Dive Summary:
- Every region of the Lower 48 states saw increases in average on-peak, day-ahead wholesale energy prices during the first half of 2013, as compared to first-half 2012.
- Most notably, the price of natural gas rose despite hitting 10-year lows in April 2012, though regional natural gas supply issues created bigger increases in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest.
- Electricity prices in New England and New York climbed over $200 per megawatthour due to natural gas deliveries being limited by pipeline constraints, and California's power market additionally saw a 59% increase.
(Image credit: EIA)
From the article:
... Trends in power prices in the rest of the nation were generally set by higher natural gas prices, which is the marginal fuel for electric generation in most regions. Spot natural gas prices at major hubs across the nation increased between 42% and 146% between the first half of 2012 and the first half of 2013. ...
