The National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) has warned that some suppliers are ripping-off consumers by over-charging them when filling liquefied petroleum gas bottles that are used mainly for heating and cooking purposes.

It says that when consumers hand over their gas bottles to be refilled these were often not completely empty and as a result consumers were charged more than they should be.

It says that the organisation views this in a serious light since it is against the requirements of the Trade Metrology Act. It says the price of gas has increased substantially over the year.

It advises all consumers to insist on having their gas bottles weighed before these are refilled and then weighed again when they have been filled, so that they can determine the actual weight of the gas supplied to them and pay accordingly.

Johannesburgand Pretoria residents have been battling with widespread gas shortages during the past month allegedly because Sasol had closed one of its plants for maintenance several weeks ago.

This resulted in many filling stations in both cities being unable to supply gas. Afrox, South Africa’s largest supplier of LPG, says that it is importing gas to relieve the shortage and the first consignment is expected to arrive in the country by the end of the month.

Company spokesman Johann Cilliers says that while there has been a slight improvement in gas supplies from refineries, the supply is not at 100% in terms of demand.

The high demand for gas was prompted by particularly cold weather in the past few weeks and exacerbated by the steep hike in the electricity price that makes gas heaters an attractive alternative compared with electric heaters.

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In the climate of rising costs to electricity and many other things and the promotion by the government to ‘save’ and become more GREEN in our living style – I cannot understand how we have run-out of gas during one of the coldest winter periods. Not only that some garages have been without gas for longer than 2 weeks and we probably will not get gas for a further week. In other words we have then been out of gas for 3 weeks plus! - Rosemary Broad

I have never bothered about it taking it for granted that it is how it works. Thanks for this information. It would help me to save a few rands. - P. Mtimkulu

What is the recommended price for Gas, a Total garage in Witbank charges R220,00 for a 10-11kg exchange bottle of gas. - R. Khumalo

Most gas suppliers do not fill bottles but just exchange your empty for a pre-filled bottle. We are paying R176.00 for a 11kg bottle on the South Cape coast... - B. Jefferys

What planning was done by SASOL? Maintenance should have been done in summer when there is less demand for gas.
We use 11 kg bottles for our heaters and our stove and only replace when they are empty so it’s a straight swop with no weighing required.
Our smaller bottles get filled when I feel they are not quite as heavy as they should be and I must admit our hardware store has always weighed them before and after filling. - P. de Villiers