When fuel costs rise, small and large businesses look for alternatives to traditional ways of purchasing. Natural gas consultant firms can offer detailed market information to clients and assist them in finding the best deal within the current marketplace.

There are more than 8,000 natural gas companies within the United States, and these companies supply 60 million homes and more than 70% of U.S. companies with fuel. The Federal Energy Regulatory Committee is responsible within the United States for regulating the natural gas industry.

When searching for natural gas engineering consultants, you should determine:

1. Do you need an insider's take on engineering to find natural gas within the earth?

2. Do you need a natural gas distribution consultant to make the best purchasing deal for your company's natural gas needs?

2. What natural gas energy consulting needs does your firm require? Natural gas engineering firms have multiple experts on staff, from geologists to petrochemical engineeers.

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

Investigate your options for natural gas energy consultants

There are many types of consultants; some are aligned with a specific utility while others are independent. Determine which would be most helpful to your business. If you are able to purchase natural gas through an outside provider, you might consider looking beyond your geographic region for a natural gas consultant with a national or international marketplace perspective.

I recommend: Petrotech offers natural gas consulting services with an emphasis on emerging markets in Asia. Fugro-Robertson looks at worldwide markets and offers detailed research data on its website. Independent Energy Consultants offers in-depth information on how to best select natural gas consultants and how these consultant might help your business save on natural gas energy bills.

Know where to find natural gas industry consultants price data

If you are knowledgeable about current prices and the worldwide natural gas engineering economic picture, you can better understand the data that your natural gas consultant will supply.

I recommend: GASearch offers available price data and research data for an annual subscription. This data has been studied by its gas consultants and others within the natural gas industry. Gas companies such as Shell, Inc. offer clients the option to conduct an energy audit as well as offering alternatives for consideration that might better serve their business needs. The natural gas consultants on staff can help determine what will save your company time and money.

Natural gas energy consultants assist municipalties as well as industry

Cities and other metropolitan areas can use gas consultants to better determine their energy needs and assist consortiums of municipalities in bulk purchases of natural gas.

I recommend: Natural gas energy consulting is not limited to industries. Companies such as Independent Energy Consultants offer municipalities natural gas engineering services and natural gas consulting services. Others, such as Northeast Energy Partners target specific regions of the United States to better serve their customers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Learn whether you must have companies bid for your company's business. That will make a difference in the alternatives that your natural gas company consultant can offer to you.