Nearly 187 million Americans and 5.8 million businesses use natural gas because it is affordable, reliable, safe and essential to improving our environment. America's natural gas utilities are innovative and committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through new and modernized infrastructure and advanced technologies that maintain reliable, resilient and affordable energy service choices for consumers.

American families use natural gas because it is affordable. Households that use natural gas for heating, cooking and clothes drying save an average of $1,132 per year compared to homes using electricity for those applications.

Natural Gas vs. Electric Rates​
Save $1.86 with Natural Gas

The energy cost comparison was formulated on the cost per 100,000 BTU's output of a fuel type.
Utility Rate X Amount Required for 100,000 BTUs X Efficiency Factor = Cost per 100,000 BTUs.
The efficiency factor for electric is 100% and for natural gas appliances is 85%.
To calculate the efficiency factor: Example:  1 ÷ .85 = 1.176.
The costs are based on current local utility rates. 2/01/2025.

Residential Savings

Natural gas is 3.3 times more affordable than electricity and significantly more affordable than several other residential energy sources for the same amount of energy delivered. Source: Department of Energy

Natural gas is affordable and has saved families like yours tens of millions of dollars in the past five years. Families that use natural gas to heat their homes, cook their meals and dry their clothes save on average $1,132 every year over those who use electricity. Why is that? Gas furnaces cost less to operate than heat pumps.

Tankless gas water heaters have energy efficiency as high as 97% and cost less than electric ones. As demand for energy has risen, natural gas usage per household has actually decreased. Said simply: increase your use of natural gas and you will increase the money in your pocket.

Nationwide Savings

The low cost of natural gas has saved families a total of $125 billion over 10 years.

Commercial and Industrial customers have saved more than half a trillion dollars over the last decade by using natural gas. Source: American Gas Association.

To find out how much natural gas can save you on water heating alone, visit our water heating facts page.