Natural gas is a safe, economical and abundant source of energy for your home or business. It can power stoves, dryers, furnaces, water heaters and many other appliances. It is also used by industry to make plastics, steel and other products. It is a clean and green fuel, and more factories and electric generating plants are switching to it as a cleaner alternative to coal or oil.
You have options when it comes to your natural gas supplier if you live in an area where the public utility has deregulated its electricity and/or natural gas service. Energy markets that are deregulated allow multiple suppliers to compete for your business, and the provider that offers the lowest rates will win. This incentivizes providers to offer incredibly competitive rates to get you to sign up for their services.
In addition to competitive rates, some natural gas providers may offer perks and bonuses to entice you to sign up for their plans. For example, some companies provide a free Next thermostat or security camera with their plan. Others might offer a discount to seniors. Still, others might support local pet charities through a percentage of your monthly bill.
The best way to compare georgia natural gas providers in your area is to contact each one individually. Ask questions about their contracts, early cancellation fees, customer service, billing process, and more. You can also ask about the company’s commitment to clean energy policies. Choosing a provider with clean energy policies will help you reduce your carbon footprint and do something good for the environment.
Most people think that the public utility is responsible for the piping and infrastructure that delivers natural gas to their homes. However, this is not always the case. Many states allow consumers to choose a natural gas supplier, and this gives you the ability to shop around for different rates and plans. You can also find a natural gas supplier that offers an introductory rate, which means that the price per therm will be lower for the first three months of your contract.
A good option for those who want to keep their costs low is a fixed-rate plan. These plans lock in a set price per therm for a year or more, which will protect you against sudden increases in natural gas prices.
You can find the current gas rates for your state on the PSC’s website. Marketers submit their rates to the commission by the 5th of each month, and the PSC publishes them in an excel chart. The chart also includes a section on senior discounts, which the PSC examines each month.
Residential and industrial natural gas rates across the country were generally lower in March than they were in February. The largest decrease was in California, where residential rates fell -8.1%. This may be due to limitations on Russian imports and the continuing war in Ukraine, which has reduced the demand for energy. In contrast, industrial natural gas rates were the highest in Arkansas, where prices increased by 20.2% from February to March.