Advocacy

APGA represents America’s publicly owned natural gas utilities at the federal level by advocating on behalf of our members on a variety of issues impacting the distribution and direct use of natural gas.

Learn more about our priorities by clicking the topics below.

As a small municipal system we have a limited budget. APGA membership allows us to keep up on policy and rule changes. They fight for the small systems at the legislative level. Kelli Neiberger, Gas Department Supervisor, Town of Rangely Gas Department, Colorado

Preserving the Direct Use of Natural Gas

APGA advocates for a fuel-neutral, “all of the above” approach to energy policy. Ensuring consumers can continue to leverage the direct use of natural gas will help reduce emissions without sacrificing reliability and affordability.

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Engaging on Appliance Efficiency Policy

Whether it is decreasing emissions, preserving natural resources, or ensuring reasonable utility bills, the efficient use of energy is critical in these goals. APGA supports the use of efficient appliances, including research to improve existing technologies, and the development of appliance efficiency policies based on sound analyses.

View Appliance Efficiency Policy

Championing Section 5 Reform: Refund Authority for FERC

APGA supports legislation amending the Natural Gas Act (NGA) to grant the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) the same refund authority in natural gas rate cases that it already has in electric rate cases under the Federal Power Act (FPA), helping to keep customer bills low.

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Supporting Practical Pipeline Safety Regulations

The Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) establishes regulatory requirements for the design, construction, operations, maintenance, and integrity management of pipelines. APGA works with both federal and state policymakers to ensure any changes to safety regulations are technically feasible, reasonable, cost-effective, and practical.

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Protecting Gas Consumers from Price Volatility in Emergencies

APGA’s natural gas utility members operate as not-for-profits that are owned by their communities, thus passing all reasonable costs onto their customers. Accordingly, affordability is critical to , so APGA supports the enactment of policies that protect consumers from excessive and unwarranted fluctuations in energy prices, especially during emergencies like severe winter storms.

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Encouraging Effective Reliability and Cybersecurity Policies

APGA supports first, enhancing existing regulators’ capabilities and then, if needed, developing additional regulations. To allow for an efficient partnership with public gas utilities, APGA advocates to ensure that any relevant action is done with coordination amongst government partners at the federal and state level.

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Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

APGA members work hard to keep rates affordable, but many utility customers still rely on LIHEAP to pay their bills. Consequently, APGA is an advocate for LIHEAP funding.

View LIHEAP

Committees, Conferences, and Webinars

APGA members, through their involvement in Committees and Councils, participate in the Legislative Summit, an annual event on Capitol Hill where they engage with policymakers, as well as other meetings with their legislators. They also meet regularly and join in frequent webinars on advocacy priorities.

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Policy Resolutions

APGA's activities are guided by policy positions as memorialized in the APGA Policy Resolutions.

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Congressional Correspondence

APGA often sends letters to Congress providing our members’ perspectives on important policy issues.

View Congressional Correspondence

Regulatory Submissions

APGA often submits comments to federal agencies providing our members' perspectives on important rulemakings.

View Regulatory Submissions

Natural Gas State Profiles

View a snapshot of the natural gas industry by presenting gas industry statistics for each APGA member state.

View Natural Gas State Profiles

How to Get Involved

APGA represents over 730 public gas utilities in 38 states on the federal level, but our associate and agency members are also welcome to engage in advocacy with us! Watch this video and listen to APGA staff discuss the opportunities for all APGA members such as signing on to letters to Congress and federal agencies. Thank you to ENERGY WORLDNET and COFFEE WITH JIM & JAMES for creating this video.

Check out the latest Congressional Correspondence and Regulatory Submissions by clicking on the links below or in the section above.

Congressional Correspondence

Regulatory Submissions

Highlighted Organization

APGA Research Foundation

Investing in developing new and improved products, processes, practices, and knowledge to increase the operational safety of natural gas distribution infrastructure and to increase the utilization of safe and efficient natural gas end-use technologies.

Learn More