Natural Gas Shopping Checklist
Spring is here and that means now is the best time to shop for natural gas. If you’re in a state that allows you to competitively shop for natural gas, use this checklist to make sure you are getting the best deal for your gas.
Listen to the latest episode of Not Another Energy Podcast to dive in to the whys and hows of natural gas shopping, and then shop yourself with our handy check list.
The goal is to lock a fixed, predictable gas supply price before the high-demand season returns.
☐ Confirm your location allows natural gas supplier choice (state rules and residential eligibility vary).
☐ Plan to shop in spring (often a lower-demand period, and commonly a better time to lock terms than fall/winter).
1) Gather what you need (5 minutes)
☐ Pull winter/early-spring gas bills so you can compare offers using real usage.
☐ Identify your highest-usage month and the usage amount (this is your comparison anchor).
☐ Note the unit of measure on your bill (CCF, therms, or MCF).
2) Decide what you’re optimizing for
☐ Write down your goal: price certainty (a predictable supply rate), not “beating the utility every month.”
☐ Remember: the utility’s gas supply rate typically changes month-to-month; a supplier contract is how you lock a fixed rate.
3) Find offers (official site first)
☐ Start on your state/local utility commission (or utility) gas choice website so you can compare standardized offer details.
☐ Filter the offer list to match your service area (utility territory) and customer type (residential).
4) Filter & compare offers (do this before looking at the price)
Pay special attention to your highest-usage month. That’s your anchor.
☐ Check the per-unit rate (per CCF, therm, or MCF) and confirm it matches the unit on your bill.
☐ Confirm there is no early termination fee.
☐ Check the term length. If it’s not 12 months and fixed, ignore it—even if the price looks low.
☐ Confirm the offer is a fixed supply rate (not variable) for the full term.
5) Calculate your real price (adjusted unit rate)
☐ Shortlist a few offers that pass Actions 1–3.
☐ If there is a monthly minimum fee, compute an adjusted unit rate:
☐ Divide the monthly fee by your highest-usage month.
☐ Add that result to the per-unit rate.
☐ Calculate your maximum monthly supply cost under each offer:
☐ Adjusted unit rate × highest-month usage = your “worst-case” supply cost (certainty anchor).
6) Use flexibility (why no early termination fee matters)
☐ If market prices drop, switch again without penalty (only do this if your current contract allows it).
☐ Keep your certainty anchor: the price you need to beat and the term you want to lock.
7) Be smart at renewal time
☐ Record your agreement end date.
☐ Set multiple reminders (e.g., 90/60/30 days before the end date).
☐ Avoid “evergreen” rollover pricing by shopping early—ideally the same time each year (spring).
☐ Before switching away, call your supplier and ask for:
- Unadvertised renewal rates
- Loyalty pricing
- Renewal bonuses
Why utilities don’t give you certainty
You will not get that certainty from your utility.
Utility gas rates change month to month or are subject to reconciliation rider that can change based on regulatory orders. They may be lower than your supplier one month. They may not.
If you’re shopping for savings: don’t, because that’s regulatory roulette.
You’re not shopping for maybes.
You’re shopping for certainty.
And suppliers are the only ones who give you that.
Closing
So that’s how you shop natural gas, smartly, calmly, and on your schedule.
Spring is when the market gives you a real chance. Structure is how you protect yourself. And certainty is the win.
Happy spring heating shopping.
