When Hurricane Isaias trampled Connecticut, shutting down power throughout the state, Hocon employees turned up the juice. Despite downed power lines and trees that made it challenging to reach people, we made over 2,000 deliveries to customers who were relying on propane fueled generators. This already-tough situation was further complicated by power and phones being out in several of our offices.
While we were working days and nights and weekends, many other fuel companies were having a much harder time rising to the challenge. We fielded hundreds of calls from customers of other companies, who couldn’t even get a call back from their suppliers, let alone a delivery.
One of the great Hocon advantages is that we have the largest fleet of delivery trucks in the state, and can move resources to areas that are hardest hit. We also have our own storage facilities, which make accessing fuel in times of crisis much easier.
Thank you for those who were patient as we worked through the huge backlog. And special thanks to our amazing team of employees, who once again came through for customers when it mattered the most. We are Hocon Proud!
David Gable
President
If you use propane in your pool, water heater, fireplace, generator or other appliance, but heat your home with oil from another supplier, what are you waiting for?
Every month, Hocon saves thousands of customers a ton of money on their heating oil. We guarantee our prices will be at least 25 cents less per gallon than the state average, which is tracked by the Energy Information Administration. See today’s price. Plus, we have several service plan options that can protect you from big, unexpected repair bills.
To find out how much better you can do with Hocon for your oil deliveries, call 203-402-7894 or contact us through our website.
Nothing has occupied us more than planning for the what-if’s that could happen this fall and winter if we have a significant COVID-19 resurgence. Here are some tips that could help make it easier for you to avoid problems:
A small percentage of our customers still call for each delivery. Even under the best of circumstances, this is inherently riskier. We can’t plan ahead for you if we see supply, weather or personnel disruptions that impair our ability to make our regular deliveries. This year, we can’t ignore the possibility that several of our delivery drivers might get sick at once, despite all the precautions they—and we—are taking. So if you are not using this free service, please call our office to switch now.
If there are disruptions, the only way for us to reach large groups of customers quickly is by email or text. If there are new restrictions on repair work in your home, if our offices need to close, or if a storm is coming, we may need to reach you quickly. Please use this online form to make sure we have your most up-to-date email and cell phone.
Many of you did this last year, and no one has switched back. We can automatically bill your deliveries or service to your credit card or bank account, reducing the need to handle mail. It seems to be easier for everyone. Call our office or email us to get started with that.
There may be times when our phones are constrained, especially if we have to go remote again. Make use of the Contact Us form on our website, which bypasses the phone system.
If you have an older furnace, boiler, or water heater, now is a very good time to replace it. If this winter looks anything like our last one, we will all want to keep in-home-repair visits to a minimum. And no one wants to be stuck at home with no heat or hot water.
Q: Why are propane water heaters a better option than electric models?
A: Propane water heaters have a longer life span and cost much less to operate than electric water heaters. A 50-gallon propane water heater delivers the same amount of hot water as an 80-gallon electric unit. It heats your water much faster, reducing the chances you’ll run out! Tankless units achieve even higher efficiency.
Q: What’s the difference between tank and tankless units?
A: A tankless water heater operates only when hot water is needed, using much higher heat. It is super efficient, and gives virtually unlimited hot water. About the size of a suitcase, tankless water heaters can be installed in crawl spaces, attics, closets and other tight spaces. They can also be mounted on a wall.
Q: Is there a reason I should investigate this before my current water heater fails?
A: Converting from electric to gas involves a few extra steps, so you don’t want to do it when you have no hot water.
Read more about water heaters and then call us or contact us here to compare your options.
$300 REBATE AVAILABLE for propane water heater conversions
The Hurricane Isaias mess further “illuminated” the pitfalls of the rush to electrify everything. Undaunted, the Connecticut state government continues to aggressively push the use of electricity at the expense of other fuels, either with expensive and discriminatory incentives or onerous regulations. This is despite the fact that the electric infrastructure fails time and again, causing massive disruption, frustration and discomfort.
In the case of homes, the electrification plan would require a massive conversion of propane, oil and natural gas heating systems to heat pumps. A study in neighboring Massachusetts found that the average cost for this conversion was $20,428 for a 1,502 square-foot home. Of customers who converted, 89% kept their existing system as a backup—so fossil fuels weren’t eliminated anyway. Perhaps it’s because 84% were unhappy with their heat pump’s performance in very cold weather.
What about renewable-sourced electricity? In 2019, only 9.4% of New England’s net electric load came from renewables. This number is not realistically going to change much in the next decade.
Propane is the cleanest fossil fuel on the planet, and does not contain methane. It is not a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and it can RELIABLY fuel homes, hot water and even vehicles. We don’t cause disruptions. We come to the rescue when electricity fails.
The next time you read about the state’s plan to electrify everything, please remember the recent Hurricane Isaias debacle and voice your concern. In the race to protect the environment, we can’t afford to rush down pathways that waste limited resources and produce troubling results.
If you work for a company that operates a fleet of trucks, encourage them to look into propane autogas. Autogas is an increasingly popular option for school buses, service vans, truck fleets, and many other commercial applications.
For commercial vehicles classes 3 through 8, it provides a clean, green, economical alternative to gasoline and diesel.
We’ve just completed building a public propane autogas station at the Pride Travel Center at the Leibert Road exit on I-91, just a mile north of I-84 in Hartford. It is a state-of-the-art station, open 24/7 with credit card readers and “euronozzles.” We can also set up on-site dispensaries at your location.
Call Tim Brown at (203) 451-4231 or email Tim so we can help you evaluate how autogas could drive your business forward.
