Unfair utilitiy competition

Hunter R Botto

the plumbers here on long island better wake up!!!!!!!!!!!

here is a letter I wrote to some choozen boiler manufacturers in reguard to providing boilers to our local utility free boiler program.
We need to ban together and stop this infiltration into what is left of our gas boiler market.
I ask all who are concerned about your future in this market to send your boiler manufacturer this letter.


to;any boiler manufacturer who choozes to sell boiler to the free boiler program.

Dear boiler manufacturer,

I understand that a meeting took place at the keyspan delivery head quarters a few weeks ago reguarding the new bid for the free boiler program.

and I understand that keyspan delivery is attempting to purchase gas boilers directly from a single low bidder for their regulated and unregulated subsidery.

I feel that this is another attemp to control and regulate the gas boiler installation market here on long island.

I feel that if they cut-out the wholesaler they will damage the distribution channel and create a unfair advantage for the unregulated subsidery.

wholesalers are an important key in the chain of distribution and not only supply us with boilers but,pipe,valves,and service.

I can assure you that any manufacturer who agrees to be a part of this program will never walk through my front door.

I will never install any of your equipment as long as I AM OR MY CHILDREN,OR THEIR CHILDREN ARE THIS INDUSTRY.

Don't destroy a relationship you have worked many years to create.
The qualified installer has been here for more years than any utility or utility funded contractor.
The big company's don't really have to show a profit to survive.
they just pass it off to the investor.

we just can't do that.

just look at what enron has done to the energy market.

keyspan will do the same if we let them.

I remain

____________________

Joe Grosso

Hey Hunter,
I am a fuel oil dealer and this is nothing new to me.Keyspan has been doing this for years to me and my fellow fuel oil dealers.We have to compete against keyspan trying to take our customers and many plumbers.I do not feel for you at all.Most of yopu guys walk in to my account and tell them you shopuld upgrade to gas.Why because if you tried to sell them a new oil unit most of them would call their fuel dealer.I am not making a blanket statement but you do know that I am speaking the truth.I hate keyspan with a passion because they just give them something for free just to lock them in.You guys must wake up.The utilitys are not your friend,they will take the food right out of your mouth just as fast as mine and you guys have been helping them for years.Just my two cents.

Sylvan

Oil/gas boilers

Many times I receive a call from a victim saying "A plumber said" yada yada yada about switching to gas from oil.

As a past holder of several master plumbers licenses Long Island, Weschester and NYC I constantly tell folks if you have oil STAY with it forgetabout the plumber selling you a gas boiler.

If gas is so terrific why does Con Edison want to burn coal in big Alice instead of using EXPLOSIVE/Non energy efficient natural gas?


Why cause gas cost too much money compared to the value oil gives.# 2 oil 138,000 - 140,000 PER gal

Natural gas BTU 900 - 1,200 per cu ft gas

Ever have an emergency in the middle of the night and call a "plumber"?

I turn off my phone and roll over.. OIL companies have fantastic class A license holders on staff 24 -7

As a Federal boiler inspector (Civilian) inspecting government buildings I must say boilers under contract with a reputable OIL service provider are in better working conditions then ones installed and forgotten by plumbers.(gas)

Ask the majority of licensed plumbers about section IV of the ASME or requirements of the NBBI and look at the blank look on the plumbers faces.

For many years I had oil heat in my own home SERVICED by my great oil dealer.

The only reason I did switch to expensive unstable gas is I have a tenant who pays their own heat and hot water and gas was easier to use Via meters.

Nothing beats the API training..

I still install Gas fired boilers BUT given an option I strongly suggest folks stay with oil.

Look at my commercial duel fuel accounts for example on cold days they must use oil or face a hefty fine for using the poor excuse for heating (natural gas).

Oil is safe and you have options as to whom to buy it from what happens if the gas company decides to double prices?

Oil is the way to go..........

Floyd

Whoa!!!!

I can see we got a hornets nest here!!!! (G)


Floyd

Mark J Strawcutter

Gee, I thought

FUD was only practiced in the computer industry.

>If gas is so terrific why does Con Edison want to burn coal in big Alice instead of using EXPLOSIVE/Non energy efficient natural gas?

If oil is so terrific why does Con Edison want to burn coal in big Alice instead of using soil-contaminating oil?

:-)

Mark

PS - I think a lot depends on where you're located. Around here it's harder to sell a house with oil heat than one with gas heat - with propane and electric tied for third.

keith

unfair competition

comes in many forms. The utilities who suck consumers into a something for nothing proposition. The equipment manufactorers who have installation and service branches that bid against us for the same work. So they convince an engineer to spec their product and then have their install department pursue the sale. Or the big boxes who throw stuff out the door for less than our cost of doing business. The installers who throw the equipment supplied by others are selling their labor on the cheap. When they do sit down and figure out the cost of doing business and try to bump up the prices a new bunch of "installers" is ready to take over.. But chances are the consumers are getting exactly what they deserve one way or the other. All depends on which side of the fence you are standing on.

Unknown

Giving away boilers & water heaters

Having worked for a large utility for 28 years and being involved in the management side of said utility I can tell you that they have a single motive and that is to sell fuel. That is how they make their money. Everything else they do is just marketing.

Read Dan's article in Plumbing & Mechanical October issue page 42 about this very thing. You have to get busy and market yourselves if you do that you can compete. You have to make yourselves so good that the customers do not want to go anywhere else. I quote from the end of Dan's article:
"So are you a little guy who's been so busy running around in circles that you haven't had any time to tell the public what it is that makes you worth the call? No time for marketing? Been too busy?

That you pal?

Bada boom."

Here is one for you if the utilities are giving away all this equipment and running big conferences to get everyone to go gas. Who is paying for all of that???? It is either in their rate case to the DPU or hidden somewhere in the bill to the consumer. Ultimately someone has to pay. There is nothing for FREE.

Unknown

Unfair Utility practices

I thought about it a little after my previous posting on utility practice and how they promote themselves. That was part of my job when training service and marketing personnel at the gas company.

Here are some of the reasons we gave as to why choose the gas company or our affiliates:

1. Been in business for over 140 years (my old company)

2. All our emplyees are required to follow a dress code and behavior code.

3. We do background and drug tests on all of our employees.

4. We are insured.

5. If required we are liscensed.

6. All of our technicains have over four years of training and experience before we consider them fully qualified. This includes extensive training and testing.

7. We hire as needed only liscensed sub contractors and train them on our methods of operation.

8. We have various payment plans for your convenience. This is not related to the actual gas bill.

9. We give a firm price on all jobs.

10. We offer a parts and service insurance agreement. It does not include maintenance. That is done at a charge per hour basis.

11. Full guarantee or your money back.

12. We honor all warranty service.

13. We give a 90 day guarantee on all parts and service is 30 days. This is for out of warranty equipment.

14. In many cases the equipment manufacturer has trained our techncians on their equipment.

15. Our service vehicles are fully stocked to give quick and efficient service.

16. We keep our vehicles clean and presentable.

17. We endeavor to work quietly and efficiently in your home and use safety equipment to insure that your equipment and home are safe when we leave.

18. We offer at no charge testing for Gas leaks, Carbon monoxide and any other foriegn odor complaints.

19 We offer 24 hour a day seven day a week service with no charge for overtime unless it is a non emergency type call.

20 If we can not make the repair we have on call sub contractors who we guarantee to do the work.

I could go on but I think you get the message. Sit down with your family, employees and friends compile a list of what you have to offer. Then find ways to get that message out to the public. I still feel very strongly that we will always need the small contractor with that personal touch and the built in trust that comes with it. Hey I am a one man company well not quite the boss just reminded me that she does all the work all I do is show up and teach. I have to compete with free seminars companys offer, busy schedules that guys can not shake free to get to training, the fact that in some areas I am not known etc. I have to work on marketing two or three days a week, sometimes more. You can do it do not give up!!!!

Unknown

Big Allis

Of Allis Chalmers, has an oil barge tied up out front in the East River that she pumps fuel out of.

Allis is the generator sets, and not the boiler. However, the whole set-up is refered to as "Big Allis"

Ever see the movie "Conspiracy Theory", with Mel Gibson? Those stacks are on Big Allis.

Noel

Unknown

Big Allis

What a piece of work!