Fuel of the Future: Natural Gas Innovation on Display 

Customer service chatbots. AI-powered service route planners. Smart meters. Drones. 

Many might not realize that  the scene at AGA’s recent Operations Conference and Biennial Exhibition would be similar to  something out of the Jetsons – complete with a robot assistant to help attendees navigate the showroom floor.

But, this should be no surprise…the natural gas is at the cuting edge of technological advancements at nearly every part of business operations. Continued investment in these innovations is critical for continuing to drive best-in-class safety, reliability and affordability in natural gas service.  

Even if you’re familiar with some of the latest smart meter technology that is providing the most accurate readings and cutting down on hours of maintenance and technical attention with remote service and tamper reporting, that’s only the tip of the iceberg.

 From advancements in planning and scheduling using advanced AI tools to streamline and maximize technicians’ impact with each stop they may make throughout their day, to new developments in excavation technology using pressurized water to unearth pipeline without risking damage to the infrastructure, the innovations are as elaborate as your imagination allows.  

Many of these solutions have several things in common – innovation in natural gas drives better service, continued advancements in safety and savings for customers.  New technology is often designed to increase efficiency, whether that’s operational efficiency or natural gas efficiency, both continue to drive environmental benefits and  save customers money. That efficiency helps keep more families, businesses, and communities across the country fueled 3.5 times cheaper than electricity.  

Innovation isn’t happening in a vacuum either. It’s the product of the entire industry working toward a shared goal – bringing the best natural gas service to customers now and far into the future. Whether it’s deploying predictive analytics to anticipate maintenance needs before they become service issues or leveraging satellite data and drone technology, the industry is showing that it’s actively shaping the future, all while keeping customer needs at the center of every breakthrough.