Posted on 01/24/2014 9:12:31 AM PST by topher
(Reuters) - Millions of Americans are feeling the pinch of a propane shortage this week as brutal cold exposes the supply vulnerabilities of a fuel that heats homes, schools and businesses across wide swathes of the United States.
Prices of the fuel, a liquefied petroleum gas, have rocketed to all-time highs in Midwestern states, distributors are rationing supplies, and some schools have shut due to a lack of the fuel during this year's second bout of Arctic weather.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Some interesting points:
o Texas has waived registering trucks for hauling propane (long lines have formed at the largest producer in Mount Belvieu, TX -- Houston area). o Schools have closed due to the shortage o US DOT has relaxed rules for propane drivers (regionally only) to allow them to drive more hours.
Reading the whole article would give one a better picture of this situation...
It’s Bush’s fault...
meanwhile coal, oil and natural gas remain undisturbed under the feet of a nation whose leader are too dumb (or bought off) to know when it is being taken to the cleaners in more ways than they could ever dream of.
Herd abuse haPPens.
U.S. propane shortage deepens as cold snap reaches Midwest
Local Poultry Farmers Say Propane Shortage Could Be Devastating
Additionally, there is this US Energy Information Agency article from yesterday:
I heard this from a vendor the other day here in IN.
They are sending their semis clear to Kansas to get propane.
They service a lot of homes and farms in the area.
I just use several of the 20# tanks for various things, but their filling station tank was down to <5% and they didn’t know when it would be available again when that ran out.
Local UHaul dealer had plenty though. Going back there today.
Propane trucks out of St. Louis are lifting gas in Mississippi, according to the local paper.
Thank God for this cool weather.
My A/C just crapped out. Lot$ to fix.....
Keep the vortex going as long as possible.
63 is the perfect temp outside.
(SFL)
The left, that hates fossil fuels, is to blame for this.
Just had a delivery yesterday..........$3.70/gallon. When I got my previous delivery in October it was something like $2.40. Lady at the propane office mentioned something about a propane shortage and I had no idea what she was talking about. Well, until now that is.
She don’t lie
She don’t lie
She don’t lie
propane.
None of this is helping my natural gas stocks.
Wow...I locked my price in last July. 2.04 per gallon.
I’ve been buying smaller loads throughout the year but I may just switch to one large one in the middle of the summer when demand is way down.
Ironically, one of the factors that helped cause the propane shortage was that the price went down on propane that made it possible to export since the US price was well below the price elsewhere.
Free market system of supply and demand.
That would be the cheapest and easiest way to get it to Saint Louis -- if refineries in Baton Rouge/New Orleans are producing propane...
I’m east of Kansas City and filled my tank a week or so ago at about $2.20. It’s gone up about 30 cents since then.
My supplier has several programs to sign onto.
One is Prepay. I think you have to purchase 600 gallons minimum to get that price. It was 1.99 for this years supply.
The other is Lock In price. I sign that every year. It’s a nickel more a gallon but I don’t give them any money until I call for a delivery. There is no annual min. or maximum amount. I just sign an agreement that I won’t purchase my propane from any other supplier for the year. They do have a minimum delivery of 200 gallons. I think that is fairly normal now.
Then there was a record corn crop that was very wet and needed drying (propane was used).
When the glut occurred, price where went down such that it was feasible to export, so we started exporting.
Now the very cold winter. When I-10 closes due to cold weather in the Gulf states, that is cold.
That is happening yesterday and probably the next few days to come...
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