FAQ
Commonly Asked Questions
Are propane prices regulated?
No. Propane, like heating oil, is what the industry calls a ‘delivered fuel’ (in contrast to electricity and natural gas, which are delivered via wires, poles, and pipelines owned by the company transporting the energy). Electricity and natural gas service territories are, generally speaking, exclusive, so their prices are regulated by the Public Utilities Commission. There prices of delivered fuels in Maine, as in all other states, are not regulated. Many companies can deliver to the same household, creating competition, so market forces (e.g., propane supply, demand, existence of other suppliers, volume used, and location) determine the price.
Isn’t propane priced the same as heating oil?
No, it isn’t. There are a few circumstances with propane that don’t exist with heating oil, circumstances that affect the price one pays. These are listed below, in no particular order.
1. Propane is a gas under pressure. Periodic inspections of tanks, piping, and connections are therefore necessary, adding to the cost of using this fuel. Propane also must be stored in pressurized tanks, which is an additional expense. Heating oil, in contrast, does not have to be stored in pressurized tanks.
2. Most consumers do not own their own propane tank. Pressurized propane tanks are expensive to purchase. So, most consumers choose to have the propane retailer own the tank(s). The retailer must recoup the cost of the tank somehow, so it is factored into the price of the fuel.
3. Propane pricing is based on volume. Think of propane prices as you would think of any good that you purchase – it is generally more expensive to buy anything in a small volume. For example, the single service size of milk in a convenience store is a much more expensive way to purchase milk, per ounce, than if you bought a gall container at Sam’s Club. The same goes for propane customers. If you only purchase 50 gallons a year, it costs much more for the dealer to provide you with fuel.
Is it legal for a propane company to charge an annual fee in addition to charging me for the propane I use?
Yes, it is. Propane retailers are free to charge extra fees as dealers often cannot recoup the price of the tank and delivery to your home if you use propane for cooking only.
How do I know how much propane is in my tank?
Most propane tanks have a percentage gauge under the dome of the tank. A propane is full when it reads 80 % as you must leave room for expansion of the propane. The gauge reading, multiplied by the water capacity of the tank, will give you the number of gallons in the tank. For example, on a 100-gallon tank, if the gauge reads 40%, multiple 40% by the water capacity of the tank (120 gallons), and that will give you 48 gallons in your tank.
Does propane go bad?
Unlike many types of fuels that go bad, or need stabilizers to last periods of time, propane is good until you use it. Due to the nature of the storage and makeup of propane, there is no shelf life.
Can propane freeze in Cold Weather?
Yes, but its not likely in Maine. Propane will freeze at -306 degrees Fahrenheit. Propane is a liquid at -44 degrees Fahrenheit and below. When propane is above -44 degrees Fahrenheit, it will vaporize into a gas form which is what is runs your propane appliances.
What is a BTU?
The British Thermal Unit (BTU) is a unit of energy used in power, heating, and air conditioning industries. For propane use, one gallon of propane will provide 91,960 BTUs. An example is a 30,000 BTU fireplace will burn for approximately 3 hours on one gallon of propane, though the pilot light must also be considered.
Propane Facts
Propane is one of the most versatile, cost-effective and environmentally friendly fuel sources in the world with an abundant supply right here in the USA.
Propane is an interesting fuel that emerged early in the 20th Century as an alternative fuel source that could be easily stored. In 1911, Dr. Snelling discovered a way to bottle evaporated gases and by the following year, propane was used for heating homes, cooling, providing light and cutting metal. Today, propane is used in more than 48 million households for water and space heating, indoor and outdoor cooking, clothes drying and backup power!
Check out these interesting facts about propane:
- Propane is one of the lightest hydrocarbons in existence, which makes it one of the cleanest burning of all fossil fuels. Its molecular formula is C3H8.
- Propane is nontoxic, colorless, and has no smell; an odorant (which smells like rotten eggs) is added to make leaks easy to detect.
- Liquid propane boils (from liquid to vapors) at -44F (-42.2C).
- At one and a half times the weight of air, propane will settle in low areas.
- In a liquid form, propane is half the weight of water.
- About 23.5 cubic feet of air is required to burn one cubic foot of propane.
- Complete combustion of propane produces clean water vapor and carbon dioxide.
- Propane is one of the lightest, simplest hydrocarbons in existence, and, as a result, is one of the cleanest burning of all fossil fuels.
- Propane is not considered a greenhouse gas.
- Propane is 270 times more compact as a liquid than as a gas – which is why it is stored and transported as a liquid.
- Most domestic propane is a byproduct of natural gas processing – specifically, propane is extracted as part of a process that removes condensation from natural gas pipelines. Current U.S. propane supplies are abundant due in large part to an overall increase in natural gas production.
- Some propane is also produced from the crude oil refinement process. During the stabilization stage of crude oil refining, heavier hydrocarbons sink, while lighter hydrocarbons (such as propane) rise, making them easy to separate. In combination with butane, propane accounts for between one and four percent of processed crude oil.
- Nearly 90 percent of the U.S. propane supply is produced right here at home, so choosing propane supports domestic fuel independence. About three-quarters of the remaining domestic propane supply comes from Canada or Mexico.
- Propane is the only alternative fuel listed in the 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act and the National Energy Policy Act of 1992; neither the process by which propane is produced nor the combustion of propane gas produces significant acid rain contaminants.
- Propane gas does not spill, pool, or leave a residue; this makes it harmless to soil or groundwater in the event of a leak.
- Propane furnaces can be up to 95 percent efficient; propane tankless water heaters can achieve even greater efficiency – up to 98 percent.
- Propane clothes dryers dry more quickly while creating less static than electric units, saving you time and money and reducing wear and tear on your wardrobe.
- Propane cooking ranges offer precision temperature control – a key reason why nearly 95 percent of professional chefs choose to cook with gas. Propane stoves also cost less to operate than their electric counterparts.