Family-owned Proulx Oil and Propane is continuing to grow its business with the fourth generation in place and an eye on the changing energy industry.

For 80 years, Proulx Oil and Propane has been serving the greater Seacoast area. The business began in 1944 when Joe Proulx started a heating oil company in Epping. His son, Maurice (Moe), joined the company after serving in World War II and the business expanded to Exeter. Joe sold his part of the company in Epping, and Moe continued operations in Exeter, according to Jim Proulx, a member of the third generation and the company’s president and CEO.

The business went dormant for a time. Moe, who had seven children, sold the company, retained the name, and went to work for other fuel companies. In 1985, at the age of 59, Moe resurrected the business and moved it to Newmarket, and soon sons, Jim, John, Dennis, and Tom all joined the business driving delivery trucks after attending college.

In 1996, due to increased customer demand, Proulx added propane and related products to the mix—a significant milestone for the company that had previously only focused on heating oil.

At that time, there were 17 employees, and today that number has nearly tripled. Jim, who is the sole owner, operates the family company with headquarters in Newmarket and operations and storage facilities in Epping—the company’s original home.

“What keeps me motivated is easy,” says Jim. “It is the 45 families that are relying on me, relying on Proulx, so that they can rely on themselves for their livelihood.” It’s those employees, he says, that make the company successful as every customer interaction is a test of its customer service. “We conduct over 30,000 transactions a year—30,000 individual tests. We don’t get them all perfect, but our group of dedicated and consummate professionals seek to earn a 100 percent score on every test we take,” says Jim, whose son Chris joined the company in 2020.  “I am grateful, honored, and extremely proud of the work we all do together, every day.”

Proulx has a fleet of 18 delivery trucks, including a 15,500- gallon transport truck and trailer, Jim says.

Proulx’s focus is to continue to grow its customer base, which stands at about 10,000 across Rockingham, Strafford and Merrimack Counties in NH as well as  York County in Maine, and Essex County in Massachusetts. In addition to growth, the company is focused on lower carbon intensity fuels, such as renewable propane. “Lower carbon intensity fuels will need to be a part of our energy future,” Jim says.