Latest News

US power and natgas costs turn unfavorable in Texas, California and Arizona

U.S. area power and natural gas rates turned unfavorable in Texas, California and Arizona for Tuesday as pipeline upkeep trapped gas in the Permian Shale in West Texas amid low need for energy and adequate hydropower in the West.

Unfavorable rates signal there is too much power or gas being produced in an area. Energy firms can either decrease output, pay someone to take their power or gas, or, if they can get a. permit, flare the unwanted gas.

Energy traders have been stating for weeks that they expected. gas prices at the Waha hub << NG-WAH-WTX-SNL > in West Texas to. When U.S. energy business Kinder Morgan, turn unfavorable. began conducting seasonal maintenance on pipelines that move. gas from the Permian shale in West Texas to the Gulf Coast. Kinder Morgan told consumers it planned to lower circulations on. its Permian Highway Pipeline from May 7-12 and its Gulf Coast. Express pipeline from May 14-21. Reductions over the past month or so on those and other

. pipelines in the Permian area assisted press Waha rates listed below no. for a number of days in March and April. The Permian is the country's greatest oil producing shale.

basin. A great deal of gas also comes out of the ground along with the. oil there. When oil rates are fairly high, like they have. remained in current weeks, manufacturers are willing to take a loss on. Because they can still make lots of cash on their oil, gas. sales. The unfavorable gas prices have also lowered power. prices

as carriers who are unable to flow the gas to the Gulf. Coast attempt to move more fuel to the West Coast. That helps cut. Because, already low electric costs in California and Arizona. much of that inexpensive gas is used for power generation. Power and gas rates are generally low in the spring since. moderate weather condition keeps both heating and cooling need low. On the. West Coast, warmer spring weather condition likewise melts the winter season snow in. the mountains, improving the supply of cheap hydropower products. NEGATIVE PRICES Next-day gas prices

at the Waha center fell to a three-week low. of negative $2.72 per million British thermal units( mmBtu )on. May 6 from favorable 25 cents on May 3. That compares to averages in Waha

of negative 26 cents per. mmBtu in April, positive 94 cents up until now this year and favorable.$ 1.82 in 2023. Next-day power at the Palo Verde center< EL-PK-PLVD-SNL > in. Arizona was up to a one-week low of negative$ 2 per megawatt hour.( MWh) on May 6 from favorable $11.75 on May 3. That compares with averages at Palo Verde of positive$ 1.48. per MWh in April, positive$ 21.12 so far this year and positive.$ 59.03 in 2023. Next-day power at South Path-15( SP-15 )< EL-PK-SP15-SNL > in. Southern California was up to a one-week low of unfavorable> $3.25 per. megawatt hour( MWh) on May 6 from favorable $12.50 on May 3. That compares to averages at SP-15 of unfavorable 13 cents.

per MWh in April, positive$ 21.58 so far this year and positive. $ 59.86 in 2023.

(source: Reuters)