Propane is not normally an exciting topic. But now it is of vital interest to 123 Bay Area residents after a proposal last month by NW Natural to switch three community tanks in Coos Bay and North Bend to natural gas service.

Residents turned up Tuesday evening at the Coos Bay Public Library at a forum held by the Portland-based company to ask what that the proposed switch will mean for them and to clarify rumors floating around town that propane service will be totally cut off from the area.

They learned only NW Natural customers will be affected by the change set to happen June 30 if the Oregon Public Utility Commission approves the gas company's proposal in Salem next month.

In that case, current customers will have a few options. They can choose one of the other three local propane providers, Amerigas in North Bend, Ferrell Gas in Empire or Ron's Oil in Coquille. Those companies will likely need to utilize their own tanks to provide service to the displaced NW Natural customers.

Customers will be able to continue to use propane, switch to electricity or to natural gas provided by NW Natural. But any of those options will likely cost them. According to Bob Valdez, public information officer for the state Utility Commission, the publicly regulated company will provide the lines from the street to the home and remove above-ground equipment for people switching to natural gas.

"Underground pipes will be purged to blow out any fuel that's under there and then they'll be sealed in accordance with federal safety standards," Valdez said.

But from there, customers will be responsible for adjusting their piping and household appliances, like water heaters, stoves and the like.

They can find out how much changing over will set them back individually from local contractors. (See box.)

NW Natural officials said their propane infrastructure, which has been in use since the 1960s, was originally planned to be utilized for natural gas. But that wasn't possible until this year, when a 60-mile pipeline from Roseburg to Coos Bay became operational.

"The company has sent at least two mailings to the customers telling them about the proposal to end service and telling them options they have," Valdez said. "A number have already switched to a different source, most likely natural gas or a different propane supplier."

He said the shutdown of the 12-foot tanks, also known as "propane pigs," is not common.

"I don't think we've ever seen it before in the state," Valdez said. "But the situation has changed with the construction of the pipeline."

According to Valerie White, spokeswoman for NW Natural, the Bay Area is the only place where the company provides propane.

"We have had the rights to serve natural gas in that area for 30 or 40 years," White said. "We had somebody else as a contractor provide the propane during the interim period."

That has some irked about in deciding where to go next.

"It costs money and it's inconvenient for the customer," said Lakeside resident Ed O'Neil, who owns rental properties that use propane in North Bend and Empire. "But it's progress."

Others said they went to the meeting to find the gas company's action doesn't change their utilities at all.

"I came here wondering, 'Where do I go from here?'" said 74-year-old Bunker Hill resident Arlin Shefstad.

He read some pamphlets and left the room.

But to others, the shutdown is of significant concern, according to Kathy Kebler, a housing specialist with the Southern Oregon Coast Housing Opportunities Provider, a group that assists low-income residents with home buying and utility management.

"This is a financial burden for lower income people," Kebler said, adding she is focusing on the utility switch in the neighborhood near the intersection of Juniper and Cottonwood avenues in Coos Bay.

But it all depends on the outcome of the hearing scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 19, in the main hearing room Oregon Public Utility Commission Building in Salem at 550 Capitol St.

"We're just down here to make sure people know about the proposal," said Michael Grant, chief administrative law judge for the utility commission.

Who to call

A list of local contractors was provided at a public meeting Tuesday about NW Natural switching some of its utilities from propane to natural gas. For individual concerns about how much the switch will cost, those interested can contact the following local plumbing, heating and gas contractors:

€ All Weather Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration - 267-5423

€ Chambers Plumbing & Heating - 252-7079

€ Skip's Services, LLC - 267-2420

€ A to Z Plumbing - 759-4668

€ AA Rooter Plumbing service - 269-5050

€ Bateman Plumbing - 572-3970

€ Tri-County Plumbing - 888-4532

€ All Degree - 759-2777

€ Dirty Work - 751-9004

€ Gas Man - 440-1044

€ Farr's True Value Hardware - 267-2137

€ Kozy Wood Heating Center - 756-2712

€ Randle Bros. Construction - 404-7114

According to NW Natural, these contractors were listed after they expressed desire to help the gas company's customers. NW Natural does not endorse any particular contractor and recommends making sure contractors are licensed and bonded.