Columbia Gas of Virginia

What Columbia Gas of Virginia does

Columbia Gas of Virginia is a regulated natural gas distribution utility headquartered in Chester, Virginia, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI). Founded in 1847 and operating as one of six NiSource energy delivery companies, it serves approximately 293,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers across 98 communities spanning Northern, Piedmont, Central, and Tidewater Virginia, covering roughly 65% of the Commonwealth. The company's core technology is a regulated distribution network of approximately 5,600 miles of pipelines, regulator stations, meters, and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) deployed to modernize customer-facing technology and service delivery.

The company monetizes through SCC-approved base rates (approximately 60% of a typical customer's total bill), with the remaining 40% representing pass-through natural gas commodity costs with no markup, yielding a usage-based revenue model that recovers costs to repair, upgrade, and operate the delivery system. Distribution and customer engagement occur through direct-to-consumer channels including the My Account online portal, iOS and Android mobile apps, a 24/7 phone customer service center enhanced by the NINA virtual assistant, a website chatbot, and a Trade Ally network of licensed contractors and plumbers. Complementary offerings include energy-efficiency rebates (WarmWise), financial assistance (HeatShare via Dollar Energy Fund), developer programs (MAIN, Multi-Family Contribution Program), safety programs (Cross Bore), and renewable natural gas initiatives (Green Path, RNG for Producers).

Recent strategic activity centers on a May 7, 2026 multi-year base rate case seeking approximately $64.3 million in additional annual revenue effective October 4, 2026 and a further $14.6 million effective October 4, 2027, alongside operational expansion evidenced by the June 2026 completion of a new Covington facility supporting the Buena Vista Operations Center. Customer-facing digital investment has included AMI rollout, the February 2025 launch of the NINA IVR assistant, and a continuously available web chatbot. The company is privately held, has approximately 400 employees, and does not separately disclose revenue as a non-reporting NiSource subsidiary.

Name

Columbia Gas of Virginia

Legal name

Columbia Gas of Virginia, Inc.

Website

https://columbiagasva.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1847

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Columbia Gas of Virginia is a regulated natural gas distribution utility and NiSource subsidiary that serves approximately 293,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers across 98 Virginia communities via a 5,600-mile pipeline network under SCC-approved rates.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Natural Gas Distribution Utility Services

NAICS

Natural Gas Distribution (22121), Natural Gas Distribution (2212)

SIC

Natural Gas Distribution (4924), Natural Gas Transmisison & Distribution (4923)

akta.pro primary industry

Regulated Natural Gas Utility (LDC) Customer Acquisition & Switching (EUAAADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Distributed Energy & Gas Solutions Sales (CHP, Microgrids, On-site Gas Supply) (EUAAADAJ)

Keywords

• Natural gas distribution
• Regulated utility services
• Residential gas service
• Energy efficiency programs
• Pipeline infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Chester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Natural Gas Distribution Services: As a regulated utility, Columbia Gas of Virginia provides natural gas distribution service to approximately 293,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers. Revenue comes from base rates approved by the Virginia State Corporation Commission, which generate revenue to recover costs to repair, upgrade and operate the natural gas delivery system. Base rates represent about 60 percent of a typical customer's total bill, with the remaining 40 percent consisting of natural gas commodity costs passed through without markup.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Columbia Gas of Virginia is a regulated natural gas distribution utility that delivers natural gas to approximately 293,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers across 98 communities in Virginia through approximately 5,600 miles of pipelines. Revenue is generated primarily through base distribution rates approved by the Virginia State Corporation Commission, supplemented by customer programs including energy efficiency rebates, billing options, financial assistance, and developer main-extension programs.

Product overview

Columbia Gas of Virginia operates as a regulated natural gas utility offering a platform of customer-facing digital products and service programs. The core digital platform consists of the My Account Online Portal and Columbia Gas Mobile App, which provide account management, bill payment, and service request capabilities. Customer service is enhanced through AI-powered virtual assistants including NINA (phone IVR system) and Chatbot (web-based). The company offers multiple billing programs including Budget Plan, AutoPay, Paperless Billing, CHOICE, and Transportation Service. Energy efficiency is addressed through the WarmWise rebate program, while financial assistance is provided via HeatShare and LIHEAP programs. Developer and builder support includes the MAIN Program for main extensions and Multi-Family Contribution Program. Safety initiatives include the Cross Bore Program incentivizing plumber reporting of infrastructure issues.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Natural Gas Distribution Service Core regulated utility service delivering natural gas through approximately 5,600 miles of pipelines to approximately 293,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers across 98 communities in Virginia's Northern, Piedmont, Central, and Tidewater regions.
• Columbia Gas Mobile App Full-featured mobile application for iOS and Android that lets residential and commercial customers pay bills, track usage, manage accounts, and start, stop, or move gas service from a smartphone or tablet, with Touch ID/Face ID biometric login.
• My Account Online Portal Online customer portal that enables account management, bill payment, usage monitoring, enrollment in programs (AutoPay, Paperless Billing, Budget Plan), and service requests for residential and commercial customers.
• NINA (Natural Interactive Network Assistant) Conversational-AI virtual phone assistant available 24/7 through the IVR system, providing faster call routing, self-service for starting/stopping service, checking order status, enrolling in programs, and making payments via integration with Paymentus.
• Chatbot Virtual Assistant Website and mobile chatbot that delivers 24/7 automated customer support, answering common questions about account balance, bill payment, financial support, and account management, with password resets, payment status checks, and account-number lookups using Just-In-Time Authentication (JITA).
• WarmWise Program Energy efficiency program offering rebates for smart thermostats, furnaces, boilers, windows, doors, skylights, water heaters, fireplaces, and dryers, delivered to residential customers through a trade ally network of participating contractors.
• HeatShare Special heating assistance program funded by customer donations and matched by Columbia Gas of Virginia, administered by Dollar Energy Fund, providing grants to low-income residential customers to pay off past-due bills or restore gas service.
• Multi-Family Contribution Program Five-year pilot program offering multi-family builders, developers, and owners a contribution toward natural gas piping and equipment venting installation costs, up to $1,250 per metered unit or 80% of positive Net Present Value.
• MAIN Program (Making Access to natural gas Infrastructure Now) Program for new customer projects requiring main extension, deferring project costs above projected future revenues and recovering them over time from benefiting customers; currently approved MAIN Rider is $10.94 per service address for 240 months.
• Cross Bore Program Safety incentive program offering $100 Visa gift cards to licensed plumbers who identify and report natural gas cross bores in sewer lines, helping eliminate dangerous infrastructure conflicts.
• Home Protection Plans Service protection plans available for both homeowners and renters, covering repairs and emergencies related to gas equipment and appliances on customer premises.
• Green Path Renewable Energy Program Renewable energy program and initiative focused on environmental sustainability for natural gas service customers.
• RNG for Producers Renewable Natural Gas program allowing producers to participate in and contribute to Columbia Gas of Virginia's renewable energy initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• Awarded Top Workplaces 2026 honor by Richmond Times-Dispatch based on employee feedback measuring respect, support, growth, and empowerment
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Virginia 811coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Virginia 811 launched the Dig Smart Mobile Learning Center, a mobile educational unit teaching children safe digging practices. Columbia Gas of Virginia is a partial funder of this initiative, which features interactive displays, hands-on activities, and age-appropriate modules. The Learning Center travels to schools, community festivals, and youth programs across Virginia starting in 2026.
• NiSource Charitable FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for charitable giving and community investment. Columbia Gas of Virginia in 2024 contributed more than $400,000 in charitable contributions to nonprofit organizations through foundation support, primarily for organizations meeting basic human needs including local food banks, relief agencies, and emergency responders.
• Paradigm Liaison ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through CoRE-EX Pipeline Safety Program offering free, in-person training for first responders, contractors, excavators, and public officials on pipeline safety. Training sessions traditionally held in September and October at va.pipeline-awareness.com.
• Dollar Energy FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeatShare program administered by Dollar Energy Fund, a special heating assistance program funded by customer donations matched by Columbia Gas. Provides grants to low-income residential customers to pay off past-due bills or restore service.
• Community Housing PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContract partner for Age and Income Qualifying Program providing supplies to help customers save energy on water and home heating. Contact: 1-888-229-3714.
• Virginia General AssemblycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirginia General Assembly enacted SB1163/HB1475 (VA Code 56-610 - 56-612) in 2015 providing natural gas utilities a new tool to address rising costs to extend gas mains through per meter charges without subsidizing existing customers. Foundation for MAIN (Making Access to natural gas Infrastructure Now) program.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Atmos Energy: One of the largest U.S. natural gas-only utilities serving over 3 million customers across multiple states. Comparable business model (regulated LDC), same residential/commercial/industrial customer mix, and similar rate-case driven revenue model.
• ONE Gas: Publicly traded natural gas distribution utility serving Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas. Comparable 100% regulated gas distribution business model with similar customer programs, infrastructure investment cadence, and rate base growth profile.
• Southwest Gas Holdings: Natural gas distribution utility serving Arizona, Nevada, and parts of California. Regulated LDC model with similar residential/commercial customer mix and capex-driven rate base growth, though in a faster-growth Sun Belt geography.
• Spire Inc. Natural gas utility holding company with regulated LDCs in Missouri, Alabama, and Mississippi. Comparable regulated gas distribution franchise model and similar reliance on rate cases to recover infrastructure capex.

Direct peers

• Columbia Gas of Ohio: Sister NiSource subsidiary operating as a regulated natural gas LDC in Ohio. Closest comparable in business model, regulatory structure, parent backing, and customer-facing digital platforms (same AMI, NINA, and Chatbot technology stack).
• Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania: Sister NiSource subsidiary providing regulated natural gas distribution in Pennsylvania. Shares the same parent financing, technology stack, customer programs (Budget Plan, WarmWise-style rebates), and regulatory rate-case dynamics.
• Columbia Gas of Kentucky: Sister NiSource subsidiary regulated gas distribution utility in Kentucky. Operates the same parent-backed digital customer platform and similar rate base / rate case profile, making it directly comparable on scale and economics.

Emerging players

• Chesapeake Utilities: Natural gas distribution and transmission utility serving the Mid-Atlantic and Florida, including parts of Virginia. Comparable regulated gas distribution business with adjacent RNG and clean energy initiatives.

Regional players

• Washington Gas: Regulated natural gas utility serving the Mid-Atlantic including Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. Direct geographic overlap in Virginia and a comparable regulated LDC business model serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
• New Jersey Resources: Natural gas distribution utility serving New Jersey and adjacent states through its regulated LDC subsidiary. Comparable customer programs (energy efficiency, bill assistance) and rate-regulated gas distribution economics, though in a different Mid-Atlantic geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/columbiagasva
• Facebookfacebook.com/columbiagasva
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2684565
• Instagraminstagram.com/columbiagasva

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Columbia Gas of Virginia