<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.19

                              FINANCING AGREEMENT


                 This FINANCING AGREEMENT, dated as of October 28, 1996 (the
"Agreement"), is between AmeriGas Propane, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation
("AGP"), and AmeriGas Propane, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("APLP").


                                   BACKGROUND

                 A.       AGP is the sole general partner of APLP.

                 B.       AGP has agreed to make available to APLP a revolving
credit facility, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to
finance APLP's working capital, capital expenditures and interest and
distribution expenses.

                 C.       Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise
defined shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in that certain
Credit Agreement dated as of April 12, 1995 among AGP, APLP, Petrolane
Incorporated, Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association, as Agent,
and the other financial institutions party thereto (the "Credit Agreement").

                 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and covenants
contained herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto
agree as follows:

                 1.       Credit Line Terms.

                          (a)  Credit Limit.  AGP agrees, on the terms and
conditions set forth herein, to make loans ("Loans") to APLP from time to time
on any Business Day during the period from the date hereof to the Revolving
Termination Date, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at anytime
outstanding of $20,000,000 (the "Commitment").  Subject to the other terms and
conditions hereof, APLP may borrow under this Section 1(a), prepay under
Section 1(d) and reborrow under this Section 1(a).  The Commitment shall
automatically be terminated (i) upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (as
defined in Section 4 below) unless waived in writing by AGP or (ii) if AGP is
no longer the sole general partner of APLP.  Upon the termination of the
Commitment, subject to the provisions of Section 15 below, APLP shall pay to
AGP all amounts owing or payable under this Agreement, without presentment,
demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are expressly
waived by APLP.

                          (b)  Procedure for Borrowing.  Each borrowing by APLP
pursuant to Section 1(a) shall be made upon APLP's written notice





<PAGE>   2
delivered to AGP one Business Day prior to the requested borrowing date
specifying the requested borrowing amount and date.  All advances by AGP
hereunder shall be noted on the Master Promissory Note provided for in Section
3 hereof.

                          (c) Voluntary Termination or Reduction of Commitment.
APLP may, upon prior written notice to AGP, terminate the Commitment or
permanently reduce the Commitment by an aggregate minimum amount of $1,000,000
or any multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.  At no time shall the amount
of outstanding Loans exceed the amount of the Commitment.

                          (d)  Optional Prepayment.  APLP may at anytime, upon
prior notice to AGP, prepay Loans, together with all accrued and unpaid
interest thereon, in whole or in part.

                          (e)  Repayment.  APLP shall repay to AGP on the
Revolving Termination Date the aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding
on such date, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon.

                          (f)  Interest.  Each Loan shall bear interest on the
outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date to the
one month anniversary of the borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the
Offshore Rate, with an Interest Period of one month, on such borrowing date,
plus the Applicable Margin for Offshore Rate Loans - Revolving Loans (the
"Interest Rate").  On each one month anniversary of any Loan (the "Reset
Date"), such Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount
thereof until the next one month anniversary date at a rate per annum equal to
the Interest Rate on the Reset Date.  The Interest Rate shall change during any
Interest Period as a result of changes in the Applicable Margin.  Interest on
each Loan shall be paid in arrears on the last day of each month and on the
Revolving Termination Date.

                          (g)  Default Interest.  During the existence of any
Event of Default, interest shall be paid upon demand by AGP.  The foregoing
notwithstanding, if any amount of principal of or interest on any Loan, or any
other amount payable hereunder, is not paid in full when due, APLP agrees to
pay interest on such unpaid amount, from the date such amount becomes due to
the date such amount is paid in full, and after as well as before any entry of
judgment thereon to the extent permitted by law, payable on demand (but not
more frequently than once per week), at a fluctuating rate per annum equal to
the Base Rate plus 2%.

                          (h)  Facility Fees.  APLP shall pay to AGP on the
last day of each calendar quarter a facility fee from the date hereof





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<PAGE>   3
through the Revolving Termination Date, on the daily average amount of the
Commitment (whether or not used), at the rate per annum set forth below for
each pricing tier as such pricing tier is applicable.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Pricing Tier                 Funded Debt/EBITDA           Facility Fee Rate
------------                 ------------------           -----------------
     <S>              <C>                                      <C>
     I                        Less than 1.75 x                 0.1400%

     II               Greater than or equal to 1.75 x but      0.1600%
                              Less than 2.75 x

     III              Greater than or equal to 2.75 x but      0.2000%
                              Less than 3.25 x

     IV               Greater than or equal to 3.25 x but      0.2750%
                              Less than 3.75 x

      V               Greater than or equal to 3.75 x but      0.3500%
                              Less than 4.25 x

      VI              Greater than or equal to 4.25            0.3750%
</TABLE>

For the purpose of determining the applicable pricing tier, EBITDA shall be
determined as at the end of each fiscal quarter for the four fiscal quarters
then ending and Funded Debt shall be determined as at the end of each fiscal
quarter.  Pricing changes shall be effective forty-five (45) days after the end
of each of the first three fiscal quarters of the fiscal year and ninety (90)
days after each fiscal year end.

                          (i)  Payments by APLP.  All payments by APLP shall be
made without set-off, recoupment or counterclaim.  Any payment due on a day
other than a Business Day shall be made on the following Business Day, and such
extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of interest
or fees, as the case may be.

                          (j)  Waivers of Notices, Etc.  APLP hereby waives
presentment, demand, protest, notice of default, and any and all other notices
or demands in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance or
enforcement of this Agreement.

                          (k)  Computation of Fees and Interest.  All
computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year
and actual days elapsed.  Interest and fees shall accrue during each period
during which interest on such fees are computed from the first day thereof to
the last day thereof.





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<PAGE>   4
                 2.  Lending Authority.  The President, any Vice
President, the Treasurer and any other officer of AGP shall have the authority
hereunder on behalf of AGP to receive requests for advances from, to lend funds
to, and to give notices to, APLP, and to take such other steps on behalf of AGP
as are reasonable and necessary to carry out the terms of this Agreement.  The
President, any Vice President, the Treasurer and any other officer of AGP shall
have the authority hereunder on behalf of APLP to request advances and to
borrow funds from, and to give notices and confirmations to, AGP, to make
repayments of any amounts due hereunder, and to take such other steps on behalf
of APLP as are reasonable and necessary to carry out the terms of this
Agreement.

                 3.  Master Promissory Note.  Concurrent with the signing of
this Agreement, APLP shall deliver to AGP a properly completed and duly
executed Master Promissory Note, substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A; provided, however, that notwithstanding the face amount of the
Master Promissory Note, APLP's liability thereunder shall be limited at all
times to APLP's actual indebtedness (principal and interest) then outstanding
to AGP hereunder.

                 4.  Events of Default.  It shall be an "Event of Default"
under this Agreement if (a) APLP shall fail to pay to AGP any amount of
principal of any Loan or, within ten (10) days after the same becomes due, any
interest, fee or other amount payable to AGP hereunder, or (b) an Event of
Default as described in Section 9.1 of the Credit Agreement shall occur and be
continuing.

         If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, APLP may, subject to
the provisions of Section 15 hereof:

                          (a)  declare all amounts owing or payable under this
Agreement due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice
of any kind, all of which are expressly waived by APLP; and/or

                          (b)  exercise all rights and remedies available under
this Agreement or applicable law;

provided, however, that upon the occurrence of any event specified in
subsection (f) or (g) of Section 9.1 of the Credit Agreement (in the case of
clause (i) of subsection (g) upon the expiration of the sixty (60) day period
mentioned therein), the unpaid principal amount of all Loans and all interest
and other amounts shall automatically become due and payable without further
act of AGP.





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<PAGE>   5
The rights provided in this Agreement are cumulative and are not exclusive of
any other rights, powers, privileges or remedies provided by law or in equity,
or under any other instrument, document or Agreement now existing or hereafter
arising.

                 5.  Payment of Expenses.  APLP shall bear all expenses
incurred by either party hereto in connection with the preparation of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

                 6.  Further Assurances.  Each party shall from time to time at
the request of the other execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all such
further papers, documents, powers of attorney, notices or other instruments
that may reasonably be required to give full force and effect to the provisions
and intent of this Agreement.

                 7.  Assignment.  None of the rights or obligations of APLP
under this Agreement shall be assignable by APLP.  AGP shall not sell, pledge,
assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights hereunder without giving APLP
written notice thereof.

                 8.  Notices.  Except where oral notice is specifically
permitted by this Agreement and other than as set forth below, any notice to
AGP or APLP hereunder shall be in writing and sent to the following addresses,
unless and until either party notifies the other in writing to the contrary:

                 If to AmeriGas Propane, Inc., to Box 965, Valley Forge, PA
19482, Attention:  Treasurer.

                 If to AmeriGas Propane, L. P., to Box 965, Valley Forge, PA
19482, Attention:  Treasurer.

                 9.  Governing Law.  This Agreement, and all documents issued
or delivered pursuant hereto, shall be deemed to have been signed, accepted,
completed and issued at the office of AGP at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, and
shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

                 10.  Binding Effect.  This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of, and be binding upon and enforceable by, the parties hereto and
their respective successors and assigns.

                 11.  Entire Agreement; Amendments.  This Agreement, together
with the Exhibit referred to herein, sets forth the entire agreement of the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.  Any prior agreements
or understandings between the parties





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<PAGE>   6
hereto regarding the subject matter hereof, whether written or oral, are
superseded by this Agreement.  This Agreement may not be amended or modified
except by a written instrument duly executed by each of the parties hereto.

                 12.  Waiver.  Any term or provision of this Agreement may be
waived at any time by the party entitled to the benefit thereof by a written
instrument duly executed by such party, and such waiver shall not constitute a
waiver of any other provision of this Agreement or a further waiver of the
provision waived.

                 13.  Section Headings; Gender; Number.  All section headings,
and the use of a particular gender or number (plural or singular), are for
convenience only and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or
provisions hereof.

                 14.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and both of which
taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.  This
Agreement shall become binding only when each party hereto has executed and
delivered to the other party one or more counterparts.

                 15.  Subordination.  (a) The indebtedness ("Subordinated
Debt") evidenced by this Agreement is subordinate and junior in right of
payment to all Senior Debt (as defined in subdivision (b) hereof) of APLP to
the extent provided herein.

                 (b) For all purposes of these subordination provisions the
term "Senior Debt" shall mean all principal of and Make Whole Amount, if any,
and interest on (i) APLP's First Mortgage Notes, Series A through C, originally
issued in the aggregate principal amount of $518,000,000, pursuant to separate
Note Agreements, dated as of April 12, 1995, between APLP, AmeriGas Propane,
Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation and Petrolane Incorporated, a California
corporation and the institutional investors listed on Schedule I thereto (and
any notes issued in substitution therefor), (ii) those obligations outstanding
under the Credit Agreement, and (iii) all other indebtedness of APLP for
borrowed money unless, under the instrument evidencing the same or under which
the same is outstanding, it is expressly provided that such other indebtedness
is junior and subordinate to other indebtedness and obligations of APLP.  The
Senior Debt shall continue to be Senior Debt and entitled to the benefits of
these subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or
waiver of any term of or extension or renewal of the Senior Debt.





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<PAGE>   7
                 (c) Upon the happening of an event of default with respect to
any Senior Debt, as defined therein or in the instrument under which the same
is outstanding, which occurs at the maturity thereof or which automatically
accelerates or permits the holders thereof to accelerate the maturity thereof,
then, unless and until such event of default shall have been remedied or waived
or shall have ceased to exist, no direct or indirect payment (in cash, property
or securities or by set-off or otherwise) other than Permitted Payments shall
be made on account of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on any
Subordinated Debt, or as a sinking fund for the Subordinated Debt, or in
respect of any redemption, retirement, purchase or other acquisition of any of
the Subordinated Debt.  For purposes of these subordination provisions,
"Permitted Payments" shall mean (i) payments of in-kind interest and (ii)
payments of Permitted Securities (as defined below) pursuant to paragraph (d)
below.

                 (d)  In the event of

                    (i)   any insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership,
                          liquidation, reorganization, readjustment,
                          composition or other similar proceeding relating to
                          APLP, its creditors as such or its property,

                   (ii)   any proceeding for the liquidation, dissolution or
                          other winding-up of APLP, voluntary or involuntary,
                          whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy
                          proceedings,

                  (iii)   any assignment by APLP for the benefit of creditors,
                          or

                   (iv)   any other marshalling of the assets of APLP,

all Senior Debt (including any interest thereon accruing at the legal rate
after the commencement of any such proceedings and any additional interest that
would have accrued thereon but for the commencement of such proceedings) shall
first be paid in full before any payment or distribution, whether in cash,
securities or other property (other than Permitted Payments), shall be made to
any holder of any Subordinated Debt on account of any Subordinated Debt.  Any
payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property (other
than securities ("Permitted Securities") of APLP or any other entity provided
for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment the payment of which is
subordinate, at least to the extent provided in these subordination provisions
with respect to Subordinated Debt, to the payment of all Senior Debt at the
time outstanding and to any securities issued in respect thereof under any such
plan of reorganization or readjustment), which would otherwise





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(but for these subordination provisions) be payable or deliverable in respect
of this Subordinated Debt shall be paid or delivered directly to the holders of
Senior Debt in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders
until all Senior Debt (including any interest thereon accruing at the legal
rate after the commencement of any such proceedings and any additional interest
that would have accrued thereon but for the commencement of such proceedings)
shall have been paid in full.

                 (e) In the event that any holder of Subordinated Debt shall
have the right to declare any Subordinated Debt due and payable as a result of
the occurrence of any one or more defaults in respect thereof, under
circumstances when the terms of subdivision (d) above are not applicable, such
holder shall not declare such Subordinated Debt due and payable or otherwise to
be in default and, solely in its capacity as a holder of such Subordinated
Debt, shall take no action at law or in equity in respect of any such default
unless and until all Senior Debt shall have been paid in full.

                 (f) If any payment or distribution of any character or any
security, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than Permitted
Payments), shall be received by a holder of Subordinated Debt in contravention
of any of the terms hereof before all the Senior Debt shall have been paid in
full, such payment or distribution or security shall be received in trust for
the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered and transferred to, the
holders of the Senior Debt at the time outstanding in accordance with the
priorities then existing among such holders for application to the payment of
all Senior Debt remaining unpaid, to the extent necessary to pay all such
Senior Debt in full.  In the event of the failure of any holder of any
Subordinated Debt to endorse or assign any such payment, distribution or
security, each holder of Senior Debt is hereby irrevocably authorized to
endorse or assign the same.

                 (g) No present or future holder of any Senior Debt shall be
prejudiced in the right to enforce subordination of Subordinated Debt by any
act or failure to act on the part of APLP.  Nothing contained herein shall
impair, as between APLP and the holder of this Subordinated Debt, the
obligation of APLP to pay to the holder hereof the principal hereof and
interest hereon as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance
with the terms hereof, or prevent the holder of any Subordinated Debt from
exercising all rights, powers and remedies otherwise permitted by applicable
law or hereunder upon a default or event of default hereunder, all subject to
the rights of the holders of the Senior Debt to receive cash, securities or
other property (other than Permitted Payments) otherwise payable or deliverable
to the holders of Subordinated Debt.





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<PAGE>   9
                 (h) Upon the payment in full of all Senior Debt, the holders
of Subordinated Debt shall be subrogated to all rights of any holders of Senior
Debt to receive any further payments or distributions applicable to the Senior
Debt until the Subordinated Debt shall have been paid in full, and, for
purposes of such subrogation, no payment or distribution received by the
holders of Senior Debt of cash, securities or other property to which the
holders of the Subordinated Debt would have been entitled except for these
subordination provisions shall, as between APLP and its creditors other than
the holders of Subordinated Debt, on the one hand, and the holders of
Subordinated Debt, on the other, be deemed to be a payment or distribution by
APLP to or on account of Senior Debt.

                 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.



                                        AMERIGAS PROPANE, INC.
                          
                          
                                        By:                       
                                           -----------------------
                                            Name:
                                            Title:
                          
                          
                          
                                        AMERIGAS PROPANE, L.P.
                          
                                        BY: AMERIGAS PROPANE, INC.
                                            AS GENERAL PARTNER
                                            
                                            By:                      
                                               ----------------------
                                                Name:
                                                Title:





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<PAGE>   10
                                    FORM OF
                             MASTER PROMISSORY NOTE


Maximum Principal Amount: $20,000,000                    Date: October __, 1996

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, AmeriGas Propane, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership (the "Borrower"), hereby promises to pay to AmeriGas Propane, Inc.,
a Pennsylvania corporation (the "Lender"), the principal amount of each advance
made to the Borrower under the Financing Agreement referred to below on such
dates as may be determined in accordance with such Agreement.  The aggregate
principal amount of such advances outstanding at any one time shall not exceed
the amount set forth above.

         This Master Promissory Note is issued under, and subject to the terms
and conditions of, the Financing Agreement, dated as of October __, 1996 (the
"Agreement"), between the Borrower and the Lender.

         Interest on the outstanding principal amount of each advance evidenced
by this Master Promissory Note shall accrue and be payable in accordance with
the terms of the Agreement.

         The Agreement provides for optional prepayment by the Borrower of the
advances evidenced by this Master Promissory Note.  The Agreement also provides
that this Master Promissory Note is subject to subordination terms as provided
in paragraph 15 thereof.

         This Master Promissory Note is being made and delivered in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and shall be governed by, and construed and
enforced in accordance with, the laws of such Commonwealth.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has caused this Master Promissory
Note to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written


                                  AMERIGAS PROPANE, L.P.

                                  BY:  AMERIGAS PROPANE, INC.
                                       AS GENERAL PARTNER
                                       
                                       By:                      
                                          ----------------------
                                           Name:
                                           Title:




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                        Master Promissory Note (cont'd)

                        LOANS AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
----------------------------------------------------------------------   
                        Amount    Amount of     Unpaid
              Quoted      of      Principal    Principal    Notation
Date           Rate      Loan      Repaid       Balance      Made By

----------------------------------------------------------------------   
<S>           <C>       <C>       <C>          <C>          <C>

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</TABLE>





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