LP/Gas articles from October 2003

LP/Gas archives from October 2003

Bang for the buck.(View Point)
October 1, 2003... It's going to take a lot of cash to prove whether the propane industry's money is being well spent. Since its inception, the Propane Education & Research Council has been dogged by a fundamental question: How do you measure the progress...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
October 1, 2003... An item on the table of contents page of the September issue of LP/Gas Magazine incorrectly identified Star Gas of Stamford, Conn. as the propane company that had gotten financing for the upcoming heating season. The company was All Star Gas of...

Operations survey.(In The Know)
October 1, 2003... A survey was handed out at the beginning of the May 2002 Propane University Leadership and Management classes. This information was then used to direct the workshop. Sample: 30 handed out; 26 returned. Regions Surveyed: Georgia,...

LP/Gas stock index.(Illustration)
October 1, 2003... Propane Master Limited Partnership Comparison Company Symbol Quarter Price Distribution Yield Ended (9/11/03) AmeriGas APU June $24.88 $2.20 8.8%...

Propane MLP price history.
October 1, 2003... 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.(Illustration)
October 1, 2003... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Heating degree days by state State August Deviation Last 12 Deviation from norm months from norm Alabama 0 0 -2606 ...

Upcoming events.(gas industry)(Calendar)
October 1, 2003... * November 2-4 Virginia Propane Gas Association fall meeting in Charlottesville, Virginia. For details, contact Joe Budd at joe@easterassociates.com or 434-977-3716. * November 13 New Mexico Propane Gas Association membership meeting in...

Safety is where you find it.(Safety First)
October 1, 2003... Ask a North Dakota farmer where to hunt for grouse and he'll tell you, "Grouse are where you find them." Kind of like the line, "you'll never catch a fish unless your line is in the water," but more vague. So where do we hunt for safety? ...

New FCC rules on unsolicited faxes.(Legal Ease)
October 1, 2003... There has been substantial interest generated by the new Federal Communications Commission rules on unsolicited faxes. As proposed, companies will no longer be able to fax advertisements to existing customers without first obtaining a signed...

Marketing: it's everything you do.(Business Matters)
October 1, 2003... Marketing is no longer just about what you say to the public about your product or service. It's everything you say and do. If that strikes you as odd, think about your experiences as a consumer. What attracts you to a particular retail...

Cargo tank rule changes eased.(Washington Report)
October 1, 2003... New cargo tank rules won't cause as much trouble as previously feared. The Research & Special Programs Administration revised rules it issued last spring covering motor vehicle transport of hazmat. RSPA acted at the request of several...

Grading appliances.(Briefly speaking: notes from Capitol Hill)
October 1, 2003... The Federal Trade Commission has changed the appliance labeling rule for ranges of comparability for standard dishwashers, effective Nov. 10. But it kept the same ranges for compact dishwashers, central air conditioners and heat pumps. Details...

Educating the public.(Briefly speaking: notes from Capitol Hill)
October 1, 2003... The American Petroleum Institute plans to issue its final recommended practice on public awareness programs for pipeline operators this fall, and RSPA says it may incorporate it into regulations. RSPA is developing an on-line, self-assessment...

PERC oversight.(Briefly speaking: notes from Capitol Hill)(Propane Education & Research Council)
October 1, 2003... The departments of Commerce and Energy need to step up their oversight of the Propane Education & Research Council, says the General Accounting Office. Commerce officials said they didn't know that they were required to file reports on propane...

What's worker's comp? Claims are down, but rates are higher than ever. Here's why--and what every employer can do about it.
October 1, 2003... Anyone who has recently tried to purchase commercial insurance knows the surprise: Rates have skyrocketed. In simple terms, the commercial insurance industry is in the midst of what is called a "hard market," meaning that the traditional...

'P' is for propane: schools learning benefits of propane-powered buses.(Delta Liquid Energy)
October 1, 2003... Teaching educators about the benefits of propane-powered school buses can a rewarding experience for a propane marketer. The enrichment can be further enhanced when the retailer also assists the districts in obtaining government grants to cover...

NPGA ponders litigation in MAPCO line-fill tariff case.(Washington, D.C.)(National Propane Gas Association)(Mid-America Pipeline Co.)
October 1, 2003... The National Propane Gas Association is weighing its options after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission voted to allow the Mid-America Pipeline Co. (MAPCO) to establish a line-fill program and charge suppliers thousands of dollars more this...

FMCSA refuses to reconsider hours of service rules.(Washington, D.C.)(Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)
October 1, 2003... The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will not reconsider the new hours-of-service rules it instituted for commercial drivers. The agency denied a request in late August by an industry coalition that included the National Propane...

DOT agrees with NPGA appeal, changes HM-213.(Washington, D.C.)(National Propane Gas Association)(Department of Transportation)
October 1, 2003... The U.S. Department of Transportation will revise leak test requirements following maintenance after an appeal by the National Propane Gas Association. Agreeing with many points NPGA raised in its appeal of HM-213, the DOT will require...

Second phase begins for 2003 PERC ad campaign.(Washington, D.C.)(Propane Education and Research Council)
October 1, 2003... The Propane Education and Research Council has launched the second phase of this year's advertising campaign with ads running on cable and satellite television stations along with print outlets. In addition to the national advertising...

Propane-powered fuel cell being tested in mountains.(Bend, Oregon)
October 1, 2003... A 3.6-kW propane-powered fuel cell system has been installed in the Cascade mountain range near Bend, Ore., where it will operate in an off-grid telecom application for field test and evaluation. IdaTech, based in Bend, developed the fuel...

Ford offers incentive for bi-fuel pick-up truck.(Detroit, Michigan)
October 1, 2003... Ford is offering an incentive of up to $1,000 for its 2004 Bi-fuel LPG F-150 through the end of October. The incentive is in addition to the Ford Fleet Early Order Incentive of $500 on F-150 Heritage and E-series vehicles. For information...

Inergy makes retail acquisitions in Indiana, Ohio.(Kansas City, Missouri)
October 1, 2003... Inergy has made two recent acquisitions. The company has acquired the Mount Vernon Bottled Gas Company, based in Ohio, and also the operating assets of Marshall Propane Supply Inc. of Indiana. The company says Mount Vernon Bottled Gas will...

NPGA to raise marketer dues by 3 percent.(Washington, D.C.)(National Propane Gas Association)
October 1, 2003... The National Propane Gas Association's Executive Committee voted in August to raise the dues for marketers by 3 percent in 2004. The committee cited a variety of reasons for the increase, including rapidly rising operating costs, higher...

California debates mandatory employer-paid health insurance.(Sacramento, California)
October 1, 2003... California lawmakers are now considering a measure that would require any company with more than 20 employees to offer workers health insurance or contribute a state health insurance pool. If approved, California would become the first...

Liberty Propane launches with four acquisitions.(Overland Park, Kansas)
October 1, 2003... Liberty Propane, a newly formed company built to acquire retail propane companies in selected areas of the United States, has hit the ground running with the acquisition of four companies. The acquisitions include Rocky Mountain Propane of...

Propane engine designed for off-road, ag vehicles.(Washington, D.C.)
October 1, 2003... Through funding by the Propane Education & Research Council, the Texas Alternative Fuels Council and John Deere, the Southwest Research Institute has designed a clean-burning propane engine for off-road and agricultural vehicles. The John...

Manchester Tank says OPD valves safe on its products.(Brentwood, Tennessee)(overfill prevention device)
October 1, 2003... In an open letter to the propane industry, Manchester Tank has announced that its OPD valves should not be confused with those manufactured in Thailand that have raised potential safety concerns. While it uses valves made by SCG Valves in...

Gas insert.(Products)(Heatilator Inc.)
October 1, 2003... Heatilator introduces its ADI-ZC-FB gas insert for existing, prefabricated fireplaces. The insert is made from Heatilator-patented FireBrick material that allows the firebox to be formed to a unique size and shape. It slides into the...

Lift truck.(Products)(from Aisle-Master Ltd.)
October 1, 2003... Aisle-Master presents an articulated, narrow-aisle lift truck designed for use in warehouse or factory aisles as narrow as 78 inches wide. The LPG-fueled lift truck can negotiate unpaved ground and handle grades up to 15 percent, when...

Fuel filter update kits.(Products)(ACME Alternate Fuel Systems Inc.)
October 1, 2003... ACME Alternate Fuel Systems Inc. is carrying a new filter and update kit for alternate-fuel systems and accessories to replace the discontinued OEM LPG filters on several different vehicle models. The kit fits the Parker LPG filter in...

Gas detector.(Products)(Sensor Electronics Inc.)
October 1, 2003... Sensor Electronics offers a gas detector with plug-in modular sensors for spotting dangerous concentrations of more than 50 toxic or explosive gases. The plug-in modules are precision-tuned to detect specific gases, and they can be pulled...

Wheeled fire extinguisher.(Products)(from Ansul Inc.)
October 1, 2003... Ansul Inc. announces its new high-pressure, carbon dioxide, wheeled extinguishers. Designed for Class B (flammable liquids and gases) and Class C (energized electrical equipment) fires, the extinguishers are easily maneuvered and provide...

Supply, trade software.(Products)(SolArc Inc.)
October 1, 2003... SolArc Inc. presents the latest version of its RightAngle software for the physical supply and trade operations management of coal, refined products, crude oil and natural gas liquids. The newest version offers compositional blending to...

Gas furnace.(Products)(from International Comfort Products)
October 1, 2003... International Comfort Products introduces its Comfortmaker PS90-DV Low- Profile 90 percent gas furnace designed for the builder's market. The no-frills furnace has a multi-position direct vent that can be installed in nearly any fashion...

Wireless transmitter.(Products)(Honeywell Sensing and Control)
October 1, 2003... Honeywell-Sensotec offers its Model WTB battery-operated, wireless transmitter option for its line of bridge-based sensors. The wireless system, which works up to 300 feet away, eliminates cables and sensing devices to simplify testing,...

Actuated valve tester.(Products)(from Smith Flow Control)
October 1, 2003... Smith Flow Control presents its Easi-Test device for independently testing pneumatic actuators and process valves on live systems. The device, which is fitted between the valve and actuator, allows independent testing and operation of the...

Tank gauging system.(Products)(EPG Companies Inc.)
October 1, 2003... EPG Companies Inc. introduces a tank gauging system designed to simultaneously measure and display liquid level and volume in horizontal and vertical tanks. The WNSA 1000 includes a level sensor and monitor, which can be programmed to...

Stir-fry stove.(Products)
October 1, 2003... Dong Zhou, a Silicone Valley engineer, has invented a propane-fueled stir-fry stove that provides the high heat needed to properly stir-fry vegetables in traditional Chinese-style cooking. The outdoor stir-fry stove uses a patented...

Understanding volatile propane prices.(Let's Talk)
October 1, 2003... Propane prices, like most energy commodities, continue to experience extreme volatility. There are a number of factors impacting propane prices during the year. The major variables we watch include weather, crude prices, natural gas prices,...