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NEI Energy Markets Report (July 10th - 14th)

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Here's a summary of what went on in the energy markets last week:

Electricity prices increased last week due primarily to hot temperatures (see pages 1 & 2). Gas prices at the Henry Hub fell $0.09 to $5.60/MMBtu, falling again to the lowest price over the past year (see page 4).

In 2006, total U.S. natural gas consumption is projected to fall below 2005 levels by 1.7 percent then increase by 4.2 percent in 2007. Electric power sector consumption of coal is projected to grow by some 0.3 percent in 2006 and by another 1.6 percent in 2007. Power sector demand for coal continues to increase in response to high natural gas and oil prices. Electricity consumption is expected to increase by 0.6 percent in 2006 and by 1.4 percent in 2007. In 2005, residential electricity prices rose an estimated 5.1 percent nationally. In 2006, these prices are expected to increase by 7.8 percent and, in 2007, by another 2.9 percent (see page 8).

For the report click here (pdf). It is also located on NEI's Nuclear Statistics webpage.

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Comments

David Bradish said…
No, it appears several utilities canceled some of the planned plants.
July 19, 2006 at 3:45 PM
David Bradish said…
There are more than 300 GW of coal and gas capacity each. There's about 100 GW of nuclear. Just as many cancellations have occurred for each of these technologies. It's an interesting trend.
July 22, 2006 at 11:02 AM
Anonymous said…
While I don't expect the NEI guys to comment directly, but it seems to me that the refusal of the US to bite the bullet with respect to carbon pricing is probably making it harder for utilities to make sensible investments in new capacity. Everybody knows that carbon pricing is coming. But *when* it's going to come, and *how* it's going to come, are going to make a big difference for utilities in their investment plans.
July 22, 2006 at 3:09 PM
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