Last night, at a time when temperatures are at dangerously cold levels, an elderly couple in the town of Duanesburg contacted Assemblyman Santabarbara with a message for help.

The message read as follows: “Dear Assemblyman Santabarbara,

SOMEONE NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION, We are ages 91 and 80. Our gas supply now is less than 10%! We ordered refill on 12/26 when we were about 30%. Delivery was assured by 1/2/18. NO DELIVERY. Spent two days trying to reach them. Finally success after holding on line long time. They said we would get gas but no commitment when. Still no gas and no communication from them whatsoever. ACTION NEEDED, NOW!”

Santabarbara’s office immediately contacted the gas supplier. During the conversation the company indicated that a delivery truck had been sent to the area, but with the increased number of deliveries required, some of the homes did not receive scheduled delivery. Federal law allows a maximum drive time of 11 hours following a 10 hour break for safety reasons. During the conversation, the supplier was unable to provide a new delivery date due to a continuing high demand setting all deliveries behind schedule.

As in most cases, the supplier owns all equipment, including the tanks and regulators, and simply leases to homeowners as a cost savings; however, they are the only supplier permitted to re-fill the tanks. Customers that own their tanks are able to choose from multiple suppliers and can change as frequently as for each delivery. This also allows them to also get better costs during times of high demand. Unfortunately, during storms or other catastrophic events, homeowners that lease are at the mercy of their propane providers’ schedule for delivery.

Santabarbara is now crafting new legislation in the State Assembly that will allow homeowners leasing tanks to also choose from multiple suppliers for emergency deliveries during times of urgent need and the periods of high demand we are currently experiencing.

The bill only requires the use of a licensed liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplier, and an LPG container that meets all safety requirements and has all required inspections and certifications complete and up to date. According to state law, an LPG tank must be inspected 12 years after it is manufactured and then every 5 years after that.

“With the extreme cold we are experiencing, when delivery of heating propane is delayed or missed it endangers the health and safety of our residents, especially in rural areas like ours where it can be the only source of heat,” said Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, who serves on the Assembly’s Energy Committee. “We must take quick action to give people more options during times of urgent need to make sure families have the fuel they need to keep the heat on.”