State sues propane distributor Ferrellgas despite pre-emptive move

So Ferrell Gas should be expected to put a tank in your yard worth $1,600, charge whatever the State says in a newsletter, not send a rental if the tank is not moving gas through it due to low usage, and if <100 gallons gets delivered, still be happy the standard rate even though they had to send a truck and driver to the home.

Now you and I can use our tax money to sue a private company making a private business transaction because someone didn't think it was fair?

Take on a worthy cause, not a political one, AG Swanson.

The AG is a prime example of someone who abuses her power in an attempt to gain notereity to catapult herself into the MN political spotlight. AG Swanson, we all know your ambitions to run for governor in 2010, but like the above post states, take on a worthy cause, not a political one.

The papers are filled 3-4x/week with her office sueing another person or small business using our tax money. It is ultimately the consumers responsibility! This is a free market, people can charge whatever they want to charge and if the consumer is willing to pay, that is their problem that they are too lazy to find someone with a lower price. I guarantee as soon as Swanson gives her press release and the hoopla surrounding the suit had ended (next day) she doesn't look at the case again.

Typical liberal dem.

We're lucky to have an Attorney General like Lori Swanson looking out for ordinary Minnesota consumers. Her actions against predatory insurance companies, mortgage brokers, and now Ferrellgas is just what business needs in this state to keep the honest ones honest. There will always be crooks. With Swanson, the crooks will have to be more careful. Too bad we don't have Lori Swanson in Washington D.C. prosecuting the mortgage bankers, wall street tycoons, and sleazy stock traders that got us into this economic catastrophe. Obama's timid regulatory team could learn something from her.

Another victory for mainstreet by AG Swanson. Thank you for protecting our interests and not those of Wallstreet. I'm just wondering who is next. You go girl!

The guy says that they disclose all of their "fees". He didn't say anything about the price per gallon.

I think all the Swanson supporters should decide a fair price for propane,then go out and sell it at that price.If they are right Ferrell will be out of business.At least this news cycle has the AG taking someone to court and not pretending to write law.

I have been on this propane merry-go-around before, first off these propane providers have lobbied your legislators to make it illegal for anyone but the company that leases the tank to you to fill it so you are locked in. Next the cost of having one company to remove their tank and having another provider install their tank and the inconvenience of having this done discourages a customer from doing it. So as I see it it is an enforced monopoly.

I really can't believe ANYBODY still uses Ferrellgas. My run with them (started as Skelgas, who got bought by Thermogas who got bought by Ferrellgas) lasted about 20 years total (8 with Ferrellgas) until 2 years ago when they tried to charge over 2 dollars more per gallon for a fill they did at the end of the heating season (March). When I saw how much more they were charging than other local providers, I call them up and told them to come and get the gas they just put in and take the tank with them - I wasn't going to pay that kind of price when everyone else was so much less. They asked what everyone else was charging, I told them and they said they could match that. I said that was fine but I was still done with them. Great way to treat a longer term customer - right?Turned out there were a lot of people in this area that dumped them that year - probably why they now charge for removing tanks. If you ask them what prepay or contract prices are now, they don't give you a price, but ask you what everyone else is charging - great way to do business.