Doctors rely on healthcare facilities for a range of services, including surgery, exams, and mental health services for the people who need them. But doctors can only deliver that care when the facilities around them are running reliably. Without reliable and efficient energy, critical operations can falter — making it harder for doctors and care teams to be there for patients when their health needs them most.

UGI Energy Services (UGIES) serves the energy needs of nursing centers, labs, pharmacies, doctors’ offices, clinics, infirmaries, wards, hospice centers, and other hospital and healthcare facilities. Whether it’s a hospital that helps thousands of people or a small private office, we can help you secure reliable, efficient energy.

Energy Solutions for Healthcare

A power interruption for a hospital or other healthcare facility providing critical care can mean a surgery paused mid-procedure, a ventilator failing, or refrigerated medications and vaccines spoiling. Because of the nature of this work, healthcare facilities require reliable energy solutions.

That starts with a dependable fuel supply. Facilities connected to our natural gas systems benefit from a steady, consistent energy source that supports the facility’s own backup generators, boilers, and heating systems without the disruptions that can affect grid-dependent power. For healthcare facilities, that reliable supply of natural gas means the equipment keeping critical, life-saving care running is there when a patient needs it.

The necessity of patient care means many healthcare facilities — hospitals especially — operate 24/7, leading to substantial utility bills. In fact, the U.S. healthcare sector consumes more than 271 billion cubic feet of natural gas annually, which is more than the entire yearly consumption of 14 individual states. Efficiency is key for these facilities, because lower operating expenses mean those costs aren't passed along to patients through higher bills.

An element of efficiency for healthcare facilities is to consider sustainable fuel options like renewable natural gas (RNG). RNG is pipeline-quality gas that is fully interchangeable with conventional natural gas and can be converted to compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG). 

Reliability

The natural gas system is built for stability. Its pipeline infrastructure runs underground, its delivery system operates largely on its own supply, and the system has the ability to store natural gas for periods of high demand or unexpected shortfalls. This reliability is significant, as only 1 in 628 natural gas customers — residential customers included — experience a planned or unplanned outage in a given year.

This underground infrastructure is largely shielded from weather events that most often disrupt above-ground power lines, such as storms, high winds, and falling trees. For a healthcare facility, that means the fuel powering backup generators, water heaters, and heating systems is available when severe weather puts the most strain on operations and the most patients at risk.

Natural gas also plays a large role in the nation’s overall energy picture. According to the American Gas Association, natural gas supplies more than one-third of all energy consumed in the U.S. A fuel source as deeply embedded in the country’s energy infrastructure as natural gas proves it to be a reliable source.

Efficiency

Reliability alone isn’t enough if it comes at an unsustainable cost. For healthcare facilities operating on tight margins while running energy-intensive operations 24/7, affordability matters just as much. According to the American Gas Association, natural gas is 3.5 times more affordable than electricity. That difference adds up quickly for a facility running laundry systems, sterilization equipment, HVAC systems, and medical equipment around the clock.

Over the past decade, commercial and industrial customers have saved more than $655 billion by using natural gas instead of electricity. Savings at this level for healthcare can be redirected toward and significantly help with patient care, staffing, or equipment upgrades. When a facility’s operating costs are under control, it can carry through to the cost of care itself for patients. Even for smaller practices and clinics, modest savings can mean the difference between operating comfortably and operating under financial strain.

Long-term planning is another attribute of natural gas efficiency. Healthcare facilities tend to grow, add square footage, or bring on new equipment, which requires flexibility as things change.

Efficiency can even be seen from production to the point of use. According to the American Gas Association, the natural gas delivery system is 92% efficient from production to customer, meaning most of the energy customers pay for is actually delivered and used, rather than lost along the way.

Where UGIES Can Help

For healthcare, reliability and efficiency must be intertwined. UGIES helps healthcare facilities of every size secure a dependable natural gas supply.

We understand that the needs of a large hospital system and the needs of a small private practice are very different. That’s why UGIES takes a consultative approach, guiding each facility to understand its energy usage and identify savings opportunities to choose which energy plan is the best fit.

When we help you find energy supply that meets your needs, you can focus on what matters most: patient care. If you’re ready to see what reliable and efficient energy looks like for your facility, download our free energy guide for healthcare facilities or schedule a free consultation with our energy experts today.