LP/Gas articles from December 2007

LP/Gas archives from December 2007

Burden of compliance: new chemical anti-terrorism standards unfair to LPG retailers.(View Point)
December 1, 2007... Once the federal government merged nearly two dozen agencies into the new Department of Homeland Security five years ago in the name of combating terrorism, two results were inevitable--more regulations and more fees to pay for those...

Blue Bird unveils propane school bus.
December 1, 2007... Railroad Commission Chairman Michael L. Williams has joined equipment manufacturers and officials from four Houston, Dallas- and San Antonio-area school districts to announce Blue Bird Corp.'s introduction of a certified low-emissions,...

Exemption given on valve inspections.
December 1, 2007... The propane industry has received a one-year exemption from the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) on inspections of relief valves installed in pressure vessels. Under current safety orders, any relief valve that has exceeded...

Propane on final DHS chemical list; threshold raised to 60,000 pounds.(VitalSigns: INDUSTRY NEWS & NUMBERS)
December 1, 2007... Propane is one of 325 substances included in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's final list of chemicals that will be subject to heightened anti-terrorist security measures beginning in 2008. Industry officials have been pressing DHS...

LP/Gas Stock Index.(VitalSigns: INDUSTRY NEWS & NUMBERS)
December 1, 2007... LP/Gas Stock Index [PROPANE MASTER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP COMPARISON] Quarter Price Company Symbol Ended (11/19/07) AmeriGas APU September $34.08...

Weather Watch.(VitalSigns: INDUSTRY NEWS & NUMBERS)(Statistical table)
December 1, 2007... Weather Watch [HEATING DEGREE DAYS BY STATE] DEVIATION DEVIATION FROM LAST 12 FROM STATE OCTOBER NORM MONTHS NORM ...

NPGA updates CETP proctor policies.(National Propane Gas Association)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... The National Propane Gas Association's (NPGA) CETP certification program continues to expand. Starting in January 2008, NPGA will implement ah updated security policy for the paper exams. Proctors who administer paper exams are required to...

Paraco makes two acquisitions in NE.
December 1, 2007... Paraco Gas Corp. has taken over the propane division of Blackstone Gas and also has acquired Blue Flame Gas. With the Blackstone acquisition, New York-based Paraco Gas takes over the distribution of more than a half-million gallons of...

Gas pains.(Cartoon)
December 1, 2007... Yule pay more for propane. Yule hear it from your customers. Yule not like it. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Ray Murray acquires NRG Distributors.
December 1, 2007... Ray Murray Inc. has purchased the assets of NRG Distributors, a wholesale distributor of hearth and heating products to specialty hearth retailers and propane dealers in the Midwest. NRG, which has been in operation since 1988, has a...

Liberty expands in two locations.(Holidaygas acquired)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Liberty Propane has acquired Holidaygas in Jacobus, Pa., which is about 50 miles north of Baltimore. Holidaygas will add to Liberty's existing Pennsylvania service center locations in Ebensburg and Punxsutawney. Holidaygas represents an...

ThompsonGas adds three retail companies.
December 1, 2007... ThompsonGas has announced it has acquired the propane assets of three retail propane companies--Deupree's Gas Inc. of Sylacauga, Ala.; Tri-State Propane Inc. of Blue Ridge, Ga.; and Shelby Propane Gas Co. Inc. of Montevallo, Ala. The combined...

SARS acquires Northern Ireland company.
December 1, 2007... SARS Corp., a provider of remote asset management and telematics solutions, has announced it will acquire Andronics Ltd. Based in Northern Ireland, Andronics develops two-way data solutions for monitoring and managing remote assets,...

White House reviews drivers' HOS rules.
December 1, 2007... The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has sent proposed revisions on the hours-of-service (HOS) rules to the White House for review, Transport Topics reported. FMCSA now is awaiting feedback from the Office of Management and...

Motor carriers excluded from DHS classification.
December 1, 2007... Motor carriers that haul chemicals will not be classified as "chemical facilities," the Department of Homeland Security has decided. This will protect the motor carriers, and their truck terminals, from additional security regulations. The...

Legislation calls for railroad safety upgrades.
December 1, 2007... Under legislation passed by the House, the secretary of transportation must devise a long-term strategy to improve railroad safety. Focus areas include grade-crossing safety, employee fatigue and training. The bill also would change the name of...

PEI reference document available for purchase.
December 1, 2007... Print copies of the Petroleum Equipment Institute's (PEI) Recommended Practices for Overfill Prevention for Shop-Fabricated Aboveground Tanks are available for purchase. This latest document was produced by the PEI Aboveground Tank...

Employee bonus programs.(IN THE KNOW)
December 1, 2007... We surveyed 426 retail propane marketers from across the United States asking them the following questions about fees and non-propane revenue. We received responses from 31 companies. Here is what they had to say.

Outcomes.(IN THE KNOW)
December 1, 2007... Fifty-eight percent of retailers responding to this survey offer a bonus program to their employees. Most (61 percent) said that the programs were consistent between their multiple locations. The 11 percent that were not consistent said that...

VitalSigns.
December 1, 2007... 1. Do you offer a bonus program to your employees? Yes 58% No 42% 2. Is your bonus program consistent between offices (if you have multiple locations)?...

Events.(Vital Signs)(Calendar)
December 1, 2007... * JAN. 18-19, 2008 NPGA Marketers' Management Forum at the Embassy Suites in Anaheim, CA. Contact Baron Glassgow at bglassgow@npga. org or 866-881-6309. * JAN. 27-29 Minnesota Propane Association annual meeting and convention at the...

Involvement in energy decision.(Data Points)
December 1, 2007... [BUILDERS % COMPLETELY / VERY INVOLVED] Custom builder Professional renovator Heating 64% 53% Water Heating 61% 55% Cooking 55% 49% Note: Table made...

Current Energy Recommendations.(Data Points)
December 1, 2007... [BUILDERS] Heating Cooking Water heating ELECTRICITY 27% 46% 35% PROPANE 25% 42% 30% GEOTHERMAL 14% 2% 8% HEATING OIL 13% 3% ...

Market research shows builders and renovators are key industry targets.(Data Points)
December 1, 2007... The latest research by Harris Interactive on how best to market propane to the general public suggests a deeper focus on homebuilders and on the residential consumer who will be renovating and building new homes in the future. Here are...

Marketing propane in an increasingly competitive world: what are the critical challenges facing propane retailers, and how are they being addressed?
December 1, 2007... For the past several years, our research for LP This year we took a different approach... stepping back to look at the larger, more strategic issues in the Gas Magazine's annual State of the Industry issue has focused on details......

Equipment payment rule clarified by OSHA.
December 1, 2007... The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has clarified that personal protection equipment (PPE) used to comply with the agency's general industry regulations will be provided by the employer at no cost to employees. While many...

Wind Point Partners acquires businesses.
December 1, 2007... Wind Point Partners, a private equity investment firm, has acquired the Harsco GasServ group of gas technology businesses from Harsco Corp. The acquisition includes Taylor-Wharton, compressed gas cylinders and cryogenic storage vessels;...

American Standard named vendor of year.
December 1, 2007... American Standard Manufacturing Inc. of Central Bridge, N.Y., was honored as Vendor of the Year for 2007 by AmeriGas Propane Inc. This is the second time since 2001 that the New York manufacturer of propane and industrial gas cylinder cages...

'The Tool Man' gone astray: marketers should warn customers about working on their propane system.(Safety First)
December 1, 2007... There is a badge of courage and the stamp of stupidity related to most do-it-your-selfers who dream of being Tim "The Tool Man." I have worn both over the past few years taking on my share of home-improvement projects. I must admit, I was...

Why most propane startups fail: enthusiasm, excitement of new venture comes with significant challenges.(Business Matters)
December 1, 2007... This is the first of a two-part series on retail propane startups. I chose this topic because the launching of a new retail propane plant is and always has been a fundamental part of the retail propane industry. In a way, it is the classic...

A limit on expert opinion: federal court says plaintiffs' testimony not relevant in gas-explosion case.(Legal Brief)
December 1, 2007... In a case in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Central Division, the district judge issued a decision and order limiting certain testimony of several experts retained on behalf of the plaintiffs in a natural...

Hanging in the balance: before the '12 days of Christmas,' Congress faces 12 appropriations bills.(Washington Report)
December 1, 2007... Important issues for the propane industry are near the finish line as Congress returned in December to complete its business for the year. Will they cross the finish line or run out of gas? A priority for Congress is passage of the 12...

Air starter.(New Products)(Ingersoll-Rand Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Ingersoll Rand introduces the ST1000 air starter for its mining, oil and gas, power generation, marine and railroad customers. Featuring 8 percent more horsepower than other offset turbine starters in the same range, the ST1000 also delivers up...

Weld inspection system.(New Products)(GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies announces the release of Weldstar, an automated ultrasonic girth weld inspection system for transmission pipelines. Weldstar provides gains in productivity and probability of detection without the hazards...

Reels.(New Products)(Coxreels)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Coxreels introduces the new hand crank SDH Series of reels with heavy-duty construction, designed for long-lasting performance in combustible environments where the static buildup could ignite a spark and subsequent explosion. These compact,...

Factor Inc.(People)
December 1, 2007... Matthew D. Ziehme has been appointed to vice president of development at FACTOR Inc., a developer of software solutions and a division of W.R. Hess Co. Ziehme will have overall responsibility for the software and product development life cycle...

New Jersey Propane Gas Association.(People)
December 1, 2007... Michael G. Merrill received the Howard Card Safety Award at the New Jersey Propane Gas Association's annual meeting and awards ceremony in Atlantic City, N.J. Merrill was recognized for "outstanding leadership in propane safety, education and...

Blackmer.(People)(Jack Spoors and Mark Stubbs appointed at Dover Resources Inc. Blackmer)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... * Jack Spoors has been appointed to director, inventory and logistics, at Blackmer. Spoors will be responsible for optimizing Blackmer's inventory accuracy and ensuring that finished products are shipped properly to its customers. He will...

Gas Equipment Co. Inc.(People)
December 1, 2007... * Carl Frankenfield has been hired as the customer service manager for the Atlanta distribution warehouse and service center. Frankenfield has 28 years of technical and operational knowledge and experience. He will help customers throughout...

Nichols' LP Gas Service: Texas company uses innovation to stay one step ahead of the competition.(Snap Shot)
December 1, 2007... Tom Nichols had little choice. Working in the electronics industry, he had to embrace technology and adapt to change, or the world and his competitors would pass him by. Now president of Texas-based Nichols' LP Gas Service Inc., Nichols...