About

Phillip Baratz

Philip J. Baratz is president of Angus Energy which he co-founded in 1991 and the Managing Member of Angus Partners, LLC. Angus began providing hedging services in 1991, and has grown steadily, with over 600 clients, including publicly traded companies and municipalities. Angus offers a diverse range of products and services to distributors and end users, each customized to the needs and locations of the client. Phil founded, built and successfully sold Total Gas & Electric, a deregulated energy marketing company, which exceeded $100 million in sales. He also is a board member of several industry associations as well as several privately owned home heating oil companies. From 1983-1985 he was a member of, and trader on, the New York Futures Exchange. He has been trading in futures and options since 1983 and exclusively energy related since 1991. Beginning in, 1991, Phil has written a monthly column in Oilheating Magazine (now Indoor Comforting Magazine) and has been published in a variety a trade publications.

NEFI President & CEO Sean Cota steps down

The National Energy & Fuels Institute (NEFI) has announced that Sean Cota, President & CEO, has stepped down from his position, effective immediately, for personal reasons. “Since taking the role in 2018—and before this, as a NEFI member and lifelong industry advocate—Sean has guided us with vision, leadership, and dedication,” said Board Chair Ray Hart. […]

Taco employees celebrate the life of John H. White, III

On April 27, Taco Comfort Solutions held its first annual John Hazen White III Memorial Tribute at Narragansett Brewery in Narragansett, RI. The event was created in honor of the company’s late Senior VP, North American OEM Sales, who unexpectedly passed away in November 2022. Participants in the day of unity and celebration included Taco […]

Seitron to host 7/16 combustion training

Seitron Americas Inc. will host a class titled “The Importance of Combustion” training on Tuesday, July 16. The event will begin at 8 a.m. at Seitron’s facility in Newtown, PA. Seasoned professionals and novice technicians alike will benefit from the training, which will provide valuable insights and practical knowledge. Expert speakers will cover a range […]

Lennox calls for local hero nominations for Feel The Love program

Nominations are now open for Lennox Industries‘ “Feel The Love Program.” Celebrating 15 years of giving back to deserving homeowners, the annual program continues its partnership with residential dealers across the U.S. and Canada to donate and install heating and cooling (HVAC) units for community heroes. Nominations are open until August 31, and deserving individuals […]

E-ZOIL appoints new National Sales Manager John Diggs

E-ZOIL announced the appointment of John Diggs as National Sales Manager. Diggs joins E-ZOIL with two decades of aftermarket experience that he gleaned before starting his own promotional merchandising business in Iowa, which he ran for over a decade, before returning home to Buffalo, NY, in 2020. Diggs will oversee E-ZOIL’s U.S. and Canadian distributor […]

Lab Leaders Discuss Fueling the Future

ICM continues its interview series with Dr. Thomas Butcher, NORA Director of Research, and Dr. Jenny Frank, NORA Research Associate. This interview was excerpted from an episode of NORA’s “In The Loop” podcast series. To hear other episodes, go to IntheLoopwithNORA.org. NORA Dr. Butcher, do you want to give a short introduction to Dr. Frank […]

Reinventing the Home Heating-oil Business

A comprehensive guide to embracing innovation, adaptability and passion… Amid unprecedented challenges facing the home heating-oil industry, fuel dealers find themselves at a critical juncture. From the growing threat of electrification to market disruptions and the generational shift in family businesses, it’s evident that traditional approaches are no longer sufficient. We’ll delve into the core […]

Electricity: It’s Role in Heating & Cooling Systems (Part 2)

Electricity is the lifeblood of modern heating and cooling systems, powering a vast array of devices and technologies that maintain comfortable indoor environments in homes and businesses around the world. Adding to our previous discussion about how energy is produced, in Part 2 we will explore how electricity is utilized in these systems, the components […]

Implementing Cathodic Protection Testing

It’s easier than you think… For many propane marketers, cathodic protection inspections and documentation are the “procrastination task” on their checklist. Though cathodic protection is required by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), many propane marketers aren’t meeting requirements because they aren’t sure what is required to satisfy the guidelines. You may be surprised to […]

PERC to transition to new education program

The Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) has announced that starting in 2025, it will phase out the Certified Employee Training Program (CETP) and replaced it with the new PERC Education Program (PEP). According to the organization, this transition moves away from a one-size-fits-all approach to training and puts more focus on the necessary skills […]