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After you get a propane delivery from Broco Energy or turn on your gas appliance, did you ever stop to think about where that propane comes from in the first place?
Propane is created through the processing of natural gas and crude oil, and it’s a fuel that is largely a domestic product. In fact, about 90% of the American propane supply is generated in the United States. This abundant, right-at-home supply makes propane a reliable fuel choice for your New England home or business, and all of its propane-powered appliances and equipment, throughout the year.
Some propane is created during the process of crude oil refining. During the stabilization phase of the refining process, heavier hydrocarbons fall to the bottom. But propane, being a lighter hydrocarbon, is at the top and it’s easily extracted.
Crude oil refining, however, actually plays a small role in the production of propane. The majority of propane is now derived today from natural gas production. When natural gas is taken out of the earth, it is a mix of different gases. One of these gases is propane.
To stop condensation from forming in natural gas pipelines, propane is extracted from liquid compounds as the natural gas is being processed. Butane is also extracted during this process. Propane, being much denser as a liquid than as a gas, is stored and transported as a liquid in this form of production.
Natural gas can only get to your home through an underground pipeline. But if something goes wrong with that pipeline, you can’t get any gas.
Propane gas is easier to move around because it gets compressed, or squeezed until it turns into a liquid. It is then put inside large storage facilities and Broco Energy delivers it right to your home’s propane tank.
The compression of propane can be compared to the air in a car tire, which gets squeezed to about two or three times the normal air pressure. But the gas in a propane tank gets squeezed about 100 times more than that. This is why even a small residential tank can provide a lot of propane gas for your home.
Broco Energy technicians are trained to keep you and your family safe – it’s our number one priority. Our staff is certified by the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA), in cooperation with the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). Propane has an excellent safety record, and we’re proud to be a part of that.
Propane is an ideal fuel for many purposes, even beyond your water heater and heating your home with your furnace, boiler, heater or fireplace. It’s also useful for stoves and clothes dryers as well as for outdoor use, including pool heating and outside lighting. And peace of mind is never far off when you have a propane-fueled generator to get you through power outages.
Did you know that homes that are powered by electricity are much less energy efficient than those running on propane? Since propane naturally burns hotter, it feels warmer, and the energy produced creates a larger impact. Your energy bills will cost less with such an efficient fuel working for you, especially when paired with propane appliances.
Please reach out to us if you would like to become a customer and get a propane delivery.
Bioheat® fuel is a blend of biodiesel and traditional petroleum-based heating oil that has an ultra-low sulfur content. Biodiesel, which is made from vegetable oils, animal fats and other renewable materials, is considered a biogenic fuel that reduces carbon output 100%.
That’s because the combustion of biofuels and other biogenic energy sources actually recycle carbon dioxide emissions through renewable plant materials and other biomass feedstocks. This is putting us on the real path to achieving net-zero carbon emissions in the years ahead.
Renewable, clean, cutting-edge and energy-efficient, Bioheat fuel requires no modification of your present heating oil system. Consumers who use Bioheat fuel benefit from:
The production process for Bioheat fuel has many benefits. It diverts waste products from landfills and puts them to good use.
The production process puts excess oils and fats to good use. Food is never sacrificed for fuel in the production of Bioheat fuel. It’s sourced and produced right here in the United States, supporting local farmers, local industries and local economies.
Bioheat fuel has a significant advantage over other so-called “green” home heating products: it’s available right now, heating both homes and domestic water today — all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The overall goal is to transition to even higher levels of Bioheat fuel, which will further reduce our carbon footprint and actually turn heating oil into a carbon-neutral energy source.
In fact, the entire Northeast heating oil industry has resolved to achieve a 15% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2023, a 40% reduction by 2030, and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. We are well on our way along that path.
With a solid partnership in place with our trusted supplier, REG, we expect to keep increasing our blend levels – eventually to B100 (100% biodiesel) to all of our residential customers in New England.
We have already upgraded our facilities to increase blending capacity, including extra storage tanks to accommodate 150,000 gallons of B100 heated storage that will be blended into 200,000 gallons of heating oil storage and 50,000 gallons of diesel storage.
REG is an international producer of cleaner fuels and North America’s largest producer of biodiesel. REG utilizes an integrated procurement, distribution and logistics network to operate 12 biorefineries in the U.S. and Europe.
In 2020, REG produced 519 million gallons of cleaner fuel, resulting in a 4.2 million metric tons of carbon reduction. REG is meeting the growing global demand for lower-carbon fuels and helping Broco Energy to do our part to assure a more sustainable future.
You may be able to enjoy all of Bioheat fuel’s benefits right now with your next heating oil delivery when you become a Broco Energy customer.
Learn more about the benefits of Bioheat fuel.
Broco Energy’s Priority 1 Team always remains on-call! That’s because Broco Energy is certified for emergency response– including emergency fuel delivery– by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as well as the Coast Guard.
We are also contracted as the emergency fuel provider for the Massachusetts Energy Marketers Association (MEMA). Taking advantage of partnerships that we have established throughout the country, our Priority 1 emergency-response team can be found on the scene wherever we’re needed, providing immediate emergency fuel deliveries until the trucks we’ve deployed arrive on site.
Qualified to respond to all levels of emergencies, our team consists of experienced fuel-truck drivers and fuel logistics coordinators. We can handle extreme weather events and other high-pressure situations, offering critical fuel support when it’s needed most.
But disaster relief means more than just oil trucks and supplies. Our response also includes manpower and logistics coordinators who will send oil tanks, conduct remote monitoring, and schedule emergency fuel service and deliveries as needed throughout the duration of the incident.
In 2017, Broco Energy was activated to assist and provide relief efforts for FEMA in Florida during Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. That was the beginning of our national Priority 1 emergency-response team.
We left from Boston with six oil tank trucks loaded with diesel and gasoline to provide fuel for priority facilities on a 24-hour basis. We stationed our trucks at local hospitals for generator refueling and at designated fueling points to assist the Urban Search & Rescue Task Force.
The following year, with Broco Energy as the prime fuel contractor, the Priority 1 team supplied generators that provided much-needed heat to thousands of residents left without natural gas service after multiple natural gas explosions occurred in the Merrimack Valley.
We started by teaming up with fire departments on the scene, and then, once the incident was stabilized, we handled fixing the gas main.
That complex operation lasted from September into the winter. Broco Energy provided fuel for more than 500 generators 24 hours a day for over three months, until new natural gas lines and equipment could be installed. For this incident, we had dedicated fuel-logistics coordinators who managed the fueling cycle of the generators on a daily basis.
These are just a few examples. Broco Energy remains ready to respond to and assist any community hit by power outages after natural or manmade disasters with emergency fueling and Priority 1 delivery service– every day of the year.
Broco Energy’s Priority 1 emergency-response team offers emergency response to anyone. If you have an immediate need, call our 24-hour disaster-response hotline at 781-246-1130.
Read more about our emergency fuel services.
At Broco Energy, we stand by our commitment to providing homes and commercial operations– as well as municipalities and government-contracted efforts–with the fuel they need, no matter what.
We respond to your fuel needs with experience and expertise. Our team has the equipment necessary to get the job done, and we’re ready to establish the most cost-effective way for you to purchase your fuel—no exceptions!
Heating oil tanks can last for decades, but like anything else, they eventually need to be replaced. Life spans vary depending on the humidity in the environment, the thickness of the tank’s wall and other factors. When tanks do fail, it’s hard to see it coming, because they generally erode from the inside out.
That’s why it’s a good idea to have them checked periodically by a professional since cleaning up a tank leak can be incredibly expensive.
Today’s heating oil tanks come in a range of sizes and shapes. The heating oil pros at Broco Energy can help you find the most suitable heating oil tank and get it installed quickly and correctly.
Two numbers are vital to know: the capacity of the tank (measured in gallons) and the dimensions of the tank (depth, width, and height). Newer tanks usually have the capacity listed on the nameplate. With an older tank, you’ll have to calculate the dimensions to estimate the capacity.
Although aboveground heating oil tank sizes can include everything from 288, 340, 420, 500, 550, 675 and 1,000 gallons, the most common size for a residential heating oil tank is 275 gallons. The shape of the tank can be either vertical (called a 275V) or horizontal (275H). It’s important to note, however, that a 275-gallon tank cannot hold that much fuel. Some space—usually 15-20%–must be left free to compensate for air and debris inside the heating oil tank.
In cold climates like ours, few heating oil tanks are kept outdoors because heating oil can thicken and gel in extreme cold. Although additives and kerosene blends (also known as winter blends), can slow gelling, the better solution is to locate your heating oil tank indoors, typically in the basement.
A general industry rule-of-thumb is that one or two-bedroom homes typically require a 275-gallon heating oil tank; three- or four- bedroom homes need a 300 to 500-gallon tank.
Available space. Some homes cannot accommodate larger heating oil tanks; you’ll need to have your space measured before deciding on your replacement tank.
Current and future family size. As your family grows, so does your fuel consumption.
Lifestyle. Do you spend long vacations away from home? Do you have elderly relatives living with you who need a warmer house? These are among the factors that will affect how frequent your heating oil delivery will be– and how big a heating oil tank you should get.
As a full-service heating oil company, Broco Energy can assure you that you’ll save a lot of headaches — and avoid equipment issues down the line — if you bring in certified professionals to replace your heating oil tank.
Not only can we offer you a wide selection of heating oil tanks and the knowledge to install them correctly and efficiently, our installers are also experienced in the best ways to transfer your existing fuel and dispose of the old tank.
Our reliable team of heating oil professionals will work with you from the beginning to ensure that you have the right size for your heating needs, your heating system and the size of your home.
Once your tank is selected, our expert installation team will adhere to all industry regulations, guidelines and codes to handle a proper heating oil tank installation that’s safe and efficient.
Check with Broco Energy to make sure that your heating oil tank is properly inspected and maintained. You will also need to upgrade at the right time—before you run into an expensive issue that could have been avoided.
Are you ready for a new heating oil tank? See if you’re in the Broco Energy service area, and then contact us to get started.
Whether it’s a high-efficiency boiler or furnace, a plentiful supply of hot water, temperature-precise cooking stoves, or emergency whole-house generators, you can rely on all of these benefits in your propane home in the same way people do in homes supplied with natural gas.
However, there are some key differences between these two popular home heating fuels.
Consumer surveys have shown that people like heating their homes and water with propane because they know they will have a dependable supply available whenever they need it. Having a propane tank on their property gives them the ability to store a plentiful amount that’s always ready for immediate use.
Natural gas customers don’t get that type of security. It seems as if every winter, there are stories about interruptions in natural gas service somewhere in the country because of pipeline problems. These problems are caused by extremely cold weather, accidents, or deterioration.
Propane has a distinct edge over traditional natural gas because of the way it’s transported and stored. After propane gets compressed into a liquid, becoming what’s called liquid petroleum gas (LPG), all of it gets stored inside large tanks until Broco Energy makes a delivery to your home.
Liquid propane changes to gas before it leaves the on-site storage tank, getting released slowly and safely through pressure regulators. Compare that to the delivery system of natural gas. If an underground natural gas pipeline gets damaged—or other problems occur—hundreds and even thousands of customers may lose their supply until the gas utility completes repairs.
Serious environmental issues have been raised about methane leaks coming from the processing of natural gas. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas and the main component of natural gas. In its original form, propane is not a greenhouse gas and it’s considered a “green” fuel because of its low carbon content. It does not contain any methane gas.
Propane is kept as a liquid under pressure for safe transport and is handled by highly trained professionals using equipment and techniques that are regulated by authorities at federal, state, and local levels.
If something goes wrong with a natural gas pipeline, the situation can turn tragic. We witnessed this four years ago when excessive pressure in natural gas lines caused explosions and fires to occur in dozens of homes within the Merrimack Valley.
Propane also has a much narrower range of flammability (minimum and maximum burn temperatures) than natural gas; propane will not ignite when combined with air unless the ignition source reaches at least 920°F.
The Broco Energy team of expert licensed propane service technicians and drivers know the area well. We serve the Reading and North Reading area, along with surrounding communities in Massachusetts and up to New Hampshire.
Many of our customers enroll in our FREE automatic delivery program. This allows us to stay on top of your fuel needs and be in touch when it’s time to schedule a delivery long before your tank gets too low. We find that this is a tried-and-true method of minimizing the risk of a run-out.
You’ll never have to think about how much fuel is in your tank. You’ll also get a better price-per-gallon.
Please contact us to become a Broco Energy customer and then schedule a propane delivery.
Heating oil comes from crude oil, which is refined to remove impurities. It’s then separated into different “fractions.”
The lighter fractions of crude oil eventually become propane, butane, and petrochemicals while heavier fractions are used to produce gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel, diesel fuel, and No. 2 home heating oil. (Diesel fuel and No. 2 fuel oil are virtually the same, in terms of their chemical composition).
Even heavier fractions become No. 4 or No. 6 heating oils. This is used for commercial and industrial buildings, schools, and hospitals.
In recent years, there have been significant strides in the refining of heating oil that make it much cleaner and increasingly greener. Notably, most of the sulfur content has been removed, Here is why this is important.
Heating oil is also being blended with 100% renewable biofuel made from plants and other organic matter. This reduces the fuel’s carbon emissions.
We only deliver Bioheat fuel to our heating oil customers. This is a clean alternative to conventional heating oil that also produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than natural gas.
Bioheat fuel is a blend of biodiesel and traditional petroleum-based heating oil. Biodiesel, which is made from vegetable oils, animal fats and other renewable materials, is considered a biogenic fuel that reduces carbon output 100%. That’s because the combustion of biofuels and other biogenic energy sources actually recycle carbon dioxide emissions through renewable plant materials and other biomass feedstocks. That’s why you’ll be hearing a lot about net-zero carbon emissions in the years ahead.
With a solid partnership in place with REG, our trusted supplier, we expect to keep increasing our blend levels – eventually to B100 to all of our residential customers in New England.
We have already upgraded our facilities to increase blending capacity, including extra storage tanks to accommodate 150,000 gallons of B100 heated storage that will be blended into 200,000 gallons of heating oil storage and 50,000 gallons of diesel storage.
Our supplier, REG, is an international producer of cleaner fuels and North America’s largest producer of biodiesel. REG utilizes an integrated procurement, distribution, and logistics network to operate 12 biorefineries in the U.S. and Europe. In 2020, REG produced 519 million gallons of cleaner fuel, delivering 4.2 million metric tons of carbon reduction. REG is meeting the growing global demand for lower-carbon fuels and helping Broco Energy to do our part to assure a more sustainable future.
Contact Broco Energy today for your residential or commercial heating oil service needs.
On October 5, OPEC announced it was slashing production by two million barrels a day. Within just three days, our suppliers increased the cost of heating oil by 70 cents per gallon. That’s right, 70 cents per gallon.
This is not just impacting heating oil. Expect natural gas, electricity, gasoline and propane to move higher too. Of course, this is not simply about supply and demand. We’ve learned that when prices move this far this fast, you can always see the impact of Wall Street firms that jump to take advantage of the momentum to make a quick buck. (Or should we say millions of bucks?) It frustrates the heck out of us.
Of course, things can turn around just as quickly. We saw prices spike in spring only to drop by over a dollar in summer. There are just too many variables to know where things will go from here.
Here are a few things to bear in mind:
I will try to keep you informed as events unfold. There are many things we can’t control, but we will always prioritize our existing customers over new ones. We will go the extra mile to keep you safe and warm. And we will be there when you need us.
Updated 2/23/22
Dear Valued Customer,
Once again, we’re seeing energy prices surge across the board. We know how painful that can be for our customers. It’s painful for us, as well.
Gasoline has risen more than a dollar more per gallon vs. a year ago. Natural gas prices have skyrocketed more than 150%. Crude oil prices have climbed above $100 per barrel, a level we haven’t seen in seven years.
The cost of electricity has not been spared either. Higher natural gas prices result in price hikes for wholesale electricity because of heavy reliance on natural gas-fired power plants.
What’s more, wholesale propane prices have hit their highest weekly average levels since February 2014. Read more about the factors that are driving today’s energy market.
People sometimes misunderstand how negatively all this impacts us, as well. We don’t make more money when prices rise like this; we make less. Think of it this way: it’s like when the cost of coffee, milk, or oranges rises. It’s not the local grocery that is profiting. (That’s left to the Wall Street investors.) Our customers have a harder time paying their bills. They reduce expenditures. We need to tap into our lines of credit more. Our phones light up with questions. So the sooner energy prices drop, the happier we’ll be.
In the meantime, please talk to us about things we can offer to help you reduce your energy costs, or handle payments more easily. And if you are having trouble with your bills, please call us. We can generally work with you if you reach out before you fall behind.
We’ve been in business for many years and have deep roots in the community. We have secure access to supplies. We are doing everything possible to ensure we can deliver — even if other companies cannot — no matter the cost or difficulty we face.
We thank you for your understanding and we appreciate your loyalty. As we’ve done quite a few times in the past, we will get through these tough times by all working together.
When you’re a Broco Energy customer, you’ll find many ways to save on our professional service and top-notch products.
First, we proudly give back to the communities we serve in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and beyond. Broco Energy, a veteran-owned business, offers discounts that apply to:
Read more about our discounts and other special programs.
We also offer a per-gallon discount for cash payments at the time of delivery as well as a lower price for customers enrolled in our automatic delivery program.
Automatic-delivery customers have less to think about in between deliveries, so they save time and worry. Because this delivery system is designed to prevent run-outs, customers also avoid the potential of paying emergency burner start-up charges. We combine average annual usage with our daily monitoring of the outdoor temperature so we can be sure to schedule a delivery before a customer is anywhere near having a run-out. We do not charge extra for our automatic delivery service.
We sell, install, maintain and repair water heaters, heating-oil tanks and boilers. We also offer furnace repair and maintenance.
Plus, we provide round-the-clock oil burner services and tank repairs as well as generator maintenance and generator repairs.
When a boiler needs repairs a few years in a row, it’s probably a good idea to research your upgrade options. And if your boiler is more than 15 years old, you are missing out on highly efficient new technologies that can really save you a lot of money! Convenient appointments with our expert installers are easier to come by right now because of the mild weather.
We repair furnaces throughout our service area. A furnace that’s running properly will not emit any odors. If you notice unusual or unexpected odors coming from your furnace, it is likely overdue for a tune-up or repairs. If you’re a Broco Energy customer and you notice smoky odors, a dusty or burning smell, or electrical or mechanical smells, call us right away for service.
A good portion of your household’s energy expenses every month goes toward heating water. With that in mind, it’s important that you have the right water heater for your needs, and that you regularly schedule water-heater maintenance.
You want your water heater to operate as efficiently as possible. This will keep your water heating bills down and will extend the life of your system. We sell and install a range of water-heater types, so contact us to help you decide which one is best. Or, if you are not in need of an upgrade, contact us when you need water heater repair.
We recommend cleaning your oil burner once a year. When you call for burner services, here is what typically is done.
Our burner service contract includes a burner cleaning and covers the repair or replacement of covered parts listed in the contract. For a list of covered parts, please contact us today.
Are you interested in saving money as a Broco Energy customer? Sign up to become a customer today!
As a family-owned and operated company, we remain dedicated to our origins—including the delivery of competitively priced heating oil and reliable 24-hour heating oil equipment and repair services. Still, as our customers’ needs have evolved, our products and services—along with our service area– have expanded accordingly.
We encourage homeowners to use our ZIP Code locator to find out if your Massachusetts or New Hampshire home is in our service area, for residential heating oil or propane service.
Our fleet of well-maintained trucks can provide both scheduled and emergency service. If you have an emergency, we’ll be there for you, any time of the day or night.
Now covering all of New England and beyond, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, Broco Energy’s team has the experience, expertise, and equipment to meet your commercial needs.
We deliver bulk quantities of fuel from 400 gallons to more than 100,000 gallons directly to your location. We will work with you to identify, maintain or build the most cost-effective methods associated with bulk-fuel purchases.
Our fleet provides fueling for commercial/industrial operations including the following:
And if your commercial operation requires on-site emergency fueling, we are here for you. We are FEMA-certified and ready for any emergency situation with qualified personnel. For details, please go here.
We offer clean energy options like propane and Bioheat® fuel, a blend of biodiesel and ultra-low sulfur heating oil. For scheduled service, the petroleum products we deliver include:
At Broco Energy, we stand by our commitment to providing homes and commercial operations, as well as municipalities and government-contracted efforts. with the fuel they need, no matter what.
We respond to your fuel needs with experience and expertise. Our team has the equipment necessary to get the job done, and we’re ready to establish the most cost-effective way for you to purchase your fuel—no exceptions!
As a veteran-owned business, Broco is also dedicated to give back to those who serve us and our community. We proudly offer discounts to the following:
Learn more about how Broco Energy can make a difference in serving your fuel needs. Contact us today.
June 1 marked the official beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts above-average hurricane activity this year.
The outlook for the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, which lasts until November 30, predicts a 65% chance of an above-normal season, a 25% chance of a near-normal season and a 10% chance of a below-normal season. An average season is classified as three major hurricanes.
According to NOAA, there is a likely range of 14 to 21 named storms; these are storms with winds of 39 mph or higher. Out of these projected storms, as many as 10 could become hurricanes—classified as winds of 74 mph or higher. What we have to worry about the most, however, is that there is a chance of 3-6 major hurricanes. These fall into the category of either 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher.
Please go here if you would like to read more about the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook from NOAA.
The reason Broco Energy pays close attention to hurricane season projections like this is due to the fact we are certified for emergency response–including emergency fuel delivery–by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as well as the Coast Guard. We are also contracted as the emergency fuel provider for the Massachusetts Energy Marketers Association (MEMA).
Taking advantage of partnerships that we have established throughout the country, our Priority 1 emergency-response team can be found on the scene wherever we’re needed, providing immediate emergency fuel deliveries until the trucks we’ve deployed arrive on site.
Qualified to respond to all levels of emergencies, our team is made up of experienced fuel-truck drivers and fuel logistics coordinators. We can handle extreme weather events and other high-pressure situations, offering critical fuel support when it’s needed most.
Disaster relief means more than just oil trucks and supplies. Our response includes manpower and logistics coordinators who will send oil tanks, conduct remote monitoring and schedule emergency fuel service and deliveries as needed throughout the duration of the incident.
In 2017, Broco Energy was activated to assist and provide relief efforts for FEMA in Florida during Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. That was the beginning of our national Priority 1 emergency-response team.
We left from Boston with six oil tank trucks loaded with diesel and gasoline to provide fuel for priority facilities on a 24-hour basis. We stationed our trucks at local hospitals for generator refueling and at designated fueling points to assist the Urban Search & Rescue Task Force.
Today, the Priority 1 emergency-response team at Broco Energy remains ready to respond to and assist any community hit by power outages after natural or manmade disasters with emergency fueling and Priority 1 delivery service–every day of the year.
Broco Energy’s Priority 1 emergency-response team offers emergency response to anyone. If you have an immediate need, call our 24-hour disaster-response hotline at 781-246-1130.
You can read more about our emergency fuel services and other disaster relief efforts here.
