Green Country Propane Users Proactive After Unique 2013

Since we're facing several days with cold temperatures, we're suddenly turning our attention to the cost of home heating.

Last year propane reached nearly $5 a gallon, leaving some families out in the cold, but this year, prices are down to $1.80 a gallon.

?2/3/2014 Related Story: Many Oklahomans Struggling To Stay Warm Due To High Propane Prices?

With the cold temperatures, business is certainly heating up for propane providers.

Many people learned from last year's high prices that it's important to prepare and stock up for the winter - which is what company owners and customers are doing.

"People in August and September really did top their tanks off and so people now are starting to use it, but they are also saying ‘let's keep our tanks topped off,'" said Stephen Southward with Cleveland Petroleum Products.

It's a bit easier to do, since the industry average is about $1.80 a gallon.

Southward said last years' prices made propane users proactive. Many people pre-ordered to avoid paying premium prices.

"It is something that helps the customers say, ‘you know what, this is exactly what I want to pay going into the winter time. I know I am not going to pay above that and not pay double rates that's for sure,'" he said.

Although it's hard to predict prices, Southward doesn't expect a repeat of the winter of 2013 when prices almost tripled.

A typical homeowner with a 250 gallon tank paid $1,000 to top it off.

“Last year was a unique cluster of things which happened some of that had to do with supply chains and where the actual propane was and where you could get it, but this year we don't anticipate another last year,” Southward said.

He does anticipate a busy season, however.

"We anticipate it. We make sure our fleet is ready and we are poised mentally and they are ready to go out and just take care of our customers," said Southward.

He suggests if you use propane and haven't topped off do so before we get any real winter weather because that may delay your delivery.