PROPANE SHORTAGES AND SPIKING PRICES...
Throughout the north-eastern corridor, and the central United States, we are expieriencing severe record low temperatures, which is especially unique for Virginia, where Waltlou Propane is located.
Due to a number of factors, the effected states are expieriencing propane shortages and huge spikes in propane prices. Factors include unanticipated large amounts of propane used in the agricultural industry, as well as unanticipated record low temperatures and a long winter. The issue is not enough propane, but propane supply in the effected areas.
The two top propane storage hubs are located in Conway, Kansas and Mont Belvieu, Texas. Transportation of the propane up to the north east and central united states has been dificult due to severe winter conditions, and a bottle neck created by demands in mutliple states. Propane suppliers have been scrambling to keep up, increasing rail and truck deliveries, as well as lifting restrictions on truckers. Trucks are litterally parked in long lines at the storage hubs, waiting to get refilled so they can ship propane back up to the effected states.
Some suppliers have completely run out of propane, and are trying to buy propane from their competitors. But since this is an industry wide problem, companies are not taking on new customers, and concentrating on honoring their obligations to customers. Instead of filling up customers tanks, suppliers are cutting back on the amount they put in customers tanks, so they don't run out. As they scramble to build the up the supply, they hope to keep customers from running out. Regional suppliers that do not have the national infrastructure have been the first to not be able to honor their obligations, but bigger national companies are keeping up with the demand, but not bringing on new customers.
Propane filling stations have been given word that they can expect limited deliveries per week. If the demand shifts to filling stations, many people will have to look for an alternative souce for heat. Hopefully this shortage will be short-lived, and prices drop to an exceptable level again.
Waltlou's Address:
455 Cambridge Street, Falmouth, VA 22405 (Stafford/Fred.)
(540) 373-0850
Areas Served: Fredericksburg & Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, Garrisonville, Quantico, Dumfries, as well as the surrounding counties.
Customers use Propane for: Residential, Commercial, RV, Auto, Sport, etc. Specific applications are: forklift, cars, trucks, vans, bus, generators, heating, cooking, retrofit engines, lawn mowers, tools, asphalt machines, swimming pool heater, gas logs, etc.
Credit & Debit cards are accepted.
…...………...Attention…..…………...
Click onto the link below, from NBC News 12, regarding new practices by propane suppliers, who are now charging large monthly tank rental fees. Suppliers have always supplied tanks to customers for no additonal expense, as long as they were buying their propane. "Check Your Propane Gas Contracts!!"
12 ON YOUR SIDE: Check your propane gas contracts
Posted: Jul 26, 2012 6:10 PM EDT
Updated: Jul 26, 2012 6:40 PM EDT
Posted by Shawn Maclauchlan - email
RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) -
Hot as it is this summer, you probably don't want to think about heating your home this winter, but if you use propane gas or have appliances that need it to work, now is the time to check your contract.
The terms could give you ownership power, or put you at the mercy of the supplier.
When you own the tank, there are no tank fees. The customer is free to check prices and call any company they want to deliver.
If you're leasing, you're locked into one company, unless you can change the contract, or end the business relationship.
"[My tank has] been sitting there since December '02," said Barbara Upshaw.
The propane tank has sat on the other side of Barbara Upshaw's window for ten years without notice from any company until now, discussing a tank rental fee.
Barbara said she bought the tank from Surburban Propane, her original supplier years ago.
"My husband said, 'I don't want any trouble down the road.' They said, 'There will not be any trouble down the road. It belongs to you.' That was in December of '02," said Upshaw.
Trouble arrived in a letter from Revere Gas. Customers like Barbara will be charged $78 a year — a rental fee for not using more propane.
Use more, and Revere Gas will provide you a tank at no cost. It's become standard in the industry, but no less frustrating for customers.
A company-owned tank means it's illegal for another business to deliver gas and the customer is locked into paying that one supplier's price.
"I would check around every year, and I plan to do it this year to see who's more reasonable. I hadn't been buying my propane from Revere, and I didn't have any reason to think I was obligated to them."
Revere Gas said if the customer has a contract to prove tank ownership, they'll honor it. Revere bought Suburban in 2004. It produced a copy of Barbara's contract under Suburban Propane that shows a 'Y' — presumably indicating 'Yes' the tank is company-owned.
Barbara is upset after believing she owned the tank the past 10 years, why is she just now hearing from Revere?
"I think they're trying to get every nickel they can get from anybody on the face of this earth. This is not my bill. I own this."
Neither side is budging.
Revere Gas said it 'realigned' its service areas and is addressing under-utilized tanks. The company has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
If you have an issue with any business, you can file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, and the State Division of Consumer Affairs.
Copyright 2012 WWBT NBC12. All rights reserved.
Please Contact Waltlou Propane If You Have Any Questions or Commets:
If you have any questions or are interested in our prodcuts or services, please send us an email below. We are interested in feedback from our customers, and welcome input.
BELOW…..
Did you know they dropped the amount of propane they put in their tanks, and raised prices????
Above, view the difference in the amount of propane printed on the two identical sized tanks, both of which are from the tank exchange.
The left tank is new and they only put 15 lb. of propane in the tanks now (Net Weight 15 lb.). The tank on the right is a couple years older (but still in date and in use), and in the past they used to pump 17 lb. of propane into their tanks, which the label shows. (notice the label: Net Weight 17 lb.).
What changed? They simply dropped the amount of propane they pump into each tank, raised prices and changed the label to reflect the drop in the amount of propane they pump in tanks now. To sum it up, the customer pays more, and gets less, if they use a tank exchange. That seems to be the trend with big business these days (pay more and get less), sad to say.
At Waltlou, you pay less and get more propane. Refill your 20 lb. grill tank for just $15.00, with no extra tax or fees included, and get ½ gallon more propane than the tank exchanges pump into their tanks, like the ones pictured above.
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Waltlou Propane Gas
455 Cambridge Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22405 (Falmouth)
(540) 373-0850
Hours of Operation
Monday thru Friday: 8:00am to 6:00pm (winter hours)
Saturday: 8:00am to 6:00pm
Sunday: 9:00am to 5:00pm
Credit & Debit cards are accepted.
ATTENTION: IMPORTANT INFO BELOW!!
The report below exposes how the tank exchange companies have dropped the amount of propane they put in their tanks, but have raised the price. The average American is unaware of these practices, which we are now exposing. Please watch the news report below, which is an education for consumers who use 20 lb. propane grill tanks.
A DROP IN THE AMOUNT OF PROPANE PUMPED INTO EACH TANK EXPOSED!! Tank Exchange companies drop the amount of propane they put in each tank now, but prices have risen...
