Residents in the northeast pocket of New York, including the town of Plattsburgh, are paying the most for propane in the state. (image: New York Public Library via flickr.com)
The average retail price for a gallon of propane in New York was up four cents in the latest numbers from the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA).
New Yorkers paid $2.96 on average for a gallon of LPG. The North Country Region, in the Northeastern corner of the state, paid the most at $3.39 per gallon. The Western Region had it best at $2.65.
A 74-cent price spread between the east and west? One year ago, the regional spread was about 50 cents.
It seems the disruptions in the Enterprise/Teppco propane pipeline, which runs across upstate New York, are bumping up prices in the eastern half of the state. A leak was found in the pipeline this summer, shutting down several terminals east of the town of Watkins Glen. Local retailers have scrambled to meet demand since then.
NYSERDA says the pipeline should be back in service by mid-January. That will certainly ease transport costs for dealers. And it will be curious to see how retail prices react in New York, and the rest of New England, when these supply challenges are ironed out.