Energy news

U.S. home heating bills likely to be slightly higher this winter

(Wed, 10 Oct 2018) Most U.S. households can expect higher heating expenditures this winter (October through March) compared with last winter according to EIA's <em>Winter Fuels Outlook</em>. Higher expected winter heating expenditures are mainly the result of higher prices for heating fuels, as temperatures are expected to be similar to last winter in much of the country. More information about EIA’s expectations for winter fuels prices and expenditures is available in the <em>Short-Term Energy Outlook</em> supplement on winter fuels, released at noon today.

October 09, 2018 By 0 Comments Read more...

The United States continues to increase production of lighter crude oil

(Tue, 09 Oct 2018) As domestic production continues to increase, the average density of crude oil produced in the United States continues to become lighter. The average API gravity—a measure of a crude oil’s density where higher numbers mean lower density—of U.S. crude oil increased in 2017 and through the first six months of 2018. Crude oil production with an API gravity greater than 40 degrees grew by 310,000 barrels per day (b/d) to more than 4.6 million b/d in 2017.

October 08, 2018 By 0 Comments Read more...

Both natural gas supply and demand have increased from year-ago levels

(Thu, 04 Oct 2018) In the first half of 2018, U.S. natural gas supply and demand grew significantly compared to the first half of 2017. According to EIA’s <em>Natural Gas Monthly</>, natural gas consumption and exports averaged 93.2 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) during the first half of 2018, or 12% greater than during the first half of 2017. Total supply of U.S. natural gas, including domestic production, imports, and storage withdrawals, averaged 92.6 Bcf/d during the first half of 2018, a 12% increase from the first half of 2017.

October 03, 2018 By 0 Comments Read more...

U.S. net natural gas exports in first half of 2018 were more than double the 2017 average

(Mon, 01 Oct 2018) From January through June of 2018, net natural gas exports from the United States averaged 0.87 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), more than double the average daily net exports during all of 2017 (0.34 Bcf/d). The United States, which became a net natural gas exporter on an annual basis in 2017 for the first time in almost 60 years, has continued to export more natural gas than it imports for five of the first six months in 2018.

September 30, 2018 By 0 Comments Read more...

Columbia River electric generation in 2018 remains normal despite above-normal water flow

(Fri, 28 Sep 2018) During the 2018 water year that ended September 30, 2018, The Dalles Dam in the Pacific Northwest experienced above-normal inflow—water volume flowing into the dam—but electricity generation from the dam remained relatively normal. The difference between the two is attributed to spilled flow, or water diverted past the dam without generating power. Monthly inflow at The Dalles Dam peaked in May, reaching 63% above normal, but more than half of that volume was spilled, some of which was likely required by a recent court order.

September 27, 2018 By 0 Comments Read more...

Like natural gas, coal in the Southwest Power Pool is cycled to accommodate wind power

(Wed, 26 Sep 2018) Electricity generation in the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), a regional transmission organization (RTO) covering all or part of fourteen Midwestern states, is mostly provided by three fuels: coal, natural gas, and wind. Several states in SPP have the highest shares of wind generation in the country. In SPP, unlike in other regions, some coal-fired generators are operated similar to natural gas units and are used to balance fluctuations in wind output throughout the day.

September 25, 2018 By 0 Comments Read more...

Summer average wholesale electricity prices in western U.S. were highest since 2008

(Tue, 25 Sep 2018) As a result of record-high temperatures and fuel supply constraints this summer, wholesale electricity prices in the western United States reached their highest levels since 2008. In the area served by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), peak-period electricity prices in July averaged $101 per megawatthour (MWh), the highest monthly average since the current day-ahead market began trading in April 2009.

September 24, 2018 By 0 Comments Read more...

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