Wonder what will happen if we don't sign? The cover letter seemed to be a thinly veiled threat that the tank wouldn't be covered by their insurance but equally reading between the lines if they are charging daily rent on the tank and its not fit for the purpose.... I'm getting more confused by the minute.
• The rear of the contract that came with todays letter state
  "2.4 The pipes installed at the Site remain your property and responsibility at all times"
  If they fill that with expanding foam against your wishes then they are in breach of their own contract
• if you do change supplier, i can not see flo gas filling the pipe with foam i have never heard of anything like it and i change tanks ever day. They are just trying it on mate
• dont sign the flogas contract - they told me the reason behind the contract was the eec has outlawed rolling contracts!!
  I think the real reason is the new legislation that will allow other companies to take over the filling of your existing tank
  If you are in a contract with flogas you will be stuck with them for 2 years if you sign the new contract ie you cant change companies
  Roger
• I had a supply agreement renewal form from flogas today(09-09-08),dated 05-09-08. 2 to 5 yr agreement, 41.5 p ltr, surcharge 5p ltr, and standing charge of 15.29p per day.They like to remind you that the tank remains their property,therefor the tank maintenance and repair must, surely remain to be their responsibility.I have yet to see anyone visiting to make a tank inspection/test.(tank installed 5 yrs ago).
• If they're anything like Calor then their website will say 'our highly trained drivers will complete a full inspection before each delivery'...
  As for the Calor Price - currently Ј 0.3565 per litre (excl. VAT) with a price rise due on the 19th of this month - so get your orders in early if you're a Calor customer!
  I wish there was a wiki for this type of price comparison info rather than scrolling through the forum.
  RussH
• Can't believe how many different variations there are from the same company!
  Just received my new Flogas Supply agreement - 44.35p/l + 5p/l surcharge + 14.74p/day standing charge.
  Installed bulk gas tank when we moved in 1991 - no mains gas in village then and none now. With Totalgas, taken over by British Gas. Can't remember how long we signed for but have found a signed agreement for 1 year dated October 2000 and don't believe I have signed one since. I think it was only for 1 year as the tank was due to be replaced in 2001 at 10 years.
  Am afraid I intend to ignore this agreement with the proposed new rules being imminent.
  Thanks moo2moo for pointing out clause 2.4 - how on earth did you manage to read it, it's miniscule ;-D !? Will certainly keep that in mind.
  Am seriously looking into getting Flogas to remove the tank and having our own installed, so that we can look into shopping around for supplies each time we need a fill.
  Does anyone have any information on how to go about purchasing your own tank? Or is it possible to 'rent' a tank and purchase lpg wherever you choose?