CMA LPG Tank Transfer Calculator: Updated for 2025-26 Data Submissions

• The CMA was expected to publish its final decision in Autumn 2026 regarding the retention of its domestic bulk LPG market orders, which aim to facilitate customer switching.
• The CMA LPG tank transfer calculator and associated forms have been updated for the data period spanning June 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026.
• Suppliers must submit required data via online forms by the first working day of July each year, completing them in one session.
• Existing suppliers are mandated to complete the sale of LPG tanks to new suppliers within 42 days.
• These regulations stem from the Enterprise Act 2002 and are designed to promote competition in the domestic bulk LPG market.

Adherence to these deadlines and the annual updates to the CMA LPG tank transfer calculator is crucial for domestic bulk LPG suppliers in Great Britain to ensure compliance and facilitate fair market practices.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has recently updated its "CMA LPG tank transfer calculator," alongside new submission forms, to streamline processes within the domestic bulk LPG market. These updates are specifically relevant for the data period commencing June 1, 2025, and concluding May 31, 2026, covering LPG statistics for both individual tanks and metered estates. The calculator itself is a crucial tool, designed to assist suppliers in quickly agreeing on the price of an LPG tank when it is being transferred from an incumbent provider to a new one.

The CMA undertakes an annual amendment of this calculator to ensure its continued relevance and effectiveness. Suppliers are required to utilize two distinct online forms for data submission, which necessitate information regarding new and switching customers, as well as the duration it takes for customers to complete a switch. It is imperative that these forms are completed in a single session, as there is no functionality to save progress. All submissions must be finalized and sent by the first working day of July, without including any personal or financial details.

The foundation for these measures lies in the Competition Commission's (CC) investigation into the domestic bulk liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) market, with the subsequent orders being established under the market investigations provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002. Following a comprehensive review, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) was expected to publish its final decision in Autumn 2026 regarding the retention of these critical orders. This decision underscores the CMA's commitment to maintaining a competitive landscape, requiring diligent oversight from legal and compliance teams.

A core component of the Domestic Bulk LPG Market Order mandates the establishment of a robust tank transfer mechanism. This mechanism incorporates a specific pricing formula, which is operationalized through the "CMA LPG tank transfer calculator," and also sets clear time limits for transfers. Significantly, existing suppliers are legally obliged to complete the sale of their LPG tanks to incoming suppliers within a strict timeframe of 42 days. Adherence to these deadlines and the annual updates to the CMA LPG tank transfer calculator is crucial for domestic bulk LPG suppliers in Great Britain to ensure compliance and facilitate fair market practices.

The primary objective behind the retention of these domestic bulk LPG market orders and the continuous refinement of the "CMA LPG tank transfer calculator" is to simplify and encourage customer switching among LPG suppliers. By providing a standardized and annually updated tool for pricing tank transfers, the CMA aims to remove potential friction points that could otherwise hinder customers from moving to a different provider. This directly supports a more dynamic and competitive domestic bulk LPG market.

The stipulated time limits, particularly the 42-day mandate for tank sales, are instrumental in fostering a competitive environment. These provisions, which are part of the broader LPG market investigation remedies, ensure that suppliers cannot unduly delay transfers, thereby empowering customers in Great Britain to exercise their choice more effectively. Ultimately, these regulatory interventions are designed to enhance LPG supplier switching GB, ensuring that consumers benefit from increased competition and more accessible options in their energy supply.

Legal and compliance teams for domestic bulk LPG suppliers in Great Britain must monitor annual updates to the CMA's tank transfer price calculator and adhere to the specified data submission deadlines (e.g., by the first working day of July for the 2025-2026 period). They must also ensure compliance with the 42-day requirement for completing tank sales to new suppliers, as these retained orders aim to facilitate competition and customer switching.

Source: Original reporting via Competition and Markets Authority guidance.