Gas Utilities: market research reports

The natural gas utility market refers to the services rendered and products purchased by gas utilities. Gas utilities provide a general utility service associated with the pipeline transmission, distribution and delivery of natural gas to ratepayers such as households, businesses, heavy industry and power plants. Gas utilities operate with relatively large revenue streams due to their monopolized services under their utility or service district and deregulation that has encouraged growth and consolidation among private utilities.

Gas utility operations cover the supply of natural gas at transfer stations or hubs along gas transmission pipelines to the gas meters installed at consumer and ratepayer end points. Gas transmission pipelines bring natural gas from the transfer stations to city gates or stations where the natural gas is fed to distribution pipes. Transmission and distribution pipeline infrastructure is outfitted with valves, meters, actuators, integrated control systems such as SCADA systems, odorant additive systems, gas compressors, and other pressure regulators.

In the United States alone, there is over 2 million miles of gas utility-owned pipeline, necessitating significant spending by utilities. Other emerging areas of gas utility spending include biogas or biomethane projects, which require additional lengths of small-diameter transmission pipelines. Gas utilities worldwide must all spend significantly on infrastructure inspections, leak detection equipment, safety programs, and other services and labor needed to meet compliance with robust regulations used to safeguard against explosions and other accidents. Utility operating costs can contribute more to ratepayer gas costs than the value of the natural gas itself.