Tankfarm wants propane prices to stay as low as possible. That’s why we’re raising our concerns over propane inventory oversight.

Wha? Oversight of propane? What could actually be MORE BORING than this idea???

Well….A recent WSJ article about widespread blackouts in Western Australia points out that oversight of energy companies is sometimes a VERY GOOD IDEA. They literally sold all of Australia’s natural gas overseas to make more money. And now Australians don’t have the lights on. Hard to toss a shrimp on the barby if you can’t see your hand in front of your face.

But if you think it can only happen in countries where people knowingly surf in Great White infested waters, the same thing happened here. In 2013, the over-exportation of propane- a critical fuel used by millions to heat their homes- led to a dangerous shortage that lasted for weeks. Only last-minute intervention by Congress and the White House prevented disaster. Since then, nothing has been done to prevent the over-exportation of propane.

The natural gas threat is looming here too. As LNG (super-cooled natural gas you can pack onto a boat or a ship) terminals come online, this same over-exportation danger could also eventually apply to natural gas supplies in the US. You didn’t really want to charge your phone, did you?

So Tankfarm put together a petition on Change.org to call upon our Secretary of Energy Rick Perry (Mr. ‘Whoops’ himself) to establish minimum inventory thresholds for critical fuels like propane, heating oil and natural gas to make sure American families have safe access to heating fuels.

This is just common sense. Sign the petition if you want lower propane prices people.