Berkshire Gas

What Berkshire Gas does

Berkshire Gas (legal name: The Berkshire Gas Company, DBA "BGC") is a regulated natural gas distribution utility serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers across Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1853 and headquartered at 115 Cheshire Road, Pittsfield, the company operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of AVANGRID (NYSE: AGR), within AVANGRID Networks. The company maintains over 760 miles of gas mains across Berkshire County and portions of Franklin and Hampshire Counties, delivering natural gas under an exclusive franchise granted and rate-regulated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (MDPU). Rates are established via DPU 22-20 and recover authorized revenue through a decoupling mechanism that insulates distribution economics from volume fluctuations.

The customer base spans residential (R-1 non-heating, R-3 heating, R-2/R-4 low-income variants with 25% discount) and commercial & industrial tiers (G-41, G-42, G-43, segmented by annual therm usage and seasonal load). Pricing combines a fixed monthly service charge with per-therm distribution charges plus Cost of Gas Adjustment, Local Distribution Adjustment, Revenue Decoupling Adjustment, and Energy Efficiency Surcharge pass-throughs. Customers can elect third-party gas supply, but Berkshire Gas remains the delivery company regardless of supplier choice. Ancillary revenue streams include a water heater Equipment Rental Program ($35.06–$52.06/month with free 24/7 maintenance) and rebates/incentives historically delivered through the Mass Save partnership.

The company's customer-facing technology stack centers on the BGC mobile application (iOS/Android), the My Account Portal, eBill paperless billing, AutoPay, Budget Billing, Account Alerts, and the Energy Analyzer consumption-tracking tool. Marketing and outreach channels include the corporate website, social media (Twitter/X, Facebook), and the Energy Smart Adventures K-2 classroom education program. Strategic priorities include continued conversion-to-gas marketing, pipeline safety programs, and participation in low-income energy-assistance partnerships (LEAN, Massachusetts Community Action Program Agencies, Dig Safe). The company is currently constrained by a pipeline-deliverability moratorium on new service in eight Eastern Division communities (Amherst, Deerfield, Greenfield, Hadley, Hatfield, Montague, Sunderland, Whately).

Name

Berkshire Gas

Legal name

The Berkshire Gas Company

Website

https://berkshiregas.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1853

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Berkshire Gas is a regulated natural gas distribution utility serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers across Western Massachusetts under a MDPU-granted franchise. A wholly-owned subsidiary of AVANGRID, the company operates over 760 miles of gas mains from its Pittsfield headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Natural Gas Distribution

NAICS

Natural Gas Distribution (22121), Natural Gas Distribution (2212), Natural Gas Distribution (221210)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Gas Mains (Distribution Pipelines) (EUAJABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Distribution System Engineering & Design (Mains/Services/Stations) (EUAJAEAB)

Keywords

• Natural gas distribution
• Regulated gas utility
• Pipeline infrastructure
• Residential heating
• Energy efficiency rebates

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Gas Distribution Service: Regulated distribution charges for natural gas delivery to customers. Includes service charges and distribution charges per therm based on customer rate class (residential, low-income, commercial, and industrial). Revenue is subject to regulation by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (MDPU).
2. Cost of Gas Adjustment: Adjustment factor applied to gas costs for default service customers, reflecting the actual cost of natural gas procurement that is passed through to customers.
3. Local Distribution Adjustment: Adjustment factors for distribution service costs including various surcharges and credits that are passed through to customers.
4. Revenue Decoupling Adjustment: Revenue decoupling adjustment factor to ensure the company recovers its authorized revenue regardless of sales volumes.
5. Equipment Rental Program: Water heater rental program with monthly lease fees ($35.06-$52.06 per month for residential) included on customer gas bills, providing free maintenance and repairs during the lease period.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Berkshire Gas is a regulated natural gas distribution utility that delivers natural gas through over 760 miles of pipeline infrastructure to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across Western Massachusetts. The company operates customer account management tools (My Account portal, BGC mobile app), billing and payment options (eBill, AutoPay, Budget Billing, Account Alerts), an equipment rental program for natural gas water heaters, and energy efficiency offerings through the Mass Save partnership. It also maintains a 24/7 Pipeline Safety Program and an Energy Analyzer tool that helps customers track gas usage.

Product overview

Berkshire Gas is a natural gas utility company that operates as part of Avangrid, providing natural gas delivery services to customers in Massachusetts. The company's product portfolio centers on its core gas delivery service augmented by digital customer service tools including the BGC Mobile App and My Account Portal. Ancillary services include billing and payment management through eBill, AutoPay, Budget Billing, and Account Alerts. The Energy Analyzer tool helps customers track and optimize their energy consumption. The Equipment Rental Program offers water heater rentals with maintenance coverage. The Smart Energy Program provides efficiency rebates and assessments through Mass Save partnerships. Together, these products form a customer-facing ecosystem for account management, energy efficiency, and payment services built around the core natural gas distribution infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Natural Gas Distribution Service Core regulated utility service that delivers natural gas through pipeline infrastructure to residential, commercial, and industrial customers within Berkshire Gas's franchise service territory in Western Massachusetts.
• BGC Mobile App Mobile application that gives residential and business customers access to their Berkshire Gas account for managing service, viewing usage, and making payments on the go.
• My Account Online Portal Web-based account management portal for residential and business customers to manage billing, payments, and account preferences.
• Equipment Rental Program Subscription-based rental of natural gas water heaters to residential customers, with included maintenance and service support from Berkshire Gas.
• Smart Energy Program Energy efficiency program offering rebates and incentives to residential and commercial/industrial customers for qualifying natural gas efficiency upgrades, delivered in coordination with the Mass Save partnership.
• Online Payment System Online bill payment service that lets customers pay their natural gas bills electronically through a third-party payment processing platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 760 miles of gas mains maintained for reliable service delivery

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AvangridcoreOthersParent company of Berkshire Gas. Berkshire Gas is an Avangrid company, operating as part of the Avangrid Networks division. Avangrid is a sustainable energy company serving customers across 24 states.
• Mass SavecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative energy efficiency initiative sponsored by Massachusetts gas and electric utilities. Berkshire Gas participates in Mass Save programs offering home energy assessments, rebates, and incentives to customers.
• Massachusetts Community Action Program AgenciesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agencies providing income-eligible energy assistance programs and services to Berkshire Gas customers who meet eligibility requirements.
• Low-Income Energy Affordability Network (LEAN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of agencies providing comprehensive energy efficiency services to low-income households in Massachusetts, in partnership with Berkshire Gas.
• Dig SafecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide program enabling contractors and excavators to notify utilities of planned digging projects. Berkshire Gas participates to ensure pipeline safety before excavation.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Columbia Gas of Massachusetts: Columbia Gas of Massachusetts is a natural gas distribution utility serving customers across Massachusetts, operating as a subsidiary of NiSource. Like Berkshire Gas, it is a regulated LDC operating under Massachusetts DPU oversight with similar residential, commercial, and industrial customer mix and rate-class structure.
• Eversource Energy: Eversource operates natural gas distribution in Massachusetts through Boston Gas and Colonial Gas, serving residential and commercial customers under Massachusetts DPU oversight. It is directly comparable as a Massachusetts-licensed gas LDC with a similar regulated cost-of-service structure.
• Liberty Utilities (New England Natural Gas Company): Liberty Utilities operates natural gas distribution in Massachusetts and New Hampshire as a regulated LDC. It is comparable to Berkshire Gas as a smaller regional natural gas utility serving New England customers with similar rate-class structure and DPU oversight.
• Unitil Corporation (Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company): Unitil operates Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company, a regulated gas distribution utility serving customers in central and western Massachusetts. It is comparable to Berkshire Gas as a small Massachusetts-licensed gas LDC operating under the same DPU regulatory framework.
• National Grid (Massachusetts gas operations): National Grid operates natural gas distribution in Massachusetts, serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers under Massachusetts DPU regulation. It directly competes with Berkshire Gas as one of the major gas LDCs in the state with comparable regulated business model and customer base.

Regional players

• Connecticut Natural Gas: Connecticut Natural Gas is a regulated natural gas distribution utility in Connecticut, now part of Eversource. It is comparable as a New England regional gas LDC with similar business model and customer mix, though it operates in a different state regulatory jurisdiction.
• Yankee Gas Services Company: Yankee Gas is a regulated natural gas distribution utility serving Connecticut customers, an Eversource subsidiary. It is comparable to Berkshire Gas as a New England regional gas LDC with similar infrastructure-driven rate base and residential/commercial customer mix, though in a different geography.

Others

• Sempra: Sempra is a diversified energy infrastructure holding company with regulated natural gas utilities (SoCalGas, SDG&E) and LNG operations. It is comparable as an investor-owned utility holding company with regulated gas distribution exposure, though operating at substantially larger scale and different geography.

Broad incumbents

• AVANGRID Networks: AVANGRID Networks is Berkshire Gas's parent division, operating multiple gas and electric utilities including NYSEG, RG&E, CMP, UI, and SCG. It is comparable as the broader incumbent utility portfolio that owns Berkshire Gas and operates similar gas distribution businesses at larger scale.
• NiSource: NiSource is a diversified natural gas and electric utility holding company whose subsidiaries include Columbia Gas of Massachusetts. It is comparable as a broader utility holding company that owns and operates multiple gas LDCs including direct competitor Columbia Gas of Massachusetts.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BerkshireGas
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61556929787213
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/berkshire-gas-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Berkshire Gas