LP Gas, March 2010
W I N T E R R E P O R T Calm AMID THE storms Heating season marked by rare climatic conditions tests can do marketers BY JAMES E GUYETTE Contributing Editor 30 LPGas March 2010 www LPGasmagazine com PHOTO COURTESY OF THOMPSONGAS I n what weather experts have characterized as an upside down winter from the Plains to the Potomac and points south shivering temperatures and heavy snowfalls swept across areas unaccustomed to such extremes On Feb 12 every state in the union except Hawaii was draped in at least a dusting creating a climatic condition that forecasters cannot recall ever happening A can do spirit prevailed among most LPG marketers as they weathered the storms despite daunting logistical challenges in obtaining propane and getting it delivered to the consumers tank There were some strange things going on but folks were able to muddle through without the problems they had in the past according to Ron Gist managing consultant at Purvin Gertz I havent heard a lot of gnashing of teeth from propane retailers unable to get product to their customers that could still happen he says In fact at press time the Northeast was waking up to the wallop of an 800 mile wide winter hurricane complete with massive power outages and delivery pressures The season thus far has been marked by pipeline allocations assorted bottlenecks and transports traveling long distances for fi ll ups Hours of service exemptions were in play throughout the hardest hit areas Margins were holding however and an overall tight supply was enough to get the job done Its good for propane retailers because of the weather patterns says consultant Marty Lerum at Propane Resources Everything was a little above normal for a long period of time It was one of the biggest crop drying years ever he
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