Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
If you use propane for grills or other cookers, find a regular propane supplier convenient to you. If you have been using exchange services at your supermarket or big box store, observe what you are paying for. A tank holds 20 pounds. Every propane service I know of fills them to 20 pounds, for about $17 around Durham. The exchange services charge up to $22 or more for a tank filled to 15 or 17 pounds. Check the labels and you will see this. I still buy 1 of them if it's late night & no choice, but I make every effort to get them at the supplier. Why pay more for less?
Can't "convenience" be one of the things we're paying for? I've gone both routes. I can drive a few extra miles to the propone filling station, wait patiently for the overworked clerk to free up so he can walk out and fill my tank, and save a few bucks. Or I can drop in at the Ace Hardware just a mile away, and be in an out in about 3 minutes. Most of the times, the extra 5 bucks is worth the cost.
If you use propane for grills or other cookers, find a regular propane supplier convenient to you. If you have been using exchange services at your supermarket or big box store, observe what you are paying for. A tank holds 20 pounds. Every propane service I know of fills them to 20 pounds, for about $17 around Durham. The exchange services charge up to $22 or more for a tank filled to 15 or 17 pounds. Check the labels and you will see this. I still buy 1 of them if it's late night & no choice, but I make every effort to get them at the supplier. Why pay more for less?
I'm fortunate enough to not have to worry about filling a portable tank. I'm smart enough to have realized that I should own the buried 500 gal. propane tank in my yard. I bought it several years ago so I just call whoever has the lowest price to fill my tank.
Last edited by Green Irish Eyes; 05-19-2011 at 06:31 PM..
Reason: Deleted off-topic comments
Can't "convenience" be one of the things we're paying for? I've gone both routes. I can drive a few extra miles to the propone filling station, wait patiently for the overworked clerk to free up so he can walk out and fill my tank, and save a few bucks. Or I can drop in at the Ace Hardware just a mile away, and be in an out in about 3 minutes. Most of the times, the extra 5 bucks is worth the cost.
Sure, anyone should buy wherever he chooses. I was just pointing out the cost difference, many people did not know this. Grilling Store is 5 minutes from my house and ofter faster than Kroger. I've been there when "the person who does that" wasn't there. I still get a tank at Kroger or Lowe's if I run out late night with supplier not open.
A number of threads here on various local providers but I think you'll find that propane pricing (as opposed to natural gas) has roughly tracked oil pricing.
As an unregulated fuel your only real option is to shop various providers, although the "who owns the tank gets to fill the tank" game makes that somewhat problematic.
We have been on propane for about 6 years, and thank goodness our neighborhood is moving to natural gas.....anyhow, how it works for us is that the company sends out a letter every year (around late may) and will give you a lock in rate for the year, and that rate is generally lower thank prices you will get later in the year. that being said, if you look at people in my neighborhood using the same company, one person paid 2.10 a gallon, and another paid 2.74, so it doesn't seem to have any rhyme or reason!
Leigh
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Propane Gas: What gives with the prices?
