Heating Customers Speak Out

Propane Company strikes back-opens the curtain for consumers part 1

Propane company strikes back part 1 They wear black hats, pocket enormous amounts of money and squeeze every last penny from all of us. I don’t care if it’s at the gas pump when I fill up, at my home when they fill my heating oil tank or when their price increases skyrocket my food bill every Friday evening when I shop at stop and shop. They even reach into my pocket when I turn on my lights every mornin’… those bastards!

So who really are those “bastards”?

I use to think it was the people that delivered the fuel. (like propane dealers and heating oil distributors)That was before I read the Daniel J. Weiss article. Here’s a snippet :

To put these figures in perspective, Exxon’s $40.6 billion profit in 2007 is roughly equal to receiving “$30 for every person in China and $132 for every U.S. resident.” Another way of looking at it is that Exxon made $77,245 per minute in 2007—that’s more money generated per minute than 70 percent of Americans earned all year, according to the Census Bureau.

OK so much for this mornings rant… At 8:15 this morning over coffee Mike Taylor from CES dropped me a note. I just about popped a blood vessel.

Normally I get slammed from pin headed, small thinking heating executives that think more about keeping their jobs then doing the right thing.

Think the Independent Connecticut Petroleum Association.

Now there’s one guy in that org. that act’s like a rabid bull dog when he should be acting like a helpful concierge. I call him Mr.G (one explanation for the G is goof-ball, there are others)

Mr.G hurts the members more then he helps them and I am sure he does it on purpose. (for his own selfish goals) The sad thing is the membership doesn’t have a clue.

So I expected the worse when I saw today’s e-mail

Here’s the short version:

1. Tank process – a step by step on how get rid of your tank and change vendors… Even how to get money back.
2. Insurance – if it’s not done the right way and something goes wrong it can cost you big bucks.
3. Annual minimums – and how to keep your minimum low so you don’t get caught paying more.
4. Price increases – the real reason why your price continues to rise.

He ended it like this:

Thanks for asking objectively about how the propane business works. No propane dealer is trying to rip anyone off when it comes to tanks as a general rule. Just trying to utilize these expensive assets in the best possible way while making sure they are maintained & kept safe.

Damn! A man that really gets it.

Nice job Mike Taylor. BUT your comment about “AS A GENERAL RULE” still scares me.

I appreciate all the info and your professionalism… Sounds like your one of the good guys. Keep an eye out for the next few posts. I’m going to drill down into each of his comments and give you my take. 1 More thing In the next few days I’m going to be testing a forum on HomeHeatingoilPrices.com so you and everyone else can leave comments, ask questions and get the scoop on how to stay warm, save money and stay safe. More to come… I promise! John P.S. To all those pin head execs or administrators regardless of the industry you happen to be in Warren Buffet said it best:

It’s not doing it right… It’s doing the right thing!

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