How Much Does Pro-Pain (Correct Spelling :) ) Cost?

LoschStoker · Post by **LoschStoker** » Mon. Dec. 22, 2014 8:53 pm

Here is some interesting info pertaining to location and type of power plants.
http://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=pa

david78 · Post by **david78** » Tue. Dec. 23, 2014 9:46 am

Interesting. Looking at WV, 95% of electricity used in the state generated by coal fired plants. If the trend of those plants shutting down continues, we are really going to be screwed.

tmbrddl · Post by **tmbrddl** » Tue. Dec. 23, 2014 10:19 am

James11ac wrote:Don't know if anyone else has this issue, but they really give you a hassle around here if you want to own your own tank.

It's against the law, at least in Maine and I assume elsewhere for one propane dealer to put his product into a competitors tank. I'm wondering if that isn't their reasoning. It's not uncommon for an oil company to do an initial inspection on a new customers tank just to make sure it is sound for liability purposes. That's oil.

Photog200 · Post by **Photog200** » Tue. Dec. 23, 2014 10:26 am

When I had a camper set up in a campground, I had a 100# tank (not sure how many gallons that is). When the campground switched propane providers, the new one came and switched out tanks. Not sure if that is part of a law or company policy.

Randy

Sunny Boy · Post by **Sunny Boy** » Tue. Dec. 23, 2014 12:10 pm

Photog200 wrote:
Sunny Boy wrote:I only use propane for the dryer and the kitchen stove and even then, only for about three months of summer. The 40-something gallon tank lasts me several years. Unfortunately, this was the year to get the tank filled.

I paid $4.29 a gallon.

Paul
Ouch! No wonder you complain about having to use the gas stove during the summer!

Randy

Yeah, really puts the "pain" in "pro-pain". That's why I've been experimenting with reducing the heat output of the range to extend the coal season into those few weeks warm days but still chilly nights, and not have all the hassles of a wood fire just to do the cooking.

Paul

VigIIPeaBurner · Post by **VigIIPeaBurner** » Tue. Dec. 23, 2014 6:19 pm

I have propane to cook and heat water with. For many years I had the gas companies's 100 gal tank filled 4x/yr. last Feb in all the ice, snow, and cold weather generated propane shortage, they charged me a total of $5.38/ gal!

This summer I called around to buy my own underground tank. The pricing was not favorable when I worked the numbers. Payback would happen in 6.5 years. Using the gas co's tk and filling 1x/yr at a reduced pricing, payback was 1.7 years. I figure if I could invest the difference between owning and renting @ a reasonable return, it would pay for 3.5 a 4 years of gas. I dug, back filled, and permitted the project and they installed the line and tk. Gas was $2.19. The companies (3 of them) who would sell me a tank quoted me $0.30 more a gallon

cabinover · Post by **cabinover** » Tue. Dec. 23, 2014 6:47 pm

tmbrddl wrote:
James11ac wrote:Don't know if anyone else has this issue, but they really give you a hassle around here if you want to own your own tank.
It's against the law, at least in Maine and I assume elsewhere for one propane dealer to put his product into a competitors tank. I'm wondering if that isn't their reasoning. It's not uncommon for an oil company to do an initial inspection on a new customers tank just to make sure it is sound for liability purposes. That's oil.

Up here I don't think it's a hassle but you would have to show proof of ownership and the company will go through your installation (on your dime) to make sure it's safe and up to code prior to filling your tank. We cannot fill another companies tank (with exception between the companies like they can't get to it or an emergency). The customer cannot have another company fill our tanks.

cabinover · Post by **cabinover** » Tue. Dec. 23, 2014 6:58 pm

You guys gotta understand, we're cheap bastards on this board. That's why we're all here right? Yes the price of Propane does seem rather high but look at what you get out of it. Clothes dried by turning a knob. Dinner heated by turning a knob. Hot water by doing nothing. Heat by doing nothing beyond moving a t-stat.

Is it cheap? Nope. Is it convenient? Absolutely. Most people love convenient and will pay for it.

Those that only use if for cooking or cooking/drier...do you really spend that much when all is said and done? Yeah it hurts to see $4.00+/gallon but if it's only once a year, who cares when you factor the convenience. I'd have it for the months I'm not heating with coal even if I did pay full price and did for all my adult life.

There is a lot of overhead in the business when you consider the $140K trucks that sit 9 months a year( about 9 in our company)
the many millions of $$ in tanks that are in the field (some must be swapped out every 12 years)
all the regulators ( that get changed out every time a customer switches companies)
and the personnel that (in my company anyway) don't get laid off after the season.

Just trying to give a bird's eye view that no one ever sees or thinks about.

tmbrddl · Post by **tmbrddl** » Tue. Dec. 23, 2014 7:07 pm

cabinover wrote:You guys gotta understand, we're cheap bastards on this board. That's why we're all here right?

LOL, don't sugarcoat it, tell it like it is.