It's never too early to prepare for winter. Like the squirrels we're gathering and saving our acorns. Remember last winter? I know, how terrible of me to bring up the word winter in the summer. But there are certain signs telling me it could be an early and cold winter.
We decided to get our propane tank set and lock in the price of propane for the winter. Propane companies here have a promotion which allows customers to lock in the price of propane for the whole winter. So that's what we've done this month. Having lived in the mountains in several locations in California we learned from experience the first day of a cold snap, usually in September, the price of propane jumps significantly.
Last winter propane costs went from under $2 a gallon to $5 a gallon if you could even get propane in this area. Earlier a pipeline from Eastern Canada was converted and then diverted to Western Canada. The Northeast had a large and late harvest with propane being used to dry crops. The East and Southeast had an unusually cold winter and then a shortage of propane. Southern propane companies had to scramble looking for propane supplies. Rail and pipeline deliveries of propane couldn't keep up with the demand. Next we'll stock up on food supplies. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.
Good thinking...I'm reminded of grasshopper and ant fable. Unfortunately the ants think my kitchen is where to get their winter stores!
ReplyDeleteJust back from visiting in WI, and propane is an issue there, too. Last winter their propane costs were $3,000 above the previous year. You can't even budget for that.
ReplyDeleteHi Barb, thanks, I love fables you are so right about them, we had ants too but got some of those plastic ant traps and they did the trick.
ReplyDeleteHi Joanne, thanks, it seems sad when it's an overly cold winter folks already are paying more because they need more then there is price gauging due to the demand and the companies make even larger profits. We are lucky we can prepay for ours and keep a stable price, I like that.
Love the squirrel. And loathe the way heating costs go up dramatically each year.
ReplyDeleteWe had propane delivered last week when we were away... $1.89 gal. We paid over $3 last winter. I hope that doesn't happen again. My sister paid around $5/gal in NH last winter.
ReplyDeleteFunny, I did the exact same thing this week and locked in too. Last year I was getting cheap propane and the price sky rocketed so I was so happy to be locked in! Let`s hope for a not-hot winter!!
ReplyDeleteI mean...not too COLD winter. Duh...
ReplyDeleteHi Elephant's Child, thanks, it is a crime how high everything goes up, food fuel heating insurance, etc. but wages don't go up, don't get me started.
ReplyDeleteHi Michele, thanks, Gary and I couldn't get propane in our motorhome. wanted us to move it to get it but it was too icy to do it, we used electric heat and electric blankets. WE didnt get propane when we moved in because it was too expensive so we waited till now.
Hi Ronna, thanks, I wanted to post about it so other folks who might not know about locking it in or getting it early would re reminded, hope it isn't too cold for sure, many plants here are just now recovering from the freeze.
I have noticed that the squirrels who use our little patch of woodland have already staked their claim to some of the early nuts. I don't begrudge them, we all need to squirrel-away our stores. Last winter was mild here, they say this one will be very different.
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