By the time you receive this newsletter, Independence Day will have gone by. I hope you enjoyed the day off. I should have done this in last month’s newsletter but let me give you some fireworks advice in case you have left over munitions. The most important thing to remember is after you light the fuse, Mr. Fireworks is no longer your friend. Then, while fleeing, don’t zig when you should have zagged. Now you know.
Now that we’re past the summer solstice, the days are getting shorter with less than 180 days until winter. (You’re welcome for the reminder.) We’ve contracted over 8 million gallons of propane with our customers, which means we’ve also contracted the same amount with our suppliers. The reason our customers contract is to reduce risk. The reason we contract with our suppliers is so that we reduce risk on our end. During the polar vortex of 2014-2015, at least one propane supplier in Wisconsin tossed the keys on his banker’s desk and walked out because he had accepted prepay from his customers but hadn’t contracted with his suppliers on the other end. That will never happen with us.
Only rarely have I seen propane decrease in winter, so I definitely recommend contracting. If you haven’t contracted your propane for the winter, it’s not too late. Contact your local Premier Energy office and they’ll be able to help. Contract prices may not be the same as those offered in the original contracts.
This summer our folks will be busy with leak tests, regulator replacements and setting new tanks. I know I’m beginning to sound like a broken record but regulator manufacturers stress that the life of the regulators is 25 years. If you lease a tank from us, we will replace the regulator on the tank at no charge. The propane line and the regulator on the building belong to you so there is a fee to replace that regulator. It’s a great idea to replace them when the weather is nice rather than in the winter when they typically fail due to age.
If you’re looking to buy new appliances, there are rebates available for appliances that are powered by propane. The incentive for a propane water heater is $500. For a propane furnace it is also $500 but it must be for a new home or if you’re replacing another form of heat (electric, fuel oil). For propane fireplaces, ranges or dryers, the rebate is $300. Talk to your local Premier Energy location to find out more and make sure you take a photo of the data plate on the old appliance before it goes down the road.
Incentives for vehicle conversions to propane are up to $6,000. That almost covers the cost of the conversion. You can receive $3,500 from the Wisconsin Propane Education and Research Council and another $2,500 from CHS (Cenex). CHS’ program sunsets the end of August and we’re not sure what they are replacing it with, so time is of the essence. My fuel cost savings on my F150 are now up to $17,000. We have refueling locations in Mt. Horeb, Dodgeville, Viroqua, Bloomington, and Waupaca.
Thank you for your business.
