Some of our fellow Minnesotans are now facing grave emergencies. If you become aware of anyone in dire need, please contact your County Sheriff immediately. Dayton takes emergency steps to address propane shortage Pioneer Press 1-27-14 Arctic air blasted into Minnesota and Wisconsin on Monday, bringing life-threatening wind chills, forcing schools to close and prompting the governors of both states to take emergency steps to counter a deepening propane shortage. A wind-chill warning remained in effect for central and southern Minnesota into west-central Wisconsin through noon Tuesday. Temperatures were to remain below zero until at least midday Tuesday, and wind-chill temperatures were to range from 35 to 50 degrees below zero. The cold snap comes as much of the Midwest grapples with a shortage of propane, a gas rural residents typically burn for heat. The shortage has created steep hikes in wholesale and retail propane prices. In response, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton declared a peacetime state of emergency on Monday. The executive order mobilizes state agency resources and the National Guard to respond to the situation. Dayton said he intends to meet with industry representatives Tuesday to discuss how to improve the supply of propane to Minnesota customers. Dayton also instructed his commerce commissioner to help protect consumers from any price-gouging. Consumers who believe they may have been the victim of price gouging can contact the state Department of Commerce at 651-539-1500 or toll-free at 800-657-3602. Last week, the Commerce Department took steps to increase payments via Minnesotas Energy Assistance Program from $500 to $1,000 for low-income applicants currently heating their homes with propane and heating oil. In another action related to the extreme cold, Dayton issued an emergency executive order providing assistance for search-and-rescue and for sheltering stranded motorists. He said several sheriffs asked for help from the National Guard to recover and shelter stranded motorists. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker on Monday announced his administration planned to set aside $8 million to guarantee propane dealers loans for gas purchases to help ensure enough gas reaches customers. His administration plans to release another $8.5 million in heating assistance for low-income peoples propane bills. Walker officials already have set up a hotline -- 1-866-HEATWIS -- for applications. However, some relief might be in sight. Propane prices in the Midwest fell for a second day as record-high prices last week spurred suppliers to move more fuel into the area and the government eased restrictions on truck drivers working hours. Barrels are starting to reach up there from the Gulf Coast, said Peter Fasullo, a principal at EnVantage Inc., an energy consulting firm in Houston. It takes a while to respond to a distressed market like this, but eventually people catch up and they respond. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the arm of the Transportation Department responsible for commercial-vehicle safety, has allowed truck drivers moving propane and other heating fuel in 34 states to work longer hours. The propane market isnt regulated to the level of more common energy utilities. Iowa U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley last week asked the Federal Trade Commission for oversight of the propane market, noting wide differences in the price of propane at the two primary storage sites in the U.S. -- one in Kansas, the other in Texas. Dayton and U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken have asked the Obama administration to halt exports of propane as an option to alleviate the supply problem. Meanwhile, Xcel Energy on Monday lifted its appeal for conservation for all customers in the Upper Midwest after three natural gas pipelines were knocked out by an explosion in Canada. The Minneapolis-based utility said natural gas was once again flowing to the region in one of two pipelines shut down for inspection Saturday after a third pipeline was ruptured in an explosion south of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Xcel Energy lifted its request to turn down the thermostat for customers in Minnesota and North Dakota late Monday morning. A conservation appeal was lifted for customers in western Wisconsin at noon Monday. The company lifted its conservation appeal in stages to safely return the system to full capacity.
Posted on: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 02:30:12 +0000
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