Propane shortage

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  • nmcampbe

    Marksman
    Rating - 100%
    58   0   0
    Aug 23, 2009
    214
    18
    Central IN
    U.S. propane shortage deepens as cold snap reaches Midwest | Reuters

    Long range models show this cold hanging on till maybe Feb 4 or later, reading this story it's as if no one expected to have a cold winter? I know it has been a rough winter so far but given COLD winter forecast I saw back in late November and early December I expected this. I have heard two rumors as to why the shortage, one being more propane was used to dry the corn crop last season which depleted propane reserves and the other rumor was it is being sold oversees for three times the money limiting our supply. Is this being overhyped or are we facing a potentially serious problem? Being someone who heats primarily with propane as well as most all the residence in the rural areas around me this story has got my attention given the forecast ahead of us.
     

    Interpon

    Plinker
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Mar 2, 2013
    87
    6
    It is just logistics..getting it to midwest. There is plenty of propane, roughly half made from making natural gas which is plentiful. Nat gas way to go but not piped everywhere, thus trains and trucks for propane..
     

    SMiller

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Jan 15, 2009
    3,813
    48
    Hamilton Co.
    Over hyped? Seems how I called in and requested to have my tank filled 3 weeks ago and they showed up yesterday and would only fill 150 gallons for $3.16 a gallon pre tax! I paid $1.60 a gallon last summer, I feel bad for the people that are tight on money are are trying to survive, they are going to be hurting big time trying to keep fuel on the tank!

    This is a big problem and will get worse before it gets better, makes a guy wonder what else he could do for heat.
     

    RobbyMaQ

    #BarnWoodStrong
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    35   0   0
    Mar 26, 2012
    8,963
    83
    Lizton
    Seriously using propane to dry the corn crop last summer? Am I missing something? They harvested WAY early in 2013 around these parts. I'm not convinced gas heat was needed.
     

    SMiller

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Jan 15, 2009
    3,813
    48
    Hamilton Co.
    Seriously using propane to dry the corn crop last summer? Am I missing something? They harvested WAY early in 2013 around these parts. I'm not convinced gas heat was needed.

    You must not live in a rural area as the corn was super wet this last fall and a lot of LP was used to dry it down. I could hear the fans running all fall while everyone tryed to dry it down. The grain elevators were rejecting loads as they couldn't get it dryer down fast enough themselves. Now I don't know if I believe that is the true reason for LP shortage as I font believe anything .gov tells me...
     

    shibumiseeker

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    49   0   0
    Nov 11, 2009
    10,706
    113
    near Bedford on a whole lot of land.
    Market manipulation is the scam of leasing a tank and then being locked into buying from that one company. We heat with wood and only use propane for cooking, water heating, and a backup heater. We have a 320 gallon tank and get charged a surcharge for deliveries under 200 gallons so we wait until under 5% to get a delivery (max fill is 80% of a tank capacity). We were charged $4.19 a gallon plus tax three weeks ago for $1100 for 248 gallons. That plus a $40 a year tank lease.

    I am building a better solar water heater (the one I have now I have to shut off in the winter) and changing the water heater, stove, and backup heater back to 100lb tanks of which I have several from before we got the bulk tank. We got the bulk tank precisely so we could save a little money and the hassle of changing out the 100lb tanks, but the highway robbery of leasing a tank and paying whatever price that company decides they want to charge is ridiculous.

    This summer's project is a methane digester large enough to replace most of the gas needs for cooking. We're looking for a small oil burner for the backup heater so we can buy fuel oil or kerosene on our own.
     

    lovemachine

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    17   0   0
    Dec 14, 2009
    15,601
    119
    Indiana
    My gas guy told me it's not QUITE a shortage, it's more of not being able to get the gas fast enough.

    The 150 gallons a fill is just for now. It's just temporary until they see what happens. Nothing to worry about yet.
     

    B-lou

    Plinker
    Rating - 100%
    23   0   0
    Jul 31, 2012
    121
    18
    Danville In
    They learned from the oil companys...create a shortage then double the price, once the price is double the shortage will subside but the price will stay the same....B-lou
     

    lovemachine

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    17   0   0
    Dec 14, 2009
    15,601
    119
    Indiana
    Ok that makes sense.

    My house is all electric, but I have a 100 gallon pig tank for a space heater in my garage. I rent the tank.

    I would love to get another tank and have a gas dryer and water heater though.
     

    singlesix

    Grandmaster
    Industry Partner
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    May 13, 2008
    7,197
    27
    Indianapolis, In
    Because you can get competitive pricing from several suppliers. If you lease a tank you are stuck with the price that the tank owner charges.

    Ours, Suburban Propane who bought out Blue Flame, just shot themselves in the foot when they screwed us like that.

    Yeah Suburban hosed us on our fill up. $1.00 per gallon jump from previous fill up. Don't know if this reflects market price or because Suburban is now a major player in the local market and can command higher prices.
     

    GodFearinGunTotin

    Super Moderator
    Staff member
    Moderator
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    Mar 22, 2011
    50,582
    113
    Mitchell
    "There are no strategic stockpiles around the country like there are for crude oil," said Roy Willis, president and chief executive officer of the Propane Education and Research Council. "It's all in the private sector.
    The EIA said last week that prices in the Midwest must rise if there is to be an incentive for producers to keep supplies at home rather than selling abroad.

    Where's my congressman!?!?

    Free markets sure can hurt the ole wallet.
     

    Bradsknives

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    8   0   0
    Mar 1, 2010
    4,280
    48
    Greenfield, IN.
    Most companies that sell Propane will allow you to lock in at a certain price during the summer. I'm locked in at $1.89 per gallon through March of this year. You do have to make a deposit ($200.00) when you lock in, but it is refundable, or you can apply it to your last fill up when the locked price contract expires.
     
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