Formed in 1961, APGA is a trade organization that represents America's publicly owned natural gas local distribution companies (LDCs). There are approximately 1,000 public gas systems in 37 states and over 700 of these systems are APGA members. We advocate on behalf of our members helping them strengthen their systems by providing access to the latest industry trends on safety standards, competitiveness, regulations and other important issues that affect their system. APGA represents the interests of public gas before Congress, federal agencies and other energy-related stakeholders by developing regulatory and legislative policies that further the goals of our members.
In addition to our advocacy work, APGA organizes meetings, seminars, and workshops to improve the reliability, operational efficiency, and regulatory environment in which public gas systems operate. These educational forums and annual meetings to help bring together public gas systems, industry leaders and our affiliate member to discuss the present and future of natural gas.
Two areas of policy development we look forward to working with NASEO and their membership is the adoption of full-fuel-cycle analysis. Full-fuel-cycle metrics will enable a more comprehensive analysis of the total energy usage and environmental impacts associated with future energy standards. This would overcome the site-based analysis’s shortcomings identified by organizations such as the National Academies.
The second area of interest is the growth of the direct-use natural gas. Increasing the direct-use of natural gas is the surest, quickest, and most cost-effective avenue to achieve significant reductions in GHG emissions.
Our members range from large systems that serve over half a million people to systems that serve less 100 people. We believe it is partnerships like APGA and NASEO at the national level as well as our members actively engaging their state energy offices that will help shape future energy policy for the communities we serve and the environment we live in. In the end, our members are owned by, and accountable to, the citizens they serve.
If you have questions or would like to learn more about APGA please feel free to contact Dan Lapato at dlapato@apga.org or at 202-464-2742.