[fatlazyless]

Unlike a 275 gallon fuel oil tank, which is always owned by the home owner, the 100 gallon propane tank and propane regulator valve are always owned by the propane delivery company. As I understand, one propane delivery company will not fill a tank belonging to another company. The propane tanks have to undergo a pressure test every ten years and get certified with the date stamped into the steel neck of the tank. Supposedly, the ten year pressure test recertification requirement is the reason why home owners do not own their own tanks. The unstated reason in my opinion, at least by the propane delivery company, is to cut down on competition between companies so a customer becomes married to one delivery company and then cannot price shop for a less expensive gallon of propane. The same propane tanker-truck can deliver a $1.09 gallon to a large user like a hotel that uses propane for its' outdoor swimming pool, hot tub, laundry, & lobby fireplace and then drive a mile down the road to a residence and deliver a $5.09 gallon to a home owner-small user.

So, how do I get around the certification-propane tank-keep prices high-delivery system that has been the local practice for a long time here in central New Hampshire? About two months ago, I paid $5.09/gal for my last 80 gallon fill up, from a very large national propane company that has a big store and propane service dept in Laconia.