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1. What is natural gas?

Natural gas is formed deep underground, usually in areas around coal and oil. The raw form of natural gas that we use for energy is called methane. Other substances found in natural gas, such as butane, propane, and ethane, are removed before we use the methane gas that we call natural gas in appliances or equipment.

2. How was natural gas created?

The natural gas we use was formed millions of years ago when organic matter was buried in the earth and ocean floor. Over time, thick layers of mud, sand, silt and rock settled over the matter, pushing it deeper and deeper into the earth’s crust. As the layers of matter built up, pressure and heat from the shifting surface of the earth filled the resulting cracks and crevices with oil and natural gas.

3. Is natural gas safe?

Yes! Natural gas has a very limited range of flammability. This means that it takes just the right mixture of air and natural gas before it can burn. Also, natural gas is lighter than air, so it usually will safely rise and disperse into the air if it is allowed to vent freely. Even with this in mind, it is very important to understand natural gas and to be aware of safety tips concerning its use. Most accidents occur because of lack of knowledge that leads to unsafe equipment or appliances, not because natural gas itself is unsafe.

4. What is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can occur when coal, wood, propane, kerosene or natural gas is improperly or incompletely burned. To burn properly natural gas must mix with the right amount of air and be ignited by a spark or flame. Light or early exposure may cause headaches, drowsiness, ear ringing, nausea, blurred vision or chest pains. Heavy or prolonged exposure can result in serious health effects or death.

Carbon monoxide can be produced from natural gas when a heater, stove or furnace is malfunctioning or when a gas grill is used indoors without proper ventilation. To protect your household, make sure all your gas appliances are correctly installed and inspected annually.

Carbon monoxide is also produced in vehicle exhaust. The leading cause of carbon monoxide poisoning is from vehicle exhaust in a closed area or garage. Always open your garage door before starting your engine and never allow your vehicles to idle inside a garage or enclosed space.

5. Who uses natural gas?

Demand for natural gas in the United States continues to grow. Residential consumers as well as commercial, industrial and electric generation customers know that it’s safe, reliable and efficient. Approximately 23 percent of the energy consumption of the U.S. comes from natural gas. Over one-half of the homes in the U.S. use natural gas as their main heating fuel.

Natural gas is also an essential raw material for many common products, such as: paints, fertilizer, plastics, antifreeze, dyes, photographic film, medicines, and explosives. We also get propane, a fuel we use in many of our backyard barbecue grills, when we process natural gas.

Industry depends on it. Natural gas has thousands of uses. It's used to produce steel, glass, paper, clothing, brick, electricity and much more!

Homes use it too. More than 61.9 million homes use natural gas to fuel stoves, furnaces, water heaters, clothes dryers and other household appliances. It is also used to roast coffee, smoke meats, bake bread and much more.

6. Why is natural gas considered the clean fuel?

Of all fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), natural gas burns the cleanest. This means that it produces very few pollutants (smoke) when it is used as fuel, keeping the air and our environment clean. In the near future, for example, as more cars, trucks and buses run on compressed natural gas, these vehicles will produce only one-half of one percent of the carbon monoxide that gasoline-powered engines now produce.

7. Why is natural gas considered cost-efficient and reliable?

Natural gas is a cost-efficient energy source because it converts most of the fuel as it burns (about 90%) directly into energy that can be used to heat homes or operate appliances. And, because most of the pipes that deliver natural gas are buried underground, they are extremely reliable and unlikely to lose their ability to work during any type of weather.

8. How does natural gas get to my home or business?

Gas companies use huge pipelines to transfer natural gas to communities nationwide. Around 2 million miles of underground pipes are used for this amazing delivery system. Once harvested, cleaned, and processed, natural gas travels under pressure through these pipelines at about 15 miles per hour.

After the natural gas reaches the City of Warner Robins gate station, the pressure is reduced and mercaptan is added (giving it that all-too-familiar rotten egg smell). The gas then moves through plastic and steel pipes to neighborhoods and flows into narrow service lines for homes and businesses.

9. How does my gas provider know how much gas I use?

You’ll have to look around outside your home or building to find your gas meter. It has a row of four dials on its face and two additional dials underneath those four. The pointers on the dials record the amount of energy you’re using in hundreds of cubic feet. Your gas provider charges you for the “therms” you use, based on the cubic feet your meter is recording. “Therms” represent the amount of heat that the gas can produce, or its BTU (British Thermal Unit). To put it simply, the fewer therms that you use each month, the lower your gas bill will be, and vice versa.