Shipley Energy ads

Should you lock in 50% or 100% of your fuel needs? I get this question often. Markets are volatile. You want protection, but you also don't want to miss out if prices drop. Here's how I think about it: Lock in 100% if: → You can't absorb unexpected cost increases → Your budget is fixed and you need certainty → You don't have fuel surcharge pass-through to customers Lock in 50-70% if: → You have some flexibility in your budget → You want protection from spikes but exposure to potential drops → You're comfortable managing some price risk Stay floating if: → You have strong pass-through mechanisms → You're confident in your supplier's ability to deliver regardless of price → You can handle volatility and want maximum upside potential My take? In a tight inventory environment like this winter, some price protection makes sense for most buyers. Even if you leave 30-50% floating, locking in your baseline removes the "what if" stress. The worst position? Waiting to decide until you're forced to buy at whatever the market is that day. Here’s Shipley Energy’s winter 2025 outlook that will give you a few more things to consider: https://lnkd.in/ewaA5nda

Behind the scenes: What happens when a terminal runs out of rack space? Most fuel buyers never think about this—until it affects them. Here's the reality: terminals have finite storage. When demand spikes or supply tightens, you can't just "order more fuel." You need space to receive it. If your supplier doesn't have pre-arranged terminal access or relationships with multiple storage facilities, you're waiting in line. And in a tight market, that line gets long fast. At Shipley Energy, we maintain strategic storage positions across our market area specifically for this reason. It's not exciting. It's not flashy. But when everyone else is scrambling, our customers stay supplied. That's what operational redundancy looks like. → Multiple terminal relationships → Strategic storage positioning → Logistics partnerships with backup capacity built in You don't need to know how it works. You just need a partner that knows and does. Our team put together an article on what’s affecting Wholesale markets this winter – check it out for greater depth in what we’re considering and what you should be too: https://lnkd.in/eYnMsHnV

We’re growing our team! 💚 Shipley Energy is hiring Propane Technicians! Why choose Shipley Energy? 💚 Voted Best Places to Work in PA 2025 💚 Family-owned 💚 Ongoing training and growth opportunities If you’re looking for a rewarding career with a team that values skill, safety, and service — we’d love to hear from you. 👉 Apply today: https://lnkd.in/en27Exn2 #shipleyenergy #energysupplier #hiring #propane #technicians

One thing I'm watching this winter: the 10-day weather forecast. Not because I'm planning my weekend. Because when you're managing fuel supply in a tight inventory environment, a 10-day cold snap can move millions of gallons into a compressed window. Here's what most people miss: it's not the average winter temperature that creates problems. It's the volatility. A sudden freeze doesn't just spike demand—it strains logistics, tightens terminal access, and tests whether your supply relationships can handle surge conditions. The fuel buyers who win this winter won't be the ones reacting to cold weather. They'll be the ones with: → Adequate storage capacity → Diversified supplier relationships → Monitoring systems that give them a 7-14 day runway We can't control the weather. But we can control how prepared we are when it hits. What's your contingency plan if demand spikes 30% in the next two weeks? Here’s what we’re watching for the 2025-2026 winter: https://lnkd.in/emMf3CU5

I've been on calls with site managers, fleet operators, retailers, and dealers across PA, MD, and VA this week. Here are three things coming up in almost every conversation: 1. "Should I be locking in price now or waiting?" The anxiety is real. People see headlines about tight inventories but also hear crude prices are dropping. They're torn between protecting against spikes and missing out on potential savings. What I'm telling them: If you can't afford a surprise, lock in what you need for certainty. If you have flexibility, talk to your supplier about hybrid approaches. 2. "How do I know if my supplier can actually deliver when things get tight?" This one surprised me. People are quietly questioning whether their current suppliers have real backup plans or just talk a good game. Smart question. Ask them directly. If they get defensive or vague, you have your answer. 3. "Nobody's talking about storage capacity." Came up this week. Customers realizing that having fuel available and having somewhere to PUT it are two different problems. If you're running low on storage and your supplier can't help bridge the gap, winter could get interesting real fast. Bottom line: Anxiety is up. People want straight answers and partners they can trust. If you're feeling it too, you're not alone. Here’s how we’re thinking about these problems, and some thoughts on preparing for them this winter and beyond: https://lnkd.in/e3HKeass

If you're a fuel buyer, you've probably been watching the market this year and asking yourself: "What's going on?" Our team just released our Winter 2025 Wholesale Supply & Fuel Market Outlook: https://lnkd.in/etSyBX9P, and I wanted to break down what this means for the fuel buyers I work with every day. Here's what you need to know: Inventories are starting low—really low. U.S. distillate inventories are down 17% compared to where they usually are at this point in the year. On the East Coast, we're entering heating season at the second-lowest inventory level since 1981. That means less cushion if demand spikes or supply gets disrupted. Refining capacity isn't coming back. We've lost significant production capacity through refinery closures this year, and more are planned. Less capacity means less flexibility when markets get tight. Renewable diesel shifts created unexpected demand. When renewable diesel production dropped earlier this year, petroleum distillate consumption jumped to fill the gap—about 170,000 barrels per day. That pulled down inventories during what's normally a rebuilding period. What does this mean for you? If you're responsible for fuel purchasing, this winter requires more planning than usual. Building in supply buffers, having diversified suppliers, and thinking ahead about storage capacity—these aren't nice-to-haves anymore. The good news? There are tools to help manage this environment. Cap and fixed price programs can protect you from volatility. Strong supplier relationships give you priority access when supply tightens. At Shipley Energy, we work with our customers to build strategies that match their specific needs—whether that's budget certainty, flexibility, or something in between. Winter's coming. Let's make sure you're ready. Here's the full Winter outlook published by our team: https://lnkd.in/eT6gjJsN