Overview:

Most natural gas is processed very little to render it useable. Sometimes components called natural gas liquids, such as propane, are extracted from the gas before it is transported or delivered to the consumer. The local gas utility that delivers gas to customers is typically not the same as the pipeline company that collects the gas from the wells and brings the gas into the local area. The local utility may be a private firm or a municipal agency. In many cases they provide electricity as well as natural gas. Some supply propane as well.

Trade Associations:

American Gas Association represents local natural gas utilities that deliver gas to 54 million homes and businesses in all fifty states.

Yahoo Sites:

Business and Economy: Companies: Energy: Petroleum: Natural Gas

Regulation:

Interstate trade in gas is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Retail sale is governed by the states, typically by a Public Utility Commission. (See National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners for links.)

Energy Information Administration (home page)
--Natural Gas Menu includes sales and rate data.

Trade periodicals:

American Gas Magazine covers gas transport and distribution to users.

Other sources:

Natural Gas Information and Educational Resources is an industry-wide collaborative effort to educate the general public on natural gas without company-specific overtones.

Sample gas utilities:

Baltimore Gas & Electric Co - is the nation's first gas utility and one of the earliest electric utilities.
Consumers Energy Co - is Michigan's largest natural gas and electric utility
Delta Natural Gas Co, Inc. - distributes natural gas in central and southeastern Kentucky.
Energy West, Inc. - natural gas utility and retail propane company serving Montana, Wyoming and Arizona.
HS Energy Services, Inc. - natural gas trading and marketing.
Indianapolis Coke (Dec. 5, 1998 "On Hold" status with InterNIC), is the last gas distribution utility in the United States which mixes coke oven gas in its sendout product. An interesting history section.
Laclede Gas Company - public utility engaged in the retail distribution of natural gas.
Nashville Gas - is a division of Piedmont Natural Gas in the Southeast.
North Carolina Natural Gas - providing natural gas and propane related services to customers in south central and eastern North Carolina.
NUI - owns several natural gas distribution companies in six east coast states.
Ohio Valley Gas Corporation - provides rules, regulations, rates, and contact information for the company's service areas.
Orangeburg SC - the Gas Division of the Department of Public Utilities serves approximately 10,000 residential, commercial, and large industrial customers.
Public Service Company of Colorado is part of New Century Energies, one of the nation's largest geographic electricity and natural gas companies, serving approximately four million people in the states of Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Wyoming, Kansas and Oklahoma.
Southern Connecticut Gas Company provides natural gas energy to over 170,000 customers in 22 Connecticut communities in Fairfield, New Haven and Middlesex counties, primarily along the shores of Long Island Sound.
South Jersey Industries, Inc. - natural gas distribution, sales, transportation, and energy management.
Sudgaz S.A. - natural gas distribution company providing general information and links to technical resources.
Volunteer Energy Corporation - marketing of natural gas and electricity supplies and services to industrial, commercial, and school facilities in the U.S. and Europe.
Wisconsin Fuel & Light Company - a natural gas distribution utility serving the Manitowo and Wausau Wisconsin areas.