LP/Gas articles from December 2005

LP/Gas archives from December 2005

The gift of good employees.
December 1, 2005... The arrival of the Christmas season begs the question that hounds Santa-loving kids from 1 to 92: Have you been naughty or nice? How Santa rewards--or disappoints--that level of performance becomes the fabric of family lore for generations....

In the know.(surveys)(Survey)
December 1, 2005... Supply Buying Survey We asked 500 retail propane marketers across the United States the following questions about their supply buying practices. We heard back from 34 companies. Here is what they had to say: Outcomes It appears a...

LP/gas stock index.(Statistical table)
December 1, 2005... LP/GAS STOCK INDEX Propane Master Limited Partnership Comparison Company Symbol Quarter Price Ended (1114/05) AmeriGas APU...

Historic price index.
December 1, 2005... Historic price index Propane stock price history calculated by averaging unweighted prices for AmeriGas, Ferrellgas, Heritage, Inergy, Star Gas and Suburban master limited partnerships. Sources: Public information and A.G. Edwards &...

Heating degree days by state.(WEATHER WATCH)(Statistical table)
December 1, 2005... Heating degree days by state State October Deviation from norm Alabama 167 14 Alaska 910 -89...

Upcoming events.(Calendar)
December 1, 2005... * Jan. 20-21 National Propane Gas Association's Marketers' Management Forum at the Ritz Carlton Lake Las Vegas in Henderson, NV. For details, contact Baron Glassgow at 866-881-6309 or bglassgow@npga.org. * Jan. 22-24 Minnesota Propane Gas...

Safety is no accident: it's that accident-free experience we need and work towards to guarantee that at the end of the day, at the end of the week, at the end of the month and year that our customers are safe and happy.(SAFETY FIRST)
December 1, 2005... A few months ago, I put on a program on personal safety in the workplace. After making my pitch for the goal of zero accidents, I was met with limited resistance. One manager said, "It's just not realistic." But after an open discussion...

How do you lead the best?(BUSINESS MATTERS)(Column)
December 1, 2005... Over the past four months I have offered an approach on how to hire the best employees possible for your propane company, establishing high expectations for the qualities we seek in our workers. Now that we've hired the best, let's turn our...

Why is LIHEAP being debated?(WASHINGTON REPORT)(Low Income Home Heating Program)
December 1, 2005... For months, the Energy Information Administration has warned of this winter's rise in home heating costs for consumers. For weeks, Congressional hearings focused on issues related to energy price, supply and infrastructure. Consumers are...

Political watch.(Briefly Speaking: Notes from Capitol Hill)(Jon Corzine elected as a governor of New Jersey)(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... Sen. Jon Corzine (R-NJ) has been elected governor of New Jersey. Those who remember the propane industry's fight over Congress' risk management plan may recall Corzine's attempts to "harden" chemical and propane facility sites and increase...

DOT watch.(Briefly Speaking: Notes from Capitol Hill)(Department of Transportation)(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... The Department of Transportation is considering various hazardous materials related issues, including truck-tracking technologies for a proposed security rule for carriers, "safe havens" for hazmat trucks and new enforcement power under the...

The last word.(Briefly Speaking: Notes from Capitol Hill)(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... Syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer, on energy policy calling for a tax to keep gasoline at $3 gallon: "The worst part is that much of this $60 [a barrel of oil] goes overseas to foreigners who wish us no good: Wahhabi Saudi princes...

Does your company have a target on its back?(LEGAL BRIEF)(Survey)
December 1, 2005... Despite a considerable effort to operate businesses safely, many companies complain that the cost of lawsuits is dragging down their ability to operate profitably. There appears to be some real support for these concerns, especially when...

Propane growing agriculture presence.(PERC CORNER)(production of propanes)
December 1, 2005... The agriculture market accounts for more than 10 percent of all odorized propane sales in the United States--almost 1.5 billion gallons a year. Agriculture is a business, so for propane to be a leading agricultural energy choice, our industry...

What's up? The rent--and everything else: increases in raw materials, transportation surcharges driving up suppliers' pricing.
December 1, 2005... It should come as no surprise to propane marketers that the cost of doing business keeps going up, up and up. Industry suppliers are facing similar increases on the raw materials coming into their factory doors, resulting in higher price tags...

Coping 2005: state of the industry.(liquefied petroleum gas industry)(Cover story)
December 1, 2005... Slightly over 35 percent of the participants in this year's State of the Industry survey offered comments beyond the questions asked. It would be an understatement to say the comments implied that the situation was nearly untenable, and that no...

Gulf Coast hurricane recovery not expected until third quarter; nationwide winter heating cost estimates revised downward.(WASHINGTON, D.C.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... Energy administrators in the nation's capital are predicting it will take the energy supplies at least three months longer than predicted to recover from the devastation caused last fall by Hurricane Katrina. In a revised report, the...

Senate rejects two attempts to boost LIHEAP funding.(WASHINGTON, D.C.)
December 1, 2005... Despite bipartisan support, two efforts to pass an amendment to add $3.1 billion in funding to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program have failed. The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and co-sponsored by 36 senators,...

PERC OKs $50,4 million budget, creates engine fuel committee.(WASHINGTON, D.C.)
December 1, 2005... The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) will operate with a $50.4 million budget in 2006. Almost half of the $50.4 million budget will be devoted to consumer education. The budget, passed during the Oct. 6-7 meeting in St. Louis,...

LP Gas Global Technology Conference seeks innovative ideas, papers.(CHICAGO, ILLINOIS)
December 1, 2005... The Propane Education & Research Council and the World LP Gas Association will host the first LP Gas Global Technology Conference in Chicago on Oct. 19-20, 2006. Organizers hope the conference, which will be held in conjunction with the...

Petition state agencies for driver extension, if necessary.(WASHINGTON, D.C.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... Companies experiencing delays in getting background approvals for their drivers can petition their states for an extension. Under federal regulation 49 CFR Part 1572.13, states have the authority to extend the expiration date of the...

Sherwood to raise prices on all product lines in January.(MECHANICSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA)(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... Spiraling energy and raw materials costs are causing Sherwood to raise its prices on all compressed gas and LP products effective Jan. 1. Customers were warned Oct. 31 that price increases were unavoidable for 2006. The company was limiting...

Workplace injury study of propane industry available.(WASHINGTON, D.C.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... A recently completed workplace injury study of the propane industry is available for marketers who want to compare workers compensation programs and claims costs. The study, which covers costs from 1998 through 2002, details the...

Griffith Energy acquires heating oil, power fuels suppliers.(ROCHESTER, NEW YORK)
December 1, 2005... Griffith Energy has acquired two heating oil and power fuels suppliers--A. Fortin's Sons Inc. in Plattsburgh, N.Y., near the Canada and Vermont borders, and Wicks Oil, in Harrisville, N.Y. Griffith Energy is one of New York's largest...

Bill would penalize lawyers in frivolous lawsuits.(WASHINGTON, D.C.)
December 1, 2005... A new bill requiring sanctions against plaintiffs and attorneys who file "frivolous" lawsuits has passed the House of Representatives. The bill, supported by the National Propane Gas Association, would suspend for one year any lawyer who files...

Natural gas-powered Civic offered to consumers.(TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA)(purchase of vehicles leads to tax deduction)(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... Southern California consumers now have the option to purchase a natural gas-powered Honda Civic GX that previously was available only to fleet operators with dedicated fueling stations. Those who purchase the four-passenger sedan, which has...

Gas detection device.(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... The SmartMaxII from Control Instruments Corp. can monitor up to four independent sensors while remotely displaying multiple systems. Sharing the SmartMaxII with more than one sensor can lower the cost of a gas detection system by reducing...

Insulated screwdrivers.(PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... Klein Tools is offering a two-piece set of insulated 4-inch screwdrivers designed to protect users against shock from energized sources up to 1,000 volts. The set includes one insulated round-shank keystone-tip and one insulated...

Hybrid ultrasonic flow meter.(PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... Fuji Electric has released its Duosonics ultrasonic flow meter, the first clamp-on, ultrasonic flow meter that switches between Pulse Doppler and Transit Time technologies depending on fluid conditions. The meter can measure anything...

Miniature accelerometer.(PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... VIP Sensors has introduced a new miniature piezoelectric accelerometer (1.2 grams) for vibration and shock measurements on structures and small objects. The self-generating device, Model 1011, requires no external power and exhibits a...

Wireless sensor unit.(PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... Invocon Inc. offers the MITE WIS, a small, low-power, autonomous, wireless device designed for extended data acquisition and recording. The unit can be configured for up to four channels of voltage or resistive sensors: strain gauges,...

Spot heater.(PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... SunStar Heating Products introduces a heavy-duty infrared spot heater designed for emergency heating situations and hard-to-heat areas such as construction sites, unheated work areas, areas requiring supplemental heat and partially open...

Liberty Propane.(PEOPLE)(appointments)(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... Liberty Propane has named James R. (Jim) Davis vice president of the Eastern region where he will oversee operations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachussetts and Georgia. Prior to joining Liberty, Davis was Southeast region vice...

SolArc.(PEOPLE)
December 1, 2005... SolArc Inc. has named Cynthia Haynie as chief technology officer. She will be responsible for establishing long-term goals and the development of products. Haynie has 20 years of experience, having previously served in senior management...

Perfection Corp.(PEOPLE)(promoted Scott Kranstuber as a director of sales and marketing)(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... Perfection Corp. has promoted Scott Kranstuber to director of sales and marketing of gas products. Kranstuber joined Perfection in 1990 as a sales engineer and rose to the position of district sales manager before leaving the company in...

Titan Propane.(PEOPLE)(named Stephen Zamansky as a senior legal advisor to management )(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... Titan Propane has named Stephen Zamansky as its general counsel. He will serve as senior legal advisor to management and the board of directors. Zamansky has more than a decade of experience as a private attorney and corporate executive,...

Fisher Controls.(PEOPLE)(appointed Robert Watson as a vice president)(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... Fisher Controls has appointed Robert Watson as its vice president for LP gas equipment. Most recently the director of industrial regulators for the division's Asia Pacific operations, he is now in the division's Texas headquarters. Fisher...

Energy Solutions.(PEOPLE)
December 1, 2005... Energy Solutions International, a Houston-based firm specializing in oil and gas pipeline management systems, announces that Roderick J. Hayslett will be its chief financial officer. He has held the post on an interim basis since March.

PERC, Ag Department to jointly research farm technologies.(WASHINGTON, D.C.)(Propane Education and Research Council)(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) will work with the Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to research and develop projects of mutual interest. PERC and the ARS signed a memorandum of understanding to...

Homebuilders choose propane to fuel fireplaces.(WASHINGTON, D.C.)(Survey)(Brief article)
December 1, 2005... New-home builders more often choose propane to fuel their fireplaces than any other appliance, according to results of a national survey. The survey found 13.2 percent of all propane appliances installed recently have been fireplaces,...

PERC contest showcases holiday recipes.(WASHINGTON, D.C.)
December 1, 2005... Dust off the "secret" recipe for your fruitcake--a holiday cooking contest just might convince you to share. In an effort to showcase all the benefits of propane-fueled cooking appliances, the Propane Education & Research Council is...

New phone numbers for industry resources.(WASHINGTON, D.C.)
December 1, 2005... The customer service department for the Propane Industry Resource Catalog has a new toll-free phone number. The new phone number is 866-905-1075, and the new fax number is 866-904-1075. Orders may also be placed by visiting...

Bobtail efficiency: a marketer's edge.(LET'S TALK)(production of propane)
December 1, 2005... The subject of bobtail efficiency is always relevant to propane marketers. Educational sessions on any aspect of this subject have no problem attracting attendees and interest. During the NPGA Marketer's Management Forum, where better...

Gas pains.(Cartoon)
December 1, 2005... NORTH POLE PROPANE We Accept: VISA Mastercard Milk & Cookies [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]