AGA’s 2026 Playbook Highlights Affordability of Natural Gas
The American Gas Association has released its 2026 Playbook, offering a clear, data-driven look at how America’s natural gas utilities are delivering safe, affordable and reliable natural gas while continuing to drive innovation and meeting rising demand. More than 189 million Americans and 5.8 million businesses rely on natural gas every day, with utilities adding more than one new residential customer every minute.
At a time when Americans are concerned with rising costs, maintaining the affordability of natural gas is paramount. Natural gas is the first five percent of the economy, but it makes the remaining 95% possible. The AGA Playbook details how the industry is successfully delivering on those responsibilities.
Below are a few highlights from the 2026 Playbook.
Natural gas keeps energy bills lower
For households and businesses, the savings are concrete: homes that use natural gas for heating, cooking and clothes drying save an average of $1,030 per year compared to homes that use electricity for those same applications. Over time, those savings add up. The Playbook notes that the low cost of natural gas has saved families a total of $99 billion and businesses over $655 billion over the last 10 years.
Customer preferences reinforce that story. The 2026 Playbook reports that consumers prefer natural gas over electric heat pumps by a ratio of 4 to 1.
Natural gas delivers reliability when it matters
A resilient energy system underpins nearly every critical function of the U.S. economy, from homes and hospitals to manufacturing and data centers. A majority of adults view natural gas as a reliable way to heat their home, cook meals and handle daily household needs.
That reliability is the result of long-term planning, infrastructure investment and operational discipline across an energy delivery system built to serve customers in every season.
Safety is the industry’s top priority
America’s natural gas utilities invest $37 billion annually to enhance the safety of natural gas distribution and transmission systems. That investment supports ongoing modernization, system integrity work and technologies that help utilities prevent incidents before they happen.
Natural gas is essential for a more sustainable future
Emissions from natural gas distribution systems have declined 70% since 1990 thanks to the innovative hard work of the natural gas industry. Today, carbon dioxide emissions from homes using natural gas for space and water heating, cooking and clothes drying are 22% lower than those attributable to an all-electric home.
Smart innovation is moving the industry forward and helping to meet rising demand
Thanks to smart innovation, natural gas utilities have been meeting rising demand while keeping prices stable with nearly 50% growth since 2006. They’ve also been lowering emissions by implementing innovative technologies like renewable natural gas and hydrogen to fuel a cleaner future.
AGA’s Playbook is a practical resource for policymakers, stakeholders and anyone who wants a clear picture of how natural gas utilities are delivering for customers and communities.
Click here to read the full AGA Playbook.