NIT – Rural Iowans who heat their homes with propane are feeling the sting of a propane shortage this winter, and prices for the commodity are rising.
According to several sources, the propane gas market is rising at an extreme rate. Total propane supplies have been running behind previous years, and continued extreme cold across the nation has produced huge propane demand. One local supplier said this week that demand is quickly depleting already low supply reserves. The same supplier said it is “adequately supplied” at this time but may need to seek new supplies if pipeline allocations are reduced. The company asked customers to “Turn down, or turn off any discretionary heating.”
In December, Governor Terry Branstad approved an emergency declaration suspending regulations pertaining to hours of service for drivers of commercial motor vehicles transporting propane, to allow for faster delivery.
