Columbus, Ohio Commercial Natural Gas

Columbus Commercial Natural Gas: Ohio's Capital City

Columbus—Ohio's capital and largest city, home to The Ohio State University—offers significant natural gas savings opportunities for businesses. From state government complexes to world-class healthcare systems, from major universities to corporate headquarters, Columbus's diverse commercial sector can benefit from Ohio's deregulated energy market.

Understanding how to navigate natural gas procurement helps Columbus businesses reduce operating costs effectively.

How Natural Gas Works in Columbus

Columbia Gas of Ohio Service

Columbia Gas of Ohio, part of NiSource, provides natural gas delivery throughout Columbus and Central Ohio:

• Distribution network: Owns and maintains local pipelines
• Meter services: Records all usage
• Emergency response: 24/7 service (800-344-4077)
• Billing: Consolidated delivery and supply

Columbia Gas serves over 1.4 million customers across Ohio.

Ohio Choice Program

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) regulates supplier choice:

• Licensed competitive suppliers compete
• Consumer protection regulations
• Seamless switching between suppliers
• Columbia Gas continues reliable delivery

Service Structure

Component	Provider	Competitive?
Gas delivery	Columbia Gas	No—regulated
Gas supply	Columbia Gas or supplier	Yes
Meter reading	Columbia Gas	No
Billing	Columbia Gas	Consolidated

Cost Reduction Strategies for Columbus

1. Compare Competitive Suppliers

Columbus businesses have extensive supplier options:

Evaluation Factor	What to Consider
Per-Ccf/therm rate	Base commodity cost
Rate type	Fixed, variable, or index
Contract term	12-36 months typical
Monthly fees	Additional charges
Exit provisions	Early termination costs

Visit PUCO Energy Choice Ohio for licensed supplier listings.

2. Leverage Volume

Columbus organizations can negotiate based on consumption:

• Under 10,000 therms: Standard commercial rates
• 10,000-50,000 therms: Custom quotes available
• 50,000+ therms: Direct negotiations
• Government/institutional: RFP and competitive bidding

State agencies and large facilities should explore procurement options.

3. Strategic Timing

Natural gas prices fluctuate seasonally. Monitor EIA data:

Favorable periods:

• Late spring and summer
• After mild winters
• High storage levels

Higher cost periods:

• Peak heating season
• Extreme cold events
• Supply constraints

Government budget cycles can align with market timing.

4. Regional Aggregation

Central Ohio businesses benefit from aggregation:

• Multiple Columbus facilities
• Franklin County operations
• Central Ohio regional
• Multi-agency procurement

Combined volume improves negotiating position.

Industries We Serve in Columbus

Government Buildings

State capital operations:

• State office buildings
• Ohio Statehouse complex
• Agency facilities
• County and municipal buildings

Explore: Government Natural Gas Solutions

Higher Education

Major universities:

• The Ohio State University - One of nation's largest
• Columbus State Community College
• Capital University
• Educational campuses

See: Educational Facility Natural Gas Solutions

Healthcare

Major healthcare systems:

• Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
• OhioHealth - Major regional system
• Mount Carmel Health System
• Nationwide Children's Hospital

Related: Healthcare Natural Gas Solutions

Insurance & Financial Services

Corporate headquarters:

• Nationwide Insurance
• Huntington Bank
• Cardinal Health
• Financial services sector

Commercial Real Estate

Office and commercial properties:

• Downtown office towers
• Mixed-use developments
• Short North district
• Multi-tenant facilities

Explore: Multi-Tenant Natural Gas Solutions

Restaurants

Columbus dining scene:

• Independent restaurants
• Multi-location groups
• Commercial kitchens
• Hospitality operations

See: Restaurant Natural Gas Solutions

Columbus Market Specifics

State Capital

Government concentration:

• Ohio state government headquarters
• State agencies
• Legislative facilities
• Regulatory bodies

Ohio State University

Massive institutional presence:

• One of America's largest universities
• 60,000+ students
• Research facilities
• Medical campus

Corporate Hub

Major corporate presence:

• Fortune 500 headquarters
• Insurance industry center
• Financial services
• Healthcare corporations

Population Growth

Fastest-growing major Ohio city:

• Economic development
• Job growth
• Commercial expansion
• Real estate development

Compare Ohio Cities

Coordinate across Ohio locations:

• Cleveland - Dominion Energy territory
• Cincinnati - Duke Energy territory
• Toledo - Columbia Gas territory
• Akron - Dominion Energy territory
• Dayton - CenterPoint Energy territory
• Ohio statewide

Understanding Your Columbus Gas Bill

Bill Components

Your Columbia Gas bill includes:

1. Delivery Charges (Columbia Gas)

• Customer charge (fixed monthly)
• Distribution charge (per Ccf)
• Infrastructure charges
• Taxes and riders

2. Supply Charges

• Gas commodity cost (per Ccf/therm)
• From Columbia Gas or supplier
• Shopping here creates savings

Rate Schedules

Columbia Gas commercial rate schedules:

Schedule	Description
SGS	Small General Service
GS	General Service
LGS	Large General Service

Delivery charges apply regardless of supplier.

Contract Strategies for Columbus

Fixed Rate Contracts

Beneficial for:

• Government budget certainty
• Healthcare facilities
• Educational institutions
• Winter price protection

Standard terms:

• 12, 24, or 36 months
• Locked per-Ccf rate
• Early termination fees

Government procurement may require competitive bidding.

Variable/Index Rates

Consider when:

• Flexible budget capacity
• Market monitoring capability
• Shorter-term needs
• Summer operations

Columbus considerations:

• Government fiscal year alignment
• Budget predictability important
• Institutional planning requirements

Columbus Recommendations

Given Columbus's government and institutional profile:

• Fixed pricing typically preferred for budget planning
• Multi-year contracts align with government cycles
• RFP processes for large facilities
• Monitor market for opportunities

Learn more: Understanding Natural Gas Deregulation

Energy Efficiency in Columbus

Columbia Gas Programs

Columbia Gas offers commercial efficiency programs:

• Equipment rebates
• Custom project incentives
• Energy assessments
• Technical assistance

Visit Columbia Gas Business for current offerings.

Ohio Development Services Agency

State energy programs through Ohio Energy:

• Commercial incentives
• Industrial programs
• Technical support
• Financing options

Government Efficiency

State building initiatives:

• Lead by example programs
• State building performance requirements
• Energy benchmarking
• Green procurement

Get Your Free Columbus Analysis

Natural Gas Advisors helps Columbus and Central Ohio businesses optimize natural gas costs:

1. Bill Analysis: Review your current Columbia Gas bills
2. Supplier Comparison: Compare licensed suppliers
3. Contract Review: Evaluate terms and opportunities
4. Negotiation Support: Secure competitive rates
5. Ongoing Management: Monitor renewals and market

No cost to businesses—suppliers compensate us directly.

Whether you manage government buildings, operate at Ohio State, run healthcare facilities, or any Columbus business, Ohio's Energy Choice program offers real savings opportunities.

Columbus is the heart of Ohio. Let us help protect your energy budget's bottom line. Contact Natural Gas Advisors today for your complimentary Central Ohio energy analysis.