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Old 03-24-2008, 08:54 AM
 
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
607 posts, read 2,401,598 times
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Okay, I am new at this whole "propane and well" stuff. I truly am ignorant about it. So here is my question...Do you shop around for Propane companies?? Can I change companies??? Our propane is up to $2.50 a gallon, and I am going broke. I started, in June 2007 at $1.99/gallon, and without warning, it has hit $2.50. Sooooo, is there a cheaper place out there, or am I stuck with this one company?? Any advise for this ignorant "city girl" would certainly help.
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Old 03-24-2008, 08:58 AM
 
5,524 posts, read 9,802,374 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lizardlips View Post
Okay, I am new at this whole "propane and well" stuff. I truly am ignorant about it. So here is my question...Do you shop around for Propane companies?? Can I change companies??? Our propane is up to $2.50 a gallon, and I am going broke. I started, in June 2007 at $1.99/gallon, and without warning, it has hit $2.50. Sooooo, is there a cheaper place out there, or am I stuck with this one company?? Any advise for this ignorant "city girl" would certainly help.
It probably depends on where you are at. When I was in Clayton, we used TR Lee and it was pretty cheap but I think with what energy is doing on the market you may be good at $2.50...but I am sure you can shop around.
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Old 03-24-2008, 09:14 AM
rfb
 
Location: Raleigh, NC
2,552 posts, read 6,198,867 times
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You can shop around for propane and you can change companies. Usually, but not always, the propane company you buy propane from owns the tank. You would think this would lock you in to that company, but what happens when you switch is the new company either buys the tank from the old company, or swaps out a tank for yours. This is completely transparent to you, and you don't need to do a thing.

Different companies have different policies on how they sell propane. Some sign an annual contract with a given price-per-gallon maximum. Others give you an option to pay a fee to lock in a maximum rate, but without an annual contract. Others sell at the going rate.

Don't assume that the rate you get quoted is what your neighbor is paying! I've seen two neighbors get completely different quotes and pay completely different prices. Talk with your neighbors about who they use and what they are paying, and use that as leverage in negotiating a rate. You can even negotiate as a group and get a better price - the larger the group (e.g., a significant chunk of a neighborhood) the better price you will probably get.
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Old 03-24-2008, 10:19 AM
 
Location: Raleigh, NC
502 posts, read 1,718,042 times
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Are you saying that you are surprised that the cost of "fuel" has gone up? The prices for all fuels have been rising this year, so I doubt you've have had any company not go up unless you were on some kind of contract with a price lock.
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Old 03-24-2008, 10:55 AM
 
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
607 posts, read 2,401,598 times
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Originally Posted by convergent View Post
Are you saying that you are surprised that the cost of "fuel" has gone up? The prices for all fuels have been rising this year, so I doubt you've have had any company not go up unless you were on some kind of contract with a price lock.
Thank you, that was helpful.
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Old 03-24-2008, 11:31 AM
 
Location: Raleigh, NC
502 posts, read 1,718,042 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lizardlips View Post
Thank you, that was helpful.
It was intended to point out that fuel prices are going up. The increase you described is not unusual in the current "fuel" climate... so the helpfulness was to point out that shopping around probably won't find much relief since all fuels are on the rise. Propane is actually created as a by-product when gasoline is produced... so its likely to track up if crude oil is going up, although the consumption side on propane is entirely different. The other thing to keep in mind is that the weather has been pretty mild, so your consumption would have been lower than normal, and should have been a wash with the increase.... compared to other years.
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Old 03-24-2008, 12:15 PM
rfb
 
Location: Raleigh, NC
2,552 posts, read 6,198,867 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by convergent View Post
The increase you described is not unusual in the current "fuel" climate... so the helpfulness was to point out that shopping around probably won't find much relief since all fuels are on the rise.
My experience doesn't match this. Yes, propane costs are going up, but different suppliers can and do charge different amounts. Its true of gas stations, and it is definately true of propane companies. When you are filling a 500 gallon tank, a ten to twenty cent difference can be substantial.
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Old 03-25-2008, 05:41 AM
 
Location: Raleigh, NC
502 posts, read 1,718,042 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rfb View Post
My experience doesn't match this. Yes, propane costs are going up, but different suppliers can and do charge different amounts. Its true of gas stations, and it is definately true of propane companies. When you are filling a 500 gallon tank, a ten to twenty cent difference can be substantial.
Certainly that's the case. However, my response was to the OP's comment that they were shocked that THEIR fuel price went up. It shouldn't be a shock right now that your fuel prices go up... that's all I was trying to say. I guess I didn't say it very well because no one seems to understand the point of my reply. It doesn't mean you don't still try to get a better price.
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Old 03-25-2008, 06:12 AM
 
9,680 posts, read 26,814,026 times
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Propane is a fuel to avoid if in any way possible.
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Old 03-25-2008, 06:20 AM
rfb
 
Location: Raleigh, NC
2,552 posts, read 6,198,867 times
Reputation: 2725
Quote:
Originally Posted by saturnfan View Post
Propane is a fuel to avoid if in any way possible.
And why would that be?
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