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USA Gas Inc.
October 1, 2009 By: Brian Richesson LPGasUSA Gas Inc. is a family owned company in every sense of the word. It’s not unusual for Heather Gates to answer the office telephone while cradling her 8-month-old son, Dawson, in her arms or keeping a close eye on her other two children and nephew.
“It’s neat to be with my family all day long, raise my baby and have a career in propane,” says Gates, who runs the company with her father, brother and husband. Her father founded the company in 1992. “We all do a little bit of everything,” she says.
USA Gas is a unique company in that propane delivery routes are run three months out of the year – August, December and January. The company is based in north Georgia, about 30 miles southeast of Chattanooga, Tenn., and serves 1,800 customers in a five-county area.
“Today is September 2, and every customer we have is completely full,” Gates says last month, right after the first wave of deliveries were made.
USA Gas serves a variety of customers – including commercial, agricultural and industrial – but delivers mostly to residential accounts with its four bobtails.
“Customers love us checking on them because they know when cold weather comes we’ll have been there and they’re already full,” Gates says.
“They know when their bill is going to be due, and it also cuts their gas bill in thirds because instead of running completely out and buying a whole tank, we’re coming at three different times of the year.”
Gates says the route-running setup benefits the customer and company. Tanks are full for the year’s first cold spell, and customers aren’t forced to keep a close eye on their levels.
If a customer does need propane between routes, USA Gas knows the tank size is incorrect and will make adjustments. The process is easier on the company’s trucks as miles are reduced and driver overtime eliminated. As a result, USA Gas can pass those savings to the customer in cheaper propane prices, Gates says.
The company also considers this: Why cut into family time and weekends when the delivery process can be done more efficiently?
When it’s not delivering propane, USA Gas provides pressure checks and other service for customers as part of its annual program. It also handles installations and performs maintenance on equipment during off months.
“We’re a service company, and the customer always comes first,” says Gates, noting that it also offers budget billing plans to customers.
LOCATION: Dalton, Ga.
FOUNDED: 1992
EMPLOYEES: 9
CUSTOMERS: 1,800
GALLONS SOLD: About 900,000 per year
SPECIALTY: Propane deliveries are made only three months out of the year – August, December and January.