Sixth annual report provides data-driven outlook on LDC capital spending, pipeline replacement, customer growth and market trends across North America
Power Insights, an energy transition and critical infrastructure market research and strategy advisory firm, today announced the publication of its North American Natural Gas Distribution 2026 Market Forecast, the sixth annual assessment of the natural gas local distribution company sector.
The report provides a business-focused outlook on North American local distribution company (LDC) capital investment, with particular emphasis on pipeline replacement programs, customer and line-mile growth, service territory expansion, leak-prone mains and services, and broader market forces shaping the sector.
Drawing on company filings, investor materials, rate case documents, FERC Form 2 data and PHMSA statistics, the forecast is designed to help investors, operators, utility service providers, equipment suppliers and other infrastructure market participants evaluate the capital investment outlook for the natural gas distribution market.
“Natural gas distribution remains a critical infrastructure market, with utilities continuing to face pressures around balancing safety, reliability, affordability, growth and policy impacts,” said Steven Won, Managing Partner of Power Insights. “This year’s forecast gives industry participants a structured view of the major drivers shaping LDC strategy across North America.”
The 2026 forecast examines the continuing role of pipeline integrity and modernization programs, the impact of customer growth and system expansion, the influence of regulatory and affordability considerations, and the evolving role of private capital in natural gas distribution assets. The report also highlights how regional demand patterns, aging infrastructure, construction cost pressures and policy developments are affecting capital allocation decisions across the market.
The North American Natural Gas Distribution 2026 Market Forecast is now available from Power Insights.
About Power Insights
Power Insights provides empirically based energy infrastructure and utility market research, commercial due diligence, market analytics and strategy support to investors and operators across energy transition and critical infrastructure topics. The firm combines industry experience with data-driven analysis to deliver actionable market intelligence.
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