community piped propane vs. natural gas (Lewes, Millsboro: how much, houses, heat pump)

[jojo80]

We are plannng to relocate to Delaware from NJ. The community we are looking at is new construction in Lewes. We were told they use community piped propane, not natural gas, and what they call sewers, is actually piped septic to a community tank. Being from NJ we are not familiar with either. Does anyone have experience with these utilities. After doing some research, it seems that propane would be more than 3 times what we pay for gas, and the sewer (septic) charge is $75.00 a month! Can anyone tell me how much propane would cost, and is there a problem with "piped septics". Can anyone explain utilities in Delaware? It seems very confusing, and expensive. Thanks for any help.

[rossc]

We paid $80 for water and sewer every quarter in Millsboro. Propane is expected to have the highest increase this winter. Natural gas should be the most economical. The way they are handling the utilities is not typical Delaware. You would normally be paying your sewer and water to the county. Sounds like this development is trying to make some money on the utilities. I couldn't imagine any other reason to keep the utilities private and not to just connect to public utilities.

[jojo80]

thanks rossc. I'll continue to do more research.

[ltdontcare]

If it cost too much to get to existing sewer or the sewer has reached capacity or the water table is too high, or any number of reasons, that type of septic is an option. It is high maintenance and somebody is going to pay. Either your development or the city.

[rossc]

That's true. I forget what they call it, but it is possible that the population for the existing public sewer has reached capacity. If so, private sewer is the only option. I would never go for the community sewer system though. Why wouldn't they just install a tank and leech field for each house like the rest of the world does? The answer of course is that they couldn't charge you $75/month for your own septic system.

[anniebleu]

rossc,

You explained to me months ago why our heating oil is not necessarily more expensive than some of the options, and I wonder if you could run that by me again, as I was trying to provide that info to someone a couple days ago, but couldn't get it to rise to the surface of my mind.

Just to review: we have a fairly large house and, last winter, paid just over $300 dollars a month for our heating oil. I was startled to discover that others, living in smaller houses, were paying as much for alternatives.

Of course, we do expect prices to rise again this winter.

Annie

[rossc]

Heating oil produces the most heat per BTU of the three (oil, propane and NG). Given equal prices per gallon, oil is the most economical. The problem is that prices are not equal now. Oil and propane are rising faster than NG, which is taking away the edge that oil had. People here in TN are going to all electric heat pumps. Some go with an NG gas pack backup.

[linicx]

Originally Posted by rossc

We paid $80 for water and sewer every quarter in Millsboro. Propane is expected to have the highest increase this winter. Natural gas should be the most economical. The way they are handling the utilities is not typical Delaware. You would normally be paying your sewer and water to the county. Sounds like this development is trying to make some money on the utilities. I couldn't imagine any other reason to keep the utilities private and not to just connect to public utilities.

I lived near a communities where they manage their own water and waste from a waste station in the community. It is not in anyway connected to City warter/sewer services, but the staion does run on electricity. That water is collected and tested twice daily 24/7, and water samples are sent to the State weekly. It is the cleanest water in town and I was in the pump house while test were being run. .

[anniebleu]

rossc, thanks very much for the clear explanation!