New York State History

The evolution of gas distribution, in some ways com­parable to that of electricity, has brought great changes to Niagara Mohawk's gas system. These have come about through the introduction of natural gas. As the advantages of this fuel have become better known, a growing network of pipelines, drawing on the Appalachian area and vast reserves in the Southwest, has been making natural gas available to many com­munities which have heretofore used only manufactured gas.

 In the evolutionary process, natural gas when available in limited quantities is mixed with manufactured gas to improve the heating content of the fuel. Niagara Mohawk first utilized natural gas for this purpose in 1932. As increasing sup­plies have become available, consumers in the central part of the State have been served straight natural gas.

As great cross-country pipelines push their way to the eastern seaboard, Niagara Mohawk has been keeping pace by extending its own conversion program to bring its customers the advantages of natural gas. Meanwhile, the System main­tains active and reserve gas plants to augment the supply of natural gas. It has several thousand miles of gas mains, a veritable network of street mains and service pipes to house­hold, commercial, and industrial customers, representing a substantial, if invisible, investment.