Propane Costs Skyrocketing

For many people, the phrase "filling up the tank," doesn't just mean gas for their cars.  It means the heat for their homes.  Propane costs have skyrocketed.  The News On 6's Steve Berg reports with winter winding down, people are totaling up some eye-popping propane bills.

Kiefer resident David Vogelpohl is feeling the pain from propane.

"It's too high.  It's just too high," said Vogelpohl.

Propane was setting records at the beginning of the winter when it was around $1.90.

"It's over $2.00.  I think the last stuff we got was $2.39," said Vogelpohl. "So it's gone up 40, 50 cents anyway."

The reason for the increase? 

A large share of propane comes from crude oil.

"Propane is a derivative of crude oil, anytime crude goes up like that, it's going to affect the price directly," said Fred Isaacs, Reliable Propane.

To heat his home and greenhouse, Vogelpohl has gone through nearly four, 500-gallon tanks of propane this winter.

He says electric heat would cost even more, and with no natural gas lines nearby, there are few alternatives.

"We just have to do with what we can do," said Vogelpohl.

For the house and greenhouse both, he says the final bill will be around $4,000.  It will probably cost him around $300 a month just to heat the home this winter.

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