Coal vs Propane cost

That's awesome all you guys with the inexpensive propane company's. Where I live in NY my propane supplier last bill was $6.14 a galling plus tax, plus $5 road use fee, plus $5 delivery charge. A company around the corner from them just got busted with a million dollar lawsuit for not crediting paid accounts, under delivering and some other charging descreapancy.

Here's a government site where you can keep up on current residential propane prices by state.

https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_wfr_a_EPLLPA ... pgal_w.htm

If you click on "data series" you can also see pricing by state for heating oil.

Rob R. wrote: ↑

Sun. Dec. 16, 2018 11:41 am

That is because your coal stove produces radiant heat. If it is located in the basement, you are heating the floors and enjoying that feeling through the entire home. If you had a radiant floor hooked to that oil boiler, it would feel the same way. I only mention this to point out that the difference is due to heating system itself, not the fuel choice.

I have radiant heat in my shop floor and well aware of what it does well and what it does not do well. My house still has plaster walls and a lot of thermal mass. The constant low output of the coal stove heats the walls and it takes days to get it all up to temp. When it does the drafts all go away.

lsayre wrote: ↑

Sun. Dec. 16, 2018 5:24 pm

Here's a government site where you can keep up on current residential propane prices by state.

https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_wfr_a_EPLLPA ... pgal_w.htm

If you click on "data series" you can also see pricing by state for heating oil.

Good link! Interesting that nationwide the wholesale propane prices are somewhat close, but the price homeowners pay, retail, varies greatly. Im assuming taxes are higher in eastern states, but where is the rest of the high cost coming from?

Propane is $1.60 to $1.80 in our area in Northern Lancaster county Pa.

warminmn wrote: ↑

Sun. Dec. 16, 2018 6:40 pm

I'm assuming taxes are higher in eastern states, but where is the rest of the high cost coming from?

Unknown. But it appears that the average mark-up on retail propane is about 300%. Not a bad profit margin by any means!!!

lsayre wrote: ↑

Sun. Dec. 16, 2018 7:12 pm

Unknown. But it appears that the average mark-up on retail propane is about 300%. Not a bad profit margin by any means!!!

Some real gouging going on, not so much here, but in the south and east. Thats really sad, the gouging. Gotta make profit, I understand that, but wow.

lsayre wrote: ↑

Sun. Dec. 16, 2018 7:12 pm

Unknown. But it appears that the average mark-up on retail propane is about 300%. Not a bad profit margin by any means!!!

There is a big difference between mark up and margin at the end of the day. For people that use a leased tank, the cost of the equipment is usually rolled into the propane price. Some places have a separate fuel surcharge for the delivery, others roll it into the propane price.

This site has a good comparison of the spot price vs. retail of customer owned tanks and leased tanks: https://galwayco-op.com/propane_only.htm

That's a good link Rob! The co-op price is not bad.

mof1964 wrote: ↑

Sun. Dec. 16, 2018 7:11 pm

Propane is $1.60 to $1.80 in our area in Northern Lancaster county Pa.

Sauder Fuel and Martindale propane are the two that I’ve found to be the lowest around typically

Yeah Sauder was the 1.60 I was referring to. We shall see how that goes. I heard they were sold again.