YOUR CHECK OFF (ASSESSMENT)
Get resources and information to help you meet the legislative assessment collections mandate.
PROPANE EDUCATION & RESEARCH ACT
The Propane Education & Research Council was authorized by the U.S. Congress with passage of the Propane Education and Research Act (PERA), Public Law 104-284, signed into law on October 11, 1996. The act was amended by the Propane Education & Research Enhancement Act of 2014.
All of the Council’s programs are funded by an assessment levied on each gallon of propane gas at the point it is odorized or imported into the United States. The assessment, which is mandatory, is currently $.005 per gallon. PERA requires the owner of the propane at the time of odorization, or at the time odorized propane is imported into the United States, to remit an assessment based on the volume of odorized propane sold and placed into commerce each month.
Downloads
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PROPANE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2014
HOW TO SUBMIT
Below are the forms and instructions to pay the PERA assessment. We thank the industry members who took part in the development of our enhanced assessment guidelines for both remitters and terminal operators.
Terminal Operators
All terminal and remitter reports, as well as any administrative reports associated with the assessment collection process are to be handled by the approved management of PERC. Approved management is responsible for insuring that no Council member views or receives such reports. Reports relating to management’s performance in the collection of propane assessments may be provided to Council members to help them fulfill their governance responsibility. However, under no circumstance may these performance reports contain company specific information relating to propane volumes or assessment amounts. Download the Remittance Report Instructions for information about our Confidentiality Policy.
Download Submission Forms
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE
The assessment confidentiality policy was developed to assure everyone in the industry, including terminal operators and remitters, that all assessment information received by PERC is held in strict confidence by a limited number of management staff members.
All terminal operator and remitter assessment information relating to volumes of odorized propane and assessments paid is strictly for use by PERC’s management (namely, the president and chief executive officer; the senior vice president – budget and finance, and Marcum LLC, a PERC contractor) to ensure that all propane assessments are paid. Under no circumstances are Council members given access to such information.
Council members may have access to listings that name terminals, remitters, and importers to help management identify organizations that could potentially be responsible for paying an assessment.
Special Note
Because most members of the Council are competitors in the propane industry, assessment information is deemed market sensitive and is not shared with them. Given that safeguard, terminal operators can share their reports with PERC knowing that the information they supply will give no one in the industry any unfair competitive advantage.
INTEREST & PENALTY WAIVER NOTICE
To minimize the financial impact of the collection of back or overdue assessments, PERC has instituted a waiver on interest and penalties under certain conditions. To be eligible for this waiver, a remitter must both reasonably demonstrate that an oversight of past assessments was unintentional and — when the oversight is found — fully cooperate with PERC’s assessment investigations.
Requirements
In accordance with the Propane Education and Research Act of 1996, organizations are required to pay the assessment. PERC holds authority to collect overdue assessments, together with a five percent penalty and 1.5 percent interest per month. To minimize the financial impact of the collection of back or overdue assessments, PERC has instituted a waiver on interest and penalties under certain conditions.
To be eligible for this waiver, a remitter must both reasonably demonstrate that an oversight of past assessments was unintentional and — when the oversight is found — cooperate with PERC’s assessment investigations.
QUESTIONS?
Have questions about the assessment? Call the help desk at 202-464-9023 or send an email message to remittance@propane.com. The PERC assessment help desk operates during normal business hours Monday through Friday. Someone may not always be available, but our performance standard is a response within 24 hours and no more than 48 hours.