A system for optimally controlling gas flows in a pipeline network having gas import points, gas export points, and pipelines connected therebetween. The pipelines are interconnected by at least one junction. Each gas import point, gas export point and junction has a sensor and a flow control device, both of which correspond to a unique smart meter. Each smart meter includes a communication network interface and a flow control device controller. Each smart meter is capable of repeatedly: (1) receiving system gas data and first local gas request parameters from at least one other smart meter; (2) controlling the flow control device via the flow control device controller; (3) generating local gas values based on an output from the corresponding sensor; (4) calculating second local gas request parameters based on the local gas values and the system gas data; and (5) transmitting the system gas data.