Propane Tank

[Mags]

I’m a day early reading my propane tank. At 24F it reads 57% and I calculated it would be 62% at 60F. That means I’ve used 180 gallons since summer. At this rate I should be able to go a full year on one tank.
At $1.14 a gallon that’s an average of about $41 a month since the last fill in late July. Looking back I didn’t burn that much in the summer so it’s not a fair average.

Propane guy was running around the area on his rounds. Since we were sitting at about 25% I had him top us off. Filled to 85%. $2.57/gal + $9 hazmat fee.
At closest gas station I think propane is just under $4 per gal.

[Sir Henry]

I’m a day early reading my propane tank. At 24F it reads 57% and I calculated it would be 62% at 60F. That means I’ve used 180 gallons since summer. At this rate I should be able to go a full year on one tank.
At $1.14 a gallon that’s an average of about $41 a month since the last fill in late July. Looking back I didn’t burn that much in the summer so it’s not a fair average.

Propane guy was running around the area on his rounds. Since we were sitting at about 25% I had him top us off. Filled to 85%. $2.57/gal + $9 hazmat fee.
At closest gas station I think propane is just under $4 per gal.

You are more than twice my rate and I don’t have a hazmat fee. With my new 250 gallon tank I can fill my own barbecue tanks.

This was my end of month reading. Temperature compensated I’m at 34% and 76% so I’ve used right at 500 gallons sine summer. At $1.14 that’s $570 or $71 a month.

IMG_3306.jpeg (1.49 MiB) Viewed 3748 times

IMG_3308.jpeg (965.53 KiB) Viewed 3748 times

[Mags]

I’m a day early reading my propane tank. At 24F it reads 57% and I calculated it would be 62% at 60F. That means I’ve used 180 gallons since summer. At this rate I should be able to go a full year on one tank.
At $1.14 a gallon that’s an average of about $41 a month since the last fill in late July. Looking back I didn’t burn that much in the summer so it’s not a fair average.

Propane guy was running around the area on his rounds. Since we were sitting at about 25% I had him top us off. Filled to 85%. $2.57/gal + $9 hazmat fee.
At closest gas station I think propane is just under $4 per gal.

You are more than twice my rate and I don’t have a hazmat fee. ...

The fee is required by US DOT. It's a flat fee regardless of the gallons purchased per delivery. If you don't see it as a line item on your bill, it's probably hidden in the per/gal cost. For me the hazmat fee broken down per gallon was 13c. If I'd waited til the tank was more empty and/or had a larger tank the fee on a per gallon basis would have been less. For example a 500gal purchase, with the fee spread out across the 500gal, comes out about 1.8c.

[Hatchdog]

I wonder if our states charge a high tax on propane like gasoline. That could cause a big disparity in prices from state to state like gas. I can drive over to Idaho and buy gas .50 to .60 per gallon cheaper. The gas tax here in Washington is very high and the folks at the capitol are pushing for more increases to help offset the huge deficit we have. I could explain why we have such a deficit but that would be crossing the line of the site rules so I’ll leave it at that.

[Mags]

I wonder if our states charge a high tax on propane like gasoline. That could cause a big disparity in prices from state to state like gas....

Oregon doesn't tax propane unless it's used in a motor vehicle. Propane in our area of Oregon comes from refineries in Washington state via truck and railroad to distribution terminals. I think in Wisconsin it's mostly shipped via pipeline to terminals. That might explain the disparity.

[Sir Henry]

I wonder if our states charge a high tax on propane like gasoline. That could cause a big disparity in prices from state to state like gas....

Oregon doesn't tax propane unless it's used in a motor vehicle. Propane in our area of Oregon comes from refineries in Washington state via truck and railroad to distribution terminals. I think in Wisconsin it's mostly shipped via pipeline to terminals. That might explain the disparity.

If natural gas is available propane prices remains high. Here in rural Wisconsin propane prices are low because of competition among propane companies. Three years ago local companies raised prices far beyond increased production costs and a new company moved in to bring prices down again.

Keep in mind I own my own tanks. I would say 80% of tanks are rented and renting locks you in to one provider. I’m able to shop around and get it cheaper. I paid $1.14 in the summer. Those without my storage capacity fill in the winter at much higher prices. If I rented and ordered 350 gallons I would be paying close to $2.00 or more.

I see commercial 30,000 gallon tanks everywhere here. It’s hard to go 10 miles without seeing a huge tank. In areas of natural gas they are farther between.

[Mags]

The tank I have was provided by the propane company. I neither own or pay rent for it. I'm under no obligation to buy propane from them. Seems generous compared to other part of the country.

Most of the metro areas, urban and suburban have natural gas plumbing. Older rural areas still use heating oil (Diesel#2), newer rural building tends to be all electric and solar. There is some propane heating, but to heat that way is expensive. Our heat is primarily wood stove along with a ground source heat pump. Our propane use is for stove stop cooking and the BBQ. Separate ovens are electric.

[Sir Henry]

The tank I have was provided by the propane company. I neither own or pay rent for it. I'm under no obligation to buy propane from them. Seems generous compared to other part of the country.

Most of the metro areas, urban and suburban have natural gas plumbing. Older rural areas still use heating oil (Diesel#2), newer rural building tends to be all electric and solar. There is some propane heating, but to heat that way is expensive. Our heat is primarily wood stove along with a ground source heat pump. Our propane use is for stove stop cooking and the BBQ. Separate ovens are electric.

Most people heat with wood around here. Some have furnace rooms separated from the main house. I have a propane fired on demand water heater that also heats the house with hot water in the floors downstairs and wall radiators upstairs. It’s quiet without having air being blown around.

[Sir Henry]

I didn’t do a reading in April. These are my two 1,000 gallon tanks which feeds the house. Looks like I used a tad more than 600 gallons for the year

IMG_3737.jpeg (1.15 MiB) Viewed 2209 times

IMG_3738.jpeg (1.51 MiB) Viewed 2209 times

The motor home didn’t get used much. This is a 500 gallon tank.

IMG_3740.jpeg (1.83 MiB) Viewed 2209 times

[Sir Henry]

I had my tanks filled today. The house took 619 gallons compared to 497 last year. I didn’t have the RV topped off because it was already at 75%. The 250 gallon tank took 178 and the 420 pounder took 49.2 gallons. Last year it was $1.15 a gallon and this year it was $1.25.

Basically it cost me $65 a month for heat and hot water. I take long showers and kept the house at 70F compared to 68F the year before.