January 8, 2014
The Tulsa World
By Randy Krehbiel

Gov. Mary Fallin on Tuesday joined more than a dozen other chief executives who have declared states of emergency related to propane shortages.

Fallin issued an executive order waiving licensing requirements for eligible out-of-state propane transporters and allowing drivers to exceed the number of hours and consecutive days they can transport propane in Oklahoma.

The order "will help make sure that there is enough of a propane supply in the days and weeks ahead until problems are resolved," Fallin said. The order is effective through Feb. 4.

The state has about 400,000 propane users, officials said.

States from Maine to Arkansas have experienced local and regional shortages of propane fuel. The shortages seem to be caused mostly by unusually cold temperatures and interruptions in the propane distribution system.

Nationally, propane prices average 54 cents higher than a year ago, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

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