The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is the eighth largest out of 940 municipally-owned natural gas utilities in the country. More than 1,700 miles of gas mains serve over 90,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in the city of Richmond, Henrico County and northern Chesterfield County.

DPU buys gas from five major suppliers. The gas is transported to the City's six gate stations by Columbia, Consolidated and Transco pipeline systems.

Cost-effective, dependable natural gas has largely become the "Energy of Choice" for industry, heating, cooking, hot water and drying clothes. On average, DPU adds approximately 3,000 new gas customers annually.

This clean-burning fuel is also used in new technologies that reduce air pollution, like natural gas vehicles and air conditioning. DPU also promotes, and provides incentives for, the installation of efficient commercial and residential cooling systems.