The first Wednesday of October marks Energy Efficiency Day, a time to spotlight the choices that can have a significant impact on our environment, our homes, and our communities. At Atmos Energy, energy efficiency is a key component of our comprehensive environmental strategy. Whether helping customers reduce their bills or upgrading our infrastructure, energy efficiency is central to our commitment to deliver safe, reliable energy.

Energy efficiency remains the most impactful opportunity to reduce emissions, while maintaining customer choice and lowering energy bills. According to the American Gas Association (AGA), efficient natural gas equipment is projected to lower household greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2040. Homes certified with Energy Star-certified natural gas appliances can have a carbon footprint that is 28 percent lower than those with electric resistance heating. 

What Atmos Energy is Doing 

Having an energy-efficient home is not just about appliances. It also includes your home’s building envelope, which encompasses insulation, air sealing, windows, and more. Atmos Energy is investing in programs and technologies to help our customers reduce waste, lower costs, and decrease emissions through:

• Customer Rebates and Incentives: We offer rebates in several states within our service territory for high-efficiency furnaces, water heaters, and smart thermostats, making it easier for families to upgrade to appliances that use less energy. "Many Atmos Energy customers are eligible for SmartChoice money-saving rebates when they purchase high-efficiency natural gas equipment. These rebates not only lower the cost of equipment but also help reduce utility bills,” said Bridget Wallace, director of marketing services.
• Weatherization Programs: Some states in our territory partner with local nonprofits and contractors to help households improve insulation and sealing. Some states with SmartChoice rebate programs offer free home energy assessments and provide free materials to lower energy and water use. Even small steps can make a difference in monthly utility bills.
• Pipeline Modernization: Atmos Energy continues to reduce system emissions by replacing older pipes with modern materials. Modernizing our distribution and transmission system is a core component of our vision to become the safest provider of natural gas services. For fiscal year 2025, $3 billion was allocated for capital expenditures in infrastructure modernization, with 86 percent dedicated to safety and reliability upgrades.

Together, these initiatives make a measurable difference. Households using natural gas for heating, cooking, and clothes drying can save an average of $1,132 per year* compared to homes using electricity for the same needs. Over the past decade, commercial and industrial customers have saved more than $500 billion by choosing natural gas, according to the American Gas Association.

Why It Matters

Energy Efficiency Day reminds us that progress is built step by step. For Atmos Energy, these steps support families by offering customer rebates and weatherization programs, cutting emissions, and modernizing our natural gas infrastructure. This Energy Efficiency Day, Atmos Energy reaffirms its commitment to helping its customers use energy wisely and save money, all while moving toward a more efficient and affordable energy future.

*Average U.S. home energy savings. American Gas Association