SoCal Anaheim Base

[Jennifer]

I just found this forum and I think all the info on here is great. I work for Trillium, a CNG fuel provider to large customers, like LA Metro, OCTA, etc. (www.trilliumusa.com) We also do public fueling in San Francisco, Berkeley and Phoenix.

We have contracted with SoCal Gas to upgrade their CNG station at Anaheim, on S. State College Blvd. We have a new compressor on site now, more storage and will be reopening to the public in January or February.

This is our first public station in southern California and I'd love to hear from any OC locals about ways that we can get customers back to the location. We plan to make sure the new station is 100% reliable!

[Curtis]

Re: SoCal Anaheim Base

Start by keeping the info at www.cngprices.com updated at all times. This will let everyone know that you are up, running and what your current prices are. One big issue with ngv drivers is the fill pressure at the pumps they use. It is so hard to get a good fill-up at most stations. Have your service people keep your compressor pressure at around 4000 psi, 4500 psi in the summer and word will get around that you have the best pressure in the area. This alone will draw drivers to you site.

Announce on the forum when you have opened. The exposure will let people know that you are back in service. Like they say... build it, and they will come.

[Timon]

Re: SoCal Anaheim Base

Jennifier,

First a question then my suggestions.

Any chance that a public pump might be installed at the OCTA's new yard near South Coast Plaza? That location would almost be as easy to get to as the one in SoCal's Santa Location off the 55 that CE runs. Plus I'd feel much safer using it.
I know that a line would have to be run to a public area but it sure would be nice.

My suggestions:

Get a station along the 405 corridor between the 55/405 and the 105/405 junctions. More non Clean Energy stations are needed to increase competition.

Don't play the "When gasoline prices change we change to match" game. Price CNG based on the price of natural gas. Just because oil goes up is no reason to raise the price of CNG.

Do the above and we'll abandon CE whenever we can find your stations.

Some of the "It would be nice" requests are:

If possible provide a cover above the pumps. I just love having to fuel in the rain

Dump the video requirement. Just because I change credit cards is no reason that I should have to watch the video again. Make it optional when new card is used.


EDIT:
I guess by the time they are ready the HOV ramp will be reopened which will be nice. I liked, when it worked, using that station when I went to Disneyland.

Curtis, since they put in new compressors and tanks they maybe running at 5,000 PSI. That way several cars can fill up before the pressure drops close to 3,600.

[cngmike]

Re: SoCal Anaheim Base

Jennifer, welcome to the board. I am curious about some of the design details of this station. Being that is right around the corner from a cab co, will you be upgrading to multiple dispensers? What make of dispensers and packagers of compressor skid? Will There be multiple compressors with separate control panels? What kind of station monitoring will you be using and what will be the call time for a service tech? I am not trying to stir up the bears with my questions. I use to work in this field and I am curious about others design, operation and service philosophy.

[Caradoc]

Re: SoCal Anaheim Base

Is this the site on Gene Autry a block or so west of State College?

Thanks!

[Timon]

Re: SoCal Anaheim Base

Yes, The one you can't get to from the 5 HOV lane until they repair the road.

I'll try to drive buy this weekend and see what's been done.

[Jennifer]

Re: SoCal Anaheim Base

Thanks for all the replies! To answer some of the questions:

This is the station off of State College. We are installing an Ariel compressor package, with Murphy panels which are controlled by our own PLC software. Initially, we will have only one compressor installed, but have agreed to install a second when demand reaches a certain level.

We aren't changing the dispensing for now, it will be the same unit, with the same video training requirement (sorry, no way around that, its basically required by state law). We will add dispensers when its justified by higher demand. I'll see what the guys can do about a canopy as well.

We have a 24/7 service center in our headquarters office, with people working around the clock doing station monitoring. Our 800 number will be posted at the site and you can call anytime and talk to a person if you have any concerns. We have several techs in OC, and they can be on site quickly when needed. Most of the time, though, the station alarms are reset from here and the users never know the difference. We have a great record on reliability compared to other station operators, even at sites with only one compressor.

We do change our prices based on NG pricing, not gasoline. Our prices are posted on our website, but now that I've found cngprices.com I'll keep them updated there as well.

As fas as public fueling at OCTA goes, I can't really comment on that, except to say that it isn't currently in their plans. You aren't alone in requesting it, however, so you never know what may happen in the future!
Jennifer

[Timon]

Re: SoCal Anaheim Base

Will you be taking over the SoCalGas Station in Garden Grove on Monarch Street? I'd consider using this station if I could get complete 3,600 psi fills so I'd only have to go there every other day rather than every day and a half.

More competition, especially along the 405 corridor, is a good thing. With CE having the entire corridor currently locked up they can just about price CNG at whatever they want and tell us to just stuff it.

Good luck and I hope you do well.

[cngmike]

Re: SoCal Anaheim Base

I contacted both Trillium and Pinnacle when we where contracting out the Long Beach stations. Only Clean Energy gave a proposal. To bad!

[jetboatjohnny]

Re: SoCal Anaheim Base

Thats's good news, I only got a decent fill there a couple of times in the past, so I have not used it in a long time.
I dont understand about the PIN thing, is that required for private companies? I dont have to enter a PIN at the municipal stations. Also, why is the number I enter in Anaheim the same as the number for CE stations?
I will use the station if it can keep prices as low as the Diamond Bar station, that is where I fill on my way into OC.
J

[Timon]

Re: SoCal Anaheim Base

Mike,

I bet they won't let that happen again. Let's hope they take CE on head to head.

Jet,

I think the PIN number is based on so some hash of the credit card number. If I knew the formula is we could have a web page you could go to and create the number.

[jeff_c]

Re: SoCal Anaheim Base

i agree, getting the best fill is the top of my priority list. I want to get fuel as NOT often as possible. I live nearby and would use the station if I got good fills.

[flmgrip]

Re: SoCal Anaheim Base

is this station operational again and does it give good fills ?

thanks

[Lakewood90712]

Re: SoCal Anaheim Base

I have used this station from time to time for 5 years . It has always had limited capacity , resulting in poor fills. This is even after our favorite operator, CLEAN ENERGY : took over operation of it last year.

I do have one concern about Trillium taking over the station. Will they lay off "Nozzle Guy"
on the video display screen ? or does he have an exclusive contract with C.E. ?

[hctan]

Re: SoCal Anaheim Base

Just went by the SoCal Gas Station you referred on State College in Anaheim.
The 3000 psi station is out of service and looks like the 3600 is also out.
Any idea when it will re-open?
Thanks?
Haw