January 7, 2019
MONDAY MORNING MESSENGER
In Brief
In this issue of the Monday Morning Messenger , check out the robust calendar of events and dates for this week.

Also in our Top Story , get a preview of what's in store for this Texas Legislative Session, which, only happens once every two years.

Check out our Regulatory Update section for a list of hot topics in transportation regulation.

Also, the Texas Propane Gas Association loves to give our members regulatory reminders to ensure they stay in compliance throughout the year.Check out this week's Regulatory Reminder on Emergency Discharge Control Systems.

Lastly, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has a lot of tools to help grow your business. Check out the below Marketing Minute , for more information on an upcoming webinar on their Residential Insights Growth tool. The site has moved and changes have been made. Tune in to the webinar to find how this resource might assist you in growth in the residential market.
In this issue
  • In Brief
  • Top Story
  • Regulatory Update
  • Regulatory Reminder
  • Marketing Minute
This Week
January 8, 2019
Texas Legislative
Session Begins

Wichita Falls, TX

January 9-10, 2019
Conference
San Antonio, TX

January 10, 2019
Denison, TX

January 10-11, 2019
Amarillo, TX
Top Story
Texas Legislative Kicks Off
Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 8th in the Lone Star State, the 86th Legislative Session will kick off for 140 days.

Big priority issues for Texas legislative leaders includes school finance and property taxes.

Predicted legislation affecting business this session may include franchise tax reform, $15 minimum wage as well as legislation pre-emptively prohibiting local governments from passing ordinances that regulate private employers’ business practices, including hiring, scheduling, employee benefits and paid leave.

The Texas Propane Gas Association will be monitoring all legislation will a particular eye on propane-specific regulation, alternative fuel vehicle incentives, motor carrier regulation and other laws that may affect your business.

Our big day at the Capitol will be February 20, 2019. Join us for Texas Energy Day in Austin next month. Hotel & Energy Day registration details will be out later this week.
Regulatory Update
Transportation Regulatory Tidbits
Regulatory Reminder
Emergency Discharge Control System
The bobtail or transport operator’s daily responsibility is to inspect the cargo tank discharge system, including the
delivery hose assembly and piping, before the first unloading operation each day. When a bobtail is equipped with an emergency discharge control system, the off-truck remote shut-off activation device (radio transmitter) must also be tested daily. Emergency discharge control equipment prevent the unintended release of
propane during unloading operations. The remote device must shut down the self-closing internal stop valves (belly valve and internal vapor equalizing valve) and stop the truck’s engine from a distance of 150 feet. If the off-truck remote fails to actuate properly, the truck must not be used to transport LP-gas until the emergency discharge control system has been repaired, retested and works properly.

In addition, each month a specific internal self-closing stop valve test called the “meter creep test” must be performed on the emergency discharge control system. The results must be documented and a copy placed in the vehicle’s maintenance
file.

Also remember, when a vehicle is equipped with an emergency discharge control system,  drivers must carry a written set of instructions, Emergency Discharge Procedures .
Marketing Minute
Residential Market Insights Refresher Webinar
Mark your calendars! On Monday, January 14, 2019 , the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) will host a 101 refresher webinar on their Residential Insights to tool and how it can help you add more households to your roster.

What you will learn on the webinar:
• What’s changed since the move to Propane.com. 
• What reports and marketing resources are available to you on the portal. 
• What data your Residential Opportunity Insights reports contain. 
• What is consumer segmentation, and how to take advantage of it in your marketing.