Governor Takes Action to Address Propane Shortage

Today the Governor took several actions to address the propane shortage being experienced in Wisconsin after having declared a state of emergency over the weekend.  The Governor ordered the Department of Administration’s Division of Energy Services to make an additional $7 million available to counties administering the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP).  For more information and criteria on eligibility for the program, you may contact the energy assistance call center at 1-866-HEATWIS (432-8947).

The rapidly rising cost of propane has exhausted some propane retailers’ lines of credit to replenish their supplies of propane as they become available.  In response, the Governor directed the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to implement a $5 million loan guarantee plan aimed at providing these propane retailers with a new line of credit.  Under the plan, WEDC will offer 80% loan guarantees to Wisconsin propane retailers.

Additionally, the Governor instructed the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) to move forward with a similar $3 million loan guarantee plan for propane dealers.  While these actions seek to address the cost of propane, supply issues continue to keep propane reserves low.  Prior actions to enable companies to ship propane into Wisconsin by truck remain in place to aid in the effort to increase the supply of propane.