The Independent Fiscal Office released a report on the calendar year 2025 natural gas impact fee that will be distributed in July 2026. According to the report, the Public Utility Commission has collected $243.9 million for the 2025 calendar year, $79.3 million (48%) more than 2024 and the highest since 2022.  

The increased revenues are due in part to an average annual price of natural gas for 2025 on the New York Mercantile Exchange of $3.43, 51% higher than 2024. A higher average price increases the fee schedule for existing and new wells. In addition, 442 new wells were drilled in 2025, 45% more than 2024 and the most since 2022. New wells are subject to the highest fee.  

Townships that receive the natural gas impact fee should generally expect to receive higher payments in July. If new wells were drilled in your township or in the county during 2025, your township could receive a more significant increase.  

Township officials can determine the wells in their township and county by clicking here to view producer reports on the PUC’s interactive website. Go into the producer or producers in your township and choose the “Wells” tab behind the producer’s address. The county, municipality, and spud date are listed, and whether the well is active (which means the fee was levied for 2025) and the date when the well was spud (drilled). Click here for the IFO report.