The Missouri Propane Education and Research Council (MO-PERC), a not-for-profit organization authorized by the Legislature to promote the safe use of odorized propan, has approved a draft budget for the organization's fiscal year, which begins July 1.
The budget is subject to public comment. Marketers and the public may make comments or suggestions concerning the budget by submitting them in writing to the Council no later than June 5.
The Council will review those comments at its June 15 meeting and then vote on a final budget to be submitted to the Missouri Division of Energy.
Send comments to MOPERC, 4110 Country Club Drive, Jefferson City MO 65109, or by fax to 573-893-2623, or to [email protected].
Missouri ranks in the nation's top 10 states for propane use. Approximately 10 percent of Missouri's families use propane for home heating, hot water, cooking and recreation. Propane is also widely used in agriculture and commercial applications.
The Council is authorized to collect assessments of up to one-half-cent per gallon of odorized propane sold in the state. Since 2000, MO-PERC has provided more than $6 million in rebates to increase the efficiency and safety of home appliances and installations.
The proposed FY16 spending plan totals $1.336 million. The draft budget is based on an assessment of 4/10-cent per gallon and estimates that 240 million gallons of propane will be sold during the fiscal year, raising $960,000. With this state-generated funding, the council will be able to receive an estimated $285,000 in additional matching monies from programs administered by the national Propane Education and Research Council. Additional funding comes from interest and FY15 carryover.