propane this winter

[rundrave]

check your tanks at home guys

with all the talk in the media about propane prices etc, I was just curious as to how full mine was since I usually get a receipt when they fill up my tank to heat my home. Hadn't got one recently and I checked it last night and got a shock. It was reading empty on the gauge.

Called my co-op first thing this morning and they sent a truck out, sure enough I was down to less than 10 gallons. I think they use some sort of formula based off the temps outside in a the computer to estimate when they need to fill up customers. Well since I also heat my home with a heat pump it skews the numbers and they thought I had more in the tank yet. its been so cold my heat pump has been running less so I have been burning more propane.

Just got 395 gallons so I feel much better whew. They say they have no problem with supply right now and price was at $2.99 but I was on the plan and locked in at my summer rate.

[jentz]

I dont think its your heat pump thats causing the difference.Its the cold.I keep a eye on my tank,On average usage today I should have a 50% reading since my last fill.Yesterday it showed 35%.I checked cause I want a fill before price hikes.I called and ordered a fill at 3 bucks a gal.

I even have propane usage records from past years.I write the fill dates on a calender,Then whenever I am outside near the tank I write the % left.

[Musky hunter 82]

I called to have mine filled yesterday and am on a waiting list, because my tank is "only" at 35%. Crazy it's at $4.09 per gallon right now in Kandiyohi county.

[311Hemi]

My next door neighbor was the guy on the NBC nightly news story on propane last week, he was also on a Kare11 story last week.

I just heard from a different neighbor in our neighborhood and they were just quoted $4.79/gallon from Lakes gas company and $6.29/gallon from Ferrell. CRAZY. I am glad I signed up to get locked in to a price when we first moved into the house back in May.....currently locked in a $1.49/gallon.

I have been monitoring mine almost daily for the past 1.5 months...and on average I use about 1%/day....and that is with the house at 67-68. Since we just built the house and moved in in May I was curious how much we would use. I know some of our neighbors keep it 71-74*....and they have been using a lot of propane.

I sure hope the price drops back down in spring and they continue the lock in price deals....although not sure how that will be affected after this winter.

[jentz]

Muskyhunter 82 you have a PM concerning propane, if you own your tank the lowest price is 3 bucks

[brian6715]

Sounds like people need to stop using Ferrel

[311Hemi]

I use Ferrell, but am locked in at our current price until may. The other neighbors did not lock in prices and are just paying per fill. We will see what they end up doing at current pricing.

I am wondering if the higher pricing helps cover the difference on the contracts that are locked in at lower prices?

[minky]

Wow prices are really high!

[FishLocker]

Yikes, and I was just talking to a guy about buying a propane only powered truck. 2 months ago it was 2.49/gallon with DOT tax, I hate to even call now!!!

[harvey lee]

Rundave

You are correct in that they use a formula to figure when to fill your tank.

It's called Heating Degree Days and in the paper, you can see the average and daily use for heating degree days.

We used this to keep hundreds of homes full on heating oil in the 70's. System work's great.

There are like 7,800 degree days in a heating season and on average that is very close year after year except for a season this this where it could go to 8,000. THis is if I remembered my numer totals correctly, been years since we did this.

[nobody05]

local coop is at $5.10. I have enough for winter but im sure lots dont. its more economical to use electric milkhouse heaters at 5 a gallon. Feel sorry for the hog/turkey farmers heating those big barns

[Down Deep]

I feel for you guys using propane. I heard on the news that some dealers have an out with lock-in price contracts. Many contracts have a stipulated price increase that allows the price to increase after that amount is exceeded. Anyone run into that yet?