Companies Putting Less Propane in Grill Tanks Reporting
Paula Ebben BOSTON (WBZ)

BlueRhino is one of two companies that decided to fill tanks with less propane instead of raising the price.
CBS

Many consumers who love to barbeque are fuming this summer. It's over the amount of propane put in pre-filled tanks that can be exchanged when the fuel runs out.

"The fact of the matter, those tanks weren't full; they were partially full," says Eric Gibbs, an attorney who has filed a class action suit over the issue.

The problem started last summer when gas and propane prices sky-rocketed.

Two of the biggest tank exchange companies, BlueRino and AmeriGas decided that instead of raising prices, they would put less propane in the same-sized tank. They didn't inform the public.

"Consumers didn't realize that they were getting 15 pounds instead of 17 or 18 pounds," says Edgar Dworsky of ConsumerWorld.org.

Gibbs says consumers deserve some kind of relief, "The purpose of the case is to make our clients whole, so that means whatever they overpaid for this propane-- that money needs to be returned to them."

Downsizing is nothing new. Many companies, particularly food manufacturers, will keep the size of the container the same, but reduce the contents inside.

"You're bringing back a tank that previously held 17 pounds, you reasonably expect to be getting something equal in exchange," explains Dworsky, who thinks this case is different.

Both tank exchange companies changed their labels when they reduced the amount of propane last year, clearly indicating there are 15 pounds of propane. They are also offering one time rebates.

AmeriGas addresses the issue on its website, "Some consumers feel they were not sufficiently informed and that's a serious concern to us."

Attorney Gibbs says that's not enough.

"It's not going to address the notion from the propane companies' perspective that full no longer means full, full means 80 percent, next week full may mean 70 percent," says Gibbs.

Both Amerigas and FerrellGas which also sells BlueRhino, say they have done nothing illegal and plan to vigorously defend themselves against any legal actions.