North East Heat & Light Transition to National Fuel
Letter to North East Heat & Light Customers and Open House Invite
In anticipation of his future retirement, Sam Miller, owner and president of North East Heat & Light Company (NEHL), began an exploratory process to identify the right company to carry NEHL forward. He approached National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation (National Fuel), the natural gas utility serving the rest of Erie County and surrounding NEHL’s current service area, to discuss a potential sale.
Following a thorough review and mutual due diligence, and with the best interests of NEHL customers in mind, NEHL and National Fuel reached an agreement for National Fuel to acquire NEHL’s natural gas system, including all assets and service responsibilities. In October of 2025, a joint application was submitted to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) seeking approval for the acquisition.
The approval process is expected to take several months. Additional details about the proposed acquisition, including how to submit feedback to the PUC, will be shared throughout.
During this time, there will be no changes to your natural gas service, and you will continue to be a NEHL customer. For questions regarding your service or bills, please contact NEHL at 1-814-725-4302.
For questions related to National Fuel, please contact NEHLCustomers@natfuel.com or 1-814-871-8101.
Both companies are committed to ensuring a seamless transition for customers. As a highly regarded utility provider, National Fuel is well-equipped to invest in system safety, reliability, and customer service to meet North East’s energy needs for years to come.
Looking Forward to Serving You
Founded in 1902, National Fuel is the natural gas utility for Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania, providing service to approximately 750,000 customers with a 99% service reliability rating. National Fuel offers the lowest, most affordable rates among major utilities in New York and Pennsylvania.
Our customer-focused approach has consistently earned high satisfaction rankings.
Customers benefit from:
- A user-friendly online portal to manage accounts.
- A locally staffed Erie-based call center available Monday–Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1-814-871-8200 or 1-800-365-3234.
Payment Options and Assistance Programs
National Fuel offers a variety of payment options and assistance programs.
- In addition to LIHEAP, qualifying NEHL customers with household incomes at or below 150% of federal poverty guidelines will have access to Customer Assistance Program (CAP) – includes debt forgiveness and monthly bill discounts.
- Weatherization Assistance.
- Neighbor for Neighbor Hardship Fund.
- Budget Billing.
- Deferred Payment Options.
Customers are encouraged to contact us to explore available solutions. Click here to learn more about National Fuel’s customer service and programs.
Strong Safety Culture
At National Fuel, Safety is our top priority. We invest heavily in operational safety, system integrity, and continuous improvement—backed by dedicated resources and unwavering focus.
Our gas emergency line (1-800-444-3130) is available 24/7/365. We respond to 99% of emergency calls within 45 minutes, earning us an industry-leading ranking in emergency response. To strengthen community preparedness, our Emergency Response Coordinators actively train local first responders, ensuring swift and coordinated action when it matters most.
To learn more about our safety culture, as well as our environmental stewardship and community impact, view our 2024 Corporate Responsibility Report.
Operational System Benefits
NEHL customers will benefit from National Fuel’s diverse mix of pipelines and natural gas storage assets, which:
- Enhance delivery reliability.
- Eliminate dependence on a single access point.
- Enable streamlined infrastructure integration.
- Improve system efficiency and reliability.
Over time, existing customer-owned service lines (from the street to the meter) will be replaced with new, National Fuel-owned service lines, meaning customers will no longer pay for replacements or restoration work.
Additional benefits include:
- Upgraded facilities and modernized equipment.
- Enhanced security measures.
- Increased scale, purchasing power, and strategic, hedging to reduce market price volatility.
- Customers will transition to the Gas Supply Cost Rate, which reflects the actual cost of purchasing natural gas. These costs are passed through dollar-for-dollar, with no profit to National Fuel. Because of our larger purchasing scale, we’re generally able to secure more favorable pricing. Over the past three years, the average residential NEHL customer would have saved $12.36 per month under this rate.
Your Bills
National Fuel customers enjoy low delivery rates and access to affordable Pennsylvania-produced natural gas.
No Base Rate Increase: No base rate increase requested in the application. Changes to base rates can only occur through formal PUC base rate proceeding, which NEHL customers would have an opportunity to comment on.
Minimal Bill Impact: Anticipated minimal bill impacts at the time of closing – for Residential customers, bill impact of: $1.79/month (assuming normal natural gas consumption of 84 ccf per month), as a result of charges to support important programs like continued system improvement (DSIC) and to the CAP programs.
- Distribution System Improvement Charge (DSIC) – ensures system safety and reliability and pays for necessary upgrades.
- Customer Assistance Program (CAP) – provides debt forgiveness and a discount on monthly bills for qualifying customers (household incomes equal to or less than 150% of federal poverty income guidelines have).
Serving Our Communities
Since 1902, National Fuel has provided safe, reliable, and affordable energy while contributing to the economic health of the communities we serve. We build strong relationships by:
- Investing locally.
- Creating jobs.
- Partnering with businesses.
- Supporting hundreds of nonprofits.
In 2024, the National Fuel Gas Company Foundation and our employees donated over $1.7 million to local initiatives. Our volunteer program logged more than 4,000 hours.
To learn more about our community impact, click here.