Now is the time at SDA when we juxtapose!
National Energy Board, November 28th, 2013 – Expectations for a mild winter could lead to lower propane demand in Canada and the U.S.
CTV Ottawa, January 27th, 2014 – Eastern Ontario homeowners hit with skyrocketing propane bills
Associated Press, January 29th, 2014 – The propane drain coincides with extreme cold temperatures in several Midwestern and Southern states where residents and business owners are struggling to keep heating tanks filled due to increased costs or supply cut-offs.
There’s more – “National supplies of propane were depleted by a late harvest that increased demand from farmers who needed to dry an unusually large amount of grain before storage.”
To make ethanol.
(h/t James M) *Updated with additional linkage
Why would the National Energy Board be making projections of “a mild winter”? What are they, the Farmer’s Alamanac?
The only professional projection is “We have no idea whether the winter will be mild or harsh, but it’s best to be prepared for the worst.”
About four years ago I attended a seminar on mesoscale weather forecasting, i.e.
for one or a few seasons into the future. The conclusion was the the very best
which might be done was 16% better than a historically-based prediction.
In short, rabbit, it is as you say.
Is “propain” a subtle joke, or a misspelling?
The real sad story about this is that the CBC, CTV and all the other NSM news outlets regurgitated the “transportation difficulties” line that the Propane Fuels Assoc. spun. Too bloody uncurious to make a little enquiry.
Everyone who is freezing his arse off can thank the corn-sourced ethanol market.
There’s that weasel word could again. Lots of things could happen. I could win the lottery. I could get paid big bucks for predicting things that could happen. It couldn’t be easier.
Nowhere under the list of responsibilities given by the National Energy Board is weather forecasting mentioned.
http://www.neb-one.gc.ca/clf-nsi/rthnb/whwrndrgvrnnc/rrspnsblt-eng.html
Everything the government touches, turns to crap.
The price increases since about Christmas time have been nothing short of Zimbabwe Capitalism.
Supply and demand gone wild right through the Midwest up into Ontario and Quebec. It varies with different suppliers here in Eastern Ontario but basically 1$ a litre….what are some of the rest of you paying?
I detect a circle jerk…
“…Nowhere under the list of responsibilities given by the National Energy Board is weather forecasting mentioned…”
This AGW crap has permeated every federal department and every provincial ministry.
It is unbelievable that this global warming/save the planet crap has not been exorcised from every federal agency during the tenure of a Government that calls itself Conservative. If it turns that the NEB permitted the export of Canadian propane reserves based on the assumption that it would be a mild winter, then the fault for the exorbitant propane prices, shortages, and frozen arses is Harper’s.
Nail>>>Hammer
Propane>>>ethanol!
Good one Kate!
Ach! My poor old brain is too slow for your puns, Ms. McMillan!
The price on my bill jumped from 74.9 cents in mid December to 89.8 on Jan 14th.
My neighbour was told in December by two different delivery drivers that they were taking two truckloads a day to the corn dryers. The dryers supply a methanol plant near Cornwall that supplies biofuel to the refineries. Each truckload is worth $3,000 which would heat the average house for two winters.
So I’m paying extra to heat my house so that I can get less miles per gallon in my car since they sell me gasoline that has up to 10% ethanol which has less energy per dollar.
Yup. Goes like this:
Propane reserves are used up during a cold, wet fall to dry corn that will be used to produce energy – negative ethanol…all in the name of combating a contrived global warming crisis that never existed.
Theatre of The Absurd indeed.
I paid 72 cents a litre beginning of Jan. 1000 gal tank. Cost me $2200 to take it up to 80% in Northern BC. Was 46 cents back in Aug. 2012. Should last me ’till next Aug.
You got it.
Why would the National Energy Board be making projections of “a mild winter”?
–
Must have been the same dipshits that predicted warm weather for an open air Super Bowl.
18,000 tickets still left,
call 1-800-dumbass for quick sale..
Just west of Ottawa, my supplier (both oil & propane) just topped up my propane tank @ 1.149/litre. They don’t appear to be experiencing any kind of propane shortage as they seem to stop by and check my tank every time they go down the road! Kind of glad I heat with oil (natural gas not available)as right now, price/litre is the same but I suspect the propane price I’m paying might be due to the very low volume I use. I was in Costco last week and noticed that a BBQ tank refill is now $16 so everyone’s getting in on the act.
Maybe Canada is employing Russian tactics. We’re expecting the French to attack us and we deplete our propane supplies so that the invaders can’t live off of us. Why else would the government let its citizens freeze and go broke?
I see several states appear to be legislating supply and demand, just like the old Soviet Union. Oops, I forgot that bidding up the price during shortages is gouging.
Let’s see now…some details…we are almost 2 months into the propane “shortage” and I believe the number of U.S. States that have declared a State of Emergencey is at 30.
Transport rules for interstate hauling and hours of service in log books suspended for propane haulers to get supplies moved to areas in need. But have no fear! Here in Ontario Energy Minister Ottawa MPP Bob Charelli has just sent a strongly worded letter to the PMO…and in the meantime the Minister responsible for Rural Affairs, who also just happens to be the Premier, Wrongway-Wynne, is acting like Bri VanderKamp delivering muffins in foodbaskets and handing out grocery gift cards to those in URBAN “Trawna” because they lost their ice cream in the freezer during the power outage there due to ice.
An amazing contrast in the efforts of politicians in the USA shown in the third posted article, compared to the ineffectual numbnuts here. Ontario’s Energy Minister is concerned about the propane situation. May his concern wrap you in its warmth.
http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/propane-shortage-price-spike-due-to-extended-bitter-cold-1.1652145
$1.159 for propane in Calgary Co-op in NW. Just filled up our BBQ for $24…egad I remember when $6 did it.
For those poor souls (old and young) that actually ran dry on propane for heating and went days to weeks with only little electric heaters in the minus 30 “polar vortex” to keep them warm or had their homes frozen over….Energy Minister Charelli suggests contacting the Minister of Consumer Affairs if your supply agreement has been violated.
I bet they feel soooooooo warm with that.