Today in Energy

U.S. power plant operators generated 6.9 million megawatthours (MWh) of electricity from natural gas on a daily basis in the Lower 48 states on July 9, 2024, probably the most in history and certainly since at least January 1, 2019, when we began to collect hourly data about natural gas generation.

Injections into natural gas storage in the Lower 48 states since April 1 have totaled 950 billion cubic feet (Bcf), according to our July 18 Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report. So far this injection season (April 1–October 31), the amount of natural gas injected into storage (less withdrawals) is 15% (166 Bcf) less than the previous five-year average (2019–23) for the same period and 15% (172 Bcf) less than the same time last year.

Consumption of natural gas in Europe consistently decreased since mid-2022, driven by a combination of mild winter weather and government policies aimed at reducing natural gas consumption. In 2023, natural gas consumption in the European Union's 27 member countries (EU-27) declined 18% from the previous five-year (2017–21) average according to Eurostat data. During the first five months of 2024 (January–May), consumption remained 19% below the 2017–21 average for the same months.

The average monthly wholesale spot natural gas price at the U.S. benchmark Henry Hub fell by 20% to $2.56 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) between January and June of this year, according to data from Refinitiv Eikon. In January, the Henry Hub price averaged $3.18/MMBtu, then dropped to $1.49/MMBtu in March, marking the lowest average monthly inflation-adjusted price since at least 1997. In addition, prices from February through April 2024 were the lowest ever recorded for these months.

California residents are increasingly pairing battery storage with solar installations, according to the latest preliminary data in our Monthly Electric Power Industry Report.