Backyard grillers may get a little steamed this holiday weekend when buying refilled propane tanks: They will be getting less fuel for their money than last Memorial Day.
When oil prices soared in 2008, propane suppliers quietly reduced by 2 pounds the amount of gas pumped into each 20-pound tank, saying they wanted to avoid raising prices.
Since then, propane prices have been cut in half as the price of oil has dropped. But smaller refills are still being sold nationwide by many dealers, and most buyers are unaware because the tank is the same size.
“It’s a price increase,” retired lawyer Stuart Barr said Friday as he swapped a tank at a Home Depot store in Denver. “I’m a great believer in full disclosure. Give me the information.”
The problem, consumers say, is that no one tells them they’re getting less propane. Companies have adopted similar practices in the packaging of coffee, sugar and laundry detergent.
“I’m not surprised,” said Tammi Dorsey of Denver. Carrying a tank of propane from a store Friday, she initially was unaware she got less this time.
For the past year, tank exchanges at retail stores have generally cost $20 to $25. For a few bucks less, consumers can take their tanks to some stores to get them refilled instead of exchanging them. Those refills usually contain the full amount of fuel allowed by law.
Until last year, Blue Rhino and Amerigas, two major suppliers, put 17 to 18 pounds of propane in each 20-pound tank. (For safety reasons, tanks shouldn’t be filled completely.) About a year ago, that was cut to 15 pounds to save consumers a price hike, Blue Rhino spokesman Chris Hartley said. He would not say whether there were plans to return refills to the old levels, but he did say that energy markets remain volatile.
