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Propane companies encourage customers to monitor gas levels, schedule deliveries in advance

Owner Clay Schrader said phones at his family-owned propane gas company, Schrader Propane, have been ringing off the hook recently as customers feel the impact of last month’s frigid winter temperatures.

“We haven’t had a stretch of cold weather like that in quite a few years,” Schrader said Monday.  

But Schrader Propane is not alone. All three propane suppliers in Steamboat Springs, including AmeriGas and Ferrellgas, have seen an increase in demand following a January filled with low temperatures well below zero.



“It has been cold across the entire country the last two to three weeks, so we’ve seen an uptick in volume as a whole across the entire country,” said Brilynn Johnson, the group director of customer service for AmeriGas.

For companies like AmeriGas, Ferrellgas and Schrader Propane, that elevated customer demand for propane often results in a higher demand for their services in the Yampa Valley.



“I can speak for the other companies as well, we are strapped, the drivers are working around the clock and on most weekends. I have never seen this many ‘out of gas’ calls in such a short period of time during the 14 years I have been in business in Steamboat Springs,” Schrader said.

He said the temperatures have warmed up a bit over the past few days, but that doesn’t immediately slow the number of people calling to refill their propane gas tanks, which has been steady since last month’s run of sub-zero temperatures.

“We had 38 below zero in a couple of places in the county, so it was really cold,” Schrader said. “I mean it always happens. There are always people running out of gas because people aren’t paying attention — but we had probably 15 calls in one week.”

Schrader said most of his customers are on a route, meaning his drivers monitor the propane gas level at those homes and fill it when needed. However, other customers choose to monitor it on their own and make a call when the gas level starts to get low. He said that is critical and allows the company time to schedule deliveries, and for customers to avoid the delivery fees for an unscheduled visit.

“We ask that people call at somewhere between 25-30 percent,” Schrader said. “We want about two weeks’ heads up, so that way we can schedule it. When people call at zero or less than 5%, it’s an emergency and puts us in a heck of a tough place.”

The propane companies want to encourage homeowners to monitor their propane gas tanks at least once a week, and maybe more during periods of cold temperatures when use increases. They should also be aware of new appliances that may require more propane.

“Clearly, it’s winter, people are turning on the heat and demand is going to increase no matter what part of the country you live in if your home is heated with propane,” said Erin Shea, a communications analyst with Ferrellgas. “Ferrelgas has a nationwide supply network, so the good news is that when there’s a cold snap in any region and there’s a spike in demand, we can move assets around, be it drivers, propane trucks or whatever it may be to meet the needs of those customers.”

Ferrellgas asks customers to contact the company when tanks reach 30% because that gives the company at least seven business days to make a delivery. Shea said that timeline could change in the event of adverse road conditions that might impact delivery.

She said customers can check their tank usage through the MyFerrelgas program that allows customers to set up automatic deliveries, order propane, track delivery and pay bills.

The companies said homeowners should be diligent about removing snow around their tanks, gauges and fill tubes — along with keeping their driveway clear as needed for access.

“Just clearing a path, is big,” Johnson said. “There always needs to be a clear path to the tank.”

Shea also encouraged homeowners to unlock gates and mark tanks, valves and gauges with flags and have livestock penned up and pets secured safely to help facilitate easy delivery.

Schrader said keeping snow off the tank also gives the customer the opportunity to monitor propane levels — and if the customer smells gas inside the home, or in case of a fire, the gas can more easily be shut off.


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