National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation (NY) Rate Selection Guide
National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation is the primary natural gas local distribution company (LDC) serving Western New York, including Buffalo, with roughly 604,000 New York gas customers. The utility offers customer billing portals, Mercury-device interval data, a mature ANSI X12 EDI infrastructure for ESCOs, and is rolling out Green Button Connect through New York's Integrated Energy Data Resource (IEDR) program.
National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation (NY) Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| SC-3 General Sales & Transportation | Commercial | ~$23.42/mo delivery + $1.70-$2.54/Mcf delivery; NGS $5.06175/Mcf | General commercial / non-residential customers |
| SC-13 DMT | Commercial (transport) | Min $380.63-$4,138.57/mo + $0.37-$1.47/Mcf transport | Large C&I (5,000+ Mcf/yr), daily metered |
| SC-18 MMT | Commercial (transport) | Min $380.63-$4,138.57/mo + $0.44-$1.73/Mcf transport | Non-residential, monthly metered transport |
| SC-12 Standby Sales | Industrial/standby | Demand $2.03313/Mcf + commodity $4.84109/Mcf | Transport customers needing backup supply |
Market Overview
National Fuel's NY Division is a regulated gas distributor whose delivery rates are set by the New York Public Service Commission under PSC No. 9. Gas supply is deregulated: non-residential (and residential) customers can choose a competitive ESCO/marketer for the commodity or remain on utility default supply, where the Natural Gas Supply (NGS) charge plus Merchant Function Charge is passed through monthly.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation (NY) Data Access Guide →
Current Rate Schedules
Delivery rates are governed by tariff PSC No. 9 and are being raised in three steps under a NY PSC-approved three-year rate plan (Jan 1, 2025; Oct 1, 2025; Oct 1, 2026). The rates below are from National Fuel's NY Division Rate Summary effective May 2026 and combine base delivery, billing charge, delivery adjustment, Merchant Function Charge, and the Natural Gas Supply (NGS) charge of $5.06175/Mcf (utility-supply customers). Commercial customers fall under SC-3 (general sales & transportation) or transportation classes SC-13 (DMT) and SC-18 (MMT) for larger loads.
Effective: May 1, 2026 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC-3 General Sales & Transportation Service (Non-Residential) | commercial | General non-residential (commercial) gas customers taking utility sales or transportation service. | Monthly customer/billing charge plus declining-block volumetric delivery rate, plus Merchant Function Charge and (for sales customers) the Natural Gas Supply charge. | Customer charge $22.50 + $0.96 billing charge ($23.42 total delivery fixed); delivery $2.54345/Mcf (first 1 Mcf), $2.03381/Mcf (next 49), $1.70412/Mcf (next 950), $1.70412/Mcf over 1,000; NGS $5.06175/Mcf (May 2026 utility supply)+ None (volumetric declining-block) |
| SC-13 Daily Metered Transportation (DMT) Service | commercial | Larger non-residential transportation customers (5,000+ Mcf/year) with daily metering, across subclasses TC 1.1-TC 4.1. | Monthly minimum charge by subclass plus volumetric base transportation rate and rider surcharges; commodity supplied by a marketer. | Minimums $380.63 (TC 1.1, 5,000-24,999 Mcf/yr) to $4,138.57 (TC 4.1, non-industrial >150,000); total transport $1.46520/Mcf (TC 1.1) down to $0.37279/Mcf (TC 4.0) (May 2026)+ Monthly minimum charge by subclass (in lieu of demand) |
| SC-18 Monthly Metered Transportation (MMT) Service | commercial | Non-residential transportation customers with monthly metering, subclasses TC 1.1-TC 4.1 by annual usage band (5,000 Mcf/yr and above). | Monthly minimum charge by subclass plus volumetric base transportation rate and rider surcharges; commodity supplied by a marketer. | Total transport $1.73315/Mcf (TC 1.1) down to $0.43550/Mcf (TC 4.0); minimums $380.63-$4,138.57 (May 2026)+ Monthly minimum charge by subclass (in lieu of demand) |
| SC-12 Standby Sales Service | industrial | Transportation customers requiring standby/backup utility sales service. | Demand charge plus commodity charge. | Demand $2.03313/Mcf; Commodity $4.84109/Mcf (May 2026)+ $2.03313/Mcf |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Small / mid-size commercial facility
Most stores, offices, and small commercial buildings take SC-3 general sales or transportation service.
SC-3's declining-block delivery rate ($2.54345/Mcf on the first Mcf falling to $1.70412/Mcf over 1,000 Mcf) plus a fixed ~$23.42 monthly delivery charge fits typical commercial loads. Shopping for a competitive ESCO can reduce the commodity (NGS) component.
- Compare ESCO offers against the utility NGS charge ($5.06175/Mcf, May 2026) using the Historical Bill Comparison tool
- Confirm whether your meter is a Mercury device to unlock daily/hourly usage data
- Watch for the Oct 1, 2026 delivery rate step under the three-year plan
Large facility (5,000+ Mcf/year) with daily metering
Large manufacturers, hospitals, and campuses with daily-metered loads should evaluate SC-13 DMT transportation service.
DMT lets you buy gas from a competitive marketer while paying National Fuel a subclass minimum (e.g., $380.63 for TC 1.1 up to $4,138.57 for TC 4.1) plus a low per-Mcf transport rate ($1.46520 down to $0.37279/Mcf). Higher subclasses (more annual volume) earn lower per-unit transport.
- Match your annual Mcf to the correct TC subclass to minimize per-unit transport
- Negotiate the commodity with a marketer and manage balancing/nominations via TSS
- Use daily meter data (via TSS or marketer EDI files) for load and budget analysis
Large facility with monthly metering
Non-residential transportation customers without daily metering use SC-18 Monthly Metered Transportation.
SC-18 carries the same subclass minimum structure as DMT but higher per-Mcf transport rates ($1.73315 down to $0.43550/Mcf) reflecting monthly rather than daily metering; it suits steady loads that do not justify daily telemetry.
- Evaluate whether upgrading to daily metering (SC-13) lowers your per-Mcf transport cost
- Source the commodity competitively from an ESCO
- Track the three-year rate plan increases when budgeting
Facility needing backup / standby supply
Transportation customers that occasionally need utility sales gas should understand SC-12 Standby Sales Service pricing.
SC-12 charges a demand component ($2.03313/Mcf) plus a commodity charge ($4.84109/Mcf, May 2026), so unplanned reliance on utility standby gas is costly relative to contracted marketer supply.
- Plan nominations carefully to avoid standby/imbalance charges
- Review SC-14 SSR rates if you return from transportation to sales service
- Model standby exposure into your supplier contract terms
Historical Rate Trends
On December 19, 2024 the NY PSC approved a three-year Joint Proposal for National Fuel's New York Division that raises base delivery rates for all service classes in three steps: January 1, 2025, October 1, 2025, and October 1, 2026. The October 1, 2025 step raised the average residential bill by about 7.2%.
January 1, 2025
First base delivery rate increase under the NY PSC-approved three-year Joint Proposal (Case approved Dec 19, 2024).
Step 1 of 3October 1, 2025
Second base delivery rate step; average residential customer bills increased about 7.2%.
+7.2% (avg residential)October 1, 2026
Third and final scheduled base delivery rate increase under the three-year plan (forthcoming).
Step 3 of 3Overall trend: Rising. Delivery (base) rates are increasing in three annual steps through 2026 under the approved rate plan, while the Natural Gas Supply (NGS) commodity charge fluctuates monthly with market gas costs.
Next expected change: October 1, 2026 - third and final base delivery rate increase under the approved three-year plan.
Cost Optimization Strategies
Commercial gas customers on National Fuel can manage costs by choosing the right service classification for their annual volume, shopping the deregulated commodity market, and using available usage data to reduce consumption and avoid penalty charges.
Shop the deregulated commodity market
For: All non-residential customers (SC-3, SC-13, SC-18)
Buy gas from a competitive ESCO/marketer instead of utility default supply. Compare offers against the utility NGS charge ($5.06175/Mcf, May 2026) using the Historical Bill Comparison tool.
Right-size your service classification
For: Large C&I (5,000+ Mcf/yr)
Match annual Mcf to the correct DMT/MMT subclass (TC 1.1-TC 4.1). Higher-volume subclasses carry lower per-Mcf transport rates (e.g., DMT $1.46520/Mcf at TC 1.1 vs. $0.37279/Mcf at TC 4.0).
Avoid standby and imbalance charges
For: Transportation customers (SC-13, SC-18)
Manage nominations through TSS and contract adequate marketer supply to avoid SC-12 standby (demand $2.03313 + commodity $4.84109/Mcf) and imbalance/cashout penalties.
Use interval/usage data to cut consumption
For: Commercial customers with Mercury devices or DMT service
Pull Mercury-device daily/hourly data or marketer EDI meter files to find peak usage and efficiency opportunities ahead of the 2026 rate increase.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation (NY) interval data →
Deregulated Market Shopping
New York gas supply is deregulated. National Fuel customers - including commercial accounts - can purchase the gas commodity from a licensed Energy Service Company (ESCO) while National Fuel continues to deliver the gas and provide emergency service. Customers who do not choose an ESCO receive default utility supply at the monthly NGS rate plus Merchant Function Charge.
How to Compare National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation (NY) Suppliers
- 01Review National Fuel's NY listing of licensed gas suppliers
- 02Compare ESCO offers (fixed vs. variable) against the utility NGS charge ($5.06175/Mcf, May 2026)
- 03Use the Historical Bill Comparison tool to see 12 months of utility-vs-supplier pricing
- 04Enroll with the chosen ESCO; National Fuel continues delivery and billing
Contract Terms for National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation (NY) Supply Agreements
- Fixed-rate contracts lock the commodity price for a set term
- Variable-rate plans track the market monthly
- Confirm term length, renewal, and any early-termination fees
- Delivery (transportation) charges remain on the National Fuel tariff regardless of supplier
Common Pitfalls When Shopping National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation (NY) Rates
- Variable rates can spike in winter; read the contract carefully
- Watch for teaser intro rates that reset higher after a few months
- Confirm there are no early-termination or cancellation penalties
- Compare against the utility NGS rate before committing - default supply is pass-through at cost
Frequently Asked Questions
What gas rate class applies to my commercial business on National Fuel?▾
Most general non-residential customers fall under Service Classification SC-3 (General Sales & Transportation), which combines a fixed monthly customer/billing charge (about $23.42 total delivery as of May 2026) with a declining-block volumetric delivery rate. Larger facilities using 5,000+ Mcf/year typically qualify for transportation service under SC-13 (daily metered) or SC-18 (monthly metered).
Can my business choose its natural gas supplier?▾
Yes. New York gas supply is deregulated, so commercial customers can buy the gas commodity from a licensed Energy Service Company (ESCO) while National Fuel continues to deliver the gas. Customers who do not choose an ESCO receive default utility supply at the monthly Natural Gas Supply charge ($5.06175/Mcf in May 2026) plus a Merchant Function Charge. National Fuel publishes a list of licensed NY gas suppliers.
How can my business get interval or daily gas usage data?▾
National Fuel has not deployed system-wide advanced metering, so most accounts have monthly-read meters. Select commercial sites with Mercury telemetering devices can access daily and hourly reads (60-day retention) through the online portal, and DMT (SC-13) customers can obtain daily meter data via the Transportation Scheduling System or marketer EDI files. Broader Green Button Connect access is in development under the NY IEDR program (expected 2025-2026).
How does an ESCO or energy consultant get programmatic access to National Fuel customer data?▾
Today, third parties access data through National Fuel's ANSI X12 EDI infrastructure and Data Security Agreements. The firm must become a certified NY gas marketer, complete Phase I and Phase III EDI testing, sign a Data Security Agreement and Trading Partner Agreement, and then download ASCII billing/meter files from marketers.natfuel.com. A standards-based Green Button Connect API (NAESB REQ.21, OAuth 2.0) is being implemented via IEDR.
Are National Fuel's rates going up?▾
Yes. The NY PSC approved a three-year Joint Proposal (Dec 19, 2024) raising base delivery rates in three steps - January 1, 2025, October 1, 2025, and October 1, 2026. The October 1, 2025 step increased the average residential bill about 7.2%. The Natural Gas Supply commodity charge also changes monthly with market conditions.
What is the SC-12 standby charge and when does it apply?▾
SC-12 Standby Sales Service applies when a transportation customer needs backup utility-supplied gas. As of May 2026 it carries a demand charge of $2.03313/Mcf plus a commodity charge of $4.84109/Mcf, making unplanned reliance on standby gas more expensive than contracted marketer supply - so careful nomination and supply planning is important.
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