MARINETTE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Wisconsin propane customers filed over 400 complaints with state consumer officials, saying they were shorted during last winter's fuel shortages.
FOX 11 found that almost two-thirds of the complaints involved Customer's Gas of Amberg in Marinette County. Consumers said they obtained prepaid contracts for propane fuel going into last winter -- but once the shortages hit and the prices spiked, they stopped getting shipments and never got refunds later.
FOX 11 also checked Marinette County court records, and found that Customer's Gas owed a supplier over $308,000 for fuel that was delivered -- and most of it was never paid for.
AmeriGas filed suit in 2012 over the alleged lack of payment. The case was settled in June, but the TV station said Customer's Gas did not pay any of the judgment or related legal fees.
FOX 11 said the company's Amberg headquarters appear mostly vacant, and its owner could not be reached. It said some of Consumer's Gas equipment was sold to another propane dealer.
The state's consumer agency is still investigating the matter.
Some people have filed small claims' judgments against their supplier -- but Marinette County District Allen Brey said he did not expect any customers to get money back.
FOX 11's Web site also lists 8 suppliers which settled state consumer cases, giving out a total of about $23,000 in refunds and credits.
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)