Oil deliveries challenged by mountainous snowdrifts
P.E.I. oil company delivery workers are having a hard time getting over snowdrifts to find the oil line to homes and businesses this winter, and that's slowing down operations.
The Island fuel companies that spoke to CBC say they have had a hard time keeping up with the demand since January because of the cold weather and the more than 400 cm of snow that's fallen.
And, while most homeowners shovel a path to the fill pipe for the oil delivery, others don't or can't. That's slowing down deliveries because of the extra effort workers have to go through to get over the snow.
"There's probably a dozen or so throughout the day that you might come across that you haven't been able to get to it," said Dwayne Thistle, delivery driver for Feasible Fuels, who says he's climbed on his hands and knees over the snow to access pipes.
Frustrated customers
Kevin Currie, Co-op Energy's P.E.I regional manager, says not clearing snow isn't because people are being lazy or malicious.
"I don't think that's due to somebody just saying I'm not shovelling, or watch the driver struggle. It's more of two or three blasts of snow in the span of a week, and if you didn't get it the first couple times, it froze, and then there's absolutely no way for a consumer to shovel it out," said Currie.
"These guys are going above and beyond the call of duty, seven days a week, away from their friends, away from their families to make sure our customers have the products they need."
Stephanie Hickox of Feasible Fuels says their drivers are also working many more hours than usual.
"Workers are doing the best they can with up to 40 deliveries a day, but if they can't reach the oil tank, they can't fill it up," said Hickox.
"You do get frustrated customers because they're trying their best too to make a path and sometimes it's enough, and sometimes it's not," she said.
If they can't make a delivery, drivers will leave a note and try again later, once the snow is shovelled.
The fuel companies say it's particularly hard right now to be able to accommodate last-minute requests for deliveries.
Companies advise customers to call for a delivery when they still have at least a quarter of a tank left.
