How to switch your natural gas supplier in 5 steps

The 5-step switch flow

Step 1: identify your current gas utility (Columbia, Peoples, NJNG, etc.) and your utility account number. Both are on the front page of your gas bill.

Step 2: pick a PUC-certified supplier and a contract length. Locked rates of 12 to 24 months are the cleanest option for most households.

Step 3: sign electronically on the supplier site. The signing process takes 5 to 10 minutes and replaces the paper enrollment form. Step 4: wait for the next meter read (typically 30 to 45 days). Step 5: confirm the new supplier name appears on your next bill.

Three things to verify before signing

One: the locked rate. Confirm the per-therm or per-CCF rate matches the offer summary. Two: the contract term. Most clean fixed-rate contracts run 12 to 24 months at a single price.

Three: the cancellation fee. Reputable suppliers offer fee-free contracts or fees no greater than $50. Anything above $100 is a red flag for a teaser contract.

What stays the same after the switch

The utility name on the bill envelope. The pipes and meter. The emergency response. The outage and leak phone numbers. The utility deposit. The annual safety inspection. The hardship programs.

The only change is the supply portion line on your bill. Delivery, capacity, taxes, and the customer charge are regulated by the utility tariff and identical across all suppliers.