Natural gas prices in the U.S. 2008-2024, by sector

Natural gas prices are the highest in the residential sector. In 2024, U.S. households paid 14.59 U.S. dollars per 1,000 cubic feet, down from an all-time high of over 15.2 U.S. dollars per 1,000 cubic feet. Overall, U.S. residential natural gas prices have increased nearly tenfold since 1975. Commercial natural gas costs were second-highest, while prices in the electric power sector were the lowest, at around three U.S. dollars on average. Prices for the industrial and electric power customers tend to be close to the wholesale electricity price. 

The growing natural gas market

U.S. natural gas consumption has increased more than any other fuel after the U.S. oil boom of the 2010s. Petroleum consumption has been more variable, and use of coal has significantly decreased. Today, natural gas is used extensively for electric power generation, with it having overtaken coal as the primary electricity generating source. This is despite coal prices being a lot less volatile and generally lower than natural gas.