Gary, Indiana Commercial Natural Gas

Gary Commercial Natural Gas: Steel City Industrial Hub

Gary—the heart of Northwest Indiana's industrial corridor—presents significant natural gas procurement opportunities for businesses. Built by U.S. Steel and still home to major steel operations, Gary and Lake County's industrial base creates substantial natural gas demand where strategic procurement delivers meaningful cost savings.

Located on Lake Michigan between Chicago and Michigan, Gary's businesses can leverage Indiana's Choice Gas Program to optimize energy costs in this historically industrial region.

How Natural Gas Works in Gary

NIPSCO Service

NIPSCO (Northern Indiana Public Service Company) provides natural gas delivery throughout Gary and Lake County:

• Pipeline infrastructure: Owns local distribution network
• Meter services: Records your usage
• Emergency response: Gas emergencies (800-634-3524)
• Consolidated billing: One bill regardless of supplier

NIPSCO serves over 820,000 customers across northern Indiana.

Choice Gas Program

Indiana's Choice Gas Program allows supplier selection:

• Multiple licensed suppliers compete
• Regulated by Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC)
• Seamless switching process
• Consolidated billing through NIPSCO

Service Structure

Component	Provider	Competitive?
Gas delivery	NIPSCO	No—regulated
Gas supply	NIPSCO or Choice supplier	Yes
Billing	NIPSCO	Consolidated

Cost Reduction Strategies for Gary

1. Compare Choice Gas Suppliers

Gary's industrial market attracts supplier competition:

Factor	What to Evaluate
Per-therm rate	Base commodity cost
Rate type	Fixed, variable, or index
Contract term	Month-to-month to 36 months
Volume pricing	Industrial rates for high usage
Exit terms	Early termination costs

Industrial operations should request custom pricing.

2. Leverage Industrial Volume

Gary's heavy industrial presence qualifies for significant volume discounts:

• Under 10,000 therms: Standard commercial rates
• 10,000-50,000 therms: Custom quotes available
• 50,000-200,000 therms: Negotiate directly
• Over 200,000 therms: Transportation-only options

Steel and manufacturing operations should always negotiate custom pricing.

3. Strategic Timing

Natural gas prices fluctuate. Monitor EIA data:

Favorable periods:

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

Higher cost periods:

• Peak winter heating
• Extreme cold events
• Supply disruptions

Gary's lake-effect climate makes winter heating significant.

4. Regional Aggregation

Northwest Indiana businesses benefit from aggregation:

• All Gary facilities
• Lake County operations
• Northwest Indiana region (Hammond, East Chicago)
• NIPSCO territory coordination

Combined volume improves negotiating leverage significantly.

Industries We Serve in Gary

Steel Manufacturing

Gary's steel heritage continues:

• U.S. Steel Gary Works
• Steel processing facilities
• Metal fabrication
• Process heating needs

Steel operations have massive natural gas requirements for process heating.

Related: Manufacturing Natural Gas Solutions

Industrial Manufacturing

Diverse industrial operations throughout Lake County:

• Chemical manufacturing
• Industrial production
• Refining operations
• Heavy industry

Healthcare

Methodist Hospitals and regional healthcare facilities:

• Hospital operations
• Clinic networks
• Medical offices
• Multi-facility coordination

See: Healthcare Natural Gas Solutions

Logistics & Distribution

Lake Michigan access and Chicago proximity support distribution:

• Warehouse heating
• Distribution center operations
• Port facilities
• Cold storage operations

Explore: Warehouse Natural Gas Solutions

Commercial Properties

Office buildings and commercial developments:

• Office heating
• Retail facilities
• Commercial development
• Property management

Hospitality

Hotels, restaurants, and gaming:

• Hotel operations
• Restaurant commercial kitchens
• Casino facilities (Horseshoe Hammond)
• Event venues

See: Restaurant Natural Gas Solutions

Gary Market Specifics

Industrial Heritage

Gary's industrial legacy creates unique advantages:

• Experienced industrial energy management
• Established supplier relationships
• Understanding of process heating
• Volume purchasing expertise

Northwest Indiana Corridor

Gary anchors the Lake County industrial corridor:

• Hammond
• East Chicago
• Whiting
• Portage

Multi-facility operations across the corridor should coordinate procurement.

Chicago Metropolitan Connection

Gary's position in the Chicago metro offers:

• Access to Chicago suppliers
• Cross-state coordination considerations (Illinois is Nicor Gas territory)
• Metropolitan commercial base
• Regional logistics hub

Note: Illinois uses different utilities (Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas). Indiana's Choice Gas Program applies only in NIPSCO Indiana territory.

Compare Indiana Cities

Coordinate across Indiana locations:

• Indianapolis - Citizens Gas territory
• Fort Wayne - NIPSCO territory
• South Bend - NIPSCO territory
• Evansville - CenterPoint Energy
• Indiana statewide

Coordination opportunity: Gary, Fort Wayne, and South Bend are all NIPSCO territory—aggregate volume across locations for maximum leverage.

Understanding Your Gary Gas Bill

Bill Components

Your NIPSCO bill includes:

1. Delivery Charges (NIPSCO)

• Customer charge (fixed monthly)
• Distribution charge (per therm)
• Infrastructure charges
• Taxes and fees

2. Supply Charges

• Gas cost (per therm)
• From NIPSCO or Choice supplier
• Shopping here creates savings

Industrial Rate Considerations

Large industrial users may qualify for:

Schedule	Description
Rate 125	Small Commercial
Rate 130	Large Commercial
Rate 135	Industrial
Transport	Large volume transportation

Delivery charges vary by classification and volume.

Industrial Procurement Strategies

Transportation Service

Large Gary industrial users (200,000+ therms) may consider:

• Purchase gas directly from wholesale markets
• NIPSCO provides delivery only
• More complex but potentially lower cost
• Requires expertise and active management

Fixed vs. Variable for Industry

Fixed Rate Benefits for Industry:

• Process heating budget certainty
• Long-term production planning
• Eliminate price volatility
• Simplified budgeting

Index/Variable Considerations:

• Potential for lower costs
• Market participation
• Active management required
• Exposure to volatility

Hybrid Industrial Strategies

Many Gary industrial operations:

• Fix base load requirements
• Float additional volume
• Manage risk actively
• Optimize costs monthly

Learn more: Understanding Natural Gas Deregulation

Energy Efficiency in Gary

NIPSCO Programs

NIPSCO offers commercial and industrial efficiency programs:

• Industrial equipment rebates
• Custom project incentives
• Process heating improvements
• Technical assistance

Visit NIPSCO Business for current programs.

Industrial Efficiency Priorities

Gary's industrial base benefits from:

• Process heating optimization
• Waste heat recovery
• Equipment modernization
• Building heating efficiency

Every therm saved improves industrial competitiveness.

Lake Effect Climate Considerations

Cold Winters

Gary's Lake Michigan location means:

• Average January temperature: 25°F
• Lake-effect snow and cold: Weather variability
• Heating degree days: 6,400+ annually
• Extended heating season: October through May

Winter Preparation

Gary businesses should:

1. Lock rates for base load: Protect budgets
2. Consider industrial reliability: Consistent supply
3. Review heating equipment: Ensure efficiency
4. Plan for variability: Lake-effect creates uncertainty

Get Your Free Gary Analysis

Natural Gas Advisors helps Gary and Northwest Indiana businesses optimize natural gas costs:

1. Bill Analysis: Review your current NIPSCO bills
2. Supplier Comparison: Compare Choice Gas suppliers
3. Industrial Assessment: Evaluate custom rate opportunities
4. Volume Negotiation: Secure best available pricing
5. Ongoing Management: Monitor renewals and market

No cost to businesses—suppliers compensate us directly.

Whether you're a steel manufacturer, an industrial operation, a healthcare facility, or any Gary business, Indiana's Choice Gas Program offers significant savings opportunities.

Gary has always understood heavy industry. Apply that industrial expertise to your energy procurement. Contact Natural Gas Advisors today for your complimentary Northwest Indiana energy analysis.