Aero Energy and Wise Oil combine Eastern Shore operations

NEW OXFORD, PA: Aero Energy President and CEO Tom Washburn and Bill Wise, Owner of Wise Oil and Fuel, Cambridge, Md., have announced the merger of Wise Oil and Fuel with Aero Energy, New Oxford, Pa.

Aero is an operating company of Mid-Atlantic Cooperative Solutions, Inc. (MACS), and is jointly owned by affiliates of Choptank Electric Cooperative, Denton, Md.; Adams Electric Cooperative, Gettysburg, Pa. and an Aero employee stock ownership plan.

“I am extremely pleased to announce the merger of Wise Oil and Fuel with Aero Energy,” says Bill Wise. “I have looked long and hard for a company to partner with that I felt could match the small town values and commitment to customer service that have been the hallmark for the Wise family and its employees over the past 60 years.”

Photo Caption: Present to finalize the merger of Wise Oil and Fuel and Aero Energy are, from left: Joe Cole, Vice President, Finance & Corporate Services, Adams Electric Cooperative; Tom Washburn, President and CEO, Aero Energy; Bill Wise, Owner of Wise Oil; and Fred Hubbard, President and CEO, Choptank Electric Cooperative.

Washburn says that Aero has been looking to fill the Maryland mid-Eastern Shore service area between locations in Salisbury and Havre de Grace. Both Wise and Washburn believe the combined operation is a great service territory fit to better serve consumer needs on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Washburn added, “We are very pleased Bill Wise will remain to manage the merged businesses. Wise Oil has a great team of technicians as well as expert installers and a courteous support staff. Aero is now able to provide its Maryland Eastern Shore customers with additional skilled heating and cooling service on indoor and outdoor equipment.”

Wise and his employees will continue to run the Wise-Aero operation out of Cambridge. “Our goal is to maintain the local Wise traditions of customer service and savings, and to also add products and services made possible through our new relationship with Aero Energy.”

Wise said he was “very pleased to announce the reintroduction of propane into the Wise-Aero family of products and services. Aero's propane expertise now allows us to offer propane delivery, sales and service out of our Cambridge office.”

Aero Energy operates out of seven locations in south-central Pennsylvania, northern and southern Maryland, Delaware and the Maryland Eastern Shore.

Founded in 1929, Aero serves approximately 27,000 consumers with distribution of propane, heating oil, gasoline, and diesel, heating and cooling equipment installations and related maintenance services, propane cylinder refurbishment, distribution of Blue Rhino propane grill cylinders, and standby electric generators.

Fred Hubbard, president and CEO of Choptank Electric, said, “Since Choptank  became involved in the purchase of Aero Energy in 2001, I've wanted to do more on the Eastern Shore than having one southern distribution point in Salisbury since we have cooperative members in all nine counties.The right fit for an organization comes along rarely.This merger looks and feels like the right fit for MACS and Aero. Bill Wise, Tom Washburn and their teams showed total professionalism all the way through merger considerations, and we are very pleased to have a great partner like Adams Electric Cooperative along with us.”

Wise Oil and Fuel is headquartered in Cambridge, Md. and operates one other location in Wye Mills. Its 4,000 consumers are primarily located in Dorchester, Talbot, Caroline, Queen Anne’s and Wicomico counties. Aside from distributing heating fuels, gasoline and diesel fuel, Wise also installs and services Lennox heating and cooling systems.