Syracuse, New York (WSYR-TV) - Winter heating season is approaching and many of us are trying to figure out how we're going to afford to stay warm. The price of natural gas and heating oil is way up.
Propane, though, has remained somewhat stagnant.
Still, Suburban Propane is charging 60 to 70 cents more per gallon than some of their competitors.
Here’s The Real Deal on why some customers are stuck paying it.
June Cullen has been a customer of Suburban Propane for the past 16 years. She's on a budget plan, and when she got this year's estimates, she experienced a bit of sticker shock.
“When I moved here it was 99 cents per gallon, and now it's up to $3.25, it's just very difficult. I hope to retire in February and I just don't think I'm going to be able to do it,” Cullen says.
What makes it worse, is that $3.25 a gallon is about 70 cents higher than what most other propane suppliers are charging right now.
And there’s no customer loyalty discount for June. So, why doesn't she shop around?
“It's their tank, so my hands are tied,” Cullen says. “Unless I buy the tank -- and I think that's about $500 -- or have them come and take it out.”
The problem is, she's had the same tank for the 16 years she's lived at her home, and it's right in the middle of her landscaped back yard.
Other providers won't touch a competitor's tank, and there's the added price of getting a new one installed.
Suburban Propane didn't want to talk to us about why their prices are so much higher, saying customer service issues are dealt with privately.
But after we called them, they called June and dropped her price to $2.70 a gallon. That's 55 cents cheaper than what they originally charged.
A woman in almost the same situation called us with the same complaint. We asked Suburban what the deal was; they didn't give us an explanation, but knocked her price down 50 cents a gallon.
So, if you're a Suburban Propane customer and have found a better price elsewhere, call them and tell them – there’s a chance they may lower your price to get you to stay.
