Posted on 02/06/2013 8:52:17 PM PST by AlmaKing
Yes, this is a vanity, but I figure some Freepers might have better answers than what I'm finding in web searches.
EnergyNorth Propane made a delivery to my tank this morning. My tank was already 70% full. I have not been using my furnace for heating this winter, not once. I've relied on 2 space heaters, so I have essentially converted to 100% electric heat which is a lot cheaper than using the propane furnace that came with the house.
The bill indicated 70 gallons of propane was delivered at $3.17 per gallon and also indicated the initial tank fill percentage was 70% and the final fill percentage was 80%. I knew something was wrong because my tank holds only 220 gallons and 70 gallons would be a 30% fill-up.
I inspected the regulator and found the tank fill percentage was 100%. I took pictures of this. Per my contract, they are supposed to fill the tank to a max of 80% to avoid leakage.
They've done this two months in a row. They know I have not used propane for the whole winter, so they're losing money on me.
Is this billing illegal?
Is filling a residential propane tank to 100% capacity a safety hazard and/or illegal?
I have a propane tank.
They top off
There is evaporation
None of what you state seems out of the ordinary
Dangit. I can’t get away from these folks.
I think you are correct about the 80% max fill, because if filled in cold late winter and not used ...high summer temps could cause excessive pressure.
Your local state regulator should have the details....also should have this info on the original contract with your gas supplier..
Unless your furnace is incredibly old and/or bad I can’t believe electric is cheaper than propane. I switched to it from oil and I’m saving hundreds of dollars a year.
Unless your furnace is incredibly old and/or bad I can’t believe electric is cheaper than propane. I switched to it from oil and I’m saving hundreds of dollars a year.
100% full...!
Preper?
80% is the highest they ever take mine. I switched to wood heat so only use the propane now for cooking and water heater. I also switched to on call so they only come out if I call them, with my guarantee that I wouldn’t let it go below 20%.
It’s a 4 year old furnace.
My propane bills by month starting in November are typically: $500, $650, $700, $750, $600 with the first one being a fill-up for the time from the previous March to end of October.
This winter so far, my electric bills with the space heaters are $137, $224, $230.
I switched to a new electricity supplier after de-regulation and chose to experiment with the space heaters. They are actually more efficient at heating the rooms we use and cheaper as you can see above.
Is there other propane companies in your area? Talk to your neighbors and friends see if who has the good reputation in your area.
If your company isn’t one of the recommended ones then it is time to switch. Have them empty the tank and give you a refund for that gas. If the tank is theirs have them remove it. Arrange for the new company to bring in a tank and fill it to your specifications. Stipulate in your contract that they are only to fill it per your request not when they feel like it.
Good luck. If they give you grief go up the change of command by talking to a supervisor, then a manager/owner.
We had one of of our local propane companies decide that they were going to dump the high priced product into all of their customer’s tanks before a price drop. They lost a lot of customers as a result of that action. Numerous people were threatening to sue them for their actions.
I’ll enquire about that on-call option tomorrow. Thanks.
Don’t know if the law allows it in your state, but in mine they can’t fill more than 80%. I also tell them when to come fill up my tanks - once in Spring and again in the Fall.
Yep. I intend to huddle with the neighbors in our small enclave, after this supposed blizzard moves through. I suspect, though, that many might not be paying attention like myself until I got fed up with the bills.
Impressive!
The propane bills seem excessive, especially for a relatively new furnace. Is it perhaps not functioning properly?
I’m trying to find out if that is the law here, but having no luck. If it’s not a law, then I won’t complain because I’m not a fan of more laws. I’ll just go with a new company where I can negotiate the contract better as another poster suggested.
Well, you’ve replaced central heat with zone heat, so it’s like comparing grapefruit to grapes.
What sort of evaporation? If no vapor is being drawn nothing is leaving the tank.
Get it? Doughhhhhh-nuts.
Want to get away from them? Don’t pay them. Also,If you own the tank, Buy a new lock for the top filler. Call them and tell them not to deliver anymore. then buy a shot gun.
Problem solved.
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