August Energy Update

Aug 03, 2019


July got a bit on the toasty side. I began writing this letter on July 19th and the temperature outside is 92 and extremely humid. Don’t be lulled into a sense of security by the warm weather. Haven’t you been watching Game of Thrones? Winter is coming. Contract your propane if you haven’t already. Values are still very good. It can’t go below zero but the upside potential can be very high.
If you haven’t had your furnace checked out you may want to call your HVAC company to have that done while the weather is good. HVAC technicians get pretty busy during extremely hot weather and they’re busy all winter after people’s furnaces are turned on for the first time. Beat the rush and have your furnace checked out before the cold weather gets here.
We’re making good headway at most of our branches getting leak tests done. Our technicians have found several leaks inside homes and have come across a few underground propane lines that were repaired by the homeowner or the contractor who cut the line. Please don’t allow a contractor to repair a cut propane line or try to do it yourself. You wouldn’t want our propane technicians repairing your car, so why would you allow someone who is not trained to repair your propane line?
If you have a leak underground the propane can follow the line to the foundation of the house. If there is a crack in the foundation the propane may find its way inside. And you may not be able to smell it because as it moves through the soil the Mercaptan (the stinky stuff they put in propane so you can smell it) may leach out of the propane. There have been cases where this situation has caused fires or explosions. Before you dig, call us a few days in advance. We can mark the propane line so it doesn’t get cut in the first place. Don’t be a statistic.
Since we’re on the subject of safety, now would be a good time to get your trees trimmed back so that our drivers can make it down your driveway without worrying about ripping the mirrors off their trucks this winter. Now is also a great time to identify hazards that our drivers may encounter as they pull the hose to the tank. In the winter these hazards disappear under the snow. Please help us to protect our employees from injury.
I hope you all have a great August. Thank you for your business.

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Oct 01, 2025
Fall is here and harvest is underway for most of our area. Our grain facilities located in Mazomanie, Mineral Point, Richland Center, and Westby are anxiously awaiting this year’s crop. A few weeks ago, the Premier grain team spent the day reviewing safety and operational procedures to better prepare to serve our members’ needs during the upcoming season. Whether you need help hauling this year’s crop to the elevator or are still looking to finalize your grain marketing plan, give us a call. Our knowledgeable staff is looking forward to working with you to make this year’s harvest as safe and smooth as possible. Our team will do their best to meet your needs and they always appreciate the communication of trucking needs and your planned delivery dates. Thanks for your support and please be safe this harvest season.
Oct 01, 2025
As corn silage season concludes, it’s important to take a moment to recognize the dedication and long hours that went into securing the feed you’ll rely on throughout the coming year. We all aim to put up the highest quality feed possible, but in the rush of long hours during a short harvest window, it’s easy to lose sight of our true goal. Ultimately, we’re working to produce feed that is consistent, clean, and rich in nutrients. Once that hard work is done, the next critical phase is feedout. Here are a few key things to keep in mind as you move forward.
Oct 01, 2025
We had a good ending to our energy division fiscal year, so I’m glad I’m still here this month to write this newsletter article.

Since 2020, we have increased our delivery efficiency (gallons per mile) by 17.4%. We’ve also dropped the number of miles driven by 21% comparing 2025 to 2020. That equates to 66,776 less miles this year than in 2020. In other words, we saved about 2.7 circumnavigations of the globe, conserving over 13,000 gallons of diesel fuel we would have used to power our propane delivery trucks. Less diesel consumption means less pollution. Heck, we’re saving the planet without even trying.