LP/Gas articles from February 2004

LP/Gas archives from February 2004

AmeriGas still largest.(View Point)(top)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Another year is in the books and AmeriGas has comfortably retained its top spot in our annual LP Gas Top 50 retailer rankings. The Valley Forge, Pa.-based giant sold 176 million gallons more than runner-up Ferrellgas in fiscal year 2003,...

LP/Gas Stock Index.(Illustration)
February 1, 2004... Propane Master Limited Partnership Comparison Company Symbol Quarter Price Distribution Ended (1/12/04 AmeriGas APU Sept. $28.50 $2.20 FerrelGas * FGP Oct. 24.40 ...

Propane MLP price history.(methods)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... 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 &...

Weather watch.(statistics)(Illustration)
February 1, 2004... Heating degree days by state State December Deviation Last 12 Deviation From norm months from nom Alabama 656 65 2657 ...

Upcoming events.(Calendar)
February 1, 2004... * March 8-11 Purvin & Gertz annual U.S./International LPG Seminar at The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center in Houston, Texas. For more information, contact Glenda Burres at gmburres@purvingertz.com or 713-236-0318. * March 9-10...

Debunking propane supply myths.(Business Matters)
February 1, 2004... I hope you'll agree that one of the most exciting aspects of our industry involves the commodity side of the business and its unpredictability of both disruptions in supply distribution and wholesale propane price spikes. There is an...

Safety advice can be exasperating.(Safety First)
February 1, 2004... My friends and acquaintances are always big with the free advice. When I took my career to the next level I was told, "Don't quit your day job," "You oughta be conventional," and "You oughta play it safe." It felt like anti-encouragement....

Feds plan big road safety spending.(Washington Report)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The nation's surface transportation law is getting repaved to the tune of about $300 billion over six years. Key legislators in both houses are moving replacement legislation for the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which...

Pipeline operator testing.(Briefly speaking: notes from Capitol Hill)(Research & Special Programs Administration drug testing regs)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Pipeline operators will have to drug test just 25 percent of its employees this year because the positive rates of previous tests don't justify increasing the percentage, the Research & Special Programs Administration has decreed. RSPA...

Clean fuel tax deduction.(Briefly speaking: notes from Capitol Hill)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) has introduced a bill to extend the tax deduction for clean-fuel vehicles and refueling property for three years. It would allow the full credit through 2006 and then be phased out over the next three years.

Top 50 retailers rankings: profiles of the largest propane retail marketers in the United States.(Company Profile)
February 1, 2004... * 1 AmeriGas Partners P.O. Box 965 * Valley Forge, PA 19482 Phone: 610-337-7000 * Fax: 610-992-3253 Web site: www.amerigas.com Founded: 1959 Owners: Publicly held Outlets: 646 * States: 50 Customers: 1,300,000...

Is it lights out for a national energy bill? Senate stalls over legal liability provision.(Cover Story)
February 1, 2004... New year, same frustrating challenges in Washington after the promising push for a comprehensive national energy bill withered in the cold winds of December. When all was said and done in 2003, there was much said and little done as a...

Suburban acquires bankrupt Agway Energy.(Syracuse, New York)(Take over)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Suburban Propane Partners L.P. has acquired the assets of Agway Energy Products, Agway Energy Services Inc., and Agway Energy Services P.A. Inc. out of bankruptcy court for $206 million. The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern...

Williams sells its wholesale propane assets.(Tulsa, Oklahoma)(to a subsidiary of the SemGroup, L.P and Eagle Rock Energy Inc)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... In an effort to streamline its business, Williams has sold three non-core assets--including its wholesale propane assets--comprised largely of seven propane distribution terminals. The assets, which include terminals in Kingsland, Light and...

Western marketers eligible for regulator rebates.(Sacramento, California)(Western Propane Education & Research Council )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Propane marketers in the Western Propane Education & Research Council (WPERC) will be eligible for a rebate on updated regulator systems purchased between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2004. The council allocated $90,000 to the program, which will...

WPGA members to get free legal consultation.(Sacramento, California)(Western Propane Gas Association )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Members of the Western Propane Gas Association may take advantage of free legal advice and representation under a group legal services agreement the association signed with the firm of Barsamian, Saqui and Moody. The deal gives members in...

Rule would increase truck brake inspections.(Washington, D.C.)(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... In an effort to reduce the stopping distance required for heavy-duty trucks, the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants to adopt new performance standards for truck brakes and retread tires. ...

Regional CETP instructor workshops set.(Nashville, Tennessee)(Propane Education & Research Council offers Certified Employee Training Program )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The Propane Education & Research Council is holding a series of free regional two-day Certified Employee Training Program instructor workshops for industry trainers, administrators and managers in preparation for the 2004 CETP training season....

Inergy expands with three acquisitions.(Kansas City, Missouri)(acquisition of Pembroke Propane Gas Co. Inc )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Inergy is expanding in the southeastern states with three acquisitions in southern Georgia and northern Florida. The company, based in Kansas City, Mo., has acquired the propane assets of Pembroke Propane Gas Co. Inc. in Pembroke, Ga., as...

Heritage Propane buys Metro Lift Propane.(Tulsa, Oklahoma)(acquisitions)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Heritage Propane Partners has closed the acquisition of Nashville-based Metro Lift Propane, adding 10 new district locations and about 10 million gallons to its totals. In addition, the company has purchased the remaining 50 percent...

ATA seeks middleman role in hazmat driver checks.(Alexandria, Virginia)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... American Trucking Associations is preparing to offer a "middleman" service for truck drivers with hazardous materials licenses who will need criminal background clearances to comply with new federal anti-terrorism laws. ATA said its plan...

Customer bill inserts ready.(Industry)(propane prices)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... A bill insert explaining to propane customers what happens to propane prices during the winter heating season is available through the online version of the 2004 Propane Industry Resource Catalog. Already available is an online document...

Worthington Cylinders salutes platinum, master distributors.(Worthington, Ohio)(platinum distributor for 2003)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... F.W. Webb of Bedford, Mass., the largest distributor of plumbing, heating, cooling and piping products in the North-east, has been recognized as Worthington Cylinders' platinum distributor for 2003. The award, which recognizes the top...

AmeriGas Partners.(People)(Dan Myers appointed executive vice president)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... AmeriGas has hired Dan Myers, former executive vice president and general counsel for the National Propane Gas Association, as a consultant to help with the company's acquisition efforts. "Over the years he has developed relationships with...

KanPERC.(People)(Kansas Propane Education & Research Council)(Greg Noll, Dick Dougherty, Great Bend and David DuVall appointment)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Propane marketers in Kansas have established Kansas Propane Education & Research Council (KanPERC) and held their first meeting. The organization began collecting $0.002 per gallon of odorized propane sold to an end user in Kansas starting...

Star Gas Partners.(People)(David Shinnebarger appointed as chief marketing officer)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Star Gas Partners has hired David Shinnebarger as its chief marketing officer. Shinnebarger previously was with a customer strategy consulting group and has managed the U.S. Postal Service package delivery business. He will be responsible...

Pennington Energy Corp.(People)(Joe Spiller appointed wholesale manager)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Joe Spiller has joined the management team of Pennington Energy Corp. in the newly created position of wholesale manager. Spiller will be responsible for propane supply, transportation and wholesale propane marketing. In addition, he will...

Inergy.(People)(Michael C. Chandler promoted as regional manager)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Inergy has made a promotion and a new hire for its Southeast region. Michael C. Chandler, who joined Inergy in 2002, has been promoted to regional manager in the Southeast Region. Chandler, whose family ran Live Oak Gas Co. in Live...

Ferrellgas.(People)(Kelly Wagner and Laura Hoffman appointed as managers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Kelly Wagner and Laura Hoffman have been named managers in Ferrellgas' employee development department. Wagner will focus on training drivers on the use of handheld mobility devices, while Hoffman will concentrate on the PeopleSoft and...

Oseco.(People)(appointment)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Bret Rosser has joined Oseco as a regional sales manager. Rosser, who has held sales and sales management positions in the power transmission products industry, most recently was a sales engineer for bearing supplier Koyo Corp. He will...

Profit Strategies.(People)(appointment)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Allan J. Heimbuck has joined Profit Strategies, a national provider of flat-rate pricing guides for plumbing, heating and air conditioning contractors. Heimbuck, who spent 18 years in education followed by six years with Xerox, will help...

LPG2 People3.(People)(Trinity)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Trinity Teresa Dorroh has joined Trinity's LPG sales team. Dorroh, formerly with Thompson Tank, will be based from her home in Princeton, Ky., and cover the areas of Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana.

LPG2 People4 (Norris).(People; Luke Norris)(Versyss Energy )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Versyss Energy Luke Norris has joined Providence, R.I.-based Versyss Energy. As a senior account manager for SUNRISE, he will build sales in a 28-state region covering Midwestern and Western states. He previously was a financial consultant...

Dale Vertz.(People)(obituary )(Obituary)
February 1, 2004... Dale Eugene Vertz (1917-2003) past president and owner of Meeder Equipment Company passed away November 28, 2003 at age 86. Dale joined Meeder Equipment in March 1962, worked in sales and started an engineering department to handle various...

Propane cylinder.(Products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Worthington Cylinders introduces its FlameSaver Propane Tank with built-in reserve so customers may grill with confidence. The reserve provides an extra 60 minutes of cooking time after the primary tank runs out of gas and the fire...

Valve lock.(Products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Smith Flow Control presents its Anti-Tamper Lock to ensure valves and actuators are opened only by authorized individuals. The device requires a coded key to be inserted, engaging the drive. Once the valve is opened to the desired position,...

Force indicator.(Products)(measuring instruments)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... DCT Instruments/Sensotec Inc. offers its Model LK Digital Force Indicator for portable calibration verification. The device uses a 9-volt battery and can measure calibrations in tensions or compression of up to 10,000 pounds. A three-foot...

Pressure relief catalog.(Products)(safety equipment catalog)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Oklahoma Safety Equipment Co. Inc. (Oseco) has made its product catalog available in an electronic format on compact disc. The free catalog contains details about the company's line of custom-engineered rupture disks, rupture panels and...

Pivot hooklift loader.(Products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Stellar Industries Inc. introduces its XCHANGE Hooklifts, a new line of single-pivot hydraulic hooklift loaders. The hooklifts have 9,000-, 13,000- and 20,000-pound capacities. The smaller two are designed for chassis with a cab-to-axle...

Dual-gas detector.(Products)(Sensor Electronics Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Sensor Electronics presents its dual-gas detector to simultaneously monitor a hydrocarbon gas and carbon dioxide or water vapor. The detector can instantly measure and read out propane, butane, methane, xylene and ethylene oxide levels. The...

Accelerometer line.(Products)(Honeywell Sensotec)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Honeywell Sensotec offers the MA Series line of test and measurement accelerometers built to survive harsh environments and accommodate a broad range of testing requirements. The stainless-steel instruments withstand temperatures as high as...

Palm heater.(Products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... MSK Makina presents a propane-fueled palm heater for outdoor use. The heater uses 70 grams of fuel per hour, and can function continuously for 171 hours on a 12-kg cylinder. The company, which sells patio products, hammocks and packaging...

Protective eyewear.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Gateway Safety Inc. introduces its Odyssey Protective Eyewear with patented comfort features and a patent-pending design. A SoftFlex nose piece features extra-soft polymer "fingertips" and pivots on a hinge to conform to the bridge of the...

Gas furnaces.(Products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... International Comfort Products features its new Comfortmaker brand SoftSound VS 80 furnaces for natural gas or propane. The furnace line includes models that can be installed in upflow, downflow, horizontal left or horizontal right...

Hose reel catalog.(Products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Hannay Reels presents a full-color catalog of its most popular propane hose reels. The reels are designed for use in home delivery trucks, dispensing systems, fueling vehicles, and filling stationary and portable cylinders. Specifications,...

Utility knife.(Products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Klein Tools introduces its Klein-Kurve retractable utility knife, designed with a 10-blade storage compartment inside the handle. The heavy-duty, quick-change utility knife measures seven inches long and comes with a plastic holster and...

Fuel management software.(Products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... AGRIS Corp. offers AGRIS Energy, a complete propane and refined fuels management system for agribusiness. The system features integrated modules for route scheduling and mapping, tank asset management, fuel tracking, reporting and the...

Homework can add to bottom line.(Let's Talk)(Industry Overview)
February 1, 2004... This winter is shaping up to be the kind of cold season we in the propane industry always wish for. With bitter cold temperatures blanketing much of the country, this winter will undoubtedly prove a profitable one for marketers. To many...