Roanoke Gas Company

What Roanoke Gas Company does

Roanoke Gas Company is a regulated natural gas distribution utility operating as the principal subsidiary of publicly traded RGC Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ: RGCO). Founded in 1883 and headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia, the company distributes natural gas through an underground pipeline network to approximately 60,000 residential and commercial customers across the greater Roanoke Valley and surrounding Virginia territory. The company completed a landmark 25-year pipeline modernization program in November 2016, replacing 200 miles of bare steel and cast iron mains with modern polyethylene pipe, and continues an ongoing pre-1973 plastic main replacement initiative. Its technology stack incorporates Itron's cloud-based Field Collection System (FCS), enabling remote mobile meter reading, eliminating estimated billing, and feeding structured consumption data into the utility's billing and meter data management applications.

The company earns revenue primarily through regulated rates approved by the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC), including base rates plus a SAVE (Steps to Advance Virginia's Energy) rider that recovers qualifying infrastructure modernization investments. A January 2020 SCC Final Order approved a $7.25 million gross rate increase and a 9.44% return on equity; a new rate case filed in December 2025 seeks an additional $4.3 million in annualized revenue, with interim rates effective January 1, 2026. Beyond regulated distribution, the parent RGC Resources maintains an equity interest in the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) and Southgate projects through subsidiary RGC Midstream, LLC, providing midstream-adjacent exposure. Customer service is outsourced to Faneuil, Inc. under a partnership established in 2017, and customer-facing channels include the myaccount.roanokegas.com self-service portal, online bill payment, mail payments, and partner walk-in payment locations.

Roanoke Gas operates with a small workforce (51-100 employees, with 18 customer-service roles transitioned to Faneuil in 2017), reflecting the lean operating model typical of a small-cap regulated LDC. The company's stated customer base is split between residential and commercial segments, with go-to-market executed through online service applications, a Sales Department for new connections, and community/government partnerships such as its 2020 agreement with Botetourt County to extend service into the Blue Ridge area. Subsidiary Roan's product surface also includes community Renewable Natural Gas and Solar initiatives, gas-safety services (24-hour emergency line, before-you-dig, CO awareness), energy savings programs, and payment-assistance offerings. RGC Resources has paid 329+ consecutive quarterly dividends over 82+ years and increased its annual dividend for over 20 consecutive years.

Name

Roanoke Gas Company

Legal name

Roanoke Gas Company

Website

https://roanokegas.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1883

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Roanoke Gas Company is a regulated natural gas distribution utility serving approximately 60,000 residential and commercial customers in the greater Roanoke Valley, Virginia, operating as the principal subsidiary of RGC Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ: RGCO) and earning revenue through State Corporation Commission-approved rates plus SAVE rider infrastructure cost recovery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Natural Gas Distribution Utilities

NAICS

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

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Gas Mains (Distribution Pipelines) (EUAJABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Natural Gas Retail Supplier (Competitive) Marketing & Sales (EUAAADAB), Regulated Natural Gas Utility (LDC) Customer Acquisition & Switching (EUAAADAA), Valve, Fitting & Appurtenance Maintenance (Isolation Valves, Drips, Odorization Points) (EUAJAMAE), Customer Satisfaction, QA & Performance Analytics (VoC, NPS/CSAT) (EUAJAHAN)

Keywords

• Natural gas distribution
• Residential gas service
• Commercial gas service
• Utility infrastructure
• Pipeline operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Roanoke

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Natural Gas Distribution Services: Regulated natural gas utility providing distribution services to approximately 60,000 customers in Virginia. Revenue generated through regulated rates approved by the State Corporation Commission, including base rates and SAVE (Steps to Advance Virginia's Energy) rider revenue. The company also holds equity investment in Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) through subsidiary RGC Midstream, LLC.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Roanoke Gas Company is a regulated natural gas distribution utility that delivers safe and reliable natural gas service to approximately 60,000 residential and commercial customers across the greater Roanoke, Virginia area. The company owns and operates 200+ miles of underground distribution pipeline (now fully modernized to polyethylene plastic) and bills customers monthly under rates approved by the Virginia State Corporation Commission.

Product overview

Roanoke Gas Company is a regulated natural gas distribution utility providing gas delivery services to residential and commercial customers in the greater Roanoke, Virginia area. The company operates as the primary subsidiary of RGC Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ: RGCO). Its core product is natural gas distribution service, which includes residential and commercial gas service offerings. The company provides customer-facing services including an online account management portal (My Account), multiple bill payment options, and service applications for new customers. Infrastructure operations feature an ongoing pipeline replacement program and a modernized smart gas metering system using Itron's Field Collection System for automated meter reading. Community-focused offerings include Renewable Natural Gas and Solar Initiative programs, alongside safety services with 24/7 emergency response capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Natural Gas Service Regulated natural gas delivery service for homeowners and renters in Roanoke, Virginia, supplying gas for household furnaces, water heaters, ranges, dryers, and standby generators.
• Commercial Natural Gas Service Regulated natural gas delivery service for business customers in the Roanoke Valley including restaurants, hotels, and industrial facilities, supplied under commercial tariffs approved by the State Corporation Commission.
• Modernized Pipeline Distribution Service Underground natural gas distribution delivered through fully modernized polyethylene pipeline infrastructure, providing reliable service continuity during electric grid outages for residential and commercial customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Homes using natural gas save an average of $1,132 per year compared with homes using electricity for heating, cooking and clothes drying

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Botetourt CountyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 August 2020Botetourt County and Roanoke Gas Company partnered to bring natural gas service to the Blue Ridge area as part of the construction of the new Colonial Elementary School. The partnership demonstrates the company's approach to economic development-driven service expansion in coordination with local government.
• Faneuil, Inc.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 21 July 2017Roanoke Gas Company transitioned all customer support services to Faneuil, Inc., headquartered in Hampton, VA. Faneuil provides outsourced customer care and business processing solutions for utilities and other industries, managing over 600 million customer interactions annually. The transition closed the company's Kimball Avenue customer service operations and impacted 18 employees who received severance packages and job placement support.
• Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI)coreTechnology or Integration · 3 May 2017Roanoke Gas Company partnered with Itron to modernize its gas distribution system using Itron's smart gas solution. The cloud-based Field Collection System (FCS) enables remote meter data collection via mobile collection, eliminating estimated billing and reducing the need for field workers to enter customer premises. The solution improves safety, customer privacy and convenience while providing detailed meter data for operational efficiency and system integrity.
• City of RoanokecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2016Roanoke Gas Company completed its 25-year, 200-mile pipeline renewal program in partnership with City of Roanoke officials. The modernization project replaced aging cast iron and bare steel pipelines with polyethylene pipe, enhancing safety and reliability. City officials commended the company for its focus on securing the natural gas system and services to tens of thousands of citizens.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Chesapeake Utilities Corporation: Diversified energy utility with regulated natural gas distribution on the Delmarva Peninsula and in Florida plus propane. Comparable small-cap regulated gas utility with similar customer-acquisition and infrastructure-investment profile.
• New Jersey Resources: Holding company for New Jersey Natural Gas, a regulated LDC in New Jersey. Comparable publicly traded, dividend-paying gas utility with similar clean-energy transition programs (e.g., RNG/solar initiatives).
• South Jersey Industries: Holding company for South Jersey Gas, a regulated natural gas LDC in southern New Jersey. Comparable mid-cap regulated gas utility with similar weather-sensitive earnings and customer-growth story.
• Piedmont Natural Gas (Duke Energy): Natural gas LDC serving North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, operated by Duke Energy. Comparable regulated gas distributor in the Southeast U.S. with similar residential/commercial customer mix and rate-base characteristics.
• Northwest Natural Gas Company: Pacific Northwest natural gas LDC serving Oregon and Washington. Comparable as a publicly traded, dividend-paying regulated gas utility with similar residential/commercial customer mix and rider-based modernization programs.
• Spire Inc. Gas utility holding company (Spire Missouri, Spire Alabama, Spire Storage). Comparable regulated gas LDC business model with similar rider-based infrastructure recovery and small/mid-cap utility characteristics.
• Atmos Energy Corporation: Largest pure-play natural gas distributor in the U.S., operating in multiple states including parts of Virginia and nearby regions. Comparable as a regulated gas LDC with identical business model (rate-base distribution, state regulatory recovery).
• Southwest Gas Holdings: Holding company for Southwest Gas Corporation (regulated natural gas LDC in Arizona, Nevada, and California). Directly comparable pure-play gas distribution utility model with similar rate-base economics.

Others

• ONE Future Coalition (industry coalition): Natural gas industry coalition that Roanoke Gas/RGC Resources participates in to align methane emission targets across the value chain. Comparable as an industry-adjacent ecosystem organization representing shared decarbonization commitments among natural gas utilities.

Direct peers

• Columbia Gas of Virginia: Natural gas LDC operating in Virginia, serving parts of the same state regulatory environment as Roanoke Gas. Directly comparable as a regulated gas distributor subject to Virginia State Corporation Commission oversight with similar revenue model and customer mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RoanokeGas
• Facebookfacebook.com/RoanokeGas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/roanoke-gas-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Roanoke Gas Company