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With winter and cold weather upon us, many consumers will be bearing the burden of increased costs for heating sources like natural gas this year.
New data released from the Bureau of Labor Statistics in early December showed a continued rise in inflation, with consumer prices in November rising 6.8% over the prior year. One of the main categories driving inflation overall has been energy, where prices now are up a total of 33.3% over their 2020 levels. While the rate of growth month-to-month has slowed, the cost of utility gas service was 25.1% higher in November than it was one year ago. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased volatility in both demand and supply for energy, and with supply currently lagging behind demand, consumers are facing higher prices as a result.
Recent spikes in natural gas pricing run in contrast to a decline in residential prices seen over the last decade. The rise of new techniques like hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling in the early- to mid-2000s made natural gas easier to extract, which has generally contributed to a trend of lower prices on average. In dollars per million BTU, the cost of natural gas in the U.S. has generally held steady between $10 and $15 since the last recession. In the summer of 2021, however, prices rose to around $20 per million BTU.
The affordability of natural gas compared to other energy sources has made natural gas a key part of the U.S. energy mix in recent years. This has had some environmental benefit as well, allowing for a transition away from cheap but heavy-emitting fossil fuels like coal. But environmentalists concerned about greenhouse gas emissions have argued that natural gas should also be deemphasized in favor of renewable energy sources, and some municipalities—like New York City—have passed restrictions on natural gas in new construction to speed this transition. States with economies more dependent on energy extraction have responded by banning local governments from considering similar moves.
But if higher prices persist, economics may help speed a transition away from natural gas regardless of any policy choices that state and local governments make. There already is a strong inverse relationship between natural gas prices and consumption. In parts of the U.S. where natural gas prices are high, including the South and Northeast, per capita natural gas consumption tends to be much lower. The current elevated prices for natural gas could lead utilities and consumers to push for greater energy efficiency and more affordable energy sources, especially in those locations where natural gas is already more expensive.
To identify the states with the most expensive natural gas prices, researchers at Commodity.com calculated the average residential natural gas price, expressed in dollars per million BTU. The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s State Energy Data System (SEDS) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. In the event of a tie, the state with the higher annual natural gas consumption per capita was ranked higher. All statistics shown are for the year 2020, the most recent full year of data available.
Here are the states with the most expensive natural gas prices.
States With the Most Expensive Natural Gas Prices
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15. Maryland
- Average residential natural gas price (dollars per million BTU): $12.60
- Annual natural gas consumption per capita (million BTU): 13.23
- Annual natural gas cost per capita: $167
- Total residential natural gas consumption (million BTU): 80,133,138
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14. Arizona
- Average residential natural gas price (dollars per million BTU): $12.63
- Annual natural gas consumption per capita (million BTU): 5.80
- Annual natural gas cost per capita: $73
- Total residential natural gas consumption (million BTU): 43,051,055
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13. Vermont
- Average residential natural gas price (dollars per million BTU): $12.74
- Annual natural gas consumption per capita (million BTU): 6.33
- Annual natural gas cost per capita: $81
- Total residential natural gas consumption (million BTU): 3,948,896
Photo Credit: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock
12. North Carolina
- Average residential natural gas price (dollars per million BTU): $12.76
- Annual natural gas consumption per capita (million BTU): 6.27
- Annual natural gas cost per capita: $80
- Total residential natural gas consumption (million BTU): 66,414,665
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11. South Carolina
- Average residential natural gas price (dollars per million BTU): $13.01
- Annual natural gas consumption per capita (million BTU): 5.79
- Annual natural gas cost per capita: $75
- Total residential natural gas consumption (million BTU): 30,188,107
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10. California
- Average residential natural gas price (dollars per million BTU): $13.64
- Annual natural gas consumption per capita (million BTU): 12.08
- Annual natural gas cost per capita: $165
- Total residential natural gas consumption (million BTU): 475,462,426
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9. New Hampshire
- Average residential natural gas price (dollars per million BTU): $14.14
- Annual natural gas consumption per capita (million BTU): 5.62
- Annual natural gas cost per capita: $79
- Total residential natural gas consumption (million BTU): 7,676,911
Photo Credit: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock
8. Connecticut
- Average residential natural gas price (dollars per million BTU): $14.16
- Annual natural gas consumption per capita (million BTU): 14.20
- Annual natural gas cost per capita: $201
- Total residential natural gas consumption (million BTU): 50,502,937
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7. Massachusetts
- Average residential natural gas price (dollars per million BTU): $14.19
- Annual natural gas consumption per capita (million BTU): 18.10
- Annual natural gas cost per capita: $257
- Total residential natural gas consumption (million BTU): 124,785,321
Photo Credit: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock
6. Maine
- Average residential natural gas price (dollars per million BTU): $14.35
- Annual natural gas consumption per capita (million BTU): 2.28
- Annual natural gas cost per capita: $33
- Total residential natural gas consumption (million BTU): 3,071,594
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5. Rhode Island
- Average residential natural gas price (dollars per million BTU): $14.52
- Annual natural gas consumption per capita (million BTU): 17.93
- Annual natural gas cost per capita: $260
- Total residential natural gas consumption (million BTU): 18,954,286
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4. Georgia
- Average residential natural gas price (dollars per million BTU): $14.90
- Annual natural gas consumption per capita (million BTU): 11.60
- Annual natural gas cost per capita: $173
- Total residential natural gas consumption (million BTU): 124,266,821
Photo Credit: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock
3. Alabama
- Average residential natural gas price (dollars per million BTU): $15.44
- Annual natural gas consumption per capita (million BTU): 5.94
- Annual natural gas cost per capita: $92
- Total residential natural gas consumption (million BTU): 29,220,586
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2. Florida
- Average residential natural gas price (dollars per million BTU): $20.62
- Annual natural gas consumption per capita (million BTU): 0.83
- Annual natural gas cost per capita: $17
- Total residential natural gas consumption (million BTU): 17,967,062
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1. Hawaii
- Average residential natural gas price (dollars per million BTU): $36.40
- Annual natural gas consumption per capita (million BTU): 0.44
- Annual natural gas cost per capita: $16
- Total residential natural gas consumption (million BTU): 625,311
Detailed Findings & Methodology
The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s State Energy Data System (SEDS) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. To determine the states with the most expensive natural gas prices, researchers calculated the average residential natural gas price, expressed in dollars per million BTU (MMBtu). In the event of a tie, the state with the higher annual natural gas consumption per capita expressed in million BTU (MMBtu) was ranked higher. All data is for 2020, the most recent full year of data available.
