Had some trouble getting rice coal recently in upstate NY

My usual shop is just a small place Miller's Coal Bin in Dryden, NY. They were out of coal because they said on their last trip the breaker was closed due to cold weather. I've never encountered that, but shrugged it off given that they are a pretty small place. However I then went to Warner's Coal in Candor, NY and they had a 500lb limit. Something I've never seen in 4 years of buying coal. They said they were cut off by the normal supplier and were able to get one or maybe two loads a week now so they had to limit everyone. They are a pretty big operation up here and this seems strange to me. I went down the road and bought 500 more from another place (Hollenbecks in Candor). They had no limit posted, but I don't think they sell as much as Warners and are slightly more expensive. Just wondering if anyone else has run into any problems recently. Coal is my only source of heat so I need to make sure I can continue to get fuel.

As predicted--so it begins

freetown fred wrote:As predicted--so it begins

Care to elaborate?

supply & demand--as you know, we up here have always been pretty low on the food chain

Yeah I guess I've just never encountered this, only been burning four years, but have always just been able to walk in and buy as much coal as I wanted when I wanted.

I sent you a PM with a phone number that hopefully might help

Bagged coal from Kimmels is backordered 5 weeks. It's been so coal that the breakers can't run. The mines have been down due to the ice and snow. Kimmel's has trucks sitting under the belts waiting from coal so they can take it to the bagging plant and the price is up because of the increase in fuel prices. Last year I could call in an order and pick it up 2-3 days later, now 5 week wait. I sold 11 tons of nut in 6 days. Everybody must be getting caught short this year. "How's that change thing working for ya"

That;s the problem with trying to get it this time of year...it's been cold and people are burning a lot!

I've always thought it best to be diversified whether it be coal or any other energy source.

My main concern is rice sized coal. The stokers use this size and I assumed that eventually there could be a problem with supply of rice.

I'm trying to find a hand-fired stove so that it could burn any size coal available and not even depend on electricity.

For example, I keep a 330 gallon oil tank in the garage full of # 2 oil just in case I need fuel for the diesel generator or the Dodge Ram for a while.

You just never know when a natural or man-made disaster will happen. I would rather be safe than sorry!

I have not seen a shortage here but I did call for a delivery yesterday and they said a load was due in today so I have to wait until tomorrow for delivery. Hope they show. I did hit up my local by the bag shop and they had no limit. I know they received a load of bagged Reading a few weeks ago. I hate to have to use Reading since it seems to give less heat and more ash. Also it come frozen in this weather

I work for a supplier in the Mohawk Valley and we have been having problems getting our loads from Blaschak. We are currently 2-3 weeks out. We have been getting people from the surrounding area because their suppliers are out, so we have had to set limits. The limits differ if you are not a regular customer. This has been a tough year.....but we're almost through it.

Since you are near Dryden you shouldn't be too far from Fabius (Denis Coal), Apulia Station on Rte 80 (Woodruff? Bros) or Earley's on Rte 20 just east of Madison. I'm sure Fred knows someone closer to you.

Poso coal just outside Dryden toward Cortland on 13 on the left. I just bagged a ton from Dennis and noticed his price has gone from $220 to $230, so yes Fred it is beginning.

Sounds like it is all going up this summer, I think mine was $230/ton bulk.

Here, Blaschak is a month+ out, and Kimmels won't even answer the phone, or return calls....

Dan