In this edition of the Monday Morning Messenger, the Texas Propane Gas Association shares the action-packed November Texas Propane magazine.

Secondly, in case you missed it last week, the Railroad Commission released an optional Fire Safety Analysis template to help the propane industry comply with the new fire safety analysis requirement.

Texas has one of the highest deer collision incident rates over a 10-year period. As deer mating season progresses and your drivers are increasing on the roads, TPGA provides you with safety tips to share with your drivers.

Did you know measures taken to increase customers are tax-deductible? Read more about it in our last story of the morning.

Remember to check out our Quick Links section for links for the Winter Weekly, Propane Service Corporation spotlight on meter tickets, open grants, and propane appliance rebates.

In this issue

• In Brief
• Inside Look: Magazine
• Fire Safety Analysis
• Driver Safety Meeting
• Another Tax Deduction
• Quick Links

November 8, 2022

Election Day

November 8 2022

- February 2, 2023

Tier II Training

November 8-9, 2022

PERC Council Meeting

November 10, 2022

Texas Propane Magazine

Ad Deadline

November 10, 2022

Webinar on How to Claim Retroactive Fuel Tax Credits

November 14, 2022

Texas Legislature begins

pre-filing of bills

Thank You to Advertisers: Alliance AutoGas, BLT Tanks, Fisk Tank Carrier Inc, Gas Equipment Company, Legacy Energy Consulting, Lock America, Lone Star Energy Group, Longhorn Propane, Lumbermen’s Insurance Agency, METSA, Marshall Young Insurance, Meeder Equipment Co., Propane Plus LLC, Propane Service Corporation, Quality Steel Corporation, Rural Computer Consultants, Tarantin Industries, Westmor Industries, and White River Distributors.

The December issue ad & classified deadline is November 10, 2022.

"Fewer daylight hours and a spike in deer activity during the fall months increase the chances of roadway crashes with the animals. Deer collisions become more common this time of year since peak breeding season takes place in November. A collision with deer or other animals can put a serious dent in your vehicle, if not destroy it completely, and could result in serious injuries or fatalities," AAA reports.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Texas had the highest number of deaths from collisions with animals over a ten-year period.

To help prevent a crash or to reduce damage from an animal collision, AAA suggests motorists:

• Pay attention to road signs. Yellow, diamond-shaped signs with an image of a deer indicate areas with high levels of deer activity.

• Keep your eyes on the road. Ditching distractions is one of the easiest ways to make sure you’re ready for when a deer comes out of nowhere. 

• Be especially attentive in the early morning and evening hours. Many animals, especially deer, are most active from 5-8 AM and 5-8 PM, prime commuting times for many.

• Use high beams when there’s no oncoming traffic. You can spot animals sooner. Sometimes the light reflecting off their eyes will reveal their location.

• Slow down and watch for other deer to appear. Deer rarely travel alone, so if you see one, there are likely to be more nearby.

• Resist the urge to swerve. Instead, stay in your lane with both hands firmly on the wheel. Swerving away from animals can confuse them, so they don’t know which way to run. It can also put you in the path of oncoming vehicles or cause you to crash into something.

• If the crash is imminent, take your foot off the brake. During hard braking, the front end of your vehicle is pulled downward, which can cause the animal to travel up over the hood toward your windshield. Letting off the brake can protect drivers from windshield strikes because the animal is more likely to be pushed to one side of the vehicle or over the top of the vehicle.

If you hit a deer, AAA Texas recommends:

• Call the police.
• Avoid making contact with the animal. A frightened or wounded animal can hurt you or further injure itself.
• Put the vehicle’s hazard lights on, whether it’s light or dark outside.
• If possible, immediately move the vehicle to a safe location, out of the roadway, and wait for help to arrive. 
• Contact your insurance agent or company representative as quickly as possible to report any damage to your car. 

Federal tax law allows businesses to deduct expenses that help them bring in new customers and keep existing ones. These costs may include expenses for advertising and marketing. Here are some details about this valuable tax deduction that can help small businesses save money on their taxes.

Advertising and marketing costs must be ordinary and necessary to be tax deductible.

• An ordinary expense is one that is common and accepted in the industry.
• A necessary expense is one that is helpful and appropriate for the trade or business. An expense does not have to be indispensable to be considered necessary.

Here are a few advertising expenses that are usually deductible:

• Reasonable advertising expenses that are directly related to the business activities.
• An expense for the cost of institutional or goodwill advertising to keep the business name before the public if it relates to a reasonable expectation to gain business in the future.
• The cost of providing meals, entertainment, or recreational facilities to the public as a means of advertising or promoting goodwill in the community.

Source: IRS

November 2, 2022

WINTER WEEKLY PROPANE

PRICE & SUPPLY UPDATE

U.S., GULF & TEXAS

DON'T WAIT TO YOUR DOWN TO YOUR LAST METER TICKET. ORDER YOUR METER TICKETS NOW.

TEXAS PROPANE VEHICLE GRANTS OPEN

FOR SELECT REGIONS OF

TEXAS

PROPANE FURNACE, BOILER & WATER HEATER REBATES ARE AVAILABLE

TO YOUR CUSTOMERS