Winter Notice to Customers

2023-24 Winter Notice to Customers

For our Spanish-speaking customers: ATENCION: toda la información de la Compañía y distribuciones de seguridad están disponibles en español sin cargos. Si usted desea obtener una copia en español, por favor contacte la compañía al 512-272-5503. Se la mandaremos por correo inmediatamente después de recibir su solicitud.

ADVERTENCIA: Gas inflamable. La instalación, la modificación, o la reparación de un sistema de LPG (el propano) por una persona que no tiene una licencia o no esta registrado para instalar, modificar, o reparar un sistema de LPG puede causar una herida, daño, o pérdida. Contacte a una persona con licencia o que este registrada para instalar, modificar, o reparar un sistema de LPG. Una persona con licencia para instalar o reparar un sistema de LPG no puede ser responsable por los daños causados debido a la modificación de un sistema de LPG por una persona no autorizada sino como de otro modo proporcionado por la ley aplicable.)

  1. Changes in TCP Policy – TCP has modified its policy related to the customers’ propane gas system. Please be advised of the following:
    1. Customer has been and continues to be solely responsible for all aspect’s of customer’s gas system (i.e., piping and appliances, both indoor and outdoor, located beyond TCP’s gas meter).  This responsibility includes installation, start-up, inspection, overall servicing, and record-keeping. TCP servicemen will continue to inspect and service TCP’s gas system piping up to and including TCP’s gas meter located outside customer’s home; however, effective January 3, 2023, TCP servicemen will no longer go inside customer’s home or be involved in any way with any outdoor customer gas lines or appliances located beyond TCP’s gas meter, or maintain records regarding same. TCP’s responsibility ends at its gas meter and customer is solely responsible for customer’s gas system.
    2. TCP strongly recommends you contact a licensed propane professional to install, start-up, inspect, and service your gas system in its entirety beyond TCP’s gas meter, at intervals no less than at least each heating season, and any time you suspect any of your appliances may not be working properly or smell gas and suspect a possible gas leak. Companies providing these services may be found on our website, from the Texas Railroad Commission, or generally online, although TCP does not endorse any particular company. Even if your gas system has appeared to safely operate in the past (e.g., oven, cooktop, furnace, water heater, fireplace, dryer, grill, pool heater, etc.), an unknown significant hazard may currently still exist with one or more of these appliances and/or your gas piping. These licensed propane professionals are best able to confirm your customer gas system is in good, safe operating condition (e.g., properly installed, converted, vented, flame adjusted, in good operating and maintained condition). Note, although TCP personnel may have previously entered your home on a limited basis and as a courtesy, their assistance was very limited in scope and was not intended to replace your need to engage a licensed propane professional to thoroughly review all aspects of a customer’s gas system and should not be relied upon as such.
    3. TCP has and continues to endeavor to provide reliable, safe gas service to our customers up to TCP’s gas meter, but not beyond, located at its customer’s home or business.  Our call center and emergency number remains available 24 hours per day to respond to gas emergencies in conjunction with local fire departments.
  2. Confirm Your Email Address and Primary Contact Phone Number is Correct.  When gas-related emergencies occur, we often send important information to our affected customers via email and/or via phone call.  Please email our office (email@texascommunitypropane.com) and confirm that the email address we have for your account is accurate (or to let us know what new email address you prefer we use) and to confirm your primary contact phone number is accurate (or to let us know what new phone number you prefer we use).  This will ensure that you can receive emergency information regarding gas related issues from us via email and/or phone.
  3. Website: Our website is available for viewing at www.texascommunitypropane.com. You can download forms and view important safety and other information. Our website also has a link to a third-party vendor where you may pay your bill online. You are strongly encouraged to visit our website to familiarize and educate yourself with important safety information about propane gas.
  4. Important Safety Information: You are instructed to take a moment to read the enclosed safety-related items which address dangers associated with a propane gas system and methods to avoid injury and or death from gas related issues:
    1. Carbon Monoxide v22.12
    2. Odorant Fade v22.12
  5. DO NOT Heat Your House with a Cooktop or Oven. Remember that ovens and cooktops are not designed or intended to heat your house. Using them to act as a space heater creates a safety hazard that risks bodily injury and/or death.
  6. Safety Winterization. Please remember that gas consumption increases significantly in the colder months. In some homes, over 75% of the home’s annual gas consumption occurs during the coldest four months of the year. We strongly encourage that you to have a licensed propane professional visit your home to inspect all your gas appliances, both indoor and outdoor (including appliance venting), to ensure they are operating properly. The expense is worth the peace of mind knowing your gas appliances are operating safely and efficiently. Companies providing these services may be found on our website, from the Texas Railroad Commission, or generally online.
  7. Call Before You Dig! Gas lines are buried on your property. Do not dig until the gas lines have been marked with yellow paint and/or yellow flags by TCP. The law requires you to call “TEXAS 811” at 8-1-1 to request that your gas lines be marked before you dig. This is a free call and a free service! If you fail to call before you dig, re-call if no markings occur, and wait until all underground lines are marked, you will be responsible for the costs to repair damaged lines, lost gas, reconnect charges, etc. if you fail to comply with all the ONECALL regulations. Please see Texas 811’s website: http://texas811.org/homeowner for applicable rules concerning digging around marked lines.
  8. Gas Leak Reminder: If you smell gas, experience low or no gas pressure, suspect a gas leak, or your gas detection alarm sounds, immediately evacuate everyone from your home to a safe distance away from the home and immediately call your fire department. Then call us at 1-877-635-5427 and we will come turn your gas meter off. Do not do anything that could create a spark. Do not turn anything on or off. Do not try to locate the leak yourself. Any such activity could cause an unintended ignition resulting in injury or death.
  9. Propane Conversion Required: It is unsafe and a fire hazard to burn propane gas in any appliance that has not been converted for propane use. Do Not Use a natural gas appliance in your home UNLESS it has been professionally converted for Propane Use. You are instructed that you are required to contact a licensed propane professional to ensure your appliances, both indoor and outdoor, are equipped with the appropriate propane gas conversion kit. Texas law now requires that the following notice be provided to our customers:

WARNING: Flammable Gas. The installation, modification, or repair of an LPG (propane) system by a person who is not licensed or registered to install, modify, or repair an LPG system may cause injury, harm, or loss. Contact a person licensed or registered to install, modify, or repair an LPG system. A person licensed to install or repair an LPG system may not be liable for damages caused by the modification of an LPG system by an unlicensed person except as otherwise provided by applicable law.

 

  1. Cooktops/Range Adjustment. When operating properly, your gas cooktop/range should produce a “blue” flame. There should be NO “SOOT” on your pans or oven and NO constant yellow tip on the flame of your burners. If you notice soot or constant yellow tips, your cooktop/range may be producing a potentially deadly gas (i.e.,Carbon Monoxide) and is in need of additional adjustment and conversion, you are advised to cease using the subject appliance and to call a licensed propane professional to come inspect and make any necessary repairs. Do not use the appliance until it is repaired. It is a dangerous appliance that could cause injury and/or death.
  2. Identifying Company Employees: All Texas Community Propane, Ltd. employees will announce themselves at your door and stand so that you can see them through your peephole. Each will wear our company’s Photo ID Badge on their chest so that you can identify them without opening your door. Additionally, all our meter readers wear a vest bearing our company name. Please contact our office at 512-272-5503 if you have any doubt or want to verify any person representing our company.
  3. Payment Methods. We offer convenient payment options: auto draft (free service to you), auto draft with a credit card (fee to third party), check via mail, check via your online banking, online check or credit card (fee to third party), and cash payments through Money Gram only (our company code is #11785). Online check payments returned for any reason may be charged a Return Check Fee. Call our office for setting up Auto Draft, there is a form to be signed. Please be aware Payment Scams may exist in your area. Texas Community Propane does NOT have a pay by phone system. While we may call you as a courtesy to inform you of a past due bill, we will not request you pay by phone. If in doubt – please contact the office at 512-272-5503.
  4. Shrubbery, Fencing and Meter Access: We need your help in ensuring that our employees and emergency responders can safely and quickly access our gas meter at your home. Please keep all shrubbery trimmed back at least 30” from the sides of meter loop and 3 feet above the meter loop and do not place any fencing within 3 feet of the meter or between the meter and the street.
  5. Disconnect Policy Reminder: Past due accounts or accounts in violation of other TCP policy (e.g., meter access blocked by fencing or shrubbery) are subject to disconnection of service. If disconnection occurs, the past due amount, plus a reconnect fee, plus an additional deposit if due to past due account, will be required before reconnection. A service call from the Company to the service address during normal business hours will be necessary to reconnect gas service and this service call will usually not be available until the next business day or later after the request.