Royster noted that new government regulations have prompted some refineries to shut down rather than comply with the stiffer laws. Wall said the U.S. supply of crude oil is good. We're only 50 percent dependent on Middle East crude oil. Local distributors such as Abercrombie and Chatham Oil are dependent on pipeline prices which fluctuate as often as twice during a 24-hour period. Obviously the colder the winter, the more demand you have.
Bad weather can affect local supply.
Customers needing less oil are referred to smaller companies which deliver less than 125 gallons at a time, he added. Several hundred Chatham Oil customers take advantage of the deferred payment plan, he added. Some begin paying for their fuel oil in August. They soon discovered that their ancestors had performed a similar service to seal the capsule, which was done at 7 p.m. 100 years earlier. Hardly a word was uttered as people gathered around the cornerstone, Thomas said.