Propane Rates in Florida

rockhillmanor wrote:
Thanks for all the info.

YIKES! How in the world can propane prices not be regulated?

The tank had gas in it and I paid for that at closing.

When I called to put it in my name all the customer service person did was 'scream' at me that I owed that money and would not believe me I was the new owner and continued to scream about paying the bill. Wouldn't lert me get a word in edgewise that I was the new owner and not the previous customer so I hung up. :R

They came to repo the tank and I explained how I was treated on the phone and was wondering if I really wanted to do business with their company.

Truck driver said they use an overseas answering service and I wasn't the lone ranger on being treated that way. Said to wait until Monday when calls would be answered by the real office manager IN their office. He left the tank. But did add that I WOULD have to pay AGAIN for the propane that was left in the tank.

Propane is for hot water tank only and the tank is older but in good shape but I was just informed by the home owners insurance that I have to replace it.

Since when does a home owners insurance company's have the right to tell you you have to buy a new HWH?

Welcome to the wonderful world of Florida I guess!.....I think I am already starting to get homesick for Wisconsin and/or just buying an electric HWH and be done with all this! :B

First things first. Tell the supplier to get their tank out of there and stick the bill where the sun don't shine. Then find a good supplier. Most of the big guys are extremely difficult to do business with. The smaller independents are much more customer friendly.

As for regulation of propane prices, they are not regulated since it is not a public utility like NG or electric. The consumer can easily change suppliers and has options.
Where with NG and electric you are usually locked into a single supplier.

Just as a point of info, here in western PA we are currently paying $1.99 per gallon in 320 gal. and larger tanks. Smaller tanks are at a slight premium of 10-15 cents per gallon. Distances from supply points and other factors drive costs higher for some suppliers and can impact markets differently, but my experience in FL has been that they are expensive to buy from and there are few good reasons, except they sell less gallons annually and they can charge whatever their customers will pay. .

Just got back from 9 week trip to Alaska. Going thru Canada, I paid almost $7 a gallon for propane. In Valdez AK, I paid $5 a gallon. The cheapest I can find here in Olympia WA is $2.38 a gallon. I guess everything is relative to where you are.

You said that the water heater is the only thing that runs on propane. So your stove/oven is electric and you have a heat pump/AC unit for heating and cooling - right ?

If correct then I would FOR SURE put in a nice high efficiency electric water heater. Why mess with propane for that one thing ? My electric water heater (Florida) was in the garage. It was pretty hot out there all summer (April - Oct) and still at least 75 or so in the winter during the day so the electric usage for heating water was not bad.

And just FYI in case you don't know - winter is the cheap time of year for utility bills in Florida. The opposite of the Midwest, where I'm originally from. Hopefully that monster big AC/heat pump you have sitting next to your house is a high efficiency unit because it will be running 24/7 during the long Florida summers. It was always permanently 'on' by Easter and never turned off until about November. I lived near Orlando and I still remember being amazed a few times having to run AC on Christmas Day.

Tim

"YIKES! How in the world can propane prices not be regulated?"

Most things are not regulated, thank goodness. We are a capitalistic country, at least in name.

rockhillmanor wrote:
...snip...Welcome to the wonderful world of Florida I guess!.....I think I am already starting to get homesick for Wisconsin and/or just buying an electric HWH and be done with all this! :B

You'll keep finding more of that as time goes by. There's a reason Florida home prices are low. Once the northern money leaves you get a whole lot of attitude.

MN propane was 1.89/gallon a month ago when I filled up.

Depending on where you are in Florida they can be very strict about replacing any windows or doors. They sometimes have to be hurricane rated and they open outwards. Must have a permit and record of it is sent to the insurance company Garage doors have to be reinforced. Maybe not in all areas but pay attention to what you say and to who you say it as you deal with neighbors, city and insurance co.

HWH are the number one cause of water damage. You didn't have to replace it but they wouldn't pay any water-damage claims. I would consider putting in an electric on-demand.

Let me know how much you miss Wisconsin mid Feb!

Thanks for all the info.

YIKES! How in the world can propane prices not be regulated?

The tank had gas in it and I paid for that at closing.

When I called to put it in my name all the customer service person did was 'scream' at me that I owed that money and would not believe me I was the new owner and continued to scream about paying the bill. Wouldn't lert me get a word in edgewise that I was the new owner and not the previous customer so I hung up. :R

They came to repo the tank and I explained how I was treated on the phone and was wondering if I really wanted to do business with their company.

Truck driver said they use an overseas answering service and I wasn't the lone ranger on being treated that way. Said to wait until Monday when calls would be answered by the real office manager IN their office. He left the tank. But did add that I WOULD have to pay AGAIN for the propane that was left in the tank.

Propane is for hot water tank only and the tank is older but in good shape but I was just informed by the home owners insurance that I have to replace it.

Since when does a home owners insurance company's have the right to tell you you have to buy a new HWH?

Welcome to the wonderful world of Florida I guess!.....I think I am already starting to get homesick for Wisconsin and/or just buying an electric HWH and be done with all this! :B

I'm surprised at the high price the OP is quoting, last spring (March) in Texas I got a 30 lb. (around 7.1 gallons) cylinder filled for $18. I expected a much higher price after the tough winter that inflated the pricing. In answer to the question about propane vs. electric for water heating, I did some calcs last year and found that at at 15cents/kwh. it was still less costly to use electricity because 100% of the electrical energy goes into heating compared to some losses using propane. Google the net to find some easy to use calculators.

Price doesn't change in FL if you have your own tank. They lease them for a few dollars per month. And won't fill a competitors tank. When I changed companies a few years ago, the new company pulled the old tank and buried the new tank no charge. The old company bought back the unused gas for the last selling price.