Instructions for Completing Safety Reimbursement Rebate

  1. Scan/copy your safety receipts and save them to your computer.
  2. Go to the Propane Control Room “Programs” tab.
  3. From the dropdown menu, click “Safety Reimbursement Rebate.”
    • Note: you should not have to search for your account. Your screen should be for your account only.

Here, it will show your current dollars available as well as your eligible safety reimbursement dollars for the prior year.

Choose your reimbursement based on Customer Focus, Marketer Training and/or Custom Safety Programs.

Finally, upload your safety receipts you saved. You can access them by:

  1. Choosing the file
  2. Uploading the file and
  3. Submitting the file

To learn more about the Safety Reimbursement Program, click here to watch our webinar.

Training the next wave of Propane Champions

This spring, two “Become a Propane Champion” seminars, coordinated by CHS propane, brought energy leaders from across the CHS footprint together for a customized day of industry learning. But attendees weren’t just there to learn about the latest market trends.

“There are so many new opportunities and growth areas coming up, especially in the autogas space, but it can be a maze to navigate. It’s overwhelming just finding where to start,” says Kenton Sonnenburg, CHS Propane energy equipment manager. “This event is all about explaining what’s out there, how to go after it, and how we can help.”

Experts from industry leaders like ROUSH Performance, ICOM North America, and Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) were on-site to break down the process of converting vehicles to autogas, how to design the right dispenser, emerging opportunities to grow gallons in the combined heat and power market space and how to tap into local paratransit fleets (with dedicated city and state funding and a crop of vehicles that are typically easily converted to autogas technology, the niche makes for a promising up-and-coming market).

And to help put those potential leads into action, attendees also learned the building blocks for creating  an individualized propane-powered marketing plan and how to make the most of budgeting propane dollars.

“The goal is to provide the intel and training these attendees need to go back to their business or co-op and serve as their team’s resident propane-powered specialist,” says Sonnenburg. “Whether you work in a cooperative or you’re a propane marketer, you need that go-to point person on the team who can answer questions like “I’d like to convert my fleet, where do I start” or “As I invest in infrastructure, can I put a dispenser in my yard? Is it safe?” and understand how to at least take the first step with those opportunities.”

The seminar also highlighted how CHS can be a consultative partner for these new propane champions, providing additional support and expertise wherever needed, including key services like grant writing support. 

“It takes a village. There’s no way to have all the answers, but that’s where CHS can help guide you, figure out those next steps and set you up with our partners and resources. If you don’t have the answer, we can connect you to the expert who does. These champions act as the central contact for their business, but CHS fills that role for them,” says Sonnenburg.


New marketing program will help you grow your gallons

Increasing your sales volume is an obvious way to increase your propane profit potential. But in today’s competitive markets, sales managers can often feel like they’ve hit a wall. “One of the best solutions is to enlist dedicated marketing professionals to help in revising your market plan and approach,” says Andy Ernst, CHS propane market development and marketing manager.

“To help propane retailers find and access new marketing options to increase their propane business, CHS propane has developed the Gallon Grower Program,” he says. “It includes the use of marketing consultants, collateral and tools designed to help identify and target specific propane markets.”

Next-level marketing

For retailers willing to commit to purchasing a percentage of their propane from CHS Propane, the company is offering its new Gallon Grower Program. “This new program delivers an industry-leading premium package of marketing resources,” says Ernst. “Some of the first customers that have enrolled in the Gallon Grower Program say it has been critical in helping them focus their marketing goals and target potential customer segments on the best growth opportunities.”

There are several key components to the new program:

  1. Marketing consultant. Beginning with an on-site visit, this expert helps in identifying a target market with the greatest potential to maximize returns, and in developing or revising a marketing plan. Quarterly follow-ups help to benchmarking goals and implement your plan, including developing employee skills and project leadership.
  2. Pricing analysis. An online program called Market Sight enables propane marketers to display historic rack pricing at authorized supply terminals and input forward contract pricing to create customizable charts, making it easy to explain to end-user customers the benefits of forward contracting.
  3. Autogas expertise. Having access to a CHS Business Development Manager allows you to tap into experts with industry contacts and the latest information on fleet and school bus propane-powered opportunities and federal funding programs.
  4. Ad share dollars. Earn marketing dollars based on propane gallons purchased from CHS Propane during the fiscal year. These rebate dollars can be used on marketing tools to help promote business growth:
    • Research – Conduct a CHS Energy Delivery Dialed-in (EDDi) study to improve truck routing and tank efficiencies.
    • M&A analysis – Work with a specialized consultant who can help to valuate a potential propane acquisition or merger.
    • Digital marketing – Access Lorex, a vendor that creates technology-based, customized marketing programs using tools such as geofencing.
    • Marketing materials – Access to customizable unbranded advertising materials and marketing collateral, including print ads, web banners, postcards, radio ads, billboards and door hangers.
    The Gallon Grower program provides access to autogas experts that have the latest knowledge on fleet school bus propane-powered opportunities to help grow your gallons.

    The new Gallon Grower Program offers the next level of resources for those retailers looking to grow their propane business.”

    Learn more about the new CHS Propane Gallon Grower Program by contacting your CHS account manager.