Energy Update Summer 2018

ENERGY UPDATE B R I N G I N G C O M F O R T H O M E F O R O V E R 8 0 Y E A R S SUMMER 2018 clarkgasandoil.com

CIRCLE K CONVERSIONS

SUMMER SAVINGS

SINCERE MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Gift Certificate Included

SAF E , E F F I C I ENT + ENV I RONMENTA L F R I ENDLY FUE L

special feature

IN OUR COMMUNITIES TACKLING HUNGER

Message From the President

clarkgasandoil.com

A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

I hope this note finds you well and enjoying your summer plans. This winter was challenging to say the least. Extreme cold for approxi- mately three weeks and several wind and snow events that interrupt- ed power after two mild winters set us all up for some challenges. I want to thank all of our staff that rose to the occasion working long hours trying to assist you. Our customer and I want to thank you for having patience and confidence in us during the stressful time! WE CAN DO BETTER TO BE READY FOR NEXT WINTER SEASON! We’re adding more staff, improving our delivery software, looking closely at driveway accessibility conditions and tank sizing for you. If you receive a letter or contacted via email or phone, please be open to helping us help you. All of these factors speed us up or allow us more flexibility in ensuring that you have plenty of fuel for your needs. Other ways that you can help next winter is consider the following: Sign up for our level pay program - this program will allow us to come with delivery of fuel when we believe you may need it and it breaks the whole year of fuel into 12 equal payments, so you need

Blair Clark | President

not worry and try to manage when you need to order or if it’s not a good time to financially. You may be familiar with Appalachian Power’s monthly level pay, but ours is better because we track it and make adjustments. If you’re building to much of a credit or conversely, your payment is not proportionate to your consumption. Please communicate with us if you add any appliances to your system or change how you are currently using your appliances. These change how we calculate your consumption and when we schedule your delivery. For example, if you are having work done on your house and it is more exposed in terms of less insulations / more cold leaks and your furnace is working harder to keep your home warm, we need to know. The best way to communicate with us for non-emergency delivery or service is www.support@clarkgasandoil.com day or night. We will confirm that we got your message. Take advantage of our summer tune up program. We can service your appliances right before you need them. You will definitely save money and frustration when the first cold snap hits. It’s a win win! We make it on your schedule, you save money on the service and 20% on any repair items. If there is a need to replace any equipment, we have some equipment in our showrooms that could potentially save you $$$ and we’re ready to handle more calls in the fall and winter. Believe me when I say, it’s disturbing that we can’t handle all the service calls at once when it gets cold and our customers need us. I am excited about four of our On The Run Stores converting to Circle K Brand this summer! You will see new specials and product offerings immediately! Larger fountain drink machines offering cubed and crushed ice. Circle K branded snacks and drinks which mean cost savings for you. Please seek them out! Our Stuart location partner has replaced the automatic car wash with a bigger and better Wash World brand! Come check it out! Thanks very much for your business and confidence you place in us! Enjoy your summer!

HappyMotoring!

WHAT S NEW !

NEW ITEMS

CIRCLE K CONVERSIONS

As we welcome the onset of a busy driving season, we are ex- cited to announce that we’ve updated and rebranded several of our convenience stores! You will notice that our On The Run Stores in Stuart, Hillsville, Martinsville & Ridgeway have all been changed to Circle K convenience stores. With the newly branded store, you will notice an interior and exterior “facelift” along with some new and exciting offerings. “We want travelers to recognize our brand and know what

to expect,” said Director of Retail Operations, Rickie Fulcher. After ExxonMobil sold its branded con- venience store franchise, On The Run, to Couche-Tard/Circle K in 2006, Clark Gas & Oil has been an operating multi-site franchisee

“We want travelers to recognize our brand and know what to expect”

Floyd Circle K #101

Hillsville Circle K #108 26 Airport Road Hillsville, VA 24343

407 East Main St. Floyd, VA 24091

Stuart Circle K#105 124 East Blue Ridge St. Stuart, VA 24171

Wytheville Circle K #109

1286 East Lee HWY Wytheville, VA 24382 Martinsville Circle K #213 937 E. Church St. Martinsville, VA 24112

under the new convenience store franchise owner. After much consideration, Clark decided it was more important to go with the more recognizable brand than holding onto the old iden- tity with over 8,000 Circle K stores in the U.S. and around the globe. “We’re excited for the updated look,” shared Fulcher, “but we’re most excited to offer our customers a new 24 head fountain machine with more flavors and two different ice op- tions as well as a Froster machine with frozen Coke, Moun- tain Dew, Raspberry and Cherry. We will also have STOK cold brew coffee. And we’re thrilled to have these new offerings ready for the summer travelers.”

Ridgeway Circle K #107

6690 Greensboro Rd. Ridgeway, VA 24148 Hillsville Circle K #204 105 W. Stuart Dr. Hillsville, VA 24343

TELL YOUR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS AND FAMILY! For every NEW credit-approved automatic delivery customer you refer to Clark Gas & Oil, with a tank installation or 150 gallon fuel purchase, you will receive a $100 credit on your account following your referred friends’ first deliveries. We reward you and have the opportunity to make your friends satisfied and comfortable too!

$100 Referral

ARE YOU HAPPY WITH OUR SERVICE?

SUMMER TUNE UP

Just as a mechanic would suggest having your car serviced before a planned family road trip this summer vacation, we stress the importance of having your heating system serviced before hunkering down this winter. Regular maintenance keeps your equipment working at peak efficiency and gives our technicians a chance to catch minor wear and tear before it turns into major trouble down the road. Keep your gas system and appliances functioning at their best with an annual Summer Tune Up and Gas Check.

Now is the time to upgrade gas appliances. Clothes dryer, cooktop range, vented heater or wall furnance & water heater. *Does not include gas logs or non-vented heaters. ON GAS APPLIANCES * $300 REBATE Virginia Propane Gas Association CALL US FOR MORE DETAILS

DURING THE VISIT OUR CERTIFIED TECHNICIANS WILL COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

• Inspection of propane tank • System leak check • Regulator performance test • Operating pressure test • Inspection of cook tops, ranges, fireplaces, water heaters, wall heaters, furnaces, and other gas appliances.

• Check venting • Basic cleaning • Re-light pilot lights • Odor test

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Professional chefs prefer cooking with gas over electric.

Get your tank filled by July 31st and enjoy the benefit of Clark Gas & Oil’s Summer Fill Program.

SUMMER FILL SAVE MONEY

Why do you want to get your tank filled this summer? There are larger early pay discounts for those who receive a fill up during the summer months. You’ll enjoy 7 cents per gallon or 10 cents if you are age 60 or older if you pay within seven days. You’ll also have be prepared for autumn’s first cooler evenings and mornings.

WHEN TO CALL FOR A DELIVERY..

CONTACT US WHEN YOUR GAUGE READS BETWEEN 20-25%.

HELPFUL TIPS FROM YOUR DELIVERY DRIVERS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU’RE COMFORTABLE, SAFE, AND PLEASED WITH OUR SERVICE SO HERE ARE A FEW TIPS THAT WILL ALLOW US TO BEST SERVE YOU.

Is your 911 address clearly posted? We want to find you and we want any emergency personnel to also find you if they should ever be needed! Please ensure that your 911 address is visible!

Don’t forget to share a new key or access code to your property gate if you have any changes.

If you have landscaping around your tank, keeping it trimmed is greatly appreciated. This will hopefully pre- vent snakes and poison ivy from surprising us during our deliveries. Make sure there are no parked cars blocking our access. Keep trees and shrubs trimmed along your driveway so that we can drive our trucks safely to make a successful delivery.

Schedule a Summer Tune Up and Gas Check so that you will be ready for Autumn’s first cold snap.

Mark your underground tank location with a flagged stake when the weatherman predicts snow.

Did you know?

Tankless Hot Water Heater Tankless water heaters deliver an endless supply of hot water whenever you need it. Your family members can shower, wash dishes, and do laundry at the same time without even thinking about running out of hot water! Because tankless water heaters provide hot water only

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when it’s needed, they can save you on your energy bill. They also have a typical life expectancy of up to 20 years – twice as long as a tank-style unit.

A propane storage tank water heater cost up to 50% less than electric to operate.

Go Paperless We are all spending time in front of a computer screen. Would you prefer to receive your Clark Gas & Oil state- ment and/or invoices in your inbox rather than your mailbox? Reduce your clutter, help the environment, and go paperless! Give it a try. You can always switch back to a paper statement at any time. Simply send an e-mail request to support@clark- gasandoil.com to make the account change or call any of our offices.

LEVEL PAY B U D G E T I N G M A D E E A S Y

Every winter Clark Gas & Oil customers Sam and Sabrina Butler know their gas bill is going to go up – a lot. The Hillsville residents are grateful to have comfortable reliable heat, but they were always bracing for the higher winter bills that came with running the system. That was, until they enrolled in the level payment plan billing option which allows for monthly payments to be spread equally throughout the year. "The level payment plan helped us to stop worrying about having to save extra money to pay that winter bill," said Sabrina. "As budget-conscious parents raising two kids, it has given us peace of mind and a more predict- able monthly bill so that we can use our heating system without having to be surprised when the bill comes."

All Heating Offices & Showrooms 1-800-950-3772 support@clarkgasandoil.com

“The level payment plan helped us to stop worrying about having to save extra money to pay that winter bill”

The level payment plan option is available to all Clark customers. Upon signing up, Clark Gas & Oil’s customer service representative will proj-

ect a customer's monthly energy bill based on the average dollar amount of the last 12 bills. Even if energy usage goes up or down, level pay plan customers will pay the same amount each month for the first three months. Adjustments are then made to the monthly payment amount every three months based on actual energy use. "We have so many customers take advantage of the level pay plan option," said Anna Lester, Vice President of Clark Gas & Oil. "We want to provide payment options for our customers and support them when they need help paying their bill or simply to make their lives easier."

CONTACT

Customers can call their local office or email support@clarkgasandoil.com to find out what their estimated monthly Level Pay Plan pay- ment will be if interested in enrolling.

People prefer using propane when cooking outdoors 60

Feature Story

HUNGER

GIVING BACK

Tackling Hunger in Our Communities

Clark Gas & Oil contributes to outstanding local organizations fighting hunger in our communities because they feel that no one should have to live not knowing where they will find their next meal. One innovative and inspiring beneficiary is Floyd County’s Plenty!

Plenty! Farm – Over two acres of cultivated fields, a high tunnel, and greenhouse to grow fresh produce for all the Plenty! programs. The farm is a great place for communi- ty-minded volunteers to come together to develop a bet- ter connection to the food we eat and to learn sustainable farming practices. Fresh Food Pantry – Plenty! offers healthy choices like fresh fruits, vegetables and meat in addition to pantry sta- ples for local families. So much of the fresh produce is grown right there at the farm with others collected daily by volunteers from local partners including farmers & grocery stores. Individuals only need to be a Floyd Co. resident to qualify for food.

Plenty! is a non-profit organization that nourishes com- munity and preserves Floyd County traditions by growing and sharing food while enlivening the greater conversation about sustainable food practices. Their goals are to provide access to healthy food; to preserve Floyd County’s long tradition of neighbors helping neighbors; to develop and nurture a deeply invested community and to be a well-run values based organization. Their programs provide access to fresh, healthy food through their Plenty! Farm, Fresh Food Pantry, Portable Produce, and Community Lunch.

2,240 2,990 1,320 POPULATION 1 8 , 3 6 5 POPULATION 2 9 , 8 8 1 POPULATION 2 9 , 8 8 1

MORE THAN 6,550 PEOPLE IN CARROLL, FLOYD AND PATRICK COUNTIES ARE FOOD INSECURE, HAVING LIMITED OR UNCERTAIN AVAILABILITY OF NUTRITIOUS FOOD. This means we have neighbors, friends, and family members who are not always certain where or how they will get their next meal. According to Feeding America Southwest Virginia, a leading food relief organi- zation, “food insecurity refers to USDA’s measure of lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members and limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods. Food insecurity may reflect a household’s need to make trade-offs between important basic needs, such as housing or medical bills, or purchasing nutritionally adequate foods.”

PATRICK CARROLL FLOYD

FOOD I N S E CU R I T I E S

Portable Produce – During the growing season of June through Thanksgiving, volunteers bag fresh produce grown on the Plenty! farm and other neigh- boring farms and gardens for individuals and fami- lies who can’t make it to the Food Pantry. They pack and deliver an average of 55 bags each week to feed local individuals and families throughout Floyd

County including a local apartment complex where older adults and people with disabilities live. Community Lunch – Plenty! serves a free commu- nity lunch open to all members of the community. Homemade recipes made from seasonal produce fresh from the farm. Lunch is served on Wednesdays at noon at Plenty

GLEANING is FREE + FUN and helps those in need! While you can go to the farmers market, corner store or some grocery stores to save “ugly” produce, gleaning exists all around the globe. Gleaning is the time honored tradition (which even is spoken of in ancient religious text) of gathering a group to harvest produce that’s left in the field for various reasons.

AT A COMMUNITY FARM. The Plenty! Farm has over two acres of cultivated fields a high tunnel, and greenhouse to grow fresh produce for Plenty! food programs. The farm welcomes volunteers who wish to develop a better connection to the food we eat and to learn sustainable farming practices. (If your local community doesn’t have a community farm……why not start one!) WITH A LOCAL GLEANING GROUP. Gleaning groups help pick fruit and vegetable crops that would otherwise never be picked and go to waste. Volunteering with a gleaning group is a fun way to make an impact while being outside and learning about local agriculture! AT A FOOD BANK. Local food banks and pantries rely on volunteer labor to sort, bag/box, and distribute food. Feel free to contact one of the three featured organizations in your com- munity to help! REDUCE WASTE THROUGH RECOVERY AND DONA- TION. Having a catered party or event? Figure out ahead of time where you can donate the inevitable leftover food. Work FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER IN YOUR COMMUNITY! VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME.... HERE ARE WAYS THAT YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE

with your school or work cafeteria to make sure that unused food is donated to a food pantry. Many people don’t know this and as a result are hesitant to donate their extra food. HOST A FOOD DRIVE. Food pantries can always use food, toiletries, and necessities. Why not request a nonperishable food item in place of birthday gifts for your next celebration! DONATE MONEY, RATHER THAN FOOD. Food banks, food pantries, and other non-profit organizations that fight hunger depend on donations and grants! Because food banks purchase food in bulk and at discounted rates, a donation goes a long way in food! PROMOTE AWARENESS AMONG FRIENDS AND FAMILY. Share these suggestions with your friends and family. Instead of a regular dinner party, host a Hunger Banquet (google it) at your school or home! Have thoughtful discussions about solutions to poverty and hunger issues. Help bring the issue of food insecurity into the mainstream.

WHAT IS THAT SMELL?

A DISAGREEABLE ODOR IS ADDED TO PROPANE SO THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DETECT THE SMELL EASILY IN CASE A LEAK DEVELOPS.

IF YOU THINK YOU SMELL PROPANE... 1. Extinguish all smoking material and any other open flames or sources of ignition. 2. Get everyone out of the building. 3. Turn off the gas using th shut-off valve on th tank. 4. Call Clark Gas & Oil or 911 from a neighbors home. 5. Stay outside and leave the gas off until the leak has been fixed.

Propane Safety is Our Number One Priority! Although propane is one of the safest ways to provide energy to your home or business, you must observe some safety precautions: 1. Never store or use propane gas cylinders larger than one pound for heaters, stoves, dryers, or other appliances, inside your house or garage. 2. Never leave propane gas cylinders in your car’s cargo or passenger area on a hot day. 3. Never use a generator in an unventilated area. 4. If you smell propane, leave the area immediately. Do Not cut on/off any lights Do Not use the phone in th area (including cell phones) DO CALL 911 for help from outside the home.

DO NOT... 1. Turn light switches, appliances or thermo- stats on or off,and do not use the telephone (this includes your cell phone). A spark from one of these could ignite the gas. 2. Light or try to re-light any appliances. Leave this job to Clark Gas & Oil. 3. Re-enter the building, until the problem has been corrected.

$1,000.00 Virginia Propane Gas Association Scholarship

Congratulations to Brooke Roberson, daughter of Controller of Clark Gas & Oil, Stan Roberson on her awarded scholarship from the Virginia Propane Gas Association in the amount of $1,000! Scholarships are awarded based on a combination of factors including, academic performance, extracurricular activities, letters of recommen- dation, financial need, and an essay describing yourself, background, and what the propane gas industry means to you. Brooke graduated from Ronald Reagan High School in Winston-Salem, NC on June 9, 2018 and graduated in the top 20% of her class with a 4.3 GPA. She will be attending Appalachian State University in Boone, NC in the Fall of 2018, majoring in Nursing, with a career goal of be- coming a Nurse Practitioner. She is the daughter of Stan Roberson (our Controller), and Shannon Roberson, and has one brother, Dallas Roberson.

Brooke Roberson Scholarship Recipient

P.O. Box 31 Stuart, VA 24171 P.O. Box 31 Stuart, VA 24171

Gift Certifcate Clip & Redeem at a Clark Gas & Oil Office or Showroom li t l rk s il f r r

clarkgasandoil.com

FOR YOUR CONTINUED BUSINESS! THANK YOU From our family to yours

685 Commerce St. Stuart, VA 24171 276.694.3772 413 East Main St. Floyd, VA 24091 540.745.2323 135 East Stuat Dr. HIllsville, VA 24343 276.728.3335 i . l , . . st t t r. Illsvill , . . Downtown Exxon CGO Dealer 521 East Main St. Pulaski, VA 24301 o nto n Exxon ealer 521 East ain St. Pulaski, VA 24301

P.O. Box 31 Stuart, VA 24171 1-800-950-3772 Clarkgasandoil.com support@clarkgasandoil.com P. . Box 31 Stuart, VA 24171 1-800-950-3772 Clarkgasandoil.com support@clarkgasandoil.com facebook/clarkgasandoil facebook/clarkgasandoil

We proudly serve Pulaski, Giles, Dublin, Bland, Wytheville, and Radford along with our home areas of Patrick, Floyd, Carroll, Stokes and Surry counties. We proudly serve Pulaski, Giles, Dublin, Bland, Wytheville, and Radford along with our home areas of Patrick, Floyd, Carroll, Stokes and Surry counties.