Natural gas use in the United States rose to record highs in 2025, but its consumption by the electrical power sector – the highest overall consumer of natural gas – fell 3%, according to a Wednesday report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
“Natural gas consumption in the electric power sector decreased across most of the year compared with 2024,” EIA said. “The decline in electric power consumption of natural gas also reflected rapid solar and battery additions in 2025, which displaced natural gas-fired generation during many hours of the day.”
The biggest declines were in March and August, “by 2.9 [billion cubic feet per day] and 2.8 Bcf/d, respectively,” EIA said. In contrast, combined residential and commercial consumption in February 2025 rose 9.5 Bcf/d over the prior year.
Overall, natural gas consumption increased 2% in 2025, averaging a record 92 Bcf/d in 2025 and setting a new winter monthly record of 126.6 Bcf/d in January 2025.
“Electric power usage typically peaks during the summer months when higher air-conditioning demand increases electricity generation, much of which is fueled by natural gas,” EIA said. “On average in 2025, electric power demand for natural gas decreased 1.0 Bcf/d to 35.8 Bcf/d.”
Overall, there was a 3% decrease in natural gas demand from the electric power sector, compared to a 1% increase from the industrial sector, an 11% increase from the residential sector and a 9% increase from the commercial sector.
“As heating degree days increase, demand for space heating rises leading to higher total consumption,” EIA said. “Colder conditions can also contribute to higher natural gas usage in the electric power sector when electricity demand from electric heat pumps and resistance heaters increases and natural gas-fired generation helps meet peak winter electricity loads.”
The electric power sector remains the largest consumer of natural gas in the U.S. Its consumption first reached over 35 Bcf/d in 2023, and maintained an average of 35.8 Bcf/d in 2025.
