EMA FILES OBJECTIONS TO PROPOSED FEE SETTLEMENT
The Energy Marketers of America (EMA) filed objections to a newly proposed settlement of a swipe fee case brought by a merchant class that accepted Visa or Mastercard credit cards between December 18, 2020 and the present, according to CEMA Pipeline, the newsletter of the Connecticut Energy Marketers Association:
A federal court in New York rejected an earlier version of the settlement, and EMA views the new one now before the court as equally bad for merchants. The thrust of EMA’s objections is that the latest version of the settlement provides only a temporary and unworkable solution to the problems caused by excessive interchange fees, while permanently restricting merchants’ legal rights.
The fee reduction of a tenth of a percent is negligible, and the 1.25% cap on interchange fees is only temporary and can easily be manipulated by the card companies that raise the network and other fees they collect. Visa and Mastercard would also retain centralized control over interchange fees and restrictive acceptance rules.
While the settlement would allow merchants to decline rewards cards, the card companies could add rewards to all their cards (even small and insignificant ones), which would make the right to decline rewards cards meaningless. And in return for these so-called “benefits,” merchants would have to give up all their rights to sue Visa and Mastercard.
EMA also believes that even a bad settlement would be touted by Visa and Mastercard as a major achievement that they could use to kill the Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA) now pending in Congress. EMA has worked hard to support the CCCA as representing a real reform of the system and a significant step forward for its retailer-members. For more on the proposed settlement turn to page 18 in this issue.
NEADA: HOUSE BILL INCLUDES INCREASE FOR LIHEAP
The House Appropriations Committee released its draft Labor/HHS funding bill, which includes LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The draft would provide $4.045B for LIHEAP, an increase of $20 million from fiscal year (FY) 2025, the National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association said in a Jan. 20 statement.
Last year, both the House and the Senate proposed small increases for LIHEAP for FY2026. $4.045B is the number from the Senate, the higher of the two proposals, NEADA said.
The bill also includes language requiring HHS to explain how it plans to operate the program considering the staffing cuts last spring:
“The agreement directs ACF to brief the Committees within 30 days of enactment of this Act on the staffing levels of the Office of Community Services, including information on the workforce in the LIHEAP office, and how ACF will be addressing any vacancies to support State heating and cooling assistance programs, distribute LIHEAP funding in a timely and accurate manner, and complete the LIHEAP Formula Report as requested in Senate Report 119-55.”
Once a final funding bill is passed, HHS can release all remaining LIHEAP funds. If this funding level holds, states will get the remaining 10% plus $20 million.
The National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) is an educational and policy organization for state directors of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a federal program that helps low-income families pay their heating and cooling bills.
This news is reprinted from the NEADA website (www.neada.org). It has been slightly edited for clarity and length.
PREVIEW: NPGA EXPO
The 2026 Southeastern & International Propane Expo will take place Sunday, April 19 - Tuesday, April 21 at the Music City Center in Nashville, TN.
Make new business contacts and connect with colleagues, old and new, at valuable networking events offered each day at the Expo. Choose from more than 40 education session or workshops. Discover more than 250 suppliers of goods and services. Expo offers the largest array of propane-related products and services in the world; all in one convenient location.
Here are selected education highlights. Note that for some sessions and events additional fees apply. For complete information, visit www.npgaexpo.org/2026. Descriptions of the following sessions, events and presenters are reprinted from the NPGA Expo website.
Hazardous Materials Awareness & HM126F Certification for Propane Distributors
NPGA presents the new hazardous materials awareness certification course. This training provides propane distributors with essential knowledge and certification under HM126F requirements. Participants will gain an understanding of hazardous materials awareness, safe propane handling, and transportation compliance standards. The session emphasizes regulatory responsibilities, risk reduction, and practical safety procedures to ensure distributors operate with confidence, professionalism, and full compliance.
Propane distributors require employees to have Hazardous Materials (HazMat)
Awareness and HM126F certification to comply with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations. The DOT requires this training for anyone involved in the transportation of propane, including drivers, those preparing shipping papers, and personnel involved in packaging, labeling, or loading. The training must be completed within 90 days of employment, with recurrent training required every three years, and covers general awareness, function-specific duties, safety, and security.
The session will be led by: Tom Mullaney, Vice President of Risk Engineering, Aegis General Energy; Mike Tanner, Field Supervisor, Aegis General Energy.
WIP Leadership Forum @ Expo
Fueling Growth from Within: Strengthening Trust, Visibility, and Influence Across the Propane Industry
Growth in the propane industry doesn’t just happen in the marketplace. It also depends on how well professionals influence, collaborate, and gain buy-in inside their organizations. Whether you are selling a product, leading a team, or championing a critical initiative, the ability to build trust and strengthen relationships is essential to making progress.
In this interactive workshop, participants will learn how growth shows up in every role, from driving external business opportunities to advancing internal projects and culture. We’ll practice practical networking strategies for both industry events and internal meetings, learn how to build an intentional rhythm of outreach with clients and colleagues, and uncover the small but powerful actions that deepen trust and inspire collaboration.
This session also highlights what it means to lead with a growth mindset at every level, equipping participants with tools to influence across roles, locations, and generations. Participants will leave with strategies that can be applied immediately, along with an accountability challenge to keep the momentum going beyond the forum.
Join us at the 2026 Leadership Forum, presented by the Women in Propane Council, for a two-and-a-half-hour experiential workshop designed to strengthen your influence, visibility, and impact in every conversation you have.
You will learn to:
Describe the role of individual contributors and leaders in driving both external business opportunities and internal change initiatives.
Apply intentional networking and visibility strategies to strengthen relationships with clients, colleagues, and stakeholders.
Build an outreach rhythm that fosters stronger communication, connection, and trust.
Demonstrate everyday leadership behaviors that inspire collaboration and encourage follow-through.
Adopt techniques to lead growth-minded teams and influence outcomes across functions and generations.
The speaker, Sean Hand, is the founder of Selling By Hand, a business development consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations harness the power of relationship selling to exceed their most ambitious sales goals.
Sean is a best-selling author on relationship development, with his book That Was Awkward: 7 Secrets of an Awkward Networker reaching Amazon’s Best Sellers List. He is also a keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, delivering programs that focus on authentic connection, sales growth, and networking strategies that drive measurable results.
Prior to founding Selling By Hand, Sean spent 15 years at a Big 4 consulting firm, where he became the youngest Senior Director of Business Development in the company’s history. During his tenure, he earned numerous awards and was directly responsible for closing more than $150 million in new business in his final six years.
Sean’s work spans a wide range of industries, where he has partnered with professionals across corporate, nonprofit, and academic sectors to strengthen relationships, accelerate business growth, and inspire lasting change.
Powering the Digital Age: A Propane Pathway for Data Centers
Data centers are rapidly emerging as one of the most energy-intensive sectors of the U.S. economy, driving demand that is straining utility infrastructure and complicating regulatory compliance. This session will examine how interconnection delays, emissions mandates, and resilience requirements are reshaping energy strategies for data center operators. It will explore the potential role of propane in meeting these challenges, highlighting its advantages in storage, delivery, and environmental performance compared to diesel and grid electricity, as well as potential obstacles. Participants will gain insight into market trends, policy developments, and technological pathways that position propane as a viable solution for powering the digital economy.
Marketing That Works: Real Strategies from Real Propane Marketers
Speakers include: David O’Connell, president, Wilson Oil & Propane; Kyle Price, Chief Operating Officer, Davenport Propane; and Scott Prewitt, Regional Vice President, Blossman Gas.
Veteran propane marketers share how they’re using modern strategies to attract customers, boost equipment sales, and recruit new talent. Moderated by Ben Gutkin of Warm Thoughts Communications, this panel offers real-world examples and practical takeaways. Learn how leading companies are updating their websites, digital ads, and messaging to compete more effectively and drive measurable results in today’s challenging market.
U.S. Propane Markets – Increased Production and Exports
Kristen Holmquist, Managing Director of Analytics, RBN Energy, is the speaker. The supply of propane in the U.S. continues to grow, especially in Texas, driven by production in the Permian Basin. Rig counts are down year-on-year, but NGL production has continued to rise. Domestic demand for propane appears to have stagnated, so exports have grown to more than 70% of the total markets. Will the lack of growth in rigs affect the outlook for propane supply? Are there going to be changes in propane supplied from refineries? How will exports grow in the coming years, and will there be any impact on the domestic market? We will also examine the impact of the U.S./China tariffs on the propane market.
Driving Safety Forward: Elevating Fleet Operations as a Strategic Safety Asset
Erin Gilchrist, founder, Fleet Unfiltered Consulting, will discuss safe fleet operations: It’s no secret that the propane and gas industry is prone to many safety challenges such as aging infrastructure, transportation hazards, and improper training. Especially when it comes to fleet operations, safety is more than a compliance box: it’s a pillar of success. This session will spotlight how integrating fleet safety into your broader safety and standards program not only mitigates risk but also drives operational efficiency and long-term profitability. Drawing on her decades of experience in fleet management and safety leadership, Erin Gilchrist will explore how propane companies can transform and modernize their fleet programs into proactive safety engines.
The Residential Heating Market – What’s Ahead for Propane?
Speakers will include Alex Beecher, Director of Marketing, R.E. Michel Co/Dealers LP. Propane’s residential heating market has been threatened by advancements in heat pump technology, decarbonization policy, and a growing electrification narrative in the HVAC industry. What can the propane marketer do to protect the residential heating market? In this session, you will hear from a panel of experts from the HVAC industry and manufacturers of home appliances who will provide an assessment of the policy, technology, and energy preference trends that are impacting residential energy.
• Heat pump data
• Heat pump backup systems data
• Propane gas furnace data
• Heat pump technology improvements
• Electric and propane cost forecast
• Electric supply and demand balance forecast
Fueling Engagement: Creating Social Media Content That Builds Your Brand
Speakers will be Alex Young, Senior Category Marketing Specialist, Propane Products, Worthington Enterprises, and Chelsea Uphaus, Director of Marketing, ROUSH CleanTech. In today’s digital world, having a presence on social media is no longer optional—it’s essential. Not sure what to post on social media—or where to even start? You’re not alone. This session will break down how to create effective, engaging content tailored for platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Learn how to turn everyday operations, safety messages, customer stories, and product updates into compelling posts that build brand awareness and foster trust. This session will also explore simple, proven ways to market your propane business offline.
• What kinds of content perform best in the propane space
• How to plan and organize a simple content calendar
• Tips for creating engaging photos, videos, and captions
• Tools and resources for small teams with limited time
• How to get started with basic advertising efforts
• Offline marketing ideas: open houses, event sponsorships, community outreach
• Best practices for creating flyers, brochures, and signage that support your brand
You Paid 100% for Your Software – Why Are You Only Using 25%?
Your software is one of your most significant investments—but most companies are only scratching the surface of what their BOS (Back Office System) can do. This panel introduces the core principles of Enterprise Data Management (EDM) and explores how propane and fuel marketers can unlock real financial performance through the more innovative use of data, effective pricing strategies, operational efficiency, and enhanced team performance.l FON