CTA Consumer Guide

Core Transport Agents or CTAs are non-utility natural gas suppliers and are not subject to the same regulations as the local utility. CTAs’ prices are not regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), so they can vary widely. If a customer elects service with a CTA, the utility will still deliver the natural gas to their home or business through its pipeline system. As a result, customers may see a bill from the utility, the CTA, or both

Before you sign a contract with a CTA, you should carefully review the contract terms, price, length of service, and any early termination fees (See Frequently Asked Questions About Core Transport Agents).

CTAs typically offer fixed or variable rates per unit of natural gas as part of the total cost. The table below will help you understand the basic differences between the two methods:

	Fixed Rate	Variable Rate
Description	A price per therm of gas that will remain the same throughout the contract term.	A price per therm of gas that can change over the term of the contract. CTAs are not required to list the price but must provide an estimate and illustrate how your bill varies with increased usage.
Risks	If the market price of gas falls, you may have to wait until your contract expires to get a lower rate.	If the market price of gas rises, your rate may increase.
Benefits	If the market price of gas rises, your rate will stay the same	If the market price of gas falls, your rate will decrease.
Impact of Extreme Weather	Extreme temperatures will not change your per therm rate. However, your natural gas usage may increase, which would increase your bill.	Extreme temperatures can affect market prices, which may increase your per therm rate. These extremes may also affect your natural gas usage and bill.

Remember, you have no obligation to switch your natural gas supplier: it is your choice. A CTA may contact you directly, or you may refer to the list of registered CTAs on the CPUC’s website if you are interested in switching. If a CTA contacts you and you decide to switch, a third-party verification company not associated with the CTA must verify your consent to switch.

To compare the available CTAs in your area, visit or CTA Cost Comparison page.

Visit our List of Registered Core Transport Agents page for a complete list of CTAs in your service area.

To see a list of CTAs who have received citations from the CPUC’s Utility Enforcement Branch, visit Energy Citation Programs and scroll to the bottom of the page to view a list of recent citations.

If you believe you were switched to a CTA without your consent, or that you are being charged new or undisclosed fees by a CTA, you can contact the CPUC’s Consumer Affairs Branch:

Online at http://consumers.cpuc.ca.gov;
By phone at 1-800-649-7570 (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m.); or
By mail at: California Public Utilities Commission

Consumer Affairs Branch
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102