Pleased You Changed to NG?

A few years ago I had a furnace company quote a new furnace. He suggested that I switch to natural gas. I had to explain to him that while prices are currently low, they won't stay that way and are more prone to price spikes/surges than fuel oil.

Nothing wrong with a 2nd system ... I have two.

I agree with that premise also, as I technically have three, or four if you count a wood burning fireplace.

Without the infrastructure in place I've wondering how well they can meet demand during a brutally cold spell. What I'm asking is are they over extended if there is an extraordinary situation?

In the northeast it gets sketchy when the temps are down for a while. Just not enough capacity.

A few years ago the price shot up big time during a cold snap. Was that the "polar vortex" winter? I remember a propane shortage also, but not sure if it was the same season.

They pump LNG into the system here...
One way onto The Cape over the canal...
When they run short of LNG...
They pump air to maintain pressure...
They blocked any new installs or upgrades to service...
Due to infrastructure issues caused by 'bad welds'...
The real issue was that welds certified for 99 psi...
Began to blow out when they were running almost double the original design pressure...
To provide product to an over subscribed customer base...

CapeCoaler wrote:They pump LNG into the system here...
One way onto The Cape over the canal...
When they run short of LNG...
They pump air to maintain pressure...
They blocked any new installs or upgrades to service...
Due to infrastructure issues caused by 'bad welds'...
The real issue was that welds certified for 99 psi...
Began to blow out when they were running almost double the original design pressure...
To provide product to an over subscribed customer base...

Being an X Cape Codder I can say the whole Cape is over subscribed..Ha..

Richard S. wrote:Without the infrastructure in place I've wondering how well they can meet demand during a brutally cold spell. What I'm asking is are they over extended if there is an extraordinary situation?

My friend is a boiler operator at a state college. He says they normally use NG, but when it is extra cold they must switch to oil as their gas is diverted to smaller users. Not sure exactly how much oil they burn, but I know they get multiple tractor trailer loads per day when using it. Schemes like this would definitely help them provide reliable service through the cold snaps, if you have a heavy user nearby.

top top wrote:

Richard S. wrote:Without the infrastructure in place I've wondering how well they can meet demand during a brutally cold spell. What I'm asking is are they over extended if there is an extraordinary situation?

My friend is a boiler operator at a state college. He says they normally use NG, but when it is extra cold they must switch to oil as their gas is diverted to smaller users. Not sure exactly how much oil they burn, but I know they get multiple tractor trailer loads per day when using it. Schemes like this would definitely help them provide reliable service through the cold snaps, if you have a heavy user nearby.

They may get a better rate on the NG by agreeing to service interruptions under certain circumstances. I used to work at a plant that had a boiler house that primarily ran on NG, but they could switch to oil quickly if needed. They had a 50,000 gallon fuel tank that would last two days in cold weather.

Rob R. wrote:They may get a better rate on the NG by agreeing to service interruptions under certain circumstances. I used to work at a plant that had a boiler house that primarily ran on NG, but they could switch to oil quickly if needed. They had a 50,000 gallon fuel tank that would last two days in cold weather.

You get a better rate but when they tell you it is crunch time and switch to oil if you don't you will pay through the nose.