Regional Talk > Connecticut Chat > [INFO] Propane Price Patrol

[INFO] Propane Price Patrol

1gal of oil gives ~138,000BTU, if you burn it into an average 83% efficient burner you end up with ~114,500BTU/gal
Given a $3.5/gal price that is ~32,700BTU/$
Propane gives 91,500BTU/gal. If you burn it in a very efficient 95% furnace you get ~87,000BTU/gal
Given a $3.25/gal price that is 26,750BTU/gal.
------------------------------------------------
Above was cut from a discussion in another thread in this forum..

I called around today (1-11-12) to price oil in my area for a couple of apartments I own. Cheapest I could find in eastern CT after many calls was Norwich Discount Oil, priced at $3.589/gal with a minimum 125 gallon fillup, no premium for paying within 10 days. I'll be going with them needless to say...

But, using the assumptions above, least expensive oil I could find ended up being 31,903BTU/$

My propane from Monday ended up being 38,024BTU/$, beating the oil by a wide margin.

And that doesn't take into account that I dry my clothes and cook with my propane that my tenants can't do with oil- both incur electricity charges for those appliances above and beyond the oil that aren't factored into the equation.

Interesting comparison... but the scales have tipped in favor of propane, at least here in eastern CT.

reply to JimCT
At 2.288, you paid $1.11 less per gallon than the New England average price for propane last week. ($3.393)

You better hang on to those guys as tight as you can. That is an incredible price.

»www.eia.gov/oog/info/twip/twip_propane.html

That has to be very close to current wholesale price, or perhaps they have a very sweet futures deal. In any event - way to go on finding that price.

reply to cowboyro

reply to Grumpy
They're a good company to do business with, but remember, I get that price because I own my 500 gallon tank free and clear.

At the end of the day, getting a good propane price/gallon comes down to tank size and ownership- and those numbers prove it.

reply to JimCT

said by JimCT:

said by cowboyro:

said by JimCT:

Interesting comparison... but the scales have tipped in favor of propane, at least here in eastern CT.

Propane prices are extremely volatile, with huge differences between areas. Owning or leasing a tank can also make a huge difference. The size of the tank too...

You and I were arguing about this in another thread, remember?

»[House&Home] Anyone switch from oil to propane?

That's your formula up there

I just find it amusing that in the last thread, you were pretty dismissive of my position on owning your propane tank and buying the largest you can afford, saying:

Other thread: "Since the cost is 40% higher on average, saving few pennies doesn't make a difference."

And now that my price has consistently beaten oil you've changed your tune, saying:

"Propane prices are extremely volatile, with huge differences between areas. Owning or leasing a tank can also make a huge difference. The size of the tank too..."

Yes, size and tank ownership make a "huge difference" as you put it... it's the reason I still don't buy the "average price" argument and why I can consistently beat home heating oil.

They don't. I looked at the map. Fairfield county is a whole different animal for prices.