Dear Friends,

Because of plummeting crude oil prices and historically high levels of fuel inventory, most people have been saving money on their propane (and heating oil) costs over the past two years.

As the inventory of propane has grown, the ability to transport, store and export the fuel has also expanded, lessening the risk of any bottlenecks in the supply chain.

Since supply and demand are such critical factors in pricing, this abundance of propane bodes well for residential propane prices in the years to come.

And don’t forget, you can always count on P. Gagnon & Son to help you get the most out of your fuel, so you can continue to feel comfortable, save money and be safe too.

Speaking of safety, did you know that all of our field employees complete the propane industry’s Certified Employee Training Program (CETP)? Safety is always our number one priority, and that extends into the community. We donate our time to help train firefighters, and we also donate thousands of gallons of propane so firefighters can be trained in battling Class B (combustible liquid) fires.

All of us appreciate the opportunity you have given us to take care of you and your home. Thank you!

Warmly,
Mark Gagnon, President

When you have a great experience at a restaurant or see a movie you loved, you tell a friend. So if you love the service and value you get from us, why not tell a friend (or a neighbor or a relative) about us (and then tell them we’ll be calling them)?

For every friend who becomes a P. Gagnon & Son automatic delivery customer, we’ll give you a $100 account credit after we complete their second delivery.* We’ll even give the person you referred a $50 account credit too!

Call or email us today with your referral!

* Referral rewards valid only for customers who use oil or propane for central heat. Other conditions may apply. Contact us for more details.

Thanks to all of you who responded to our customer satisfaction survey. You told us a lot of great things, and we also appreciate the suggestions on how we can improve.

One comment from the surveys that really stood out for us was this:

“It’s always pleasurable, comfortable and productive working with you. The customer service and excellent work we have received from the service department will continue to make us long-term customers.”

This is exactly how we want each of our customers to feel. So if you ever think we are not meeting our own high standards of service, we want you to let us know about it.

Warm up to the Great Outdoors

No other fuel can do as much as propane can to make spending time in your backyard a pleasant experience. And thanks to modern advances in flexible piping, you can now extend your use of propane to a wide range of outdoor products, even refrigerators and fireplaces!

Among the most popular trends today are “outdoor rooms,” particularly kitchens that feature everything from high-end grills to cooktops, ovens and rotisseries.

Also hot in 2016 are propane-fueled fire bowls, which allow you to enjoy a cozy fire year-round. A large one can be used as a centerpiece for your yard, or you can set up a series of small ones around the pool or at the entry of your home to wow your party guests. Many models have ignition systems that can be turned on and off with a smartphone or tablet.

Summer Safety Tips

Summertime means backyard barbecues, lounging in your pool and hanging out with friends on your patio or deck. That’s the fun part. Summer also means being prepared for violent storms that could knock out your power and damage your property. Here are a few tips to help you cope with extreme weather this summer.

• Discuss an emergency plan with your family—including instructions on how to turn off propane systems during a power outage.
• Once the storm passes, check your appliances for water or other damage. Never turn on a light switch, use a power source or inspect your appliances while you are standing in water. You run the risk of electrocution.
• Ask us to inspect your appliances if you believe they have been damaged.
• If you have a separate tank for your propane generator, check it today and call us for a fill-up if necessary. You never want a power outage to occur and discover that you don’t have enough fuel to run your generator.
• Don’t operate your outdoor appliances and generators in enclosed spaces — you run the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• If you smell propane in your home, leave your house immediately and call for help.

7 Reasons Why You’re Smart to Heat with Oil

Heating oil remains one of the cleanest, safest and most reliable fuels your money can buy. The plunge in prices over the last two years means it’s an even better value, proving once again that heating your home with oil remains one of the wisest things you can do.

1. Greener fuel.

   There is continued movement toward using ultra-low- sulfur heating oil. This is a clean-burning fuel that produces fewer carbon emissions than natural gas, which has become more of a carbon producer due to the growing use of liquefied natural gas. Meanwhile, methane leaks from natural gas have become a big environmental concern.

2. Clean-burning technologies.

   Modern oil burners emit near-zero levels of pollution; heating with oil today means no odors, soot or other residue in your home. (See the chart at right.) Widespread use of ultra-low-sulfur fuel oil, combined with cutting-edge emissions-control technologies, can reduce already low emissions even further.

3. Fuel conservation advances.

   Oil heat systems are cleaner, greener and more economical than ever. The latest heating systems are small, smart and super-efficient and can save you as much as 30% on your annual heating costs.

4. High-tech hybrids.

   Solar and geothermal energies are being integrated with oil heat in hybrid systems for water heating. That means a household’s water can be heated with little or no fuel required. A solar water heater can reduce water heating bills by as much as 80% and reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by 6,000 pounds.*
   * U.S. Department of Energy.

5. Abundant supply.

   The new American oil revolution is now a reality. Domestic oil production has reached its highest point since the 1970s. As a result, most experts expect oil prices to stay lower for the foreseeable future.

6. Great value.

   Crude oil prices recently plunged to their lowest level since December 2003! The price drop has been so significant that heating oil is once again less expensive than natural gas when you apply an apples-to-apples comparison — a gallon of heating oil generates 40% more Btu’s of heat than an equivalent amount of natural gas. What’s more, gas utilities impose a surcharge on their customers that adds to the cost of heating a home with gas. They also charge customers for lost gas!

7. Guaranteed service response.

   You can always expect a fast and courteous response from us whenever you need our help — a guarantee that you simply cannot put a price on.

Q: I’m worried that fuel prices may go up again. What are my options?

A: Many of our customers choose to enroll in our SimplePay/Price Cap Plan. If you’re already on our payment plan, you can apply your fuel credit from last winter to this year’s plan. We’ll estimate next season’s fuel costs and divide the total into as many as 14 level monthly payments. That means no more big winter fuel bills and no surprises.

Plus, with a price cap, your price can’t rise above a set number no matter what happens in the fuel markets. And if fuel prices drop, your price will drop as well.

We have other options available to help eliminate price uncertainty — and ideas to make your fuel bills easier to manage. To learn more, please call us today or visit our Price Protection page.

Ah, spring — a time to play baseball again. For P. Gagnon & Son, this means once again sponsoring a local Little League team, something we have done for many years. (Our company president, Mark Gagnon, has fond memories of being on the P. Gagnon & Son team himself when his father was the coach!)

An important part of our philosophy involves supporting local organizations that enhance the lives of our neighbors. Our Little League sponsorship is just one example.

Learn more about our community involvement.

Customers who have asked us to install a Mitsubishi ductless mini-split air conditioning/heat-pump system in their home are feeling a lot more comfortable these days.

They love the way all their rooms stay cool in the summer. But as temperatures drop, they find their ductless system efficiently warms rooms up too.

Because they require no ductwork, these compact systems are ideal for any space that isn’t connected to your central heating or cooling system, such as an addition or a converted space. They are also a perfect, affordable solution for rooms that are hard to heat or cool, like a corner bedroom or a sunroom.

Super-efficient at both heating and cooling, ductless systems eliminate the need for dangerous space heaters and ugly window units.

We can evaluate your home and determine the best type of unit for your needs, then install your system in just a day or two. Contact us to set up a no-obligation appointment and consultation.