Natural Gas Tariff Comparison Calculator
Natural Gas Tariff Comparison Calculator. Compare entered utility pricing plans. Enter your values and view the result.
Natural Gas Tariff Comparison Calculator
Compare entered utility pricing plans.
Use the calculation engine below to model your exact costs with custom fuel prices, distances, and vehicle efficiencies:
Natural Gas Tariff Comparison Calculator: inputs
Adjust sliders or enter exact figures
Monthly Fuel Budget
Real-Time Visual Breakdown
Comparing your expense against alternative vehicle classes
Price Fluctuation Stress Test
See how unexpected gas price surges would impact your monthly budget
How Natural Gas Tariff Comparison Calculator Works
This tool works by pricing the same monthly usage under each entered pricing plan and ranking the plans by cost.
- Step 1
Enter each plan
Type the fixed monthly fee and the rate per therm for each plan, including tiered rates.
- Step 2
Enter usage
Type monthly therms for a typical month or for each month of the year.
- Step 3
Price every plan
The calculator applies each plan’s rules to the same usage.
- Step 4
Pick the cheapest
The calculator shows each plan’s cost and the cheapest plan at each usage level.
Natural Gas Tariff Comparison Calculator Formula
The formulas price flat and tiered plans for the same usage.
Flat Plan Cost = Fixed Fee + Therms × Rate
Tiered Plan Cost = Fixed Fee + min(Therms, Tier Limit) × Tier 1 Rate + max(0, Therms − Tier Limit) × Tier 2 Rate
- Tier Limit
- = therms billed at the first-tier rate
- Tier 1 Rate, Tier 2 Rate
- = prices per therm below and above the tier limit
Worked Example
- Plan A: $12 fixed + $1.15 per therm. Plan B: $18 fixed + $1.05 per therm. Plan C: $10 fixed + $1.30 for the first 50 therms + $0.95 above 50.
- At 40 therms: A = $58.00, B = $60.00, C = $62.00.
- At 150 therms: A = $184.50, B = $175.50, C = $170.00.
- Plan A wins in low-usage months and Plan C wins in high-usage months.
Natural Gas Tariff Comparison Calculator Conversion Table
The table prices 3 sample plans across monthly usage levels and marks the cheapest plan.
| Therms / Month | kWh | Plan A | Plan B | Plan C | Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 586 | $35.00 | $39.00 | $36.00 | Plan A |
| 40 | 1,172 | $58.00 | $60.00 | $62.00 | Plan A |
| 70 | 2,051 | $92.50 | $91.50 | $94.00 | Plan B |
| 80 | 2,345 | $104.00 | $102.00 | $103.50 | Plan B |
| 100 | 2,931 | $127.00 | $123.00 | $122.50 | Plan C |
| 150 | 4,396 | $184.50 | $175.50 | $170.00 | Plan C |
| 200 | 5,861 | $242.00 | $228.00 | $217.50 | Plan C |
Price a full year of monthly usage to pick a plan. The cheapest plan in January is often not the cheapest across 12 months.
What is a Natural Gas Tariff Comparison Calculator?
A Natural Gas Tariff Comparison Calculator is a plan selection tool that compares entered utility pricing plans for the same gas usage.
Deregulated gas markets and many utilities offer several plans: variable rates, fixed-price contracts, and tiered rates with different fixed fees. A low rate per therm can hide a high fixed fee. The Natural Gas Tariff Comparison Calculator prices each plan on your own usage and shows the winner at each level.
The tool uses only the terms you enter. Check contract length, cancellation fees, and rate change rules before switching.
What are the uses of a Natural Gas Tariff Comparison Calculator?
There are 4 main uses of the Natural Gas Tariff Comparison Calculator, including supplier switching, contract renewals, and landlord planning.
Switch suppliers
Compare offers from retail gas suppliers.
Renew a contract
Compare a renewal offer with the default variable rate.
Plan rental properties
Pick the best plan for units with low usage.
Check tiered rates
See where a tiered plan beats a flat plan.