New Jersey Propane State of Emergency: What Residents Need to Know

Propane Shortage in New Jersey

• ⚠️ A state of emergency has been declared in New Jersey due to disruptions at a Pennsylvania refinery impacting propane supply.
• 💡 Over 186,000 New Jersey residents rely on propane for home heating, especially in areas without natural gas pipelines.

Impact on Residents

• ⛽ Residents like James Mintosh are concerned about running out of fuel, with disruptions causing lines at trucking terminals and delays.
• 🏠 Many homes use propane not only for heating but also to power stoves, making its availability critical.

Supplier and Governor's Response

• 🚚 Suburban Propane, a major supplier, assures customers they have sufficient supply and will deliver reliably, urging them not to panic.
• 📜 Governor Phil Murphy's state of emergency aims to extend truck driver hours to expedite propane transportation.

Advice for Consumers

• 📈 Customers are advised to check their propane levels, schedule deliveries early, and avoid using ovens as a heat source.
• 🛒 Propane lobbyists recommend avoiding unnecessary orders to prevent artificial demand spikes, similar to panic buying for essentials.

Refinery Disruption

• 🏭 The issue stems from a Pennsylvania plant owned by Energy Transfer Partners, which has been intermittently offline since November 21st.
• ❓ The company has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the ongoing disruptions.