Here we go again. I called, (Amerigas) to have my propane tank topped off the other day, the price now is $1.94 per gallon. I was told that if I wanted to pre-pay for gas this winter, I was elgible for 700 gallons @ $1.50 (our total consumption was 735 galloons for the year). Last winter LPG was $2.50 from November to March, they are predicting that it will go to $3.00 this winter. Had I not called I would not have know about this deal, which expired on the 16th, 3 days ago. So I thought I would pay the current price for my fill up, @ $1.94 and hang on to my credit until fall, but NO! they started drawing on that right now.

-- Hendo (redgate@echoweb.net), June 19, 2001

Answers

We're getting ready to have a propane tank set and filled. Where we live we have the option of heating water with electric or propane. Not much of a choice is it?

-- Grannytoo (jacres40@hotmail.com), June 19, 2001.

WOW, we just got a letter in the mail from our local co-op saying we could contract propane for $.84 a gallon here in Iowa. I thought that was outrageous so am waiting awhile to see what the local elevators price will be. They haven't set a price yet as they're hoping it goes down before fall. We contracted last year for $.56 a gallon but think the highest anyone around paid, that didn't contract, was $1.09. What part of the country are you in? Anna

-- Anna (countryanna54@hotmail.com), June 19, 2001.

--Hendo Now might be the time to go shopping around......... Around here amerigas is probably the highest priced supplier. Please grab the oh yeller pages and call!!!!!! In my neck of the woods current price is $1.09 Hey even if ya gotta get a new tank from somebody else.......call. To me those people at america gas are.... I better delete these thoughs.......

-- Jim in Mi (hartalteng@voyager.net), June 19, 2001.

We just booked ours for $1/ gallon. They had other purchase options ranging from $0.98 to $1.07/gallon. Last year the open market's highest price was $1.67, I think. I'm in central MO.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), June 19, 2001.

The cheapest I have seen propane here, (southern Oregon), in 6 years is $1.79. But I can go to the gas statioon with a 20# cylinder and get it for $1.50. The prices are all the same, Suburban, Amreigas, Texgas and smaller local suppliers. The only reason I got this "big" price break is bacuse we went from just using it for cooking to include heating & lights. But until recently our electricity was about $.05 per KW. I would say that 90% of the folks around here use Heat Pumps with wood heat back up.

-- Hendo (redgate@echoweb.net), June 20, 2001.

We cut our propane use in 1/2 last year by using wood for heat ... and that was with a longer and colder winter than we've seen here in a Loong time. It's a bit of work, but we really enjoy the constant "cozy" heat that wood provides, and not getting scalped when the price of propane jumps. Shop around, and look for "summer fill" and contract programs that may give you better prices seasonally.

-- Dave (peasedj@sparc.isl.net), June 21, 2001.

We close on our place in the country next week and I called the propane people to change the service. They are contracting now and the price here, in western IL is $98 paid up front. You can still get that price on their budget plan but there is a $50 fee. Got to see how much the tank is going to need.

Since we have had either natural gas or wood, could someone tell me about how many gal. we would go through in a year, on the average. We will be on a fairly fixed income, SS until we can find some work out there.

The furnace, hot water heater and stove are gas. I do a lot of cooking. As soon as I can replace my cookstove I will use that but in the meantime I will be using the gas stove daily.

Thank you in advance.

-- Cordy (ckaylegian@aol.com), June 21, 2001.

It is funny to read your message. Before moving into a new house, recently, I called the previous propane supplier, Amerigas. They told me before they could deliver, they needed a form filled out and signed. After five phone calls and two months, I still haven't received the form. Is this their way of waiting for prices to go up before filling the tank?

-- John C. (jtc_net@yahoo.com), August 06, 2001.

Called for our fill last week, and was told the price per gallon here in Colorado was .89 cents. However, when the truck came, the price had risen to 92 cents per gallon, and it's rising. Glad I don't live where some of you do. Sheesh. I can't imagine paying $3 per gallon if it goes that high. We use wood a lot, too, and it helps. Jan

-- Jan in Co (Janice12@aol.com), August 06, 2001.

We have the same problem here in Kansas the local supplier I had to call to try to get tank filled (have been customer with them for 5 years now)they said .89 a gallon cash price as always.. but seem to be dragging feet coming to fill tank so will probably call local coop found out tonight they are at .81 currently. If not too long and cold will be able to make it on 300 gallon.. My advice shop around, I own my tank so I can and will from now on have anyone with a good price and decent reputation fill my tank... Used to have agreement if price below 1.00 gallon to top off tank if in area.. Last winter he waited until tank to 30% and came filled the tank at 1.47 gallon.. He lost a long time customer over that kind of business practice....

-- jeff (Plainbroke@juno.com), September 09, 2001.