LP/Gas articles from May 2001

LP/Gas archives from May 2001

Crazy idea just might work.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... What if propane retailers offered to fill every customer's tank during the summer and not bill them until they used the fuel after the weather turned cold? Sounds crazy, I know. Most retailers are just now catching their breath after a...

Propane Vehicle Council Takes the Forklift Challenge.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2001... The recent decision of the National Propane Gas Association's board of directors to disband the Engine Power Committee closes one chapter in our industry's long-standing commitment to the forklift market, one of the cornerstones of the...

Budget allows weatherization increase.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... President Bush's call for increasing weatherization funding got a boost in Congress as both houses approved fiscal year 2002 budget plans with his request for $1.4 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program next year. Bush...

Ergonomics not dead yet.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Though President Bush signed an order killing the new ergonomics rules, the issue hasn't gone away. A bipartisan group of senators led by John Breaux (D-LA) introduced legislation that would require the Department of Labor to develop a...

Sticker Shock.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Consumers considering buying propane-powered equipment may suffer from sticker shock that may drive them to use other fuels. The Department of Energy released the 2001 average unit cost of propane - about 25 percent higher than the...

Energy Plan.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Senate Democrats have introduced their own energy plan as an alternate to the Republican plan. The Democrats' plan, introduced by Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), focuses more on conservation; the Republicans focused more on production. Yet...

Heating Help.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Businesses hurt by propane price increases got a big step to getting some federal relief when the Senate approved the Small Business and Farm Energy Emergency Relief Act. The bill would provide emergency loans for businesses and farms that...

Water Heater Standards.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... New energy efficiency standards for water heaters and washing machines will go into effect after all. The Bush administration declared a 60-day delay on implementing standards assigned in the waning days of the Clinton administration, but...

Sky's the Limit : Advocates say propane needs better marketing to earn bigger piece of the airport pie.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... When Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport's facilities manager researched cost-saving alternatives to cool the burgeoning complex, he quickly realized propane was the key. As natural gas prices soared this winter, Danny...

Forklift Follies : Incentives to make LPG forklifts safer, cleaner are going largely ignored.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Franz Hofmann's curiosity gets the best of him each time he wanders into one of those huge home improvement warehouses. The automotive instructor for the Alternative Fuels Research and Education Division of the Railroad Commission of...

PERC approves nearly $3 million for programs.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... A regulatory compliance guidebook, a hazmat compliance training course and research into developing an integrated gas-fired space and water heating system were among the programs winning approval in the latest round of funding by the Propane...

TC PipeLines proposes Tuscarora expansion.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Tuscarora Gas Transmission Co., of which TC PipeLines LP holds a 49 percent interest, has filed an application with the federal Energy Regulatory Commission to expand its pipeline system by 14 miles and nearly double its capacity. If...

CleanFuel USA announces new fuel network partners.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Three new partners have joined CleanFuel USA, the nationwide propane motor fuel network jointly owned by AmeriGas Propane and Clean Fueling Technologies. The new partners are: Gerry Misel with Georgia Gas Distributors, Steve Moore with...

Propane regulator, gas ranges recalled by CPSC.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... The Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled two gas ranges and a propane regulator. The ranges are the Dynasty model manufactured by Jade Products in Los Angeles, and the Maytag and Magic Chef ranges made by Maytag Corp. in...

U.S. heating season stock draw above average.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2001... More than 36.6 million barrels were used for the 2000-2001 heating season, compared with an average seasonal stock draw of 33.5 MMB, according to the Energy Information Administration. For the week ending March 30, U.S. propane...

Investment bank founded with propane focus.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Thomas E. Knauff and G. Cook Jordan Jr. have founded Jordan, Knauff & Co., a private investment bank that will provide investment banking and financial advisory services to the propane industry. The group will specialize in the sale of...

NPGA, PERC offer CD-ROM training for firefighters.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... New training tools have been created for firefighters as part of the Propane Emergencies training program. Ten new interactive scenarios and other enhancements will be included. The CD-ROM complements the Propane Emergencies, 220-page...

Marshall Brass earns ISO 9001 certification.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Marshall Brass has been certified as an ISO 9001 Registered Firm. The ISO 9001 model is a quality assurance model made up of 20 sets of quality system requirements, which establish uniformity in processes and operations to improve...

Valley National Gases acquires Burton French.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Valley National Gases, based in Wheeling, W.Va., has bought Burton French Inc., based in Mansfield, Ohio. Burton French provides welding supplies, propane and industrial, medical and specialty gases, with combined sales of $1.5 million.

Cookin' Up Sales : Who says a small retailer can't thrive selling barbecues and related products?(The Outdoor CookingStore sales information)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2001... Much to the delight of barbecue grill manufacturers and the retailers who sell them, sales have reached record heights the last two years, exceeding expectations of everyone in the business. Few have reaped the benefits more than...

Regulator valve.(from Presto-Tap)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
May 1, 2001... Presto-Tap has introduced the LDS 2000/RV, a patented UL-listed regulator valve that allows leak and pressure testing throughout a propane installation without breaking the system. Tested at 500 psig, the valve is the only product of its...

Pressure gauges.(from AMETEK U.S.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
May 1, 2001... AMETEK U.S. Gauge has developed a new series of stainless steel industrial pressure gauges for use on equipment where excessive vibration and pulsation occurs, such as pumps, compressors and machine tools. The 656 Series gauges come in...

Gravitometer.(from Alternate Energy Systems Inc)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Alternate Energy Systems Inc. is offering a new generation of gravitometers for LPG/air mixtures. The Model Graviblend-3 has a completely new design that can be integrated into manual control or fully automated LPG/air mixing systems at a 35...

Service crane.(from Stellar Industries Inc)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
May 1, 2001... Stellar Industries Inc. has introduced the EC2K crane, an economical service crane with a 6,500-foot/pound capacity and a maximum lifting capacity of 2,000 pounds (two-part) and 1,000 pounds (single-part). The crane has an electric winch...

Hand-held routing computer.(from Gas Equipment Co. Inc.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
May 1, 2001... The Tracker-2000 from Gas Equipment Co. Inc. is a hand-held device that helps monitor daily route information. Customer and route information is downloaded into the device in the morning from the office computer, and meter information is...

Merchandising center.(Lennox Hearth Products marketing products)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Lennox Hearth Products has created a new "Comfort Corner" store-in-store merchandising center to help independent retailers display Lennox fireplaces, stoves and fireplace inserts. Display materials include cutouts of the "Dave Lennox"...

Mobile computing system.(from TouchStar Technologies)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... TouchStar Technologies offers the GasTrack mobile computing system with GasTrack adaptive software. The hand-held computer offers reduced paperwork for drivers and office personnel, on-board customer account information, on-site printed...

Inergy.(brief industry personnel changes)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... The new officers are Phillip L. Elbert, senior vice president of operations, and R. Brooks Sherman Jr., vice president and chief financial officer. Elbert previously was responsible for retail, wholesale and transportation operations with...

Level Propane.(names Walter J. Himmelman new president)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Level Propane has named a new president to succeed William H. Maloof, who stepped down "to devote time to developing an advanced communication business," the company said. Walter J. Himmelman, the company's chief financial officer, takes...

Suburban Propane.(John W. Smolak resigns)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... John W. Smolak has resigned as chief financial officer of Suburban Propane. Robert M. Plante, formerly vice president and treasurer, was promoted to vice president of finance and treasurer.

Pressure Cooker : Propane Golfers tournament Skins Games can be love-hate experiences.(Propane industry golf tournament information)
May 1, 2001... Few people enjoy watching golf pros compete in Skins Game events on television more than Bobby Mahle, who represents tank manufacturer Tanques Industriales Lajat of Mexico from his home near Austin, Texas. Some shots and putts in the...

Calendar.
May 1, 2001... June 5-6 Propane Gas Association of Canada annual conference in Calgary, Alberta. For details, call Rita Guest at 403.543-6503. June 7-9 Propane Marketers Association of Kansas Convention and Trade Show to be held at the Holiday...

LP/GAS STOCK INDEX.(industry stock data)(Brief Article)(Industry Overview)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2001... Propane Master Limited Partnership Comparison Company Symbol Quarter Price Distri- Ended (4/17/01) bution AmeriGas APU Dec. $21.44 $2.20 Cornerstone CNO ...