Natural Gas Facts

Natural gas is a combustible fossil fuel found in deep underground reservoirs of porous rock. Natural gas is mostly comprised of methane but also contains small amounts of ethane, propane, pentane and butane gasses.

Natural gas is used extensively in residential, commercial and industrial applications. It is the dominant energy source for home heating. Natural gas is also widely used by electric companies for power generation. Natural gas is also used for water heating, cooking, air conditioning, cogeneration, and even powering vehicles. Natural gas provides nearly 25 percent of the energy consumed in the United States and accounts for over 32 percent of the country's energy production. In 1995, the American Gas Association reported that 53 percent of the nation's existing homes used natural gas heat and roughly 65 percent of the new homes built also used natural gas heat. Based on a report by the Potential Gas Committee of the Colorado School of Mines, total U.S. recoverable natural gas resources are 1,192 trillion cubic feet, including the U.S. Department of Energy's estimate of 164 Tcf of proved reserves. This translates into more than a 60-year supply at current production levels. Many energy experts believe the U.S. has several hundred years of natural gas supplies.

Natural gas has been used to meet people's energy needs for centuries. It was first used in the United States in 1816, where it was used to light the streets of Baltimore, Maryland. Following WWII, piplines were expanded to bring natural gas service to homes and businesses across the nation. Today, natural gas is delivered to well over 175 million American consumers through an ever-expanding 1.3 million mile pipline system.

Each year, thousands of people choose to use clean, efficient natural gas for heating, cooking and water heating. If you live in the southern New Jersey counties of Atlantic, Cape May, Gloucester, Camden, Salem, Burlington, or Cumberland, and want to apply for nautral gas service call 1-800-822-WARM.

Natural gas is the smart choice for all your home energy needs from attractive outdoor lighting to heating, cooling and cooking in your home.

Natural gas is the cleanest-burning fossil fuel. It helps reduce air, water and land pollution.

• With natural gas, there's no missed oil deliveries, messy storage tanks or the chance of a costly oil spill on your property.
• Homes with natural gas heat and appliances sell faster when placed on the market.
• 97 % of America's top chef's prefer cooking with natural gas.
• Natural gas is highly efficient when compared to other fuels--saving you money.