Propane users hope for lower prices this winter

People who use propane to heat their homes hope to avoid the high prices they saw last winter.

According to Baron Glassgow, the executive director of the Colorado Propane Gas Association, heavy use of propane in the Midwest lowered the inventory before the heating season began last year. That, coupled with an extremely cold winter on the East Coast resulted in higher than normal prices. Barbara Bernard, who lives in Calhan saw prices around $5 last year.

“That was awful,” she said.

This year, Bernard stocked up early to avoid high prices. She said she is already set for the winter.

“I think it’s just prudent,” she said. “A month ago we paid $1.59 a gallon, and in a month it’s gone up 10 cents a gallon.”

About 98,000 homes in Colorado depend on propane for its primary heating source, according to Glassgow. He said after last winter, the industry encouraged propane marketers and customers to start stocking up on propane earlier. And propane inventories are 29 percent higher than they were last year.

“We’re in much, much better shape this year than we were last year,” he said.

Glassgow said he thinks marketers will be able to serve customers safely and economically this Winter. But other factors could also affect prices, like crop-growing in the Midwest and the weather. Bernard hopes that’s not an issue.

“It’d be nice if it warmed up,” she said. “Either that, or get a lot of snow and get it over with. I’m tired of cold already.”