Living semi-Amish. 2023 is the year that keeps giving. Our propane was out for almost four days, meaning we had no central heat, hot water, or cooktop. Over the last few weeks, I have learned that we can’t depend on public utilities. While we are well set up on the ranch for outages, we need to make changes. We learned what we can depend on is friends, family, and the kindness of others.
Keep smiling, keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me, for sure
That’s what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I’ll be on your side forever more
That’s what friends are for
Dionne Warwick, “That’s what friends are for.”
Campora should have delivered propane three weeks ago; this is the second time they have run us out of propane in six weeks. In between, we went through Five Ducking Days with no electricity, central heat, or water.
Between propane and power outages, out of nineteen days this year, we have been without central heat, hot water, and a combination of no water, power, and cooktop or oven for nine days. In addition, we have crazy snow, floods, and 0-degree nights.
I called the propane office multiple times on days one and two. I was told they would deliver later that day… if they had time and the road met their specifications. I was gone carrying for my mom after surgery and Hubby was at work, so he couldn’t plow the roads. I messaged my friend Suni for advice, and Hal and Timberline Enterprises came to our rescue and plowed the road within a few hours. I notified Campora the road was plowed, but still no delivery. Day two was the same, we were put on the schedule if they had time, and the road was plowed. Again, no delivery.
I was done with calls on day three and walked into the propane office. They said they had changed systems and estimated our propane (heat) usage in June. They asked me to send them a driveway picture as the driver said our road was inaccessible. I thankfully took a picture that morning and showed the office. They said the driveway was fine and they would send out an experienced driver, and we would get a delivery that night. We thought it would be another night without central heat, but they delivered at the end of the day.
Thank heaven, I’m a country girl. We used the camp shower filled with an electric tea kettle for showers. Cooking was on my butane camp stove. Upstairs, we have a pellet stove and recirculated air on the other side. This brought the temperature from 41 to 49 degrees! Downstairs we had the fireplace and multiple space heaters.
Early in the evening, we noticed while the propane tank was now half full, we had no pressure in the house. The stove top was barely running, the furnace cycled on the off without heat, and the water heater would not stay lit. There was a strong propane smell in the garage, so we called the after-hours emergency line. A tech from out of the area walked us through options, but none helped. He came out in the dark, it took time, but he got the system running. I sent him back to the hotel with a bag of snacks, water, and something for when he was off-call.
Other companies can’t legally fill the tank, and none will let us change until spring. Another local propane company stopped delivering, closed their offices, and never notified clients. I don’t know how many people are out of heat during this crazy cold time. It sounds like everyone locally at Campora quit; they brought in staff from out of the area. The office said they are bringing a team to get caught up this weekend.
I have learned is we can’t depend on utility companies. What we can rely on are our friends. The power and propane company took days to repair. But from day one, our friends were there immediately with help, generators, heaters, hot coffee, showers, warm beds… even an offer of an entire house. Even strangers and followers I haven’t met in person have made amazing offers of help. I am so fortunate to live in such a wonderful community and have so many friends, in person and online!
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