Propane Prices

[stoyan79]

How much do propane tanks cost?

500gal and 1,000gal?

 

[Jkott]

How much do propane tanks cost? 500gal and 1,000gal?

more than I could justify when I was appalled by the propane prices about 5 years ago. Since all three suppliers near me call use on price (I called around for a couple of years and everyone was within a nickel of each other every time). I think it was going to be around a grand when you factor in purchase, delivery, setting, transferring propane, and plumbing. Plus regular certifications.

The extra dime a gallon for 350 gallons a year could never justify the cost of purchasing a tank vs free rental if we filled up annually. If you use a lot more propane, and don't live in an area where all the suppliers collude on price, maybe you could make out.

My last fill was $1.30 in May 2015. We got moved to a summer fill and are good until next May and should avoid the February supply crunch. We paid $4.75/gal two years ago during the Midwest supply issue, but they agreed to sell us just what I calculated I would need to make it through winter even though it was less than their normal min fill.

 

[bumperm]

Above ground ranges from $700 for a refurbished 500 gallon to about $2500 for a new 1000 gallon. I paid a bit more, $5000 installed for a 1000 in-ground tank.

By owning a tank and shopping smaller suppliers (and sometimes the bigger ones), I have been able to consistently get propane for at least $1 per gallon less than Amerigas, Universal, Bi-State, Campora charge their "keep fill" rental tank contract customers. I use 800 to 1200 gallons per year, and am at break even on my tank. An above ground would have taken only a couple of years to break even, but we live near an earthquake fault line and having the tank stay near the house and not go rolling off like a flaming firebrand was a consideration.

 

[JerryK]

A hand full of years ago you could get a 500 gallon for about $500, plus extra for the two regulators.. Now, since steel and shipping costs have went up, they are up around $700-800 .. plus usually extra for the regulators. I bought mine a couple years ago with new regulators. raised it higher up, and gave it a nice coat of paint. My reason was also to be able to fill it when I wanted to, and not wait for when they wanted to. The propane price difference was secondary, but still will pay for the tank in another hand full of years. I only use about 400 gallons a year, but my tank was getting low every year when my driveway was turning to krap... Now I fill it each fall.

 

[dpb800]

We just filled up last week for 0.96 per gallon.

 

[Ford850]

500 gallon tanks here are $1500. If you buy the tank, you fork over your money up front, and gradually get it back over years as you save on the 'per gallon' price of refills. It does give you the freedom to call around for fill ups, but in the dead of winter you'd better not run too low since you are not loyal to any company so you might not be on the top of their priority list. You are also responsible for maintenance and repairs on the tank. If you 'rent' the tank, you don't actually pay a fee, but gradually pay rent in the form of higher 'per gallon' prices. The propane company paints the tank every several years, and they perform any repairs (like valve leaks etc). If you use a lot of propane, buying the tank might make sense. For me it would take 15 years to break even. That doesn't count the leak I had when they came out and fixed it on a Sunday, and credited me for fuel loss. I might change my mind in the future, but for now it is too easy to call for a fill up and know a portion is going towards tank rental.

 

[check]

0.59 cents per Liter up here. Price is down, but we're still getting ripped up here compared to US prices.

48 cents in Bracebridge , Ontario today. That's about $1.50 US per US gallon.

 

[Gem99ultra]

Stay away from the big guys, the small mom and pops family business suppliers are always much cheaper. And when we get hit by very bad winter and we see shortages the big guys are much greedier, Amerigas which is the worst supplier in my area charged as much as $8/gal during the last shortage!

That's major gouging. Surely they got nailed for it. ???

 

[bumperm]

That's major gouging. Surely they got nailed for it. ???

If they had a monopoly, were a single source like a utility company, yeah maybe. True, they often do have their customers on a "keep full" contract and no other companies can fill their rental tank, but the customer is free to give them the boot and go with another company. In some states, this is a no extra cost option for the customer. The gas company is required to pump out and remove their tank, give the customer a refund for the unused gas, and that's that. The customer then either buys their own tank and shops around for the best deal, or calls a company and signs up for another rental tank - here, there's not start up fee. The tank is delivered for free, and away you go again hoping the new "keep full" or "call for fill" company treats its customers fairly.

Most rental tank customers in NV and CA are charged an actual annual rental fee of something like $60 or so, unlike another poster who's company buries that fee in there propane price. Then there's delivery fees etc. etc. that some companies charge.

Another thing, at least in NV, you can call the propane company and require them to contact you with the price per gallon *before* they come out to deliver when you are on a keep full or other contract. At least this gives you the option to know if you are about to be hosed ahead of time. It also gives you a chance to lean on them a bit if you feel the price is too high. Propane companies typically have more than one price, and deliveries to their residential rental tanks are at the high end of the scale.

 

[Garycw]

Re tank rental one property in se ky for two 1000 tanks mani folded together $30 @ yr
Same company (Ferrell ) in sw Ohio four 120 tanks mani folded together $78@yr ??
Haven't had a chance to ask them about that yet.

Sent from the mountains