Separate the benchmark from the delivered product
An EIA wholesale gas series describes a market location and time period. An Ohio business buys under a specific supply and delivery arrangement. Identify which index an offer uses, what basis adjustment is added and whether fees or balancing costs are separate. Do not compare a wholesale dollar-per-MMBtu number directly with a volumetric retail bill without the required conversions and scope adjustments.
Read storage and weather as context
EIA storage information can help explain market conditions, while weather affects heating demand and consumption. Neither creates a reliable rule that a particular month is always best for contracting. Record the publication date and the period covered by the data. Use it to frame scenarios and questions rather than assign unsupported probabilities or guaranteed future price directions.
Model winter usage explicitly
A business that uses most of its gas during colder months should not rely on a flat average when comparing indexed and fixed products. Build a monthly usage schedule from actual bills and document planned operating changes. Keep gas quantities and prices in consistent units. Check minimums, swing provisions and any contract conditions that affect unusually high or low use.
Use offers to make a procurement decision
Ask eligible suppliers for matching terms and a written inclusion list. Compare a fixed arrangement with index scenarios using the same usage profile. Check the risk of a high-cost period against the operating budget. A market view can inform the conversation, but the signed terms, actual service eligibility and current offer determine what the business is buying.
A practical example
Illustrative explanation, not a customer outcome.
Illustrative commodity model: 1,000 MMBtu at a $3.00/MMBtu index plus an explicitly assumed $0.50/MMBtu adjustment equals $3,500 before other charges. Neither input is a current Ohio quote; replace both with the written offer’s basis.
Put the review into practice
| Review step | What to record |
|---|---|
| Match units | Use the bill’s volume and heat-content basis. |
| Model seasonality | Keep monthly quantities instead of assuming flat heating use. |
| Read the product | Identify fixed components, index, basis and fees. |
| Keep safety separate | Follow the utility’s current emergency instructions. |
Questions worth asking
Is Henry Hub my Ohio business gas rate?
No. It is a benchmark location; your offer can include other terms and delivery costs.
Can a fixed product remove weather risk?
It can fix specified prices, but colder conditions can still increase the quantity used.
Continue the comparison
Sources and scope
Reviewed October 15, 2026. Follow the source’s own data period, effective dates and current terms. Examples are hypothetical unless expressly identified as a dated published result. A source is context, not a guarantee of eligibility or a product endorsement.