2022 New York Laws
AGM - Agriculture and Markets
Article 16 - Weights and Measures
192-E - Sale and Delivery of Liquefied Petroleum Gas.
§ 192-e. Sale and delivery of liquefied petroleum gas. 1. Definition. For the purpose of this section "liquefied petroleum gas" shall mean any material or substance which is predominantly composed of any of the following hydrocarbons or mixtures of the same: propane, propylene, butane, normal or iso-, and butylene. 2. Liquefied petroleum gas shall be sold or offered for sale by avoirdupois net weight, by liquid measure based on the standard United States gallon of two hundred and thirty-one cubic inches, by cubic feet based on the standard cubic foot of one thousand seven hundred and twenty-eight cubic inches, or by the appropriate units in the metric system, or multiple or decimal subdivisions of those units as determined by the commissioner. 3. When liquefied petroleum gas is sold, offered or exposed for sale by package weight, variations at the rate of one percent under the specified net weight of the container are permitted in individual containers, but the average weight of not less than twelve containers shall not be less than the marked net weight of the containers. 4. Containers used where the gas content is sold by package weight must have the tare weight plainly and conspicuously marked on the container or on permanently attached appurtenances, and the net contents plainly and conspicuously marked on the container or on a tag or other type of label firmly attached thereto. Tare weight shall be construed to be the weight of the container, valve and other permanent attachment but does not include the valve-protecting cap; provided, however, that disposable containers weighing five pounds or less when filled shall be exempt from the tare weight marking requirements. 5. When liquefied petroleum gas is sold or delivered in package form and the cylinder or container is connected to the consumer's apparatus, such cylinder or container shall neither be disconnected nor removed from the premises before it becomes empty, except as may be provided hereinafter. When removed before becoming empty such cylinder or container shall be weighed by the seller to determine the quantity of liquefied petroleum gas remaining in such cylinder or container and a written receipt issued to the purchaser or consumer stating such quantity and the amount of the credit due. When weighed on the customer's premises, weight shall be subject to verification by the seller at the dealer distribution point or the filling plant to determine whether credit is due the customer. A cylinder or container shall be considered empty when the gross weight of the cylinder or container does not exceed the tare weight as marked within the tolerance allowed. 6. Each delivery of liquefied petroleum gas sold on a package basis in cylinders or containers to consumers and each delivery of such gas from a vehicle tank or other vessel into tanks, cylinders or containers connected to consumer apparatus when sale is based on a quantity so delivered, shall be accompanied by a delivery ticket and duplicate thereof. On such ticket and duplicate thereof shall be distinctly expressed in ink or other indelible substance the date of delivery, the net weight or volume of such liquefied petroleum gas delivered, the price per unit of metric or customary measure, the total price, the name and address of the seller and the name and address of the purchaser of such liquefied petroleum gas; provided, however, that such delivery ticket need not set forth the total price if within five days after delivery the seller provides the buyer with a written statement setting forth all the foregoing information including the total price. Delivery tickets shall be serially numbered or the serial number of the cylinder or container shall be legibly marked on such delivery ticket. One of such tickets shall be delivered to the person receiving the liquefied petroleum gas, and the other ticket shall be retained by the seller of the liquefied petroleum gas for a period of one year and shall be subject to inspection by any weights and measures official within this time. For systems equipped with the capability of issuing an electronic receipt, ticket or other recorded representation, the customer may be given the option to receive any required information electronically by means of a cellular telephone, mobile telephone, computer, computer tablet or any other personal electronic device, in lieu of or in addition to a hard copy. 6-a. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this subdivision:(i) "liquefied petroleum gas tank" shall mean a cylinder, container or receptacle, fixed in place, that is intended to be used to store liquefied petroleum gas for the purpose of heating, or generating electric power, for a residential customer;
(ii) "qualifying emergency" shall mean:
(A) a federal, state or local state of emergency has been declared, or federal or state authorities have granted a waiver from hours-of-operations limitations affecting liquefied petroleum gas deliveries; or
(B) severe weather or any other similar circumstance exist that may result in an individual being placed in imminent danger of death or injury, or may result in a building structure and/or its fixtures being at risk of significant damage due to lack of residential heat caused by the lack of sufficient liquified petroleum gas to produce residential heat;
(iii) "regular supplier" shall mean a person, firm, limited liability company or corporation that owns a liquefied petroleum gas tank and that, pursuant to a current contract, has agreed to supply liquefied petroleum gas to such tank for use by a residential customer or the customer's agent or agents; and
(iv) "temporary emergency supplier" shall mean a person, firm, limited liability company or corporation that fills, refills or otherwise delivers liquefied petroleum gas into a liquefied petroleum gas tank it does not own, where such tank is subject to an existing contract between a regular supplier and their customer. b. Notwithstanding any other law, rule or regulation to the contrary, when a qualifying emergency is in effect, a residential customer who has a contract with a regular supplier to fill a liquefied petroleum gas tank reasonably believes the amount of liquefied petroleum gas in their tank will be insufficient to meet the customer's heating needs, the customer shall make a good faith effort to procure delivery of liquefied petroleum gas from such regular supplier. If the regular supplier is unable to make a scheduled delivery or fulfill the customer's good faith request, directly or through another supplier, for delivery within twenty-four hours, the customer may arrange to have a temporary emergency supplier fill, refill or otherwise deliver liquefied petroleum gas into such liquefied petroleum gas tank, provided that the temporary emergency supplier ensures that such tank, and the devices and pipelines operated in connection with such tank, have been inspected and certified as required by law and all applicable regulations. The temporary emergency supplier shall assume all liability that may result from the improper filling, inspection, or testing of such tank. The temporary emergency supplier that fills, refills, or otherwise delivers liquified petroleum gas under this subdivision must notify the regular supplier, in written form, within five business days, the customer's name and address, the date and quantity delivered, changes made to the system, if any, and pressure test results, if required. c. When a temporary emergency supplier delivers liquefied petroleum gas to a residential customer pursuant to this subdivision, neither such temporary emergency supplier nor such customer's regular supplier may charge any penalty or fee in addition to any filling, refilling or delivery fees that are usually charged to other customers in the course of business under circumstances when paragraph b of this subdivision is not applicable. d. Any contract executed subsequent to the effective date of this subdivision for the supply of liquefied petroleum gas to a residential customer shall include provisions relating to delivery and fees pursuant to paragraphs b and c of this subdivision if applicable. e. Nothing in this subdivision shall be deemed to restrict a liquefied petroleum gas customer who owns a liquefied petroleum gas tank from procuring such gas from any supplier. f. In all other circumstances other than those described in this section, it shall not be permissible for any person, firm, limited liability company or corporation to remove or fill any liquified petroleum gas from a liquified petroleum gas tank, cylinder, container or receptacle without the consent of the owner of such tank, cylinder, container or receptacle. 6-b. The commissioner, in cooperation with the department of law, shall develop a "propane consumer bill of rights" consistent with this section to address the rights of consumers who enter into contracts for the provision and delivery of liquefied petroleum gas, including the right of customers to purchase liquefied petroleum gas from temporary suppliers pursuant to subdivision six-a of this section. Such bill of rights shall be provided by every regular supplier of liquefied petroleum gas to the consumer when a contract is executed, and then annually while a contract remains in effect and the department shall post such bill of rights on its website. 7. The use of artificial heat for the purpose of expanding liquefied petroleum gas before or during the process of delivery, when the basis of settlement for such sale or delivery is liquid volume, is prohibited. 8. a. New meters for measuring liquefied petroleum gas sold in the vapor state shall be sealed by the manufacturer thereof as hereinafter provided or by a weights and measures official. The commissioner may prescribe by regulation the specifications and tolerances governing the testing and sealing of such meters and the method of determining the quantity of liquefied petroleum gas, and may authorize any manufacturer or distributor of liquefied petroleum gas to seal used meters upon written agreement to conform to said regulations. The commissioner may revoke for cause the authority so given by him to any manufacturer or distributor of liquefied petroleum gas. b. Meters equipped with automatic temperature compensation shall be sealed and may be used to compute all retail and wholesale transactions. 9. The provisions of this article shall not apply to interstate tank car and transport truck deliveries to bulk storage, nor to public utility systems using pipes or other fixtures in the public highways or streets for the transmission of liquefied petroleum gas and operating under the jurisdiction of the public service commission of this state, nor to any public service company whose operations are subject to the jurisdiction of the said public service commission.
