LP/Gas articles from September 2004

LP/Gas archives from September 2004

A gloomy forecast.(View Point)
September 1, 2004... The pieces to the jigsaw puzzle never seem to go together as precisely as they should for propane marketers preparing for the busy winter heating season. Price spikes, supply and inadequate infrastructure have always been the bane of...

Supply 101 & Case Studies.(In The Know)
September 1, 2004... During the 2003 Propane Marketing and Operations Forum, Propane Resources asked attendees of the "Supply 101 & Case Studies" sessions about their companies. Here's what they had to say. Topic: Supply 101 & Case Studies Participants:...

LP/Gas stock index.(Illustration)
September 1, 2004... Propane Master Limited Partnership Comparison Company Symbol Quarter Price Ended (8/11/04) AmeriGas APU June $27.17 Energy Transfer * ETP May ...

Propane MLP price history.
September 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 &...

Heating degree days by state.(Weather Watch)(Illustration)
September 1, 2004... Heating degree days by state State July Deviation Last 12 Deviation from norm months from norm Alabama 0 0 2749 -105 Alaska 128 ...

Upcoming events.(Calendar)
September 1, 2004... * Sept. 29-Oct. 1 World LP Gas Association annual World LP Gas Forum, Conference and Exhibition at the Hotel InterContinental in Berlin, Germany. For details, visit the association website at www.worldlpgas.com/forum. * Oct. 5 Illinois...

Open house markets products, safety.(Safety First)(Ray Murray Inc.)
September 1, 2004... Since 1973 Ray Murray Inc. has celebrated its success by hosting an open house for their customers. This formula for success combines marketing of products, customer education, employee/customer interaction, great food and safety. I had...

Keeping sharp via self-improvement: sharpening the saw means using all seven habits to create a personal and team environment of change, growth and effectiveness.(Business Matters)
September 1, 2004... A passerby observed a man exerting a great deal of effort attempting to saw down a tree. The passerby asked how long he had been sawing. "For hours" was his reply. He then asked the man if he'd considered taking a few minutes to sharpen...

Motor fuel remains a distant second: without considerable advances in alternative fuel and vehicle technology ... it is unlikely that any fuel will replace petroleum-based fuels in the near future.(Washington Report)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Although propane remains the second most common automotive fuel in the nation, the cost of using it likely will keep it a distant second. According to a report from the Congressional Research Service, the comparable price of gasoline and...

Home energy conservation.(Briefly speaking: notes from Capitol Hill)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy is considering energy conservation standards for residential furnaces and boilers. The National Propane Gas Association has told OEERE that any standards should regulate electric and gas...

Hazmat shipping rules.(Briefly speaking: notes from Capitol Hill)(Hazardous Materials Transportation)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) has introduced the Extremely Hazardous Materials Transportation Security Act to require the Department of Homeland Security to develop rules for hazmat shipping. The rules would cover security devices, coordination...

Energy efficient appliances.(Briefly speaking: notes from Capitol Hill)(gets tax credits)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) has introduced the Water & Energy Efficient Appliance Act, which would create permanent tax credits for making energy efficient washing machines and dishwashers. The bill would give manufacturers credits from $25 to...

Stock build concerns.(Briefly speaking: notes from Capitol Hill)(for propane inventories)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The Energy Information Administration warns that restocking propane inventories to a comfort level of about 60plus million barrels by Oct. 1 may be a difficult challenge since inventories have consistently lagged behind average volumes for most...

Who goes there? Employee screening uncovers criminal backgrounds, other risks to your business.
September 1, 2004... The passing of Labor Day signals the end of summer and the time to beef up your work force for the rigors of another busy winter heating season. You post your trusty "Now Hiring" or "Drivers Wanted" sign outside for passing traffic to see, and...

Winter worries: crude prices, increased demand and slow stock builds will add to supply concerns.
September 1, 2004... Unseasonal weather and growing residential demand will again be key factors in the upcoming winter supply season, but record crude oil prices this summer also should be factored into this year's equation. Weather, as Always The...

Red-hot steel marketplace sends tank prices surging: costs of storage vessels unsettle propane marketers as winter approaches.
September 1, 2004... Customers routinely expect their propane tanks to have an attractive finish and be functionally up-to-date. Yet setting new tanks can be most unsettling as surging raw material costs amid a red-hot worldwide steel market are pumping up the...

Price increases forecast for consumer propane.(Washington, D.C.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Propane could cost consumers 18 percent more this winter than last, according to recent projections by the U.S. Energy Department's Energy Information Administration. The estimate, part of the agency's "Short Term Energy Outlook" released...

Tests show forklift fuel systems meet 2007 EPA standards.(Washington, D.C.)( Environmental Protection Agency)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Initial test results of propane fuel control systems meet 2007 EPA standards for steady-state and transient operating conditions, according to the Propane Education & Research Council. The tests, being conducted at the Southwest Research...

Space/water heating system for manufactured homes planned.(Washington, D.C.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The Propane Education & Research Council and the U.S. Department of Energy are pledging $1.3 million to develop the first pre-production, gas-powered combination space/water heating system for manufactured homes. The project, which will be...

CARB seeks to limit public fleet emissions, push alt fuels.(Sacramento, California)(California Air Resources Board)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The California Air Resources Board is proposing to further limit emissions from diesel vehicles within a public agency's fleet. Under proposed regulations released this summer, municipal fleets and public agencies would be limited to a...

Manual outlines steps for completing fire safety analysis.(Washington, D.C.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... A new manual is available to members of the propane industry who must complete a written fire safety analysis. The Fire Safety Analysis Manual, funded by the Propane Education & Research Council and produced by a National Propane Gas...

New efficiency standard proposed for furnaces, boilers.(Washington, D.C.)
September 1, 2004... The U.S. Department of Energy is considering a rule that would institute new minimum efficiency standards for residential gas furnaces and boilers. The proposal would lift minimum efficiency from 78 percent AFUE to 81 percent AFUE. It was...

Older LPG forklifts eligible for free emissions upgrades.(Sacramento, California)(Liquefied petroleum gas)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Owners of some older LPG forklifts in California might be eligible for free or low-cost retrofit of new emission control systems approved by the California Air Resources Board. The agency will cover retrofitting of the first 60 lifts at...

Heritage Operating acquires South Dakota retailer.(Dallas, Texas)(Custer Gas Service)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Energy Transfer Partners' Heritage Operating has acquired the assets of Custer Gas Service in Custer, S.D. Custer Gas, which was owned and operated by John and Peggy Evans, has about 1,800 customers around the Mt. Rushmore area. The Evanses...

Jenkins Gas acquires four new North Carolina locations.(Pollocksville, North Carolina)(Jenkins Gas and Oil Co. )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Jenkins Gas and Oil Co. has acquired three branch operations from Suburban Propane and a separate retailer, all in eastern North Carolina. Jenkins acquired the Jacksonville, Pembroke and Wallace locations from Suburban Propane. The company...

Tarantin Tank marks opening of 4th distribution center.(Brentwood, New Hampshire)(Tarantin Tank and Equipment Co.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Tarantin Tank and Equipment Co. celebrated its fourth distribution and customer service center with the grand opening of its 35,000-square-foot center in Brentwood, N.H. The location joins centers in Freehold, N.J., Camp Hill, Pa., and...

Uniform supplier, NPGA form partnership.(Cincinnati, Ohio)(Cintas partnership with National Propane Gas Association )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Uniform supplier Cintas is partnering with the National Propane Gas Association to provide official uniforms and facility services to member companies. The partnership provides a national pricing strategy with a signed contract, new emblem...

Tauber Oil, propane firm to share loading facility.(Houston, Texas)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Tauber Oil Co. and Ohio River Valley Propane have forged a propane marketing agreement to serve the Ohio Valley. The deal gives Tauber access to Ohio River Valley's new Monroe Terminal, a two-bay propane transport loading rack that can load...

Southeastern Energy Partners buys Myrtle Beach-area retailer.(Atlanta, Georgia)(Ocean Drive Gas and Appliance)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Southeastern Energy Partners has acquired the assets of Ocean Drive Gas and Appliance of Myrtle Beach, S.C. With more than 4,000 customers, Ocean Drive, which has been in business since 1946, is the largest independent propane marketer in...

Trinity names new domestic vessel distributor.(Dallas, Texas)(Trinity Industries Inc.'s LPG Division contarcts with LPG & NH3 Supply Inc. )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... LPG & NH3 Supply Inc. has become a new distributor for Trinity Industries Inc.'s LPG Division. The supplier will represent Trinity's line of domestic vessels in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Two stocking facilities in Buffalo, Minn., and...

Equal fees for interstate, intrastate carriers called unconstitutional.(Trenton, New Jersey)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... An equal annual fee for interstate and intrastate carriers of hazardous materials is unconstitutional, according to a decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court. The court unanimously struck down the state's $212 hazardous materials...

Drivers fail to complete faster border-crossing program.(Ottawa, Canada)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Nearly 12,000 truck drivers have neglected to follow up on a program that would allow them to quickly cross the border between the United States and Canada. The Free and Secure Trade program requires drivers to submit an initial...

Flexible gas piping.(Products)
September 1, 2004... OmegaFlex introduces its CounterStrike gas piping, designed to significantly increase the survivability from lightinginduced damage to fuel gas piping systems, including propane. The product is lightweight and flexible and includes a...

Hydraulic power source.(Products)
September 1, 2004... American Eagle and with Dynamic Power Source have developed the American Eagle Genesis HPB-37, a new hydraulically driven power for use in service trucks. The Genesis has a 250-amp DC welder with 100 percent duty cycle, a 37 CFM at 100 PSI...

Reel.(Products)
September 1, 2004... Hannay Reels Inc.'s DPB series reel features variable speed control with quieter operation through the elimination of chain and sprockets. The DPB has a direct shaft rewind that is powered by a hydraulic motor. It operates at pressures up...

Valve software.(Products)
September 1, 2004... Flowserve Corp. announces the release of the Flowserve StarTalk XP for Windows, a software package that directs the Flowserve StarPac industrial valve. The StarTalk XP has a single screen to configure and operate the valve and is able to...

Direct vent room heaters.(Products)
September 1, 2004... Gas Applicance Supply Co. Inc. introduces two new direct vent room heaters in time for the 2004 heating season. The Orbis Calorama and Comfort View Series both offer high efficiency, European styling, built-in thermostat and fully...

Crane body.(Products)
September 1, 2004... The Fisk Tank Carrier Company is offering its Fisk crane body TX-1, featuring a 14-foot bed that can provide the transportation of two 1,000-gallon tanks. The crane body features all-aluminum construction, 100 percent powder-coated steel...

Stowaway liftgate.(Products)
September 1, 2004... Thieman Tailgates announces improvements to its M-series stowaway liftgate. The M-series is now includes the M-30, a 3,000-pound capacity version available with a platform size of 72"x36" + 6" ramp or 84"x36" + 6" ramp. Previous...

Wireless monitoring system.(Products)
September 1, 2004... TankLogic has released what it calls the first wireless 3rd Party Certified Automatic Tank Gauging and environmental monitoring systems for the refined fuels industry. The products consist of battery- and A/C-powered DataGates and...

Tubing web site.(Products)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Kamco Products announces that it has officially launched its redesigned corporate Web site. Along with comprehensive product and company information, the site allows visitors to browse Kamco's line of coated copper tubing and accessories....

Multi-gas detector.(Products)
September 1, 2004... MSA Instrument Division has released a new member of the Stellar Series Portable Instrument product line--the Solaris FX Multigas Detector. The detector is a four-gas instrument providing simultaneous detection of CO, 02, H2S and...

Lifting device.(Products)
September 1, 2004... Stellar Industries introduces the Xchange 3 to its X-Tra-Lift line of pick-up mounted hydraulic loading devices. The X-Tra-Lift Xchange 3 is a single-pivot hooklift capable of interchanging 9-foot-long bodies with a total weight of 3,000...

Energy Transfer Partners.(People)(Heritage Operating L.P.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Energy Transfer Partners announces five staffing changes within the limited partnership. William G. Powers Jr. joined the company's operating partner, Heritage Operating, as its vice president of northern operations. Prior to joining...

Peter Skop Industries.(People)(Appointments)(Peter Skop Industries Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Peter Skop Industries in Norcross, Ga., announces that Mark Ruhl has joined the company as an inside sales representative. Ruhl, who has more than 10 years of previous experience in sales and support in the propane industry, will be responsible...

Florida Propane Gas Association.(People)(Appointments)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The Florida Propane Gas Association has a new slate of executive officers. Tom Ross, of Suburban Propane in Sarasota, will serve as president, with J.D. Bain, of Ferrellgas in Ocala, as the president-elect. Morris O. Duncan, of Quality...

Carroll Independent Fuel Co.(People)(Awards)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... John Phelps, executive vice president of Carroll Independent Fuel Co. in Baltimore, Md., has been named the master entrepreneur for 2004 by Ernst & Young. Business leaders in more than 100 cities in 35 countries were included in the firm's...

Inergy.(People)(Appointments)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Inergy has added several new employees to its Kansas City headquarters staff. Jesse Daly has joined the business development department as a mergers and acquisitions analyst. Daly, who has seven years experience, worked at Ernst & Young...

PERC.(People)(Propane Education and Research Council)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The Propane Education & Research Council has a new slate of officers. David Lugar, of AmeriGas Propane, is the group's chairman. Glenn Saunders, of White Mountain Oil & Propane, is the vice chairman for marketers. And Mike Schwartje, of...

So, you want to make more money.(Let's Talk)
September 1, 2004... There's nothing un-American about wanting to make more money. How you do it could be an issue in these times of corrupt executives, but the desire is American. Why you want to do it is not an issue; maybe it's to get rich or support a favorite...

Propane industry website.(Mailbox)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... I would like to make all the people in the Propane Gas industry aware of a group of people on the web that are in the gas industry. It is a Yahoo group with over 80 members at the present time, and consists of folks from all phases of the...

Propane vehicles.(Mailbox)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... In reading your July 2004 issue of LP Gas I was shocked by a statement in the article, Fuel the Difference. In that article, Mr. Carraway of Heritage Gas states he has 42 propane-powered bobtails that he could never get to run properly. I...

Gas pains.(Let's Talk)
September 1, 2004... I'VE BEEN CHECKING INTO NEW EMPLOYEE SCREENING METHODS, POP... IF THAT IS YOUR REAL NAME NO MORE TOM RIDGE PRESS CONFERENCES FOR YOU, MOM [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]