Two local propane companies responded to inquiries about propane supplies.
Mike Jinks, Synergy Gas vice president of Fort Smith, Ark., said Tuesday that the company has brought in a truck from Tulsa and a driver from Joplin, Mo., "to help catch up."
Jinks said propane customers usually call for propane when they notice they are low, due to money or budget constraints. But often the drivers' schedules are filled up and the customer must wait.
And when cold weather is forecast, many customers call in a rush.
"If they would let us top off their tanks on a regular basis they wouldn't have to worry, but we understand they may be operating on a budget," Jinks said.
He said the company is considering different payment plans to help those who heat and cook with propane gas.
"We may be looking at dropping the price 10 cents, or setting up a monthly payment plan," he said.
In the meantime, Jinks said Synergy Gas will be looking for a driver for the Sequoyah County area.
Jinks said the Synergy Gas delivery trucks are operating out of Fort Smith, Ark., and Stilwell.
A spokesman for Steveson's LP in Sallisaw said that company has not had too much trouble delivering propane this winter. He said the ice and snow made it difficult to drive up hills to reach some customers' tanks, but the propane was eventually delivered.
The company has not experienced a propane shortage he said, and had prepared for the bad weather.
In fact the weather actually provided extra income. The spokesman, who did not wish to be identified, said residents as far away as Checotah were traveling to Sallisaw to fill up their propane bottles.
Propane, he said, was selling for $1.75 per gallon for 150 gallons or more, and was selling for $1.80 per gallon for anything less than 150 gallons.
