The most recent California snowpack measurement shows March precipitation helped but failed to significantly offset February's extreme dryness.
Western energy prices fell as sharp changes in energy demand and usage patterns pushed electricity and natural gas prices lower.
California Independent System Operator demand decreased throughout the week as voluntary efforts to sequester to stem the spread of COVID-19 transformed into a stay-at-home order by Gov. Gavin Newsom (see related story).
Less domestic natural gas production and more power generation demand should push natural gas prices higher in the third quarter of 2020, but prices are down since the last analysis published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Winter is typically when natural gas supplies are whittled away by weather-prompted withdrawals needed for electric heating, but this year's mild conditions have kept natural gas in storage.
The latest measurement of the California snowpack shows it is below average for this time of year, potentially affecting hydroelectric power and the severity of the upcoming wildfire season.
Natural gas storage in Southern California is nearing capacity, but without heating demand, stores might soon be full, according to a recent analysis by Energy GPS.
After a lengthy out-of-service period that caused frustration with some system users, it appears major repairs of Southern California natural gas distribution infrastructure might be nearing completion.
A shot of cold weather across the West during the trading week resulted in mixed regional energy prices. Enerfax noted that colder weather will only become a factor influencing national prices if it continues moving east.
Continuing warmer-than-normal weather across the West continued to affect regional energy prices.
Western energy prices continued to plummet, depressed by a lack of cold weather across most of the continental United States.
Relatively mild winter conditions across the country are keeping a lid on energy prices.
With 2020 still feeling relatively new, energy analysts are focusing on retrospective price comparisons.
Generally warmer conditions across the country kept a lid on demand and energy prices as the holiday season ended and the new year began.
Increased energy demand helped push Western prices higher in Dec. 12 to Dec. 19 trading.
Western energy prices generally trended lower in the Dec. 5 to Dec. 12 trading period.
Natural gas pipeline disruptions and constraints across the West appear to be on the verge of becoming history as conduits across the region return to normal operating pressure.
Despite Mother Nature fulfilling forecasters' predictions of rain, snow and high winds, Western power prices didn't seem to uniformly respond to the weather cues.
The advent of cooler weather, with possible rain and snow forecast across the West, sent regional energy prices higher at the end of Nov. 14 to Nov. 21 trading. Both power and natural gas prices trended upward as temperatures decreased throughout the week.
The West continues experiencing low amounts of wind generation, which is atypical for this time of year.
With "near-record injection activity" in the April 1 to Oct. 31 natural gas refill season, the national natural gas inventory recovered from low levels at the end of the 2018-2019 heating season, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The EIA estimates working natural gas i…
Cold weather in the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountains pushed Western energy prices higher throughout the week.
Southern California Gas Co. returned two long-out-of-service natural gas pipelines to operation and released more details about the projected supply changes that will result.
An end to repairs at key infrastructure locations in the West means natural gas transmission flows have resumed, sending some prices lower, although some lines are not yet at full capacity.
Widespread public power shut-offs are being credited with pushing California natural gas prices higher in the Oct. 3 through Oct. 10 trading period.
The first of October marked the beginning of a new water year that is kicking off with "significantly more water in storage" than in the prior water year, according to the California Department of Water Resources.
While California Independent System Operator demand dropped in the Sept. 19 to Sept. 26 trading period, California power prices posted gains by week's end.
Pipeline constraints and reduced storage at Aliso Canyon, coupled with current inventory levels that are less than 2018's, prompted California Public Utilities Commission Executive Director Alice Stebbins to ask Southern California Gas Co. to "take immediate action" to prevent reliability pr…
With the departure of warmer-than-normal temperatures across the West, regional energy prices deflated over the trading week.
Warmer-than-normal Western temperatures lent support to regional power and natural gas prices, with most hubs posting gains.
With spring approaching, energy traders begin anticipating the end to natural gas withdrawals and a steady increase in hydro and solar production as well as power demand.
Natural gas prices at three California hubs moved above the $3/MMBtu mark as withdrawals were made from regional storage facilities.
In advance of the Thanksgiving holiday, natural gas prices saw a significant rise in the confines of an abbreviated Thursday-to-Tuesday trading period.
Colder weather across the United States pushed natural gas withdrawals to record levels.
At midday on March 23, when demand on the CAISO grid hit just over 24,000 MW, the total amount of renewables at that time reached a new record, serving 56.7 percent of demand. Total renewable generation that day peaked at 12,374 MW.
Price volatility in Western energy markets has lessened as values settle from weather-driven highs.
Searing, record heat across the western U.S. didn’t translate into higher power demand or prices throughout the week. As temperatures climbed, peak power prices across the West dropped between $6 and as much as $16.10 between Aug. 15 and Aug. 22.
With cooler weather expected the week starting Aug. 22, Western power prices dropped from recent heat-prompted highs.
Increased use of natural gas for power generation led to a rare net withdrawal from natural gas storage at the end of July.
Storms throughout October brought needed rains to California. The Northern Sierra eight-station index was roughly 400 percent of normal at the end of October, making it the second-wettest October since 1920; the highest state rainfall was recorded in October 1962, according to Doug Carlson, …
The U.S. Energy Information Administration expects temperatures in the western U.S. this winter to be about 2 percent warmer than last winter, according to the agency’s annual Winter Fuels Outlook, issued Oct. 13. The West could see 1.7 fewer heating degree days, although colder-than-normal …
Although natural gas continues to be added to storage, the rate is slower than in previous years.
California power generation is benefiting from a combination of improved water-supply conditions and new renewables capacity, according to the latest Short-Term Energy Outlook from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Cold, stormy weather across the western United States the week of Dec. 5 sent temperatures in many areas to below or near freezing over several nights.
Natural gas prices continued to plummet for yet another week, with Henry Hub gas spot values dropping 30 cents in Thursday-to-Thursday trading to end at $2.07/MMBtu on Nov 10.
California’s snowpack is quickly building as the state expects areas to be deluged with even more precipitation in the coming days.
Mild temperatures across the country resulted in a net addition to natural gas storage—the first time a weekly net injection for the United States has been reported in February.
Ample hydro has driven Western prices down this spring, but as May approaches, regional peak power prices seem to be perking up.
Peak power prices across the West picked up between $4 and as much as $18.25 in trading this week, a portion of which can be attributed to greater California demand and extreme heat across the Southwest.
California natural gas prices are “among the highest” in the continental U.S. this summer, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
