The U.S. Energy Information Administration released its latest Heating Oil and Propane Update on February 25, 2026, and the headline is clear: residential propane prices are climbing across most regions. The Midwest experienced the steepest jump, with average retail rates climbing to $3.12 per gallon – a 7 % increase from the previous month. The Southeast… Continue reading Staying Strong and Steady as Propane Prices Climb
Why This Decision Still Drives Risk and Margin Every propane operation eventually faces the same question, usually under pressure. Do you lock in gallons through contracts, or do you ride the spot market and stay flexible? The answer is never hypothetical. It shows up in winter delivery reliability, cash flow stress, driver utilization, and uncomfortable… Continue reading Contracting vs. Spot Purchases: An Analysis
As 2026 progresses, most propane companies will not be squeezed by a single headline issue. Pressure is coming from the quieter intersections: labor availability colliding with tighter delivery windows, insurance expectations hardening just as fleets age, and margin volatility forcing tougher route decisions. Strategy talk is plentiful, but execution is where operators feel risk first… Continue reading The 2026 State of the Propane Industry: What Operators Should Do Now
Every propane operation eventually faces a moment when supply, drivers, or rack access cannot meet full demand. When that happens, customer priority decisions move from theory to exposure. A weak or informal policy creates operational chaos, strains customer relationships, and can invite regulatory or legal scrutiny if service appears arbitrary. A defensible customer priority policy… Continue reading A Customer Priority Policy That Holds Up Under Stress
Allocation weeks compress margin, raise liability, and expose weak operating discipline faster than almost any other event. When supply tightens, the question isn’t whether customers will be unhappy; it’s which failures become legally, financially, or reputationally expensive. Missed fills at critical-use accounts invite claims; broken contracts trigger penalties; rushed dispatch increases safety risk and workers’… Continue reading Allocation Weeks: A Practical Model for Delivery Triage
Every propane business has lived through it – a pipeline constraint, terminal outage, rail delay, or sudden cold snap turns an otherwise manageable season into a daily triage exercise. When supply tightens, the difference between companies that scramble and those that stay operational usually comes down to what was done weeks or months earlier. Early… Continue reading Why Early Movers Win When Propane Supply Tightens
When propane prices fall well below crude oil benchmarks like West Texas Intermediate (WTI), it tends to grab attention fast. On the surface, cheap propane looks like a win for domestic retailers and end users alike. Margins can improve, customer resistance eases, and storage economics feel more forgiving. But for operators who manage supply risk,… Continue reading Propane Priced Low vs. WTI: Opportunity or Warning?
Propane inventories are no longer moving in slow, predictable patterns. In recent seasons, stock levels have shifted rapidly due to weather volatility, export pull, and transportation bottlenecks that surface with little warning. For propane operators, these swings directly affect margins, purchase timing, and working capital. A sudden inventory draw can raise replacement costs within days,… Continue reading When Propane Inventories Move Quickly, Margins Are Made or Lost
Volatility is part of doing business in the propane industry. Prices can shift quickly due to weather, infrastructure issues, or global market changes. When things are stable, your supply contracts may seem like a solid safety net. But when the market starts moving fast, those same contracts can feel like a trap – or a… Continue reading Avoid Getting Burned by Rigid Propane Contracts
In propane, as with every industry, every cent matters – especially when margins are tight. Yet many companies quietly lose thousands of dollars each year without even realizing it. How is this possible? Financial losses are not always due to big mistakes or fraud. Often, they stem from your team doing favors for long-time customers,… Continue reading Your Best Intentions Could Be Costing You
