American Gas Association

Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Membership	200 local energy companies that deliver clean natural gas throughout the United States
President	Dave McCurdy
Chairman of the Board	Pierce Norton
Website	http://www.aga.org/

The American Gas Association (AGA), founded in 1918, is an American trade organization representing over 200natural gas supply companies and others with an interest in the manufacturing of gas appliances as well as the production of gas. About 92% of the 70 million natural gas customers in the US receive their gas from AGA members.

The association contains two divisions, operations and engineering, and public affairs. These two divisions work together to handle finance, corporate affairs, communications, and membership departments to deliver timely and relevant information to association members. The AGA also works with lawmakers, regulatory bodies, environmental and consumer affairs organizations, and the public at large, informing them of the natural gas utility industry in the United States.

The American Gas Association formed in June 1918, after the merger of the American Gas Institute and the National Commercial Gas Association. Those organizations served the interests of companies that dealt in manufactured, as opposed to natural, gas. Manufactured gas was the dominant fuel in the early United States, but during the 19th century natural gas supplanted it.

In January 1919, the AGA launched a publication for the natural gas industry providing information on trends, activities, and strategies on how to improve gas companies.

In 1925, the association formed laboratories in Cleveland, and five years later expanded to Los Angeles. These labs developed technology to improve gas appliances and equipment, making them more energy efficient and consumer friendly. The labs also did testing to ensure gas equipment conformed to national standards for safety, durability, and performance. The AGA ended its laboratory activities in 1997 and the new CSA International took its place. CSA today still runs a U.S. certification-type program from the AGA's original Cleveland laboratory.

In 1927, the AGA merged with the National Gas Association to help the AGA's member companies which depended on manufactured gas to make a smooth transition to natural gas.