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Royal office, said he has been told that the company anticipates no problems from the cold weather. “We’re about the only ones who can say that,” he added. “We’re not looking to add any major accounts, but we’re filling everyone up."
Mr. Williamson is one of the former owners of Virginia Blue Flame Gas Co., which was bought by Commonwealth Propane just weeks ago. He called the merger fortunate, since the old company may not have been so lucky in maintaining supplies.
Prices are way up for natural gas as well, Mr. Williamson said, rising from 85 cents per gallon in mid-December to $1.07 3/4 now. “It’s the old supply and demand story. Propane can only be delivered by pipeline, rail car and tank truck, and the pipelines have been pulled down to nothing.” That leaves only rail and truck transportation, which can deliver a much more limited amount. Deliveries by water have been slowed by ice jams in the Chesapeake Bay and other waterways.
Mr. Williamson offered no predictions as to future supplies, but said he has been told that Commonwealth anticipates no problems. “I think we’re going to be all right. Transportation is the problem, with a shortage of trucks.”
Both Mr. Thomas and Mr. Williamson said that deliveries to customers have been slowed by weather and road conditions. “Its given us a great deal of problems,” Mr. Thomas said. “When the weather was really bad, I didn’t even put trucks out — that really
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