The South Central Pennsylvania Energy Association, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Petroleum Association, is pleased to again announce a training reimbursement program for 2020! This program includes a reimbursement towards attending PPA/PPATEC classes. A 75% reimbursement is available for classes that offer NORA Bronze, Silver, or Gold Certification. A 25% reimbursement is available for additional classes that that meet the eligibility requirements of this program.

This program has been developed to help reduce the cost for technical and non-technical training within our industry. The program is funded through the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA). As such, it is open to any Oilheat dealer who has a physical office located in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Perry, Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties.

As an SCPEA member you are automatically enrolled in this program! You may begin registering for 2020 classes by visiting www.ppatec.com/schedule/

If you have any additional questions, please contact Len Zvorsky at (717) 892-2209 or by email at scpea4@gmail.com.

Sincerely,
South Central Pennsylvania Energy Association
Pennsylvania Petroleum Association

Vets2Techs Mission:

To help provide a stream of professional talent, of military veterans, to the Oil & Propane industry and its stakeholders. Our industry has been challenged for decades to find a talent pool to draw from. Vets2Techs addresses that challenge head-on, by providing a FREE link between our industry and the veteran community.

What is Vets2Techs?

Vets2Techs is a project that helps veterans find rewarding jobs in the oil and propane industry. These job opportunities can range from technicians to delivery drivers to sales and management.

Why Vets2Techs?

Veterans are excellent candidates to consider when you are Veterans Employment Outreach Program, which currently has a reach to over 40,000 employment-seeking veterans.

Who can Participate?

Oil and Propane companies alike are taking part in this organization and tapping into the talent of our country’s veterans. We would encourage any SCPEA member to consider Vet2Techs if you are looking to fill a postion in your company.

How do I get started?

Register today! Simply to Vet2Techs.com and register to start posting jobs!

No membership or fee is required.

For questions, please contact: info@vets2techs.com.

Thanks for your Support

                                                           Len Zvorsky

       1265 Tumblestone Drive, Mount Joy, Pa. 17552 717-892-2209 scpea4@gmail.com

Oil prices have been continuously dropping, 18.6% from last year. This is hugely different from the estimate that the Energy Information Administration predicted for this winter of 15%. Not only that, but the current cost of oil is $68 per barrel (nearly $40 less per barrel as a few months ago) and could go as low as $50.

Why so low?
The current state of oil has a lot to do with this. The reason for the dropping of the price of oil is due to rising supply and increasing price competition. In the U.S., we have increased our production in North Dakota, taking pressure of OPEC. OPEC has also decided at the end of November that they will NOT be making production cuts which would have increased prices if they decided to make those cuts.

Pennsylvania’s Oil Costs
On average, Pennsylvania’s average heating oil price this December is $2.999 versus last year at $3.683. Just with in the last month the price on November 4 was between $2.99 – $3.349 to December 4 was $2.339 – $2.399.

What does this mean?
There has been a tremendous pressure lifted from both heating oil customers and the heating oil companies. Last winter, many of these companies carried debt for months in order to give their customers affordable monthly payment plans.

EIA Predictions
The Energy Information Administration has predicted that between Oct. 1 2014 and March 31, 2015 there would be a price drop for home heating oil of 15%, 27% for propane, 5% for natural gas, and 2% for electric. On the other hand, if the winter happens to be 10% colder than predicted, oil prices will only drop 5%, propane would decrease 15%, natural gas would increase 6%, and electric would increase 2%. Although this is all good news, the cost of oil now is still higher than the last five years averaged together.

Source:
Pennlive, http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/12/heating_oil_prices_-_how_low_w.html

PPL wants to let everyone know that it’s ok to shop for different electric suppliers without fear of losing their services. This means that if there is a power outage, they will still come to your neighborhood to fix the outage problem, regardless of who supplies your electricity. Changing your electric supplier in no way competes with PPL, or Med-Ed for that matter. PPL and Med-Ed are electricity delivery systems; they don’t generate the electricity themselves like the supply companies do. PPL wants you to know that if you are making more than $0.09 per kilowatt hour, then you need to be shopping around for a better electricity supplier.

There has been speculation to a rough winter ahead, and if that does come to fruition, then higher electric bills are inevitable. Don’t overpay for your electricity. For information on different electric supply companies, visit www.papowerswitch.com to get the best rates for you. To find out who supplies your house, look at your electric bill and see the “Generation” charge; it is the largest charge on the bill. Then compare with other companies on the aforementioned website to get your best rate.

Source:
WGAL, http://www.wgal.com/news/ppl-wants-you-to-shop-for-better-electric-rates/29826898

During the Winter Energy Outlook Conference in Washington D.C., industry representatives and energy experts came together to see what would affect the energy markets this year domestically and abroad. In this meeting, these members predicted a decline in heat costs for several reasons:

Supply:
Domestically, there are pipeline and infrastructure developments throughout the U.S. driving down the price of domestic oil, as well as affecting shale oil internationally. Geopolitical pricing premiums for crude oil have shrunk because of liquidating positions, as well as a decrease in the amount of oil traded on ICE Brent, decreasing 75% from its peak last year. All of these reasons have been driving down oil prices.

Demand:
The GDP growth in 2015 seems to be slowing. An August revision cuts the 2014 outlook by 10 basis points to 2.8%, and 2015 global growth is predicted to move from 3.4% to 3.5%. Europe and Japan especially are expected to expand quantitative easing programs, with growth more than likely struggling in major economies in the coming year. Additionally, the Middle East, South Asia, and former Soviet Union are building new refineries which put additional pressure on the refinery margins.

Weather Forecasts and Consumption:
The Conference predicts a decrease in consumption this year, as well as a decrease in retail price. They estimate heating oil will drop 15%, or $362 on average, less than last year. If the temperature raises another 10% over last winter, expect prices to drop closer to 24%.

Environmental and Efficiency Improvements:
There has been a push to make things more economical and efficient in the Northeastern states by moving to a low-sulfur heating oil product. This will, in turn, make a switch to long-term improvements to heating equipment. By increasing the blends of heating oil and renewable biodiesel, greenhouse gas emission reduces and there is an increase in long-term solutions to renewable fuel for American customers.

Source:
Nora News, http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs159/1107630230232/archive/1118979932169.html