FPL ENERGY
Benefits of Fixed Pricing for Natural Gas by RAY BUROW
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atural gas accounts for 34% of the energy consumed in the United States, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Commercial customers consumed 10% of the 30.48 trillion cubic feet of U.S. natural gas in 2020. Anyone working in the food industry already knows what the numbers prove. We need natural gas. However, the natural gas industry is constantly affected by change. Influenced by the economy, it fluctuates through highs and lows, forcing commercial consumers to surf the ebb and flow that affect pricing. Food and fuel are bonded in the United States, with the cost of energy determined by market supply and demand. As natural gas supply increases, prices drop; costs rise when supply is low. The price of natural gas is also determined by transportation. Following production, natural gas is transported to storage units and eventually distributed to consumers. The level or volume of gas stored
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in reserve also affects pricing. Storms such as hurricanes and winter weather events move the market significantly. Hurricanes disrupt supply channels and pipelines, while artic blasts in the north drive prices higher for everyone. The associated production costs from these factors and more are passed on to the consumer, leaving restaurant owners in a vulnerable, if not volatile, situation. What if natural gas prices were fixed, remaining constant, regardless of supply and demand, economic growth, decline or other factors? It may sound like a dream, but a fixed-pricing plan can make a dream come true for restaurateurs. Budgeting restaurateurs will find fixedrate energy plans advantageous. Fixed-rate pricing allows consumers to lock in the price they pay for natural gas. The rate doesn’t fluctuate according to outside factors affecting the natural gas industry. The locked-in rate remains constant and won’t terminate until the contract ends.
Fixed rates deliver consistency and stability with the same supply rate each month. Even if the natural gas industry is delivered a blow, there are no surprises to the consumer in increased rates. The price you pay for natural gas remains the same. The market may fluctuate, but what you budgeted for energy won’t. FPL Energy Services is one of the leading suppliers of natural gas. In a continually fluctuating market, it offers fixed pricing to consumers. On average, restaurants in the United States use 111 cubic feet of natural gas per square foot annually. Fixed pricing is available from FPL Energy Services for restaurants that consume more or even less than average. Our competitive pricing plans have no hidden costs and are customized to meet the business’ needs. If you’re a restaurant owner and would like to stabilize your budget with a fixed-pricing plan, visit FPLesgas.com or call (877) 375-4674. FLORIDA RESTAUR ANT & LOD GING A S SO CIATION
