Houston, Texas Commercial Natural Gas

Houston Commercial Natural Gas: Energy Capital of the World

Houston—the Energy Capital of the World and America's fourth-largest city—offers unparalleled natural gas procurement opportunities for businesses. From massive petrochemical complexes to world-renowned healthcare systems, from corporate headquarters to manufacturing operations, Houston's diverse commercial sector can benefit from Texas's deregulated energy market.

Understanding how to navigate natural gas procurement helps Houston businesses optimize costs in one of the nation's most energy-intensive markets.

How Natural Gas Works in Houston

CenterPoint Energy Service

CenterPoint Energy provides natural gas delivery throughout Houston and the Greater Houston area:

• Distribution network: Owns and maintains local pipelines
• Meter services: Records all usage
• Emergency response: 24/7 service (713-659-2111)
• Billing: Consolidated delivery and supply

CenterPoint serves over 3.4 million natural gas customers in Texas.

Texas Gas Utility Choice

The Railroad Commission of Texas and Public Utility Commission of Texas regulate energy choice:

• Licensed retail energy providers compete
• Consumer protection regulations
• Seamless switching between suppliers
• CenterPoint continues reliable delivery

Service Structure

Component	Provider	Competitive?
Gas delivery	CenterPoint Energy	No—regulated
Gas supply	CenterPoint or REP	Yes
Meter reading	CenterPoint Energy	No
Billing	CenterPoint or REP	Options available

Cost Reduction Strategies for Houston

1. Compare Retail Energy Providers

Houston businesses have extensive supplier options:

Evaluation Factor	What to Consider
Per-Mcf/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 Power to Choose Texas for energy provider options.

2. Leverage Volume

Houston organizations can negotiate based on consumption:

• Under 25,000 therms: Standard commercial rates
• 25,000-100,000 therms: Custom quotes available
• 100,000+ therms: Direct negotiations
• Industrial: Custom and transport pricing

Petrochemical and industrial facilities should request custom pricing.

3. Strategic Timing

Natural gas prices fluctuate seasonally. Monitor EIA data:

Favorable periods:

• Spring and early fall
• High storage levels
• Mild demand periods

Higher cost periods:

• Peak summer (electric demand)
• Winter heating peaks
• Hurricane season supply concerns

Houston's unique climate creates different timing considerations.

4. Regional Aggregation

Greater Houston businesses benefit from aggregation:

• Multiple Houston facilities
• Harris County operations
• Greater Houston regional
• Multi-facility industrial coordination

Combined volume creates significant leverage.

Industries We Serve in Houston

Oil & Gas / Petrochemical

Energy industry headquarters:

• Oil and gas company offices
• Petrochemical manufacturing
• Refinery operations
• Pipeline company headquarters

Explore: Manufacturing Natural Gas Solutions

Healthcare

Texas Medical Center—world's largest:

• Houston Methodist - Major system
• Memorial Hermann - Large regional system
• MD Anderson Cancer Center - World-renowned
• Texas Children's Hospital

See: Healthcare Natural Gas Solutions

Commercial Real Estate

Massive commercial market:

• Downtown office towers
• Galleria area
• Energy Corridor
• Multi-tenant facilities

Related: Multi-Tenant Natural Gas Solutions

Manufacturing

Industrial operations:

• Advanced manufacturing
• Food processing
• Aerospace manufacturing
• Industrial facilities

Hospitality

Hotels and restaurants:

• Downtown hotels
• Galleria area hospitality
• Convention center
• Houston's diverse dining scene

Explore: Hotel Natural Gas Solutions

Restaurants

Houston's legendary food scene:

• Fine dining establishments
• Multi-location restaurant groups
• Commercial kitchens
• Diverse cuisines

See: Restaurant Natural Gas Solutions

Houston Market Specifics

Energy Capital

World energy headquarters:

• Major oil and gas companies
• Petrochemical industry
• Energy services
• Natural gas expertise

Texas Medical Center

World's largest medical complex:

• 60+ institutions
• Massive natural gas demand
• 24/7 operations
• Research facilities

Port of Houston

Major port operations:

• Ship channel facilities
• Industrial operations
• Petrochemical corridor
• Logistics infrastructure

Climate Considerations

Houston's subtropical climate:

• Mild winters (low heating)
• High summer cooling demand
• Hurricane season risks
• Industrial demand year-round

Compare Texas Cities

Coordinate across Texas locations:

• Dallas - Atmos Energy territory
• San Antonio - CPS Energy territory
• Austin - Texas Gas Service territory
• Fort Worth - Atmos Energy territory
• El Paso - Texas Gas Service territory
• Texas statewide

Understanding Your Houston Gas Bill

Bill Components

Your CenterPoint Energy bill includes:

1. Delivery Charges (CenterPoint Energy)

• Customer charge (fixed monthly)
• Distribution charge (per Ccf/Mcf)
• Pipeline infrastructure charges
• Taxes and fees

2. Supply Charges

• Gas commodity cost (per Mcf/therm)
• From CenterPoint or REP
• Shopping here creates savings

Rate Schedules

CenterPoint Energy commercial rate schedules:

Schedule	Description
Small Commercial	Under 300 Mcf/year
Large Commercial	300-4,999 Mcf/year
Industrial	5,000+ Mcf/year

Delivery charges apply regardless of supplier.

Contract Strategies for Houston

Fixed Rate Contracts

Beneficial for:

• Budget certainty
• Healthcare facilities
• Commercial real estate
• Moderate-consumption businesses

Standard terms:

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

Index/Variable Rates

Consider when:

• Large industrial usage
• Market monitoring capability
• Price volatility tolerance
• Shorter-term needs

Houston considerations:

• Industrial users often prefer index
• Healthcare needs certainty
• Commercial prefers predictability
• Hurricane season hedging

Houston Recommendations

Given Houston's diverse commercial profile:

• Fixed pricing for healthcare and commercial
• Index pricing may benefit large industrial
• Consider seasonal hedging
• Monitor market for opportunities

Learn more: Understanding Natural Gas Deregulation

Energy Efficiency in Houston

CenterPoint Energy Programs

CenterPoint offers commercial efficiency programs:

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

Visit CenterPoint Business for current offerings.

Texas State Programs

State energy programs through SECO:

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

Industrial Efficiency

Houston-specific industrial strategies:

• Process optimization
• Heat recovery systems
• Cogeneration opportunities
• Industrial efficiency audits

Get Your Free Houston Analysis

Natural Gas Advisors helps Houston businesses optimize natural gas costs:

1. Bill Analysis: Review your current CenterPoint Energy bills
2. Supplier Comparison: Compare licensed retail providers
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 operate a petrochemical facility, healthcare system, commercial building, or any Houston business, Texas's deregulated market offers real savings opportunities.

Houston powers the world's energy. Let us help power your bottom line. Contact Natural Gas Advisors today for your complimentary Greater Houston energy analysis.