Proudly Serving the Carolinas

CPGA is a not-for-profit association of publicly owned natural gas utilities in the Carolinas.

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About

The Carolinas Public Gas Association is the not-for-profit association of publicly owned natural gas utilities in the Carolinas and Virginia. The CPGA organizes meetings and training for it members concentrating on the safe and reliable delivery of natural gas.

Content

The purpose of the Association is to enhance the performance, safety, competitiveness, and public awareness of its member public (i.e. not investor-owned) natural gas distribution systems by promoting the coordination of efforts and the sharing of information related to:

The management and operations of such systems
Compliance with associated regulatory obligations
Providing the highest quality of reliable service to their customers

Our History

The use of natural gas in the United States dates back to the 1800s, when it was first used to light streets and homes. By 1900, natural gas had been discovered in 17 states, but without pipelines, its use was limited and often wasted.

Natural gas did not reach the Carolinas until 1949, when Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company (Transco) began building a 1,832-mile pipeline from Texas to New York. The line passed through both North and South Carolina, and by 1951 utilities could begin offering natural gas to their customers. Around the same time, Southern Natural Gas extended service to Aiken, SC, and South Carolina Electric & Gas created South Carolina Natural Gas to serve Columbia and Charleston.

During the 1950s, many cities in the Carolinas built their own gas distribution systems. Today, there are eight municipal gas systems in North Carolina and five in South Carolina, along with several public gas authorities and commissions—all publicly owned.

Regional cooperation in the gas industry grew over the decades. In 1939, the Mid-Southeastern Gas Association was formed, later renamed the Southeastern Gas Association (SGA). On the national level, the American Public Gas Association (APGA) was created in 1961 to represent and advocate for public gas systems across the country.

North Carolina established its own municipal gas association in 1996, but South Carolina had no statewide group. In 2008, leaders from public gas systems in both states began discussing the idea of forming a joint association. After several meetings and a task force study, the Carolinas Public Gas Association (CPGA) was officially organized in 2008 and later formalized in 2012.

Since then, CPGA has expanded to include members in Virginia and has grown into a strong regional voice for public natural gas systems. Today, CPGA continues to support its members by promoting safety, providing education, and advocating for the reliable delivery of natural gas to communities across the Carolinas and beyond.

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

Associate members are individuals and businesses who supply or would like to supply goods and services to CPGA system members. Their involvement with the association is vital to the exchange of ideas and information necessary for the growth and improved performance of system member’s businesses.

Associate Membership in the CPGA is a cost-effective way to allow your company to make personal contact with decision-makers at public gas systems. The CPGA Board holds two meetings a year and Associate Members are encouraged to attend and participate at these meetings.

Benefits of Associate Membership Include:

Recognition on the CPGA website
Quality time with gas system decision-makers
Sponsorship opportunities
Potential for CPGA Board membership

Membership Dues

$500 annually invoiced in November
Applications received on or after July 1st will be invoiced a prorated amount for current year dues in addition to pre-paying the full amount for the following year

APPLY NOW TO BECOME AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER

SYSTEM MEMBERS

The CPGA exists to serve its 23 system members. These natural gas operators represent municipally-owned utilities, natural gas authorities and commissions/boards of public works across the Carolinas and Virginia.

System members enjoy access to CPGA facilitated training, meetings and programs focused on:

The Safe and Efficient Operation of Gas Systems
Meeting and Exceeding Regulatory Obligations
Providing High-Quality Service to Customers

If you represent a publicly owned natural gas company and are interested in learning more about becoming a CPGA member, please contact CPGA at [email protected].