Cooper Propane
3015 S. Church Street , P.O. Box 1153, Paris, Texas, United States

Cooper Propane Company was formed in 1947, driven by a mission to supply the rural residents of Delta County, Texas, with “city gas” beyond the main lines. Electricity had reached the majority of rural areas by the late 1940’s but it did not supply heat to Delta County homes.  Seizing the opportunity to provide family, friends and neighbors with access to gas-powered heating, Cooper Propane began a mission we continue more than 70 years later—providing exemplary service to bring comfort into homes and businesses throughout northeast Texas.  A ‘green’ company since its inception, Cooper Propane was instrumental in the development and use of propane as an alternative energy in farm power implements in Northeast Texas.  As the company matured, operations expanded into irrigation, stand by fuel supplies, standby/off grid generators, central and zone heating systems, instantaneous water heaters, hot tubs/pool heating, decorative gas lighting, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, gas grills and fuel for motor vehicles.  Cooper Propane was formed from the roots of J. F. Henslee Hardware, which began operations in 1887, selling general hardware, gas cook stoves, water heaters, as well as agricultural tools.  It served as the one-stop shop of its day, enabling hard working Americans to get the supplies they needed to get their work done and Henslee Hardware continues to serve its customers after more than 120 years of continuous operation under the same family ownership. However, Cooper Propane began to expand to bring its services to customers beyond Delta County in 1955 by opening up shop in Lamar County, TX. Today, known as The Propane Companies, the organization serves the energy needs of more than 10,000 customers in thirteen counties, including: Red River, Bowie, Fannin, Hopkins, Rains, Hunt, Franklin, Morris, Titus, Wood, Cass, Camp and Upshur. The Propane Companies meet the needs of residential, agricultural and commercial customers through service centers operating in Cooper, Paris, DeKalb, Sulphur Springs, Winnsboro and Mt Vernon, Texas, ensuring a propane expert is always nearby.  CoopProp-FamilyLike Henslee hardware, The Propane Companies reap the benefits of family ownership—in the third generation.  Our greatest assets are our people and our ultimate mission is to better serve our customers. When you call us, you will speak with a live associate eager to solve whatever propane-related need you might have—you will not hear a machine or confusing automated phone system.  The Propane Companies operate with an un-interrupted gas supply—a level of customer assurance we have provided since 1973. With more than 600,000 gallons of above ground storage and 20 plus supply tankers, we have the best available alternative energy product 365 days a year, not 350 days a year. Whatever your propane energy need may be, our expertise and resources will deliver the best possible option for your specific needs at the best possible value.

Company Affiliations

In 1998 Cooper Propane extended its quality service to the neighboring community of Sulphur Springs through the acquisition of Askins Propane, a quality service oriented family business. In 2004 Shelton’s Propane, another propane business that met Cooper’s elite customer service standards, was acquired, adding offices in Sulphur Springs and Mt. Vernon. Following the Shelton’s acquisition, the two companies became known as “The Propane Company”. These additions allowed The Propane Companies become more efficient in providing the highest levels of customer service.  This continued in 2006 when The Propane Companies added another office in Winnsboro—one that includes a  bulk storage facility on site—to better reach customers in the region.    Rounding out The Propane Companies’ affiliates is our sister company, Red River Transport, Inc. –a critical logistics asset since 1980. Red River operates more than 20 over-the-road trucks and propane transport trailers. In addition to providing service to the refining, gas processing and chemical industries, RRTI transports all the propane to The Propane Companies. This service ensures our customers have a constant supply of propane, year-round. Through RRTI, The Propane Companies can guarantee our customers access to propane during those paramount two weeks of the year that are the most important to their business. Many propane companies run out of propane when winter weather conditions last for an extended stretch, but The Propane Companies has availability in even the harshest conditions.  RRTI gives us ability to travel to the supply point with the most advantaged daily price to so we always provide our customers with the best attainable value.

Propane Characteristics

• Propane is transported and stored as a liquid.
• Propane (sometimes called LPG or LP-gas) is a colorless and odorless gas.
• Since propane is odorless, it is intentionally odorized so leaks can be detected. The odor is similar to rotten eggs. Call the Railroad Commission’s Alternative Fuels Division at (800) 64-CLEAR for a free “scratch-and-sniff” pamphlet that can help familiarize you, your family, and your co-workers with the smell of propane.
• Propane vapors are heavier than air and may accumulate in low-lying areas such as basements and ditches or along floors.
• Propane is flammable when mixed with air (oxygen) and can be ignited by many different sources.

Propane Maintenance

• Never modify or repair your propane system. Ask your propane supplier to send a trained technician to do the work.
• If an appliance or any other component of your propane system has been tagged “out-of-service,” do not attempt to enable it. The tag indicates a serious unsafe condition.
• If an appliance has been added to or removed from your system, contact your supplier so that a technician can perform a required leak test.
• Ask your propane supplier to conduct a regular gas safety check to inspect your system for leaks and ensure it meets all applicable safety standards. The technician will also check your tank, piping, regulators, gauges, connectors, valves, vents, thermostats, pilots, burners and appliance controls to make sure they are in good working condition.
• The regulator is an important part of your propane system. If it is more than 15 years old, ask your propane supplier if it should be replaced.

Environmental Benefits of Adding Propane to Your Home

• An LPG water heater conserves enough energy and increases energy efficiency sufficiently to reduce a family’s energy cost by approximately $75 to $300 a year compared to the cost of operating an electric water heater. Typical energy savings range from $100 to $170 a year, or $1,100 to $1,870 over the expected 11-year useful life of a water heater.
• Propane water heaters offer substantial air-quality benefits by reducing emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide, the main “greenhouse” gas. Compared to a typical electric water heater with a 0.93 energy efficiency factor, a propane water heater with a 0.58 energy efficiency factor reduces NOx emissions by approximately 90 percent, CO emissions by approximately 70 percent, sulfur dioxide by 99 percent and carbon dioxide by approximately 60 percent. These air pollution reduction estimates represent the difference between emissions from power plants utilizing a typical fuel mix and emissions expected from the combustion of propane in a properly adjusted water heater in good condition, as listed in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency publications on air pollution.
• Used for space heating and water heating, propane’s total fuel-cycle emissions of urban air pollutants and greenhouse gases are second-lowest after natural gas, according to DeLucchi (1999). Electricity has total fuel-cycle emissions two to four times higher than those for natural gas or LPG, according to this analysis.