I had my local Farmers Coop come out and top off my fuel storage tank today. Please understand that it is routine for me in that I have him out here at least once a month. I asked him today if he saw any increase in business. He said they are covered up with orders for fuel. Most he has ever seen for this time of the year. Lots of new folks he hasn't delivered to before, and lots of folks he hasn't delivered to in a couple of years. Said the demand is driving the price up. .... Just thought you might want to know that some are preparing here in AR. Just in case it is more than BITR.

-- dozerdoctor (dozerdoc@yahoo.com), November 26, 1999

Answers

A very worthwhile news brief from Arkansas, thanks.

-- Guy Daley (guydaley@bwn.net), November 26, 1999.

Same thing in SC not only on diesel (tractor) fuel but on propane as well. I normally fill my storage tanks for diesel about 4 times a year. This year I am now getting my normal October delivery on the first of December....price is sky high too. Propane is a routine monthly fill but they are running about 10 days behind also. Both dealers say they have about 2.5 times the home business they had last year.

-- Lobo (atthelair@yahoo.com), November 27, 1999.

Same here. Co-op propane guy was here Tues, said he's averaging 2-3 new tank setups every day. Says the co-op is filling every tank they own and then some. Their storage, of all fuels, will be at max capacity before rollover.

Godspeed

-- Pinkrock (aphotonboy@aol.com), November 27, 1999.

Same here in North Central Florida. Had our off road diesel tank filled last week. Chubby Hubby asked the guy if y2k was ramping up business and he went on to tell us about all these kooks that have bought 1000 gallon tanks and buried them. Said one guy had 5000 gallons on his property and had set the place up like a fort. I wish I knew where. But didn't want to appear curious and at this stage of the game I don't talk y2k with any strangers or DGI. We are among the newbies to hook up propane. We bought a Vermont Castings gas log stove. It will be installed next week. We are getting 120 gal tank. I called at least 6 propane dealers before I got one that would give us anything larger than 47gal. All the others said that unless we had a gas cook stove and water heater, they couldn't let a bigger tank go out. Some said there was a shortage of tanks and one flat asked if this were for y2k. I said, y who?????

Taz

-- Taz (Tassie123@aol.com), November 27, 1999.

The local propane supplier in Grants Pass OR told me that they have a lot more business than usual due to people converting to propane because of y2k. Causing substantial delays in getting hooked-up. Large (1000gal+) propane tanks are just not available unless one wants to buy them. He told me of one fellow who owns three homes in a compound and wanted large tanks; the fellow eventually had to buy eight 1000gal tanks at $2000 each, then have them all filled. Cost him well over $25,000 on just that aspect of his y2k preps, alone.

Also of interest: the local maker of hydraulic and pneumatic hoses for the logging and trucking interests told me that he's had a number of people come in to request that he make up gas-rated hoses with quick-connects so that people can hook-up their propane-powered generators to their permanent propane tanks.

-- Norm Harrold (nharrold@tymewyse.com), November 27, 1999.

Time to get off my butt and get the gas in!

-- curt (zztop@epix.net), November 27, 1999.