Natural Gas Average Annual Prices
in Nebraska by Sector

The price of natural gas has changed significantly over the last forty years reflecting its volatility or instability. The average annual prices for the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors mimicked each other's movements and kept a steady price spread. From 2014 to 2015, the price of natural gas in the industrial sector price decreased $1.12 or 21.1 percent, the electric power sector decreased $1.85 or 33.7 percent, the commercial sector price decreased 90 cents or 13.2 percent, while the residential sector decreased 4 cents or 0.5 percent.

In 2015, the residential sector paid the highest price out of all the sectors at $8.16 per billion cubic feet. The commercial sector's price was the next highest at $5.90, the industrial sector's price was $4.20, and the electric power sector's price was $3.64 per billion cubic feet.

The prices are in nominal dollars to provide a better comparison.

line chart showing Natural Gas Average Annual Prices by Sector in Nebraska for the years 1970 through 2015.

Natural Gas Average Annual Prices by Sector
Nebraska, 2010 – 2015

(Nominal Dollars per Billion Cubic Feet)
Year Sectors Annual
Average
End–Use Sectors Electric
Power
Commercial Industrial Residential
2015 $5.90 $4.20 $8.16 $3.64 $5.40
2014 $6.80 $5.32 $8.20 $5.49 $6.35
2013 $6.10 $4.43 $7.89 $4.70 $5.63
2012 $5.92 $4.15 $8.30 $3.75 $5.30
2011 $6.45 $5.40 $8.51 $5.54 $6.38
2010 $6.86 $5.68 $8.68 $6.93 $6.69

Natural Gas Average Annual Prices by Sector
Nebraska, 1990 – 2009

(Nominal Dollars per Billion Cubic Feet)
Year Sectors Annual
Average
End–Use Sectors Electric
Power
Commercial Industrial Residential
2009 $7.16 $5.79 $8.98 $4.40 $6.86
2008 $9.26 $8.78 $10.70 $7.24 $9.32
2007 $8.76 $7.62 $10.66 $8.60 $8.74
2006 $9.25 $8.05 $10.87 $7.08 $9.07
2005 $9.11 $8.08 $10.30 $7.96 $9.06
2004 $7.33 $6.44 $8.74 $6.42 $7.48
2003 $6.67 $5.66 $7.57 $5.50 $6.62
2002 $4.93 $4.10 $5.97 $4.16 $5.00
2001 $7.15 $5.62 $8.34 $4.16 $6.99
2000 $5.29 $4.48 $6.23 $4.48 $5.27
1999 $4.04 $3.30 $4.93 $2.74 $4.01
1998 $4.13 $3.17 $4.98 $2.36 $3.93
1997 $4.76 $3.76 $5.55 $2.80 $4.66
1996 $4.32 $3.18 $4.71 $2.01 $4.11
1995 $3.94 $2.77 $4.81 $1.61 $3.79
1994 $4.19 $3.08 $4.96 $2.00 $4.08
1993 $4.26 $3.09 $4.96 $2.66 $4.14
1992 $3.97 $2.90 $4.79 $2.32 $4.00
1991 $3.83 $2.73 $4.59 $1.92 $3.83
1990 $3.82 $2.94 $4.55 $1.96 $3.83

Natural Gas Average Annual Prices by Sector
Nebraska, 1970 – 1989

(Nominal Dollars per Billion Cubic Feet)
Year Sectors Annual
Average
End–Use Sectors Electric
Power
Commercial Industrial Residential
1989 $3.72 $2.88 $4.42 $2.30 $3.73
1988 $3.71 $2.82 $4.42 $2.62 $3.71
1987 $3.66 $2.74 $4.31 $2.50 $3.62
1986 $3.85 $3.19 $4.49 $3.12 $3.97
1985 $4.18 $3.57 $4.97 $3.49 $4.31
1984 $4.24 $3.61 $5.05 $3.31 $4.34
1983 $4.18 $3.69 $4.91 $3.17 $4.30
1982 $3.47 $3.52 $4.13 $2.94 $3.73
1981 $2.94 $2.77 $3.43 $2.33 $3.03
1980 $2.27 $2.15 $2.71 $1.77 $2.34
1979 $1.96 $1.22 $2.25 $1.41 $1.78
1978 $1.50 $1.08 $1.92 $1.08 $1.46
1977 $1.36 $1.00 $1.75 $0.94 $1.32
1976 $1.13 $0.83 $1.33 $0.79 $1.05
1975 $0.97 $0.67 $1.25 $0.61 $0.87
1974 $0.78 $0.52 $1.10 $0.48 $0.70
1973 $0.73 $0.42 $1.00 $0.41 $0.61
1972 $0.56 $0.47 $0.95 $0.37 $0.60
1971 $0.57 $0.35 $0.89 $0.30 $0.54
1970 $0.51 $0.31 $0.82 $0.26 $0.49

Sources: State Energy Price and Expenditure Report. Energy Information Administration, Washington, DC. Nebraska Energy Office, Lincoln, NE.

Note: The price of natural gas delivered to electric utility consumers includes all steam electric utility generating plants with a combined capacity of 50 MW or greater.

The table and graph were updated on August 2, 2017.
Typically, there are one to two years between updates.