Natural gas utilities supply about a quarter of the energy needs of the United States. From wellhead to consumer, operations are governed by an astounding diversity of purchase, transport, and storage contract agreements which prepare a complex physical distribution system to meet future demands no more predictable than next year's weather. We present a decision support system based on a highly detailed optimization model used by utilities to plan operations which minimize cost while satisfying regulatory agencies. Applications at Southwest Gas Corporation are presented along with a case study at Questar Pipeline Corporation. “But thou, contracted to thine own bright eyes, Feed'st thy light's flame with self-substantial fuel” William Shakespeare, First Sonnet
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Avery et al. (1992) studied this question.