Dive Brief:

• Wholesale, on-peak power prices rose across the U.S. last year on rising natural gas prices, but jumped the most in the Northwest and Northeast, according to the Energy Information Agency (EIA).
• Average prices jumped 64% in the Northwest to $37.53/MWh on lower hydroelectric production compared to 2012.
• Average prices climbed 57% in the Northeast to $65.24/MWh, partly because cold weather stressed an already strained natural gas pipeline system, EIA said. In contrast, prices increased only 8% to $38.27/MWh in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas's Houston zone on cool summer weather.

Dive Brief:

While rising power prices will ultimately flow through to electric bills, the increase is good news for power plant owners. It also makes renewable generation like wind and solar more cost competitive.