Soaring propane bills spur furor

January heating bills that topped $500 for some Payson homeowners have spurred a political furor, with homeowner protests and a flashpoint debate in the mayor’s race.

The big January propane bills issued by SemStream reflect both a global energy shortage and the fine print in the Arizona Corporation Commission’s approval of the company’s purchase of Payson’s unique underground propane system last year, say officials.


SemStream relies on two potentially confusing components of the bill to cover the sharply rising prices for the propane it sells to about 6,000 customers in Payson, who take deliveries through perhaps the only underground propane system in the state.

In addition, illnesses among the small team of meter readers during the holiday season delayed billing, so that many homeowners got a bill for 39 days of service instead of the normal 30. That alone could account for an apparent 25-percent increase in some bills, said company officials.

Payson Roundup (Payson, Arizona)