Casey Fuel Co. Inc. - oil, propane, furnace, and air conditioning service

Press Release

The Ridgefield Press, April 2, 2009

Casey becomes a two-fuel company
After more than a half century in the fuel oil business, Casey Fuel has added a new product and has become Ridgefield's only hometown deliverer of propane. The family-owned company spent many months researching the market, including surveying its customers, and began quietly providing propane deliveries a little over a year ago.

"We didn't want to overmarket ourselves," said Shane Casey, president of the company.

Now Casey is beginning to promote its propane and related services.

Clearly, Mr. Casey said, there is a market, and it has been growing. Most new homes are now equipped with gas stoves, preferred by many gourmet cooks. More people have pools and are heating them with propane. Propane generators, which are easier and cleaner to maintain than gasoline or diesel models, have become more popular.

Propane fireplace units are being installed in more houses - both for heat and for ambiance - and propane hot water heaters have long been in use. Even propane furnaces are being used to heat smaller homes and cottages.

Propane has advantages.

A furnace, for instance, burns cleaner and quieter, and has fewer moving parts to wear out. Propane can also sit in a tank for a year or more and its quality will not be affected, as often happens with generators, which only use propane when there is a power outage.

The fuel costs are about the same, said Mr. Casey.

Unlike fuel oil, propane is not sold on a strict per-gallon rate, and the price depends on the quantity delivered.

A volume user with a 1,000-gallon storage tank would pay less per gallon for a delivery, while someone who doesn't use much and has a 60-gallon tank will pay more.

He said the prices are "absolutely competitive" with outof-town propane dealers.

Casey Fuel is also in a good position to provide propane.

The company has a reputation for quality service, Mr. Casey said. What's more, most propane users also have fuel oil furnaces, and people find it convenient to have one company supply their fuel needs.

"We have a great customer base in Ridgefield," Mr. Casey said. "This is another product that we can offer our existing customer base."

Mike Brown, vice president of Casey Fuel, said that, after undergoing intensive training, all the company's technicians are now licensed to service propane equipment Casey can install and service many kinds of propanefired equipment, and can provide some devices such as furnaces and hot water heaters.

The company supplies tanks, and will install them above or below ground (propane tanks must always be outdoors).

Smaller tanks are usually leased while large ones are purchased.

Casey Propane also has a "Gas Check" program, where customers are made familiar to the smell of propane and are shown where the supply shut-offs are located, and how to shut the valves off if necessary.

Casey's propane is stored in Monroe, and for deliveries, the company has a new 2008 Kenworth truck that holds 3,200 gallons of propane.

To promote the new service, Casey is offering free pool heater inspections this spring. Technicians will check the pilot light, clean out the unit, inspect wiring, and check pressures, said Mr. Brown.

Casey Fuel was founded in 1949 by Shane and Mike's grandfather, William H. Casey.

William Casey's son and Shane's dad, the late Michael D. Casey, was also a company president.

For information on obtaining propane deliveries, call 438-6500.

 

Press Release

The Ridgefield Press, December 4, 2003

UCONN honors Casey Fuel as Family Business.
The University of Connecticut Family Business Program honored Casey Fuel of Ridgefield Nov.25 as one of this year’s winners of the 2003 Connecticut Family Business of the Year Awards.

The award is a prestigious way to recognize and honor those family businesses that embody core family values and the best of American free enterprise, said Priscilla Cale, director of the University of Connecticut Family Business Program.

Twelve finalists were honored at the ceremony, which drew nearly 300 people, at the University of Connecticut’s South Campus Rome Ballroom.

The Connecticut Family Business of the Year Awards recognize successful family firms in three categories: small-sized businesses (5-39 employees), medium-sized businesses (40-99 employees) and large-sized businesses (over 100 employees). Winners are chosen by a panel of judges and evaluated based on business success, positive family and business linkage, multi-generational family involvement, dynamic contributions to community and industry, and innovative business practices or strategies.

Casey Fuel Company took first place in the Small Business Category.

"Family businesses are the cornerstone of Connecticut’s UConn honors economy, Ms. Cale said. There are over 70,000 small to mid-size privately held companies in our state, the lion’s share of which are family owned and operated. What these family firms have collectively contributed to their local communities, as well as communities on a global scale, is outstanding. This is a tremendous opportunity to give back to those who have already given so much "and we encourage others join us to celebrate in their achievements."

Ms. Cale added that family businesses account for over 90% of all businesses in the United States. They also produce half the United States gross national product and employ half the United State work force.

Casey Fuel was founded in 1949 by William H. Casey, who was known to many as Casey the Oilman. Bill Casey died in August 2002 at the age of 84.

His son Michael Casey was named president in 1976 and continues to run day to day operations.

Michael's son Shane recently joined the business after obtaining a master s degree in business administration from the University of Denver and will eventually take over the reins from his father.

Chip Brown, a son-in-law to Bill, worked for Casey Fuel for 30 years as vice president of operations before retiring in 1997. Chip passed his responsibilities on to his son Mike, the current vice president of operations.

The family values at Casey Fuel run deeper than blood, how-ever. Aileen Egan, a lifetime Ridgefield resident and vice president, is celebrating her 20th year with Casey Fuel, as is Arlette Perry of Newtown. Ron Tardiff of Bethel has driven a Casey Fuel delivery truck for 30 years, and recent retirees Joe Wilson and Neale Babcock spent 24 and 30 years in the field, respectively, before hanging up their uniforms.

The University of Connecticut Family Business Program is a member organization comprised of business-owning families. It is a place for Connecticut family businesses to network with university experts, leading industry professionals and fellow business owners to acquire education, seek professional advice and share ideas and experiences.

"The UConn Family Business Program’s annual Connecticut Family Business of the Year Awards ceremony is a tribute to Connecticut’s premier family businesses and the many contributions made by family firms - Connecticut’s most effective mechanism for creating jobs, security and wealth," Ms. Cale said.

For more information on the Connecticut Family Business of the Year Awards, contact Ms. Cale at 860-486-5628 or e-mail pcale@business.uconn.edu.