Peoples Natural Gas Rate Selection Guide
Peoples Natural Gas is Pennsylvania's largest natural gas distribution company, serving roughly 700,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers across 18 counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania. An Essential Utilities subsidiary regulated by the PA PUC, Peoples offers a My Account portal, formal data request forms, and EDI billing, with competitive gas supply available through Pennsylvania's Customer Choice program.
Peoples Natural Gas Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small General Service (SGS) | commercial | Customer charge + distribution ($/Mcf) + commodity (see tariff) | Small commercial sites under 1,000 Mcf/yr |
| Medium General Service (MGS) | commercial | Customer charge + distribution (tiered $/Mcf) + commodity (see tariff) | Mid-size commercial/industrial, 1,000-24,999 Mcf/yr |
| Large General Service (LGS) | industrial | Customer charge + volumetric distribution; transport-eligible (see tariff) | Large industrial users over 25,000 Mcf/yr |
| DSIC rider | commercial | Percentage surcharge, capped at 5.0% of distribution (see rider) | Applies across classes for infrastructure recovery |
Market Overview
Pennsylvania natural gas is partially deregulated: distribution is regulated (Peoples) while the gas commodity is competitive. Customers may purchase gas supply from licensed competitive suppliers through the Customer Choice program, comparing against Peoples' Price to Compare, while Peoples remains the delivery utility and bills distribution charges set by the PA PUC.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the Peoples Natural Gas Data Access Guide →
Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Options
Statewide natural gas supplier choice program allowing Peoples customers to select a competitive licensed gas supplier while Peoples provides distribution.
Current Rate Schedules
Peoples' bills have two components: regulated base/distribution rates set by the PA PUC, and the gas commodity cost (about half the bill), which Peoples passes through at no markup and adjusts quarterly (or which a competitive supplier provides). Business customers are classed by annual usage - Small (SGS), Medium (MGS), and Large (LGS) General Service - each with a monthly customer charge plus distribution charges. A Distribution System Improvement Charge (DSIC, capped at 5.0% of distribution billing) and a Weather Normalization Adjustment (WNA, Oct 1-May 31) may apply. Current per-unit charges are in the filed Retail Tariff No. 48 (Supplement No. 23, effective April 1, 2026).
Effective: April 1, 2026 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small General Service (SGS) | commercial | Commercial/industrial customers using under 1,000 Mcf per year. | Monthly customer charge plus a per-unit distribution (delivery) charge; gas commodity billed separately or via a chosen supplier. WNA applies. See Tariff No. 48 for current rates. | — |
| Medium General Service (MGS) | commercial | Commercial/industrial customers using 1,000-24,999 Mcf per year. | Monthly customer charge plus distribution charges (often with declining-block or tiered delivery rates); WNA applies. Gas commodity billed separately or via supplier. See tariff for current rates. | — |
| Large General Service (LGS) | industrial | Large commercial/industrial customers using over 25,000 Mcf per year. | Monthly customer charge plus distribution charges scaled to high-volume use; eligible for gas transportation/Customer Choice supply. See tariff for current rates. | — |
| Distribution System Improvement Charge (DSIC) | commercial | Most customer classes, as a percentage rider on distribution charges. | Surcharge to recover infrastructure replacement, capped at 5.0% of the distribution amount billed; reset to zero if a base-rate increase takes effect. See tariff/rider for current percentage. | — |
| Weather Normalization Adjustment (WNA) | commercial | Rate Schedules RS, CAP, SGS, and MGS for bills rendered Oct 1-May 31. | Adjusts the bill for deviations from normal temperatures exceeding 3%, smoothing seasonal usage swings. See WNA mechanism for calculation. | — |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Multi-site commercial billing automation
Automate monthly invoice capture across many Peoples business accounts.
EDI 810 delivers standardized monthly invoices, eliminating manual entry across sites.
- Contact the Business & Industry team to start EDI
- Confirm VAN connectivity and request the v4010 guide
- Budget 2-4 weeks for testing
Large industrial gas procurement
Lower commodity cost for a high-volume facility.
Large users can procure gas competitively under Customer Choice/transportation while Peoples handles delivery.
- Compare supplier offers to the Price to Compare
- Evaluate fixed vs. variable commodity terms
- Confirm transportation eligibility for LGS
Energy consultant onboarding a C&I client
Get authorized access to a client's billing and usage data.
A signed Third-Party Verification Agreement is required; EDI can then deliver authorized invoices.
- Have the client sign the Third-Party Verification Agreement
- Request up to 24 months of usage history
- Use Portfolio Manager for benchmarking if no EDI
C&I customer evaluating supplier shopping
Decide whether a competitive gas supplier lowers total cost.
Only the commodity is competitive; comparing offers to the Price to Compare reveals real savings.
- Find the Price to Compare on the bill
- Watch for introductory rates that roll to variable
- Confirm the supplier is licensed in the territory
Historical Rate Trends
Peoples' last base-rate change took effect in fall 2024. Distribution rates otherwise change via the DSIC rider, while the gas commodity is adjusted quarterly. A major base-rate case is pending before the PA PUC.
March 27, 2026
Peoples filed a base-rate increase request with the PA PUC (Docket R-2026-3060165) seeking about $163.2 million (13.8%) in additional annual distribution revenue. As filed, commercial rates would rise about 15.7% and industrial rates about 11.6%; a 250 Mcf/yr commercial customer's example bill would increase from $271.47 to $314.05 per month. The PUC suspended and is investigating the request; a final decision is due by late December 2026.
+13.8% requested (commercial +15.7%, industrial +11.6%)October 1, 2024
Last base-rate change took effect in fall 2024; Peoples also began applying a Weather Normalization Adjustment to bills rendered on and after October 1, 2024.
n/aOverall trend: Rising, driven by pipeline modernization investment (~$600M/year).
Next expected change: PA PUC decision on the pending base-rate case is expected by late December 2026, with new rates reflected on bills around end of December 2026.
Cost Optimization Strategies
Because Peoples bills separate regulated distribution from the competitive commodity, C&I customers save by shopping the commodity, confirming the correct usage class, and managing seasonal consumption. Larger users may benefit from gas transportation/Customer Choice supply arrangements.
Shop the gas commodity (Customer Choice)
For: All C&I customers
Compare licensed supplier offers against the Peoples Price to Compare and lock a favorable fixed commodity rate; distribution charges are unaffected.
Verify the correct usage class
For: Commercial & industrial
Confirm the account is billed under the appropriate SGS/MGS/LGS class for its annual Mcf, as distribution rate design differs by class.
Manage seasonal and weather-adjusted usage
For: RS/CAP/SGS/MGS customers
Improve building efficiency and monitor monthly usage; the WNA smooths weather swings but lower baseline usage still reduces both delivery and commodity charges.
Evaluate gas transportation for large loads
For: Large industrial users (>25,000 Mcf/yr)
Large (LGS) users may arrange direct gas transportation/supply, paying Peoples for delivery only and procuring the commodity competitively.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download Peoples Natural Gas interval data →
Deregulated Market Shopping
Through Pennsylvania's Customer Choice (Gas Choice) program, Peoples customers can buy the natural gas commodity from a competitive licensed supplier while Peoples continues to deliver the gas and bill regulated distribution charges. Suppliers compete on the commodity portion only; compare any offer against the Peoples Price to Compare shown on every bill.
How to Compare Peoples Natural Gas Suppliers
- 01Find the Peoples Price to Compare on your bill or the Shop for Gas page
- 02Review licensed supplier offers and rates
- 03Authorize sharing of up to 24 months of usage history if needed
- 04Select a supplier and confirm contract terms
- 05Peoples continues delivery and distribution billing
Contract Terms for Peoples Natural Gas Supply Agreements
- Fixed or variable commodity rate options
- Defined contract length with renewal/termination terms
- Possible early-termination fees - read the disclosure
- Distribution charges remain with Peoples and are unaffected by supplier choice
Common Pitfalls When Shopping Peoples Natural Gas Rates
- Low introductory rates may roll to higher variable rates
- Compare the all-in commodity price to the Price to Compare
- Check for monthly fees or minimum-usage charges
- Confirm the supplier is licensed in the Peoples territory
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a commercial or industrial customer get interval (hourly/15-minute) gas data from Peoples?▾
Not through self-service. My Account shows monthly usage only. For granular interval data, a C&I customer must call customer service (1-800-764-0111), identify as the account holder, specify the date range and account number, and request the data. Delivery typically takes several business days and may be subject to data-extraction fees.
Does Peoples Natural Gas offer Green Button or a public API?▾
No. Peoples (Pennsylvania) does not implement Green Button (ESPI) or a public developer API. Automated programmatic access for business customers is through EDI 810 billing, authorized by a signed Third-Party Verification Agreement. Monthly usage and PDF bills are available in My Account.
How does a consultant or aggregator get authorized access to a customer's data?▾
The account holder completes and signs a Third-Party Verification Agreement specifying the third party and the data types authorized, then mails it to Peoples. Once recorded, the third party can request authorized billing/usage data, and can be added to EDI distribution if applicable. Some requests may incur fees.
What are Peoples' commercial and industrial gas rate classes?▾
Under Retail Tariff No. 48, business customers are grouped by annual usage: Small General Service (SGS, under 1,000 Mcf/yr), Medium General Service (MGS, 1,000-24,999 Mcf/yr), and Large General Service (LGS, over 25,000 Mcf/yr). Each pays a monthly customer charge plus distribution (delivery) charges, with the gas commodity billed separately or via a chosen supplier. Current per-unit charges are set in the filed tariff.
Can C&I customers shop for a competitive gas supplier in Pennsylvania?▾
Yes. Through Pennsylvania's Customer Choice (Gas Choice) program, C&I customers can buy the gas commodity from a competitive licensed supplier while Peoples continues distribution. Compare supplier offers against the Peoples Price to Compare listed on each bill.
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