How the council’s new research agenda aims to boost safety, profitability, and innovation across the industry Chris Hill, president and CEO of Meritum Energy, sits at the helm of the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) as its chairman. In a recent interview with LP Gas, Hill outlined the council’s strategic direction for the next… Continue reading Propane’s Future Blueprint: Insights from PERC Chairman Chris Hill
The Propane Education & Research Council brings low‑carbon autogas solutions to Las Vegas, aligning with 2027 emissions standards and offering fleet operators a greener alternative. The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) is turning heads at this year’s ACT Expo in Las Vegas, which is running from May 4-7 with an exhibit that highlights propane autogas as… Continue reading PERC Showcases Propane Autogas at ACT Expo, Paving Way for Clean Fleet Future
Key developments shaping the propane market this week Imperial Steel is spotlighting its ability to produce ASME‑certified stationary propane tanks, emphasizing rigorous quality control and long‑term service support. Distributors looking for dependable pressure vessels will find a supplier that aligns with safety standards and offers responsive field service. Reliable Energy Partners announced three new hires… Continue reading Today in Propane
Dealing with employee performance issues is one of the toughest tasks for any manager or business owner. Ignoring these problems can harm productivity, team morale, and customer satisfaction. However, addressing them effectively can turn things around and improve both your team and business outcomes. Here are some strategic ways to handle this tricky workplace dynamic.… Continue reading What’s the Best Way to Solve Employee Performance Issues?
Ensuring compliance with regulations during bulk propane plant inspections is essential for safety, efficiency, and avoiding costly penalties. With stricter oversight and the rising demand for propane services, it’s more important than ever for operators to address potential violations before they become problems. Here are some key areas where propane businesses can improve their practices… Continue reading Staying Ahead of the Curve and Avoiding Common Inspection Pitfalls
Emergencies in the propane industry don’t come with a warning. Whether it’s a gas leak, equipment failure, storm damage, or a traffic accident involving a delivery truck, you often have only minutes to act. These moments test not just your response time, but your preparation, training, and calm thinking under pressure. That’s why managing emergency… Continue reading Simple Steps to Handling Propane Emergencies
When you run a business, it can be tempting to keep your hands on every task. You may feel that no one else will care as much as you do, or that it’s simply easier to handle things yourself than to explain them to someone else. At first, this might even seem like the most… Continue reading The Real Cost of Doing Everything Yourself
Virtual reality arcades are quickly becoming a new kind of entertainment hub, drawing in players who want immersive experiences that go beyond what they can enjoy at home. These spaces require a steady, reliable energy source to keep equipment running, maintain comfortable environments, and support extra amenities like food service areas. While electricity is the… Continue reading Propane Creates Reliable Energy for VR Arcades
Every propane company faces an important question: should you focus more on tank refilling or swapping? Both methods serve the same purpose – keeping customers supplied with fuel – but they take different routes to get there. Choosing the right approach can impact your profits, customer loyalty, and daily operations. The answer often depends on… Continue reading Choosing Between Propane Tank Swapping and Refilling
Drivers are the boots-on-the-ground force that keeps a propane business moving. They brave early mornings, long routes, rough weather, and high-pressure situations so that homes stay warm and tanks stay full. Their work is demanding, often unnoticed, and absolutely essential. That’s why many companies choose to dedicate a full month each year to show appreciation… Continue reading Budget-Friendly Ways to Honor Your Drivers
Most propane operators track the obvious numbers – cost of product, labor, trucks, and insurance. Those are visible and easy to report. What often goes unmeasured are the smaller operational inefficiencies that accumulate daily and quietly erode margins. These expenses rarely appear as a single line item, but they show up in lower profitability, higher… Continue reading Hidden Costs Quietly Draining Your Business
The blast destroyed a farmhouse and killed the family inside it in an Amish community outside of Lock Haven, PA. Experts say the tragedy was preventable. A quiet Sunday morning in central Pennsylvania turned catastrophic when a home explosion killed a mother and her six young children, leaving a tight-knit rural community in shock and… Continue reading Seven Lives Lost in Clinton County, PA Propane Explosion
Roadside failures rarely announce themselves as sudden events. In propane fleets, they are usually the end result of predictable wear, deferred inspections, or inspections that focus on paperwork rather than failure patterns. Every breakdown carries a cost beyond the tow bill: missed deliveries, driver hours lost, customer dissatisfaction, and heightened liability exposure if safety systems… Continue reading Preventable Roadside Failures Start in the Shop, Not on the Road
Utah has passed groundbreaking legislation that could reshape how propane companies manage legal and environmental risks. Here’s what small business owners and managers need to understand – and the steps to take now. A New Legal Safety Net for Greenhouse Gas Emitters On April 2, 2026, Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed House Bill 222, establishing… Continue reading Utah’s New Climate Shield Law Gives Propane Industry a Legal Safe Harbor
National propane data provides useful context, but it rarely reflects the conditions that actually determine performance at the local level. Degree days, housing density, infrastructure access, and state-level regulations vary widely across different regions, and those differences directly affect margins, delivery efficiency, and risk exposure. Operators who rely too heavily on national averages often misjudge… Continue reading Local Markets Drive Propane Performance More Than National Trends
Staffing shortages in propane operations rarely show up as a single failure point. Deliveries still go out, phones still get answered, and compliance boxes may still be checked. But beneath that surface, service quality often begins to degrade in ways that are harder to detect and more expensive to correct. Overextended drivers, rushed technicians, and… Continue reading Staffing Gaps Are Eroding Propane Service Quality
Underground propane storage tanks protect inventory from the elements and vandalism, but they also hide a silent threat: external corrosion. As the nation’s fleet of buried tanks ages, the likelihood of metal degradation increases, creating pathways for leaks that can jeopardize public safety and erode the profit margins of their corporate owners. A proactive,… Continue reading Why a Structured Testing Program Is Essential for Safety and Asset Longevity
The propane business is more than just tanks and trucks. It runs on people – the staff who deliver fuel, provide customer service, and lead the teams. For propane retailers, that human element can make or break their success. That is why gatherings that focus on women working in propane matter so much. They bring… Continue reading Women in Propane Sessions Strengthen Retailers
Across the United States, rural communities are expanding faster than many people expected. New neighborhoods, mixed-use developments, and single-family homes are rising in areas where open fields once stood. Families are moving away from crowded cities and choosing quieter communities with more land, more privacy, and lower living costs. This shift has been building for… Continue reading Rural Growth Is Creating More Propane Customers Nationwide
Staying up-to-date with what is happening in your industry might seem like extra work, but it plays a major role in how well your business can compete and grow. Market conditions change, regulations shift, customers adjust their buying habits, and new ways of doing business often appear before you notice them, unless you pay attention.… Continue reading How Industry Awareness Strengthens Decisions and Protects Growth
Digital tools are transforming the way fuel companies attract and retain customers. In an era where convenience drives consumer choice, propane delivery companies are turning to mobile apps and integrated web portals to cut costs and strengthen customer loyalty. A recent industry study shows that retailers using these digital tools are reducing customer acquisition costs… Continue reading Propane Retailers Slash Customer Costs with Mobile Apps and Digital Portals
Operational discipline in a propane business is not a policy; it is a system. Many companies have procedures that look solid on paper, but execution breaks down in the field, in dispatch, or in the office. That gap carries real consequences. Missed safety checks, incomplete documentation, inefficient routing, and inconsistent customer handling all increase liability,… Continue reading Building Accountability Systems That Enforce Daily Discipline
Propane operations are built on planning, but performance is often dictated by variables no operator can control. Weather volatility, infrastructure constraints, regulatory shifts, and global energy flows continue to shape day-to-day execution in ways that are difficult to predict and even harder to manage in real time. For propane businesses, the risk is not simply… Continue reading Propane Operations Under Pressure From Uncontrollable Forces
Analysts project tighter inventories and modest price gains as weather patterns shift and demand increases. Butane-Propane News’ latest market forecast indicates that U.S. propane inventories will hover just above the five‑year average through the 2026‑27 winter season, leaving little cushion for unexpected spikes in demand. The report cites a combination of higher residential heating use,… Continue reading Propane Supply & Pricing Outlook for 2026‑27: What Distributors Need to Know
Most propane businesses can point to a handful of issues that never seem to go away. Runouts, routing inefficiencies, billing disputes, safety documentation gaps – these problems resurface year after year, even in well-managed operations. The issue is rarely a lack of awareness. It is the absence of true root-cause correction. Temporary fixes keep operations… Continue reading Why Recurring Problems Persist in Propane Operations
Expanding your propane business can be a rewarding and profitable move, but it requires careful planning. One essential part of this planning is conducting a detailed market analysis. This key step helps you understand where your business stands, what opportunities exist, and how to grow effectively. Here’s a breakdown of how you can conduct market… Continue reading How to Analyze the Market for Propane Growth
Labor shortages pose a significant challenge for many industries, including propane. Addressing this issue effectively is crucial for maintaining consistent, steady operations and supporting growth. Here’s a detailed exploration of proactive strategies that propane businesses can employ to manage labor shortages effectively. Enhancing Recruitment Efforts One of the first steps in combating labor shortages is… Continue reading Tackling Labor Shortages in Propane
The energy landscape is changing fast, and propane businesses must be ready to keep up with these shifts. Adapting to these changes is essential for staying competitive as a propane business owner. Let’s explore the best ways to adjust your operations to meet the evolving energy needs of various customers and industries. Recognizing Market Trends… Continue reading Adapting Your Propane Business to New Energy Demands
Propane has become a valuable energy source in the mining industry, presenting an opportunity for businesses looking to enter a niche market. Mining operations require reliable and efficient energy solutions, and propane offers several advantages, making it an intelligent choice. By understanding propane’s benefits to mining and how to approach this market, you can unlock… Continue reading Propane’s Role in Expanding the Mining Industry
When Logistics Problems Hit the Time Clock Infrastructure constraints in propane rarely announce themselves as supply failures. They show up in payroll as missed terminal slots, delayed transports, congested rail hubs, and weather-compounded bottlenecks turn into late trucks, weekend dispatch calls, and drivers running out of hours at exactly the wrong time. For managers, the… Continue reading Infrastructure Constraints and Why They Show Up as Overtime
