Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Take advantage of promotions from natural gas suppliers

Natural gas utilities offer all sorts of promotions to encourage the use of natural gas. Also, check with your local gas companies to see if they offer rebates for purchasing new appliances that run on natural gas. Finally, if you're not on natural gas yet, some fuel companies offer valuable incentives for converting to natural gas.

I recommend: Virginia Natural Gas gives its customers a $1,000 rebate for converting from electric heating systems to natural gas heating systems. Energy Services of Pensacola offers excellent incentives, including $1,000 for installing a tankless water heater, $400 for upgrading to natural gas heating and $100 for replacing propane appliances with natural gas appliances.

Use tips from gas companies to conserve energy

Most natural gas companies are eager to educate their customers on ways to reduce their energy consumption and cut their bills. Many of the energy-saving tips can be accomplished at little or no cost.

I recommend: On the website for Gas South, you will find dozens of simple ways you can cut your natural gas usage and save money on your bill. Ideas include installing a programmable thermostat, covering bare floors and adjusting the settings on appliances such as dishwashers. New Jersey Resources, also known as New Jersey Natural Gas, boasts that its conservation tips can save the average customer more than $300 a year on his or her bill.

Team up with natural gas companies that offer maintenance programs

Another great way to save money is to make sure that your appliances are running properly. Routine maintenance and inspections from natural gas companies and private repair services can catch problems before they start to add up on your bill.

I recommend: The Laclede Gas Company will service all your natural gas appliances. Service calls include inspections, cleanings and repairs. Washington Natural Gas is a private company that offers inspections, tune-ups and preseason inspections of natural gas appliances.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Most natural gas suppliers will visit your location and perform an energy audit to help you conserve. This can be especially beneficial if your business has a lot of appliances that run on natural gas.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Elevate your knowledge of natural gas suppliers to U.S. consumers

Using natural gas as an energy resource is only about 50 years old. At one time, it was considered a useless by-product of oil production. Today it covers 22% of U.S. energy consumption.

I recommend: El Paso Corporation is one of the largest suppliers of natural gas in the United States, transporting 25% of the nation's natural gas. Natural gas utilities often are partnered with other energy resources such as electricity and oil. Energy API, a national trade association for fuels, keeps on top of rulings, policy changes and energy safety.

Conserve energy through gas companies

Many, if not all, utilities are looking for ways to conserve energy. Sometimes, companies give you a choice of electricity or gas. Others will help you convert to gas.

I recommend: Vectren Corporation is a supplier and a distributor of natural gas or electricity to Indiana and Ohio residents. National Grid, serving the Northeast region, has a conversion program for homeowners who want to switch to using natural gas utilities.

Let a natural gas supplier compete for your business

Some gas companies have programs where consumers can choose their gas supplier. This increases competition in pricing, which can only benefit the consumer.

I recommend: Michigan Gas Utilities offers its customers a choice in gas suppliers, although MGU would continue to deliver the gas, if required. Nicor offers a similar program for its customers. The gas company provides competition among suppliers which helps its customers.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Non-profits can work with energy consultants and make price arrangements with natural gas suppliers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Convert to natural gas utilities

Natural gas utility companies entice new customers by making the conversion process inexpensive and simple. Assuming natural gas service is available at your business location, a crew will install a service line, install your new natural gas equipment, inspect the equipment and activate the service.

I recommend: The conversion process is clearly explained at WGL Holdings, also known as Washington Gas. Washington Gas serves the Washington, D.C., area. Detailed information on conversion is also available from NW Natural, one of the natural gas utility companies serving Oregon and Washington state.

Sign up for budget billing from gas companies

Once you've converted to natural gas service, you may want consider setting up budget billing. Under budget billing plans, the natural gas utilities estimate how much product a customer will use for the entire year. That amount is divided by 12, and a customer is billed the same amount every month, avoiding high fuel bills in the winter.

I recommend: Natural gas companies such as Corning Natural Gas and New England Gas Company detail their budget billing plans on their websites.

Get safety information from natural gas utilities

Overall, natural gas companies have an excellent safety record, but you should still know some basic safety information in case of a leak. Leaking natural gas will smell like rotten eggs, and you may hear a hissing sound. If you suspect a leak, you should call 911 immediately.

I recommend: The websites of many natural gas suppliers, such as ONEOK, contain a list of what to do and not to do if you suspect a natural gas leak. The ONEOK website also lists relevant emergency numbers for gas companies. Virginia Natural Gas details exactly what you should do in case of an indoor or outdoor leak.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many gas companies offer rebates on new natural gas equipment to make the conversion process less expensive.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Deregulation

Natural gas deregulation occurs when the government loosens its restrictions on the activities of private companies that deal with natural gas distribution. Deregulation creates healthy competition between companies, gives natural gas customers more options, and lowers the price of this utility.

I recommend: Find out how deregulation of the natural gas market is advantageous to its customers at the U.S. Department of Energy.

Carbon mitigation

The desired result of carbon mitigation is to decrease the amount of harmful pollution that carbon inflicts on our environment. This can be accomplished by the development of cleaner ways to burn fuels.

I recommend: Explore more of the ways that scientists are finding to accomplish the task of carbon mitigation at the Carbon Mitigation Institute.

Clean and green

The ultimate goal in the process of using natural gas is to make sure that it is used in a clean way, taking the necessary precautions to ensure that it creates little to no pollution. Natural gas must be environmentally friendly, or 'clean and green.'

I recommend: Learn about how natural gas is becoming one of our more clean and green resources at the Financial Post.

Pipelines

An impressive system of pipelines delivers natural gas to destinations all around the United States. This system ensures that natural gas will be supplied where and when it is needed.

I recommend: The Energy Information Administration breaks down the system of natural gas pipelines and connections for your consideration.

CCF

The supply of natural gas being delivered into a home is measured in CCFs. A CCF is the amount of natural gas measured in cubic feet that is being transferred through a pipeline.

I recommend: Find further explanation on how a natural gas bill is calculated and how its units are measured at Fairbanks Natural Gas.

Federal Energy Regulatory Committee

The main purpose of the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee, or the FERC, is to keep track of the state to state movement of electricity, natural gas, and oil. This organization also handles various environmental issues relating to these resources of energy.

I recommend: Read about the many aspects surrounding the organization of the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee.