Douglas Utilities will observe the Public Natural Gas Week from October 4-10, 2026. In celebration of this week, the Natural Gas Department is providing FREE pilot lighting for the month of October for city customers.
Since 1962, the Natural Gas Department has been supplying natural gas in the city and Coffee County. Natural gas is supplied to approximately 1,228 customers, which includes 22 industrial interruptible, 288 commercial customers, 897 residential customers, and 21 agricultural customers.
There are approximately 1,000 public natural gas systems serving more than 6 million customers. These public natural gas utilities are not-for-profit retail distribution entities that are owned by and accountable to the citizens they serve. They include municipal gas distribution systems, public utility districts, county districts, and other public agencies that have natural gas distribution facilities.
There are many benefits to having a public natural gas utility serve the community including:
- Local Control: Having a public natural gas system gives a community local control over how gas is provided to homes and businesses. Decisions are made through citizen participation instead of being made outside of the community by people who do not understand local issues and who are primarily focused on profits instead of service.
- Competitive Costs: In order to offer fair and competitive rates, public natural gas systems operate as a not-for-profit entity. Public natural gas systems do not face pressure to pay dividends to stockholders.
- Economic Benefits: As a public natural gas system, we play a valuable role in helping our community broaden its tax base, and in turn improve the local economy and increase jobs. Public natural gas systems help ensure that local dollars stay at home.
- Customer Service: As a not-for-profit entity, we focus on service, rather than profits. Public natural gas systems are an integral part of a community. We maintain a close relationship with our customers, and as a result, we are successful in meeting our customers’ needs.
To learn more about the benefits of natural gas and how Douglas’ public natural gas system works, please call (912) 389-3427.
