Editorial

Rollie Atkinson

EDITOR:Lastwinter,inspiteoftryingtokeepthethermostatlow,mypropanebillskeptgoingup.Well,theculpritturnedoutnottobemyusage.My(nowformer)propanesupplierhadbeenquietlyraisingthepricebymorethan$1pergallon. Isay"quietly"becausethestatementsIwaspayingdidnotshowthepricepergallon,onlythegallonsandtotalcharge,soittookmeawhiletorealizewhatwasgoingon.InMarch2005,thepricewasabout$2.65pergallon.ButbySeptember,itwentupto$2.98pergal.Then$3.34pergalinNovember.Andupto$3.66pergalinMarch2006‹morethat$1pergalhigherthanthepreviousyearandalmosta40percentincrease. Atfirst,Ithoughtthatthiswasageneraltrend‹liketheincreaseingasoline.WhenIcalledotherlocalpropanesuppliers,Iwassurprisedtolearnthattheywerestillquotingbetween$2.45and$2.75pergallon,nowhereclosetothe$3.66my(former)supplierhadbeencharging.Andtheirtankrentalswerelower,too.Iuseabout500gallonsperyear,whichistypical.Unlikeelectricity,somepropanesupplierschargemorepergallonthelessyouuse. WhenIcomplainedtomyformersupplieraboutthehighprice,theyimmediatelyrefiguredmylasttankfillatabout$2.50pergallon(a$100credit). Buttheywouldn'tgivemeanycreditforthefillssinceNovemberthatchargedwaymorethan$2.50pergallon.IfigureIwasstilloverchargedby$200. So,ifyouhavebeenpayingmorethanabout$2.75pergallon,checkwhatothersuppliersarecharging.Itwaseasytoswitch.Ittookaboutanhourformynewsuppliertoremovetheoldtank,transferthegas,andinstallthenewtank.Andaskyournewsupplieriftheycandeliveryouroldtanktoyouroldsupplieratnocharge.Thatmayalsosaveyouover$50thatsomecompanieschargetopickuptheiremptytanks. Apparently,thereislittleornoregulationofthepropaneindustry.So,shoparound. -DonKelsey,Guerneville

Editor: I am very much concerned about the number and type of

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