Dear Friends,
We’re sure all of you followed the debacle of power outages in Texas and elsewhere in the wake of the deep freeze that hit in February. No one has to explain that to people in our area. It seems as if three or four times per year, a storm knocks out our power, leaving tens of thousands of families without energy for days — or even weeks.
More than anything, this has exposed the fragility of the nation’s electric grid.
That’s why it’s disturbing that many state governments are rushing ahead on an “electrify everything” path to reduce carbon emissions. We believe that we must take aggressive steps to address climate change — and we’re doing that. Our company has invested in significant infrastructure to support propane, a very clean-burning and environmentally friendly fuel source.
The problem is that however well-intended the “all electric” movement is, it is relying on breakthroughs that do not yet exist, to an electric grid that is already unreliable. Consider what will happen when the electric grid is taxed by huge new demand — caused by conversions of cars, buildings, homes and more.
Alternatively, we, and others in the liquid fuels industry, continue to offer a solution that immediately reduces every customer’s carbon footprint dramatically without regressive taxes, additional equipment cost to consumers or overloading the electric grid. We need thoughtful policy that balances the need to address our climate without putting all our eggs into one fragile energy basket.
As always, please let us know what we can do to help you, because with Murray-Heutz, you always get Service, Quality and Value — Guaranteed.
Warmly,
Steve Temple
General Manager
Q: I’m considering a tankless water heater. What should I keep in mind?
A: With a tankless water heater, water is instantly heated, meaning it doesn’t sit in a storage tank losing heat while it waits to be used. The heating element will continue to warm the water until you close the hot water faucet, which also shuts the gas burner. The bottom line is this smart option provides a virtually endless supply of hot water. Plus, it takes up less space.
Q: Are there ways to save I should know about?
A: Yes! Current tankless water heater rebates include $300 from PGANE and up to $100 from Rinnai. Additionally, you can get up to $300 in tax credits on eligible Energy Star equipment, through December 31, 2021. Contact us for details.
Troy Lambert
Energy Advisor
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No purchase necessary. A purchase will not increase chance of winning. See contest page for details.
American-made propane remains abundant, keeps you comfortable and saves money. And there are no propane blackouts that interrupt your service.
New propane appliances can turn a backyard into a summer vacation. Propane can do that — from gas grills to fire pits to stylish lighting and much more.
These days, you can get so much more than just the grill. You can elevate your grilling game with all kinds of features, like side burners, rotisseries, multiple levels of cooking surfaces, smoker boxes and more!
If you cook on a gas stove inside your home, you know how terrific its precise control of heat can be. By just turning the dial, you can instantly add or reduce heat.
Take that control outside when you grill with propane. Do you want to make one side direct grilling and one side indirect? Propane can do that! You can decide just how hot you need it, and make adjustments on the spot.. When you want to go from medium heat for corn on the cob to high heat for a quick-searing steak, you’re in control. Charcoal can’t do that.
Bring friends or family together with the warmth of a propane-fueled fire pit and never worry about feeding a wood fire or cleaning up ashes afterward. A large fire pit can be used as a centerpiece for your yard, or you can set up a series of small ones at the entry of your home to wow your guests. Many models have ignition systems that can be turned on and off with a smartphone or tablet.
When it comes to backyard lighting, nothing holds a candle to propane! Using outdoor lighting will dramatically enhance and accentuate the visual appeal of your property. Popular choices include stunning solid cast brass, black cast aluminum or white cast aluminum styles, with post, pedestal or wall mounts. Gas lights cost pennies per hour to operate and the brightness of these lights is comparable to a 70‑watt light bulb.
A propane pool heater can maintain a comfortable water temperature any time of day, in any weather, in any season — all for an affordable price. A propane pool heater simply burns gas to warm water from the pool pump then cycles the water back into the pool.
Please contact us to learn more about all you can do with propane in your backyard.
Because propane has such a low carbon content, it produces next to zero greenhouse gas emissions, making it a cleanerburning energy source that can reliably fuel homes, heat water and even power vehicles.
Propane generates more Btu’s than an equivalent amount of electricity, so you need much less propane to produce the same amount of heat energy. Also, cleaner-burning propane appliances are efficient, because they waste very little fuel in the combustion process, unlike electric-powered appliances. That’s why, hands down, propane is better for the environment and for your home. Visit Propane.com/environment to learn more about propane and the environment. And be sure to check out RenewablePropaneGas.com to learn how the propane industry is reducing its carbon footprint.
Many state legislators continue to push for the increased use of electricity in favor of other fuels. That would mean policies to replace propane heating systems with electric heat pumps.
But heat pump conversions are expensive and do not work very efficiently when the weather gets cold. And it goes farther than that. Propane water heaters and propane gas stoves also remain much more efficient and perform better than their electric counterparts.
Electricity is not a clean fuel! Its production generates the second largest share of greenhouse gas emissions. More than 63% of our electricity comes from burning fossil fuels, mostly coal and natural gas.*
Besides the increased impact on the environment, it’s feared that an “electrify everything” policy may increase the average residential household cost and put a severe strain on our aging electric grid. See article below.
*Source: https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/electricity/electricity-in-the-us.php
The electric infrastructure in this country has failed us time and again, causing massive disruption, frustration and discomfort. We’ve all followed the tragic, widespread energy disaster that occurred this past winter in Texas. And we’ve all experienced a number of uncomfortable power outages in our own area over the years.
A large part of our grid was built more than 50 years ago. But today, it’s reaching capacity and old equipment is failing.
Considering that the U.S. Department of Energy has called the electric grid in our country the largest machine on the planet, upgrading our electric infrastructure will be a massive — and ultra-expensive — undertaking. Until our electricity supply is less environmentally destructive and not prone to numerous blackouts, it is simply not the best choice for heating. That’s especially true when you consider that right now, millions of Americans rely on propane for warmth, hot water and cooking — even when their power goes out.
The last thing we need right now is for the electric grid to be strained by an enormous new demand — by electric cars, all-electric homes and commercial building and more.
Electricity is often touted as a “clean” energy source, but that assertion becomes less convincing when you take a closer look. Here are a few comparisons.
If you are pleased with our services, we would truly appreciate it if you would take a few moments to post a review online — on Google, our Facebook page or through our website.
Your feedback means the world to us, just as this recent online customer review does:
“Always pleasant and willing to help… even in the evening when your furnace stops! Been a customer since we moved to Turner nearly 30 years ago. Very happy with the services!”
— Karen P., Turner, ME (5-star Google review)
Spring has sprung and rebates, incentives and special deals are all in full bloom too. If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your old heating system or installing a new storage tank, we’ll show you how we can help save you quite a bit of money on your purchase. Conditions apply.
You can now download our app (available for IOS and Android) to have 24-hour access to your account, so you can pay bills, look up information and schedule service when it’s convenient for you. Just search for Murray-Heutz Oil and Propane in the App store or Google Play Store to get started.
