US Natural Gas Bill Calculator
EIA: avg US household 50–80 therms/month (winter peaks at 100+).
EIA Jan 2026: ~$1.36/therm (≈ $13.94 / Mcf).
Most US gas utilities charge a $10–$25 monthly customer / connection fee.
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How to use
- 1 Enter monthly therms used (from utility bill). US average: 50-80 therms/mo year-round; 100-200 in winter for cold climates.
- 2 Enter rate per therm. Use $1.39 if unsure (EIA Jan 2026 national average), or your specific utility rate from bill.
- 3 Enter fixed monthly customer/service charge ($8-$20 typical).
- 4 Click Calculate to see total monthly, energy charge, fixed charge, and annual cost projection.
- 5 Compare to electric heating equivalent (heat pump): 1 therm ≈ 29 kWh efficiency-adjusted, but heat pumps are 3× more efficient — cost-competitive when electric rates are reasonable.
About US Natural Gas Bill Calculator
FAQ
Q What is the 2026 average US natural gas rate?
$1.39 per therm (EIA January 2026 national residential average), or $13.94 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf). Decreased 1% from December 2025 to January 2026. State variation is significant: Hawaii $4.50+, Texas $1.00, Louisiana $0.90.
Q How much does an average household use?
US average ~50-80 therms/month year-round. Cold-climate winters: 100-250 therms/month for heating. Summer: 20-40 therms (just water heater + cooking). Annual average bill: ~$109/month or ~$1,300/year at $1.39/therm.
Q Which state has the cheapest natural gas?
Louisiana at $0.90/therm (Gulf Coast production proximity), then Texas $1.00, Oklahoma $1.05, Mississippi $1.10. Cheap because they're producing states. Hawaii most expensive at $4.50+/therm (synthetic natural gas, no domestic supply).
Q Should I switch from gas furnace to heat pump?
Depends on rates. At $1.39/therm gas vs $0.18/kWh electric: heat pump is ~equal cost where electric rate is below $0.20/kWh. Better than gas in mild climates (TX, NC, SC). Worse than gas in cold/cheap-gas regions (Midwest). Federal IRA: 30% tax credit + $8K rebate available.
Q How is gas bill calculated?
Therms used × rate per therm + fixed customer/service charge. Example: 80 therms × $1.39 = $111.20 usage + $12 service = $123.20 total. Also subject to state/local taxes (~5-10%). Some states (CA, NY) add carbon adjustment.
Q Why is my gas bill so high in winter?
Heating drives 80% of residential gas use. A typical home uses 40 therms summer (water heater + cooking) but 200 therms in cold winter (heating + everything else). At $1.39/therm + $12 fixed, that's $68 vs $290 — a 4× swing.
Q How much can I save with a smart thermostat?
10-15% on heating bill (Nest, Ecobee, Honeywell published savings). On a $200/mo winter bill, that's $20-$30/mo savings, or $80-$200/yr depending on heating season. Pays back in 1-2 years. Most utilities offer rebates ($75-$150) on qualifying smart thermostats.
Q Can I switch natural gas suppliers?
In 12+ deregulated states (NY, NJ, PA, OH, IL, MD, DC, MA, CT, RI, ME, MI, GA), you can choose your supplier separately from the utility delivery. Save 10-30% common. Compare via PowerSwitchOhio, Power-To-Choose (TX), state PUC websites. Watch out for variable-rate traps.
Official resources
EIA — Natural Gas Monthly
US Energy Information Administration official monthly natural gas data including residential rates by state.
EIA — Average Residential Natural Gas Price
EIA real-time database of residential natural gas prices by state in dollars per thousand cubic feet.
EnergyStar — Heating & Cooling Resources
EPA EnergyStar tool for choosing efficient heating systems including heat pump rebates and tax credits.
IRS Form 5695 — Residential Energy Credits
IRS Form 5695 for claiming Inflation Reduction Act 30% tax credit on heat pumps and energy-efficient upgrades.