It’s a Short-Term Weather-Related Phenomenon, Say Proponents, More Autogas Would Boost Infrastructure, Reduce Seasonal Spikes

Abnormally high propane prices are the result of serious, but short-term influences and are likely to abate soon, say proponents of the vehicle fuel they market as autogas. And, they say, more use of propane autogas would improve the situation: vehicles run year-round, and would spur investment in the infrastructure that would help prevent winter price spikes like this one.

Propane spot prices have topped $5 per gallon in some areas, with the frigid Midwest getting the worst. The Indiana Department of Transportation, which has some 1,200 propane-gasoline bi-fuel vehicles, is running them on gasoline only. Fleets are concerned, even in Oregon.
Sources agree that increased demand during a cold wet harvest season hit export-deleted inventories hard, making for supply shortfalls and, inevitably, higher prices as winter kicked in, replete with a record-setting “arctic blast.” The diversion of pipeline and railcar capacity to shale-related products has aggravated the propane situation too, says one expert.

Consumers and Farmers Bearing the Brunt
“All these things have just combined,” says Tucker Perkins of the Propane Education & Research Council. The result is higher prices and a scarcity of fuel hitting consumers and pig and poultry farmers in cold-weather areas.

“There is a legitimate concern regarding the availability of propane right now but the primary focus of our industry is to make sure that customers who rely on propane have the fuel they need,” says Stuart Weidie, president of both Blossman Gas and the Alliance AutoGas network of propane vehicle upfitter and fuel suppliers.
“Companies like Blossman Gas and our Alliance member network have had strong plans in place to deal with potential supply disruptions,” Weidie says. “The issue is not one of abundance but rather logistics of getting supply where it is needed.” Read more here.