Fight to survive
High propane costs cause many to struggle

Leaf Ashley sits in the dim window light of her living room with her daughter Akira Ashley while her son, Raven Bright plays a video game. Ashley has experienced increased propane costs that have put a strain on other living expenses. When the sun sets, the heating help from the south facing windows diminishes [Photo by Daniel Zollinger/Independent]

By Leslie Wood
Staff writer

GALLUP — High propane costs have caused headaches for those who rely on it to heat their homes.

McKinley County resident Leaf Ashley is frustrated by soaring propane price tags and is anxiously awaiting her tax return, which will go directly toward the purchase of the only source of heat for home.

“It’s the worst it’s ever been,” Ashley said. “ ... We’re trying to scramble to get our taxes done.”

The family is also reducing their spending in other areas to balance the cost of propane.

Earlier this month, Ashley and her two children were without heat for two days when a local propane supplier had difficulties making its deliveries because of poor weather conditions.

The family huddled into a central living room to stay warm and were thankful they have a particularly heat efficient home on Hope Lane. They were also concerned about their pipes freezing, which would have been “another headache.”

“It’s the longest I’ve ever waited,” Ashley said of the period without propane. “ ... We were just trying to stay warm.”

The Ashleys rent a propane tank from Gallup Propane Services and pay about $500 every two months to fill their tank during the winter months. During a previous fill, her tank cost $2.20 per gallon compared to today’s price of about $2.50 a gallon.

During summer months, a tank can lest four to five months, she said. The family has used propane since they moved into the area in September 2005.

“There’s no natural gas out here,” Ashley said.

Gallup Propane Service and AmeriGas officials did not return repeated requests for comment from The Independent about the increase in propane costs. At least one local dealer has recently distributed small cards with the phone numbers of political leaders to disgruntled customers. They were reportedly encouraged to share their frustrations about high propane costs with the leaders.

Jim Saladin, the manager of corporate communications for Ferrell Gas, said propane is a byproduct of natural gas and crude oil, which has also seen a price increase as of late.

“Propane usually mirrors the price of crude,” Saladin said.
Factors such as supply and demand and unrest in the Middle East contribute to high crude oil and propane prices, among other reasons.

“It’s certainly higher than any of us want it to be,” Saladin said. “ ... The price affects us as well. It doesn’t do us any good to have a high price for our customers.”

Abel Ortega, owner of Ortega’s Propane of Milan, said propane prices are as high as they’ve ever been. Costs have risen progressively since August, he said.

“Why the increase? I don’t know,” Ortega said. “ ... It’s ridiculous.”

He said customers could turn down their heat when they’re not home, but the heat will take twice as much power to return to a comfortable level once they return.

“I recommend a temperature of between 68 and 70 degrees,” Ortega said.