Blue Star Gas
Industry Terms
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Employees
Customer Service Representative
The CSR is the employee that you will probably interact with the most. They are the ones who answer the phones, dispatch drivers, process invoices, and post payments to your account. In other words, they run the office.
Route Salesman
The route salesman is the individual who is responsible for the delivery of propane to your home. Along with driving the delivery vehicle, their responsibilities include monitoring your fuel usage and automatically scheduling your deliveries. They are the backbone of our company, and do all they can to make sure you never run out of gas. So next time you see them, why not invite them in for a cup of coffee and a quick chat.
Service Technician-
Our service technicians are trained to provide you with the best service possible. They perform many duties from installing the propane tank to making sure your appliances run smoothly and efficiently.
Account Classification
Keep Full Customer
If you choose this option, you never have to worry about how much gas is in your tank. Our route salesmen will check the fuel in your tank and make a delivery as needed. Should you run out of gas, provided your bill is paid, it is our responsibility to supply you with fuel within 24 hours of your call.� Otherwise it will be delivered on the next scheduled delivery after payment is received.
Will Call Customer
Requires you to check the fuel in your tank and call us to request a fuel delivery. You must give us seven (7) working days notice when requesting a delivery. Some customers opt for the "will call" status because of their financial situation or perhaps because they own the tank. However, this delivery method often results in the tank running completely out of gas because the level was not monitored close enough. It should also be noted that if a "will call" customer runs out of gas, there will be additional charges on the invoice. If an emergency call is required, a special delivery fee will be assessed. In addition, an out-of-gas call may result in a "restart" to the delivery system. This process includes shutting off all of the appliances, doing a leak check of the system and then re-lighting all the appliances. The cost for performing this "out-of-gas procedure" will be passed on to the customer.
Customer Owned Tank
Some of our customers choose to purchase their propane tanks to avoid paying yearly tank rent. If you are interested in purchasing your propane storage tank, please contact your local BLUE
Bulk Fuel Service
This is how we supply fuel to the majority of our customers. A delivery salesman fills your tank automatically and you pay for your propane each time the tank is refilled. For more details on bulk gas service, please contact your local BLUE STAR GAS office.
Metered Gas Service
Metered gas service is different to bulk fuel service in that the propane passes through a vapor meter and you are billed every month for the fuel you used. Metered gas is billed in cubic feet and not in gallons like a bulk delivery. For more details on metered gas service, please contact your local BLUE STAR GAS office.
Utility Service
In some of our service areas, we supply propane through an underground utility service much like a natural gas utility. Utility customers are billed through a meter in the same manner as our metered gas service.
Equipment
Gas Supply Valve
The gas supply valve is the main valve used to control the gas supply to your home. For details on how to turn off your gas supply valve, visit our Emergency Procedures page.
Regulator
This safety device is designed to regulate the gas pressure to your home. Through a series of springs and diaphragms, pressure is reduced and evenly supplied to your appliances. It is recommended that you replace your regulator every 15 years or when it has been removed from service for any extended period of time.
Pigtail
This is the copper tubing used to connect your storage tank to the regulator. It is often referred to as a pigtail due to the coiled shape it takes when installed.
Pressure Relief Valve
Much like a regulator, a pressure relief valve is designed to regulate pressure. However, instead of maintaining supply pressure to your home, its job is to control excess pressure in the propane storage tank and/or piping. When excess pressure builds inside, the relief valve opens to vent this pressure to the atmosphere. Once this pressure is relieved the valve automatically closes.
Cylinder
Propane cylinders come in many shapes and sizes. They can be horizontal or vertical, made out of steel or aluminum. The most common use for a propane cylinder is on a gas grill, but they are also used when it is necessary to provide fuel in a portable manner, like on a forklift or a travel trailer. Under most circumstances, propane cylinders are refilled at a resale fuel dispenser.
Fuel Storage Tank
This is the propane tank that is used to supply your propane to your home. These storage tanks come in different sizes and shapes. They can be installed aboveground, or in certain situations, belowground. Most of our customers lease these tanks for a nominal tank rental fee. If you are a routed customer, your tank is automatically filled and sized based on your usage.
Tank Fuel Gauge
Propane tanks have a gauge under the lid that display the amount of fuel remaining. It reads in percentage of the tank remaining and not in gallons. For example, if the gauge reads 50, then there is 50% of the tank remaining. If you had a 250-gallon tank, you would have approximately 125 gallons of propane still in your tank.
Resale Fuel Dispenser
Most of us are familiar with the cylinder on our BBQ. When that tank, or cylinder, is empty and needs to be refilled, you must visit a resale fuel dispenser. We proudly supply several resale fuel dispensers in our service area. If you would like to know where the one closest to you is, please refer to our resale fuel locator.
Payment Options
Electronic Funds Transfer
EFT allows your propane bill to be paid directly out of your checking account. No longer will you hassle with writing a check or worry if it will arrive on time. You retain total control of your account and payments, we notify you when an invoice is going to be processed and your bank will automatically make the payment. It's that simple. Direct payment is easier for you and it reduces our operating costs, which enables us to continue to provide quality service at low prices.
Easy Pay
Easy Pay is the most efficient payment option available.We measure your annual usage and establish an average monthly payment amount. During the season, we review to see if you are paying too much or not enough and adjust your budget payment accordingly. If you end up the year with a credit balance we will happily return it to you or apply it towards your next year's budget plan. Occasionally, you will have a final payment to make as well. Using the Easy Pay plan makes using propane as easy as a regular utility like your phone or water bill. Your cost is fairly even and there are no winter fuel bills that sneak up on you. Easy Pay plans are seasonal and are established during the summer months. If the season has begun, we will put you on the list for next year.
Miscellaneous
Propane Odorant
For your safety, propane has an odor added so you can detect leaks. It is called Ethyl Mercaptan and is an extremely strong odorant. You and each person using or handling propane in your household must know the smell of propane. Propane has an unusual odor, similar to rotten eggs.
Degree Day
When you use propane for space heating, demand will vary according to how cold the weather. A degree day is a measure of how much heating is needed in a particular day. Heating degree days are based on 65 degrees, and when the average daily temperature strays either side of 65, then degree days give an indication of how much energy is needed to heat a building. If the average temperature for a given day is 60 than that day has 5 heating degree days.
Annual Volume
This is the total amount of propane you consume in a year. This figure is useful when determining the monthly amount for your East Pay plan. It is also the figure we use to base our retail price levels.
Payment Options
Electronic Funds Transfer
EFT allows your propane bill to be paid directly out of your checking account. No longer will you hassle with writing a check or worry if it will arrive on time. You retain total control of your account and payments, we notify you when an invoice is going to be processed and your bank will automatically make the payment. It's that simple. Direct payment is easier for you and it reduces our operating costs, which enables us to continue to provide quality service at low prices.
Easy Pay
Easy Pay is the most efficient payment option available.We measure your annual usage and establish an average monthly payment amount. During the season, we review to see if you are paying too much or not enough and adjust your budget payment accordingly. If you end up the year with a credit balance we will happily return it to you or apply it towards your next year's budget plan. Occasionally, you will have a final payment to make as well. Using the Easy Pay plan makes using propane as easy as a regular utility like your phone or water bill. Your cost is fairly even and there are no winter fuel bills that sneak up on you. Easy Pay plans are seasonal and are established during the summer months. If the season has begun, we will put you on the list for next year.
Miscellaneous
Propane Odorant
For your safety, propane has an odor added so you can detect leaks. It is called Ethyl Mercaptan and is an extremely strong odorant. You and each person using or handling propane in your household must know the smell of propane. Propane has an unusual odor, similar to rotten eggs.
Degree Day
When you use propane for space heating, demand will vary according to how cold the weather. A degree day is a measure of how much heating is needed in a particular day. Heating degree days are based on 65 degrees, and when the average daily temperature strays either side of 65, then degree days give an indication of how much energy is needed to heat a building. If the average temperature for a given day is 60 than that day has 5 heating degree days.
Annual Volume
This is the total amount of propane you consume in a year. This figure is useful when determining the monthly amount for your East Pay plan. It is also the figure we use to base our retail price levels.