Best Natural Gas Companies

We’ve evaluated over 100 natural gas and electricity retailers and reviewed over 20,000 customer reviews to find the best natural gas providers in the United States.
Great Rates
Direct Energy
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3
  • pro
    Amazon Prime membership
  • pro
    Vivint security bundles
  • pro
    Deals on appliance rentals
Best Overall
Constellation Energy
4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8
  • pro
    Trusted national provider
  • pro
    Up to $100 in bill credits
  • pro
    HVAC care bundles
Best for Green Energy
Tomorrow Energy
4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2
  • pro
    Low price leader
  • pro
    Clean energy
  • pro
    Partnership with Arbor Day
Best Customer Perks
Spark Energy
4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1
  • pro
    Fixed-rate plans
  • pro
    Earn rebates
  • pro
    Earn rewards
Price Leader
Energy Harbor
4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6
  • pro
    Great for apartments
  • pro
    Carbon-free power
  • pro
    Free move centers
Katherine McEntire
Jul 17, 2024
Icon Time To Read6 min read

Thanks to federal Energy Choice measures, residents of 17 states can shop around for natural gas and electricity providers, just like insurance, phone, or internet service.

To make the choice easier, we've compared some of the best natural gas companies available in these states to help you save money on your utility bills.

We’ve evaluated over 100 natural gas and electricity retailers and reviewed over 20,000 customer reviews to find the best natural gas and electricity providers in the United States.

Select any of the providers below to discover your options and start saving.


Deregulated electricity and natural gas map

Map showing which states are deregulated for energy services

Image: Utilityrates.com

Info Box
What is Energy Choice?

Energy Choice is all about making your life easier. It allows you to compare and switch energy providers with ease. We've streamlined the process to make it simple and quick so you can focus on what's important to you.


Compare the best natural gas companies

Company
Move.org rating
Top feature
Learn more
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3
Great rates
4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8
Best overall
4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2
Best green energy provider
4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1
Best for customer perks
4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6
Price leader

Information current as of post date.

How to choose the best natural gas company for you

If you're new to (or moving to) a deregulated state, shopping for utilities like natural gas and electricity can seem daunting. While many of these natural gas companies offer quality service and exciting perks, they don't offer a lot of information upfront. So here are a few things to consider while you shop around.

Plan length
Consider how long you'll be staying at this new address. Many of these natural gas providers offer short and long-term service as well as fixed or flexible rates. If you're switching gas service to a more permanent address, we recommend aiming for a fixed long-term plan. This means you're locked into service for a year or more, but your price won't change with fluctuations in the energy market.

Your natural gas usage
Most natural gas services offer fixed-rate or variable-rate plans. Depending on the size of your home and your natural gas usage, one might be better for you than the other. Smaller homes that use less energy might be better off with variable-rate plans, while fixed-rate is best for larger homes and higher energy use. The former may fluctuate from month to month, but you aren't locked into a contract. And fixed-rate plans keep the price steady throughout the length of that contract.

Extra perks
With all the competition in states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Ohio, natural gas companies work hard to stand out.

Many natural gas providers use renewable resources like biogas from landfills or offer a carbon offset program for energy use. We also came across rebates or gift cards for customers and customer service extras for those who stay a year or longer.


Our reviews: The best natural gas companies for 2024

From heating your fireplace to cooking your food, a reliable natural gas connection is a must for any new home. But for folks in deregulated states, finding which natural gas company is best for them can be tricky. The best natural gas companies offer reliable natural gas service, customer service, and fair pricing.

In this list, we've compared the best energy companies for natural gas across several states, their perks, and their plans.

Direct Energy: Best gas company for great rates

Direct Energy
Our Rating
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3

Direct Energy is one of the largest natural gas companies in the world, serving nearly four million residential, business, and service customers. It offers some of the best natural gas rates and attractive incentives and rewards, including free Amazon Prime membership or Amazon gift cards every month for the duration of your contract.

pro
Pros
pro Great rates
pro Transparent pricing
pro Free Amazon Prime membership
pro Amazon gift cards each month of contract term
pro Green energy options
con
Cons
con Slightly higher prices

Ready for great rates?


Constellation Energy: Best overall natural gas company

Constellation
Our Rating
4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8

Constellation Energy is one of the largest energy companies in the US, and serves over seven million electricity and natural gas customers across the country. Constellation offers great rates, bill credits, smart home products, and HVAC warranties.

pro
Pros
pro Trusted national brand
pro Great rates
pro Great customer reviews
pro Bill credits
pro HVAC warranties
pro Green energy options
con
Cons
con Some prices slightly above market

Constellation Energy is our top natural gas company.


Tomorrow Energy: Best green energy natural gas provider

Tomorrow Energy
Our Rating
4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2

Tomorrow Energy is a large independent electricity and natural gas company serving over 300,000 customers nationwide. It features no-frills straightforward pricing and strives to provide its customers with the best 100% green energy.

pro
Pros
pro 100% green energy
pro Fixed-rate pricing
pro Great communications
con
Cons
con Only 12-month plans

Looking for green energy?


Spark Energy: Best natural gas company for customer perks

Spark Energy
Our Rating
4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1

Spark Energy offers three main plans for its residential customers, all with fixed rates. But that price may vary depending on where you live. Of these three plans, you can find the Sustainable Impact plan which offers carbon-neutral natural gas and offsets your usage by reducing energy elsewhere.

pro
Pros
pro Fixed rates
pro Carbon-neutral natural gas
con
Cons
con Transfers can take up to 45 days
con Prices can vary with zip code

Looking for customer perks?


Bullhorn
Need energy bill assistance?

We found resources in several states to help anyone who needs assistance with their gas bills in these following states.

New Jersey:
Home Energy Assistance Hotline

Pennsylvania:
Utility Assistance Programs

Massachusetts: 
Help Paying Your Utility Bill

Maryland:
Utility Assistance


Energy Harbor: Price leader

Energy Harbor
Our Rating
4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6

Energy Harbor is available in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey. In each state, this energy supplier offers long-term fixed-rate natural gas plans. As a supplier, they act as an intermediary between gas production and installation, meaning they won't always be the ones conducting service in your home. In the areas we researched, you can find a minimum 12-month plan for a fixed rate.

pro
Pros
pro Long-term fixed rates
pro 7-day free cancellation in some areas
pro Dedicated to clean energy
con
Cons
con Rates and policies vary with zip code

Looking for stable prices?


Santanna Energy Services: Best gas company for gift cards

Santanna Energy Services
Our Rating
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5

Santanna Energy Services has been in the energy business for 35 years. It offers gas and electricity services to folks in Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Indiana. It offers perks like fixed energy rates, a 90-day trial, and earth-friendly gas services. While it has a share of bad customer reviews, users can earn rewards in the form of gift cards to popular restaurants and retailers just for doing business with Santanna.

pro
Pros
pro Unlimited energy plans in IL, PA, and OH
pro Energy rewards
pro 90-day trial
con
Cons
con Bad customer reviews
con Service varies state-to-state

Looking for gift card perks?


CleanSky Energy: Green energy for less

CleanSky Energy
Our Rating
4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1

Clean Sky Energy serves Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Washington DC. It offers two plans for natural gas service, the Clean Gas and Ultra Clean Gas plans. Both offset carbon emissions and can work short-term (3 or 6 months) or long-term (12 months). Clean Sky has a Savings Assistant feature that can help out folks who aren't even customers. Just create an account and upload your current bill from another provider and their team will negotiate the price for you!

pro
Pros
pro Savings Assistant service
pro Ultra Clean Gas doubles carbon offsets
con
Cons
con Persistent sales tactics

Looking for cheaper green energy?


Major Energy: Best natural gas company for energy bundles

Major Energy
Our Rating
4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1

Major Energy has some major perks tied to its natural gas service. But there's a catch—you'll need to be a customer for a while before you get the best ones. Like all of the top natural gas companies on our list, Major Energy offers fixed long-term service up to 12 months as well as a short-term six-month plan. After a month of service with Major, you can qualify for a $25 rebate. If you stick around 18 months or more, you could get up to $200.

Major also has a Smart Home Transformation plan that sends long-term customers free smart home gear, such as lights, plugs, or cameras.

pro
Pros
pro Rebates after one month of service
pro Smart Home Transformation perk
con
Cons
con Best perks after 18 months of service
con Green plan only available with long-term use

Looking for energy bundles?


Final Word: Constellation is the best natural gas company

Constellation Energy is our pick for the best natural gas company. Constellation gives customers a variety of incentives and bill credits that help curb rising costs after a move. We think Constellation's focus on customer service and transparent pricing model make it an easy choice for any homeowner or renter.


Best natural gas companies FAQ

What is deregulation?

In the 1990s, the federal government took steps to make the markets for wholesale power production and electricity sales more competitive. This initiative is often called the “Power to Choose.” Since 2005, over 85 million residential and business customers have benefited from access to competitive energy options.

Similarly, deregulated natural gas markets operate with a three-tier system. In this setup, natural gas pipeline companies sell wholesale natural gas to retailers. Your Local Distribution Company (LDC), or local gas utility, manages the local pipes and meters to deliver gas to your home. They also read your meters and are the ones you should contact if you smell gas or have any safety concerns.

How can I find the cheapest natural gas company?

  1. Moving in? Whether you’re moving into an apartment, a small house, a medium-sized home, a condo, or a large house, your home size will affect your average energy usage. Natural gas rates can be based on usage, so smaller homes or apartments might have higher rates due to lower usage compared to larger homes.

  2. Check your credit score. Your credit score is important when setting up natural gas service. If you have average or poor credit, you might need to pay a deposit ranging from $150 to $300. Alternatively, you can look for a no-deposit plan where you pre-pay for your gas.

  3. Understand your utility charges. Your local utility company owns and maintains the infrastructure, reads meters, and restores power during outages. Utility charges and fees typically make up about 30-40% of your natural gas bill.

  4. Review the terms and conditions. The terms and conditions outline the rates and charges based on your usage. Make sure to review these documents to understand the specifics of your plan.

     


Methodology

For many, having a reliable natural gas connection is essential for everything from heating your home to cooking your food. However, in deregulated states, determining the best natural gas company can be challenging. The top natural gas companies should offer dependable service, excellent customer service, and fair pricing.

In this comparison, we evaluated the leading energy companies providing natural gas services across multiple states, focusing on their perks and plans. Due to federal Energy Choice measures, residents in 17 states have the freedom to shop around for natural gas and electricity providers, much like choosing insurance, phone, or internet services.

To simplify the decision-making process, we compared some of the best natural gas companies in these states to help you save money on your utility bills. Our comprehensive evaluation included over 100 natural gas and electricity retailers, and we analyzed more than 20,000 customer reviews to help us identify the top providers in the United States.


Katherine McEntire
Written by
Katie is a multi-media journalist who has worked with publications like AARP, TechGuySmartBuy, Forbes, Healthy Moms, and Digital Care. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Technical Writing from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. She’s held previous writing positions at Overstock.com and Top Ten Reviews, and she’s the YouTube personality and expert for SafeWise.