November 14, 2022

In Brief

The association has some good election news to share in this edition of the Monday Morning Messenger. Read our Top Story for an election update.

Today is a pivotal day for the Texas Legislature. Please find out more in our second story of the morning.

In our third story of the morning, we announce the re-opening of the Texas Energy Assistance Program for the heating season.

Lastly, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) will be hosting an online event this Wednesday to educate the propane industry on Propane Farm Incentives. Tune in to learn how your farm customers can cash in on these farm equipment incentives.

Remember to check out our Quick Links section for links for the Winter Weekly, Propane Service Corp, Propane Living, and appliance rebates.

In this issue

In Brief
RRC Election Results
Texas Legislature
Energy Assistance
Propane Farm Incentives
Quick Links

Calendar

November 14, 2022

Texas Legislature begins

pre-filing of bills

November 16, 2022

Ag Incentive Webinar

November 24 -25, 2022

TPGA & PSC Office Closed for Thanksgiving

November 29, 2022

Propane Living Deadline

November 30, 2022

PERC Technical Grant Program Deadline

MORE DATES

Wayne Christian Clinches Victory in RRC ReElection Campaign

Last Tuesday, November 8, 2022, Railroad Commission Incumbent Wayne Christian beat Democratic challenger, Luke Warford, to keep his position as Commissioner at the Railroad Commission for another term.

Christian is a long-time propane industry friend and advocate, and we look forward to working with him for another 6 years.

Congratulations, Wayne on the victory!

Bill Pre-Filing for Texas Legislative Session Starts Today

While the Texas Legislative Session does not begin until January 10, 2023. An occasion that only happens once every other year. Texas legislators are already filing legislation. Today marks the first day the legislators can officially pre-file their legislation. In the last session, 745 bills were filed during pre-filing.

TPGA will be hard work reviewing bills not just for 140 days but during a 6-month action-packed period.

During the 87^th Texas Legislative Session, 9999 bills were filed, 3803 passed, and 21 were vetoed.

Starting next week, watch out nearly weekly in Messenger for bills flagged and highlighted by TPGA.

Texas Utility Help Program Re-Opens Energy Bill Assistance

This month, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) Texas Utility Help program started accepting new online applications for energy bill assistance. Qualified homeowners and renters can get help with total past due utility payments for propane up to $2,400 in prospective payments.

Your customers must meet the following criteria to qualify:

Household income must be at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines.
At least one occupant in the household must be a United States citizen or a Qualified Alien.

Your customers can apply at https://texasutilityhelp.com/.

All approved utility payments are issued directly to the propane company on the customer's behalf.

For more information and questions, the call center is staffed Monday- Friday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., and can be reached toll-free at 855-566-2057. Help is available in multiple languages.

This Wednesday

Learn More About Incentives

for Propane Ag Equipment

As farmers and ranchers finish up the harvest, many will be making major buying decisions on new equipment for their operation through the end of the year.

Whether replacing old, upgrading to new, or expanding their operations, now is the right time to talk to them about the growing number of ways propane can make them more productive and profitable starting in 2023.

More than 800,000 farms across the country already choose propane to power grain dryers, irrigation engines, water heating, power generation, forklifts, and more. For generations, it has proven to be a reliable, environmentally friendly energy source that can handle most any job on the farm.

PERC’s Propane Farm Incentive Program offers up to $5,000 on most farm equipment purchases.

Join the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, at 1 PM CDT /2 PM EST to learn how the new and improved Propane Farm Incentive Program is making it easier for ag producers across the country to improve their bottom line.