Propane Discount extended to La Honda
I've recently talked with Ruth Waldhauer,a Director of the South Skyline Association, who invited folks in La Honda to join Skyline Propane Users Group (SPUG) and get propane at a group discount. Membership in the South Skyline Association(SSA) at $15/year is required, but this also provides you their quarterly newsletter and invitation to lectures (like the one on "Oil Bearing Rocks in the Santa Cruz Mountains" listed in last weeks Voice). See more about SSA at http://www.southskyline.org/index.html
Info on the Skyline Propane User's Group (SPUG): "The Skyline Propane User's Group (SPUG) was set up for the benefit of members of the South Skyline Association. SSA covers the area of Skyline Boulevard and feeder roads from Skylonda to the southern terminus of Skyline Boulevard at Bear Creek.
In 1993 SSA began investigating a way to reduce propane costs by conducting a survey of our members. We asked who the propane companies were that served our area, and what their propane rates were. This formed the basis of our effort. We contacted all the propane companies serving the SSA area: Amerigas, Proflame, Northern Energy, Suburban Propane, Dassel's, and American. Amerigas offered the best combination of a low group rate and low tank purchase price for those wishing to purchase a tank. Because our survey revealed that there were complaints about service with all of the propane companies, the decision to choose Amerigas was based on price alone. The agreement was finalized late in February 1994. The contract with Amerigas was renewed in April 1999 and in 2004 for another five years.
Propane companies buy gas at wholesale from the big suppliers at the market rate which fluctuates with supply and demand (up in winter, lower in summer). Our group rate is based on the wholesale cost to Amerigas plus a markup of $0.60/gallon, for regular route deliveries on a keep-full basis. There is no sales tax on propane for qualified users (residential use) who file a Certificate of Exemption. Phone Amerigas at 1-800-660-1252 for the form. Amerigas willgive seniors(55 and older) an additional discount of $0.05/gallon. Please notify them if you qualify.
With this agreement, Amerigas offers the first year's tank rental free. They will change your service from the tank rented from your former supplier to an Amerigas tank. After one year, the rental rate will be (cost of regulator and pigtail additional):
SPUG Tank Rental Prices Tank Size Annual Rental 150 gallons $45 250 gallons $65 500 gallons $85
For those wishing to purchase a tank, the group prices offered through Amerigas are(cost of regulator and pigtail additional):
SPUG Tank Purchase Prices Tank Size Installed Price 250 gallons $699 500 gallons $999 1000 gallons $1599
Amerigas no longer requires that SPUG place a group order of four for tank purchases in order to avoid a $325/tank delivery charge. Now members may individually order a tank at the group price."
Here are the steps to take to become a member of SSA:
Fill out the membership application at (http://www.southskyline.org/SSA_membership_2004.html) and sending the completed form and annual dues of $15.00 to the SSA Membership Chairperson.
SSA Membership Chairperson
22400 Skyline Boulevard
Box 35 La Honda, CA 94020