ThompsonGas
ThompsonGas is the largest private propane distributor in the US, delivering residential, commercial, agricultural, and autogas propane services across 25 states via 140+ branches and a family of 18 brands, supported by IoT tank monitoring and a digital customer portal.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1946
- HeadquartersBoonsboro, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What ThompsonGas does
ThompsonGas, LLC is a privately held US propane distribution company founded in 1946 in Boonsboro, Maryland, and now headquartered in Frederick, MD. The company self-describes as the largest private propane distributor in the nation, operating 140+ branch locations across 25 states under a family of 18 brands including ThompsonGas, Thompson AutoGas, Como Oil & Propane, North Shore Oil & Propane, Quality Propane, and ER Energy and Propane Northwest. It serves both residential homeowners (heating, water heating, cooking, appliances, fireplaces, grilling) and commercial/industrial customers (agriculture, construction, manufacturing, food service, fleet vehicles, autogas for school districts), with 501-1,000 employees and 50,000+ customers enrolled in its metered propane program.
ThompsonGas firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ThompsonGas
- Legal name
- ThompsonGas, LLC
- Website
- https://thompsongas.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1946
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- ThompsonGas is the largest private propane distributor in the US, delivering residential, commercial, agricultural, and autogas propane services across 25 states via 140+ branches and a family of 18 brands, supported by IoT tank monitoring and a digital customer portal.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ThompsonGas industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Propane Distribution and Delivery
- NAICS
- Fuel Dealers (457210)
- SIC
- Natural Gas Distribution (4924)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bulk Fuel, Propane & Energy Supply for Farms (Retailer-Operated) (AFABAJAL)
Keywords
Where ThompsonGas is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boonsboro
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
ThompsonGas business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Propane Sales and Delivery: Core revenue from propane sales to residential and commercial customers. Pricing includes propane costs, tank installation fees, and possible maintenance charges. The company offers automatic delivery, will-call, and metered propane options. Revenue is generated through per-gallon pricing with flexible delivery and payment options.
- Metered Propane Service: Monthly billing based on actual propane consumption measured by installed meter devices. Customers pay for what they use with automatic deliveries. No delivery fees for metered customers. Provides predictable recurring revenue based on household consumption patterns.
- Commercial Propane Dispensers: Revenue from installing and supplying propane to commercial dispenser stations at businesses. Provides bulk pricing advantages to commercial customers with recurring propane supply contracts.
- Referral Program: Customers earn $25 account credit for each friend referral who becomes activated. Creates customer acquisition through word-of-mouth while providing incentive credits.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Standard Propane Service |
| Usage-based | Monthly | Metered Propane |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Referral Credit |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
ThompsonGas product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ThompsonGas distributes and delivers propane gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural customers across 25 U.S. states through 140+ branch locations. Core offerings include metered (pay-as-you-use) propane service with installed tank meters, IoT-based tank monitoring, automatic delivery scheduling, on-site propane dispensers, autogas fleet fueling solutions, and temporary heating rentals. Customers manage accounts through the My Energy Hub online portal and mobile app.
Product overview
ThompsonGas is a propane energy provider offering residential and commercial propane services across 25 states through 18 brands. The company's core product portfolio centers on propane delivery and service, featuring innovative Metered Propane (pay-as-you-use billing with installed meters and monitors), Tank Monitoring (IoT device for 24/7 level tracking), and traditional will-call and automatic delivery options. ThompsonGas operates Thompson AutoGas for fleet fueling, Propane Dispensers for commercial retail, Temporary Heating rentals, and Industrial & Agricultural Propane solutions. All customer interactions are managed through the My Energy Hub digital platform (mobile app and online portal) for account management, payments, and delivery scheduling. The company also offers a Refer a Friend Program and 24/7 Emergency Service. With over 80 years in business, ThompsonGas serves as the largest private propane company in the United States.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Residential Propane Propane delivery and service for homes, covering heating, water heating, cooking, clothes drying, outdoor grilling, pool heating, and fireplace applications. Targeted at homeowners.
- Commercial Propane Propane solutions for businesses including generators, farm equipment, forklifts, agricultural operations, construction sites, and restaurants, with flexible delivery and payment options.
- Metered Propane A pay-as-you-go propane service where ThompsonGas installs a meter on the customer's tank so they are billed monthly based on actual usage, with automatic delivery when levels are low. Over 50,000 customers have switched to this model.
- Tank Monitoring IoT-enabled Otodata monitor installed on customer propane tanks that tracks tank gauge levels 24/7 and connects to the My Energy Hub mobile app, providing real-time tank level visibility and automatic delivery scheduling.
- Thompson AutoGas Propane autogas fueling solutions for vehicle fleets including school buses and commercial vehicles, featuring on-site fueling station installations, training, grant assistance, lower fuel costs, and reduced emissions.
- Propane Dispensers Commercial propane dispenser and cylinder exchange station installations for retail businesses, providing bulk pricing advantages and 24-hour emergency service with professional system setup.
- Temporary Heating Rental services for temporary propane heating solutions including tanks, regulators, heaters, and scheduled deliveries for construction sites, warehouses, outdoor events, and emergency situations.
- Industrial and Agricultural Propane Scalable propane supply solutions for industrial facilities and agricultural operations including bulk storage, on-site fueling, crop drying, irrigation, greenhouse heating, and farm equipment.
- My Energy Hub Customer Portal and Mobile App Digital platform (available on iOS and Android and at myaccount.myenergyhub.com) allowing customers to check tank levels, pay bills, request deliveries, manage accounts, and access usage history with AutoPay and Text-to-Pay options.
- 24/7 Emergency Service Round-the-clock emergency propane service for gas leaks, tank concerns, and immediate repairs, accessible via the emergency hotline across all service areas.
Quantifiable outcome
- 50,000+ customers switched to metered propane service
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use ThompsonGas
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ThompsonGas technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
ThompsonGas partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- OtodatacoreOtodata provides the tank monitoring IoT devices that ThompsonGas installs on customer propane tanks. These smart monitors track tank gauge levels 24/7 and connect to ThompsonGas's My Energy Hub app, enabling automatic delivery notifications and customer tank level visibility.
- Como Oil & PropanecoreAffiliate brand within the ThompsonGas family of companies, operating under the unified ThompsonGas umbrella alongside other regional propane brands.
- North Shore Oil & PropanecoreAffiliate brand within the ThompsonGas family of companies, operating under the unified ThompsonGas umbrella alongside other regional propane brands.
- Quality PropanecoreAffiliate brand within the ThompsonGas family of companies, operating under the unified ThompsonGas umbrella alongside other regional propane brands.
- ER Energy and PropanecoreAffiliate brand within the ThompsonGas family of companies, operating under the unified ThompsonGas umbrella alongside other regional propane brands.
- Propane NorthwestcoreAffiliate brand within the ThompsonGas family of companies, operating under the unified ThompsonGas umbrella alongside other regional propane brands.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ThompsonGas competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Heritage Propane (Energy Transfer): Propane distribution arm of midstream giant Energy Transfer. Overlapping retail propane operations with substantially greater upstream/supply integration and capital backing than ThompsonGas.
- Superior Plus: Canadian-based distributor of propane and specialty chemicals with US retail propane operations. Comparable multi-vertical energy distribution model with broader geographic reach.
- CHS Inc. (Propane): Diversified agribusiness cooperative with a sizable US propane wholesale and retail business serving farmers and rural communities. Comparable in rural/ag propane distribution and bulk fuel supply.
- Inergy Propane: Historical peer that merged with Suburban Propane; relevant as a comparable retail propane platform with a similar multi-state branch model to ThompsonGas.
Direct peers
- Suburban Propane Partners: Public MLP retailing propane, heating oil, and refined fuels to residential and commercial customers across 40+ states. Closely comparable end-customer mix, delivery model, and geographic footprint to ThompsonGas.
- Blossman Gas: Family-owned US propane retailer with a multi-state branch footprint serving residential, commercial, and autogas customers. Comparable private-company structure and retail propane delivery model.
- AmeriGas Propane: Largest US propane retailer by volume, subsidiary of UGI Corporation. Directly comparable retail propane distribution model across residential, commercial, and autogas segments; ThompsonGas positions itself as the largest private peer in the same category.
- Ferrellgas Partners: Second-largest US propane retailer, recently taken private. Direct competitor in residential and commercial propane distribution with overlapping tank-monitoring and autogas programs; comparable multi-branch, multi-state operating model.
Others
- Otodata: Tank-monitoring IoT platform provider that supplies the tank-level devices integrated into ThompsonGas's My Energy Hub. Adjacent ecosystem enabler rather than a competitor.
Regional players
- Eastern Propane Gas: Northeast-focused propane distributor serving residential and commercial customers in New England. Comparable retail propane delivery model, but operates in a different geographic footprint from ThompsonGas's 25-state reach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ThompsonGas social profiles
Digital presenceThompsonGas financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ThompsonGas leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
ThompsonGas subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
ThompsonGas funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ThompsonGas M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ThompsonGas
What does ThompsonGas do?
ThompsonGas distributes and delivers propane gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural customers across 25 U.S. states through 140+ branch locations. Core offerings include metered (pay-as-you-use) propane service with installed tank meters, IoT-based tank monitoring, automatic delivery scheduling, on-site propane dispensers, autogas fleet fueling solutions, and temporary heating rentals. Customers manage accounts through the My Energy Hub online portal and mobile app.
Is ThompsonGas a public or private company?
ThompsonGas is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was ThompsonGas founded?
ThompsonGas was founded in 1946. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is ThompsonGas based?
ThompsonGas is headquartered in Boonsboro, United States, in the North America region.
How does ThompsonGas make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Propane Sales and Delivery is the primary driver. The others are metered Propane Service, commercial Propane Dispensers and referral Program.
Who are ThompsonGas's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Heritage Propane (Energy Transfer), Superior Plus, CHS Inc. (Propane) and Inergy Propane. Direct peers are Suburban Propane Partners, Blossman Gas, AmeriGas Propane and Ferrellgas Partners. Otodata is listed as an others. Eastern Propane Gas is listed as a regional player.
Does ThompsonGas have an API?
No public API is recorded for ThompsonGas.
What industry is ThompsonGas in?
ThompsonGas's product category is Propane Distribution and Delivery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFABAJAL, Bulk Fuel, Propane & Energy Supply for Farms (Retailer-Operated). Its NAICS code is 457210 and its SIC code is 4924.