MEMBERS ONLY NEWS

November 17, 2025

In Brief

Welcome to this week’s Members-Only Monday Morning Messenger from the Texas Propane Gas Association (TPGA).

In the first story of the morning, a new RRC rule proposal could bring changes for propane community system operators—find out more in our top story.

In the second story, a major court ruling has just upheld DOE’s 95% furnace efficiency standard. What will this mean for propane appliances, customer costs, and future equipment availability?

In our third story, discover how you can keep your company front and center in consumers’ homes all year long.

And finally, are hybrid propane-electric heating systems about to transform the market? The upcoming webinar promises answers—and highlights all the new solutions available in the Texas market.

Check out our Quick Links for the latest propane price and supply report, our compliance store, the Texas job board, and our Duty to Warn program.

Federal Court Upholds DOE’s 95%
Furnace Efficiency Rule

A federal appeals court has upheld the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) 95% efficiency standard for gas—and propane—furnaces and water heaters, a ruling with major implications for homeowners and contractors. DOE says the new standard will save consumers nearly $25 billion over 30 years, but industry groups warn it will also drive up costs and eliminate many existing appliance options.

The American Gas Association, the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA), and other trade groups argue the rule will require expensive home renovations because 95%-efficient furnaces rely on different venting and drainage systems. DOE data shows that a significant number of low-income households, seniors, small businesses, and manufactured-home residents could see higher upfront costs. Despite the concerns, the court ruled 2-1 that DOE’s economic analysis was “robust” and did not overstep federal law.

NPGA President & CEO Stephen Kaminski said the decision could lead to “product unavailability” and higher costs for millions of Americans who rely on propane and natural gas for affordable home heating.

NPGA and its coalition partners have already met with legal counsel and plan to pursue all available avenues to protect energy choice and prevent unnecessary burdens on consumers.

New Propane Community System
Rule Proposal

The Railroad Commission of Texas has published a proposed rule in the November 14, 2025 Texas Register to implement HB 4042, which removes the word “natural” from statute so that propane community systems are now subject to the same pipeline safety and regulatory fees as natural gas systems. The proposed amendments to 16 TAC §8.201 extend existing fee requirements to propane distribution and master-meter systems.

Proposed Fees for Propane Systems:

$1.00 per service line for propane distribution systems
$100 per master-meter system annually
10% late-payment penalty if fees are not remitted within 30 days of the due date
Allows one-time customer surcharge to recover the fee (capped at $1.00 per service line)
Required post-billing report to RRC detailing surcharge amounts, dates billed, and total recovered

The RRC estimates that, based on 2024 PHMSA filings, (8) propane distribution operators with 18,838 service lines would collectively pay about $18,838 annually under the new fee structure. Operators would also follow the same billing timelines and reporting requirements already in place for natural gas systems.

TPGA is preparing industry comments and encourages members to submit feedback to TPGA so we can identify any issues, needed clarifications, or operational impacts before the RRC’s comment deadline of December 15, 2025.

Proposed Rule

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See What’s Inside This Year’s Edition

January 2026

Check It Off: New Year’s Safety Resolutions

February 2026

Mini Lasagna Bites

March 2026

Ace Your Appliance Aptitude: A Guide to Safe Operation

April 2026

Double Smoked Ham on Grill

May 2026

Safe Grilling Starts with the Right Ingredients

June 2026

Margarita Grilled Shrimp

July 2026

Tank Talk: Top Takeaways

August 2026

Grilled Philly Cheesesteak Skewers

September 2026

Are You Prepared for Heating Season?

October 2026

Cinnamon Apple Crisp

November 2026

Savor the Season, Cook with Confidence

December 2026

Overnight Eggnog French Toast Casserole

Available first come, first serve, while supplies last.

Submit Order

Questions? Call (512) 836-2659 or email sales@propaneservicecorp.com.

Unlocking the Power of Propane: New Hybrid Heating Solutions Webinar

Join Anthony Bradshaw, Senior Manager of Residential Business Development at the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), and Armistead Mauck of Mauck Solutions LLC for a post-PHCC deep dive into propane-powered HVAC systems on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 1:00 PM CDT.

This technical webinar will explore advanced propane HVAC solutions—including Heat Pump Companion®, Heat Pump Helper®, and the Heat Pump Solution—and how they integrate into the Whole Home Energy model.

Mechanical contractors, builders, energy professionals, and propane retailers will learn about these new propane solutions.