Natural Gas Utilities Continue to Grow
Key National Trends
- 618,043 net new residential natural gas end users were added in 2023, according to EIA data. On average, that’s 1,693 new households added every day across the U.S.
- Texas led the nation in 2023 with single year growth with 100,925 net new residential end users added, followed by California (+75,427) and New Jersey (+29,192). These additions reflect strong continued growth in high-population and high-development states.
Long-Term Growth Trends (2012–2023)
- Since 2012, over 6.4 million net residential gas end users have been added in the U.S. This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.84% nationally.
- California (+600,848), Texas (+779,896), Michigan (+260,899), and New York (+272,972) have all added substantial numbers over the decade-plus.
- In 2023, there were 73,226,403 total residential natural gas customers in the U.S.
State-Level Highlights
Fuel Choice Legislation
Fuel choice laws protect access to natural gas by preventing local bans on new construction. As of 2025, 27 states have adopted such laws. Of the top six states for residential gas growth since 2012, Texas and Utah have fuel choice protections, while California, New York, Colorado, and Michigan do not. This suggests that while fuel choice laws can support customer growth, other drivers like housing and population trends as well as energy prices remain important.
AGA Contact: Brendan O’Brien 202-824-7220, Ferdinand Rother 202-824-7000.
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