Monthly Archives: July 2015

Adam Cloch Natural Gas Market Indicators: July 31, 2015

Posted on July 31, 2015 by and | Comments Off on Natural Gas Market Indicators: July 31, 2015


Daily natural gas volumes to power generation reached 36.8 Bcf on July 20, then 37.4 Bcf on July 28—both strong daily numbers. Previously, AGA reported that volumes of natural gas to power have also been peaking during winter months. With that said, the daily winter peak for gas-fired electricity in 2015 was 30 Bcf back in January. Overall, the power sector is the primary reason that demand in 2015 exceeds that of 2014. Average consumption of natural gas to power generation year to date has been 25.4 Bcf per day, which is 3.8 Bcf per day higher than in 2014.

As discussed previously in Market Indicators reports, structural changes in the national generation mix and market hub prices for natural gas below $3 per MMBtu help to account for the year over year difference. This year, in particular, power sector natural gas consumption has been impacted by record low hydro-generation in the Pacific Northwest, too.

Visit this link to download the full Natural Gas Market Indicators report. Topics covered in this week’s report include: Reported Prices, Weather, Working Gas in Underground Storage, Natural Gas Production, Shale Gas, Rig Counts, Pipeline Imports and Exports, and LNG Markets.

Please direct questions and comments to Chris McGill at cmcgill@aga.org or Richard Meyer at rmeyer@aga.org.

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Tracy Burleson Join AGA at the 2016 International Builders’ Show

Posted on July 30, 2015 by | Comments Off on Join AGA at the 2016 International Builders’ Show


In 2016, the International Builders’ Show (IBS) and the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) will again co-locate at the Las Vegas Convention Center to create Design and Construction Week. The two events will remain separate and distinct shows held simultaneously, January 19 – 21, 2016. One badge will provide access to all the exhibits with an estimated 90,000 attendees.

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As these build and design professionals enter the exhibition hall, the natural gas industry exhibit will be one of the first exhibits they see. This 2,500-square-foot exhibit will be the result of an important partnership between AGA members and manufacturers of gas appliances demonstrating the latest, most innovative technologies available to consumers. These manufacturers include Bevelo Gas & Electric Lights, BlueStar, FiveStar, Dettson Industries, Lennox Industries Inc., Marathon Engine Systems, Navien, Rinnai Corporation and RH Peterson Co.

Atmos Energy volunteers

With the ups and downs on the road to a normal housing market, this month builder confidence reached its highest level since November 2005. IBS 2016 promises to be a successful event delivering the largest number of building professionals in one location. If you are interested in supporting the natural gas industry efforts at IBS as a volunteer or manufacturer, please contact Tracy Burleson at tburleson@aga.org.

To see video highlights of AGA’s booth and manufacturers from the 2015 International Builders’ Show, click on the video below:

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Adam Cloch AGA Members Among 2015 Most Trusted Natural Gas, Combination Utilities

Posted on July 20, 2015 by | Comments Off on AGA Members Among 2015 Most Trusted Natural Gas, Combination Utilities


Utilities Building Brand Trust Among Residential Customers

According to a recent study published by Cognet Energy Reports, trust in utilities from residential customers continues to increase. The score for brand trust increased by 29 points over the 2014 score to 685 (on a 1,000-point scale), according to the Residential Utility Trusted Brand & Customer Engagement study, which also measures the overall customer engagement relationship. Brand trust is comprised of six factors: company reputation and advocacy, customer focus, community support, communication effectiveness, environmental dedication and reliable quality.

Multiple American Gas Association (AGA) members were among the most trusted natural gas and combination utilities ranked in the study, achieving top regional designation (or top two in region) and a brand trust score above the utility average of 685. AGA is proud to congratulation the following members:

Natural Gas
South
TECO Peoples Gas – 767
Piedmont Natural Gas – 766

West
Southwest Gas – 763
SoCalGas – 757
NW Natural – 746

Midwest
Columbia Gas of Ohio – 736
Citizens Energy – 699

East
New Jersey Natural Gas – 723
UGI Utilities – 699
National Fuel Gas – 689

Combination (Natural Gas & Electric)
South
CPS Energy – 748

West
Northwestern Energy – 688

Midwest
DTE Energy – 723
Wisconsin Public Service – 717
MidAmerican Energy – 714
Xcel Energy – Midwest – 714
Consumers Energy – 709
Alliant Energy – 709

East
Delmarva Power – 689

Cogent Report 2015

The results of the study were taken from a web-based survey among residential electric and natural gas utility customers of the largest 125 utility companies in the U.S., based on residential customer counts. Among the factors composing brand trust, customer focus, as well as company reputation and advocacy were key drivers and improved the most over last year, according to the study.

AGA utility members deliver clean and affordable natural gas to more than 177 million Americans, and work consistently to enhance safety and reliability, strengthen and grow our country’s infrastructure, improve our environmental footprint, and give back to the local communities they serve – some as many as 100 years.

To learn more about the 2015 Residential Utility Trusted Brand & Customer Engagement study, click here.

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Richard Meyer Natural Gas Market Indicators: July 13, 2015

Posted on July 13, 2015 by | Comments Off on Natural Gas Market Indicators: July 13, 2015


With a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court of the United States remanded to a lower court the EPA Mercury and Air Toxic Standards (MATS) rule that would limit pollution from coal-fired power plants. The Court said that the EPA did not properly account for the costs of the rule when determining emissions standards and needs to do so. The ruling may have larger implications for future rulemakings under the Clean Air Act, but one question remains for these observations of the gas market: how much have expectations for MATS already been baked into the electricity system. In other words, will this ruling do much to reverse existing trends with coal-fired power?

The natural gas market today is supplying nearly 20 percent more natural gas to power generators than last July. In fact, EIA data on electric generation share by fuel for April showed that natural gas overtook coal for the first time ever – natural gas with nearly 32 percent compared with coal’s 30 percent. Part of the reason is price. The spot at Henry Hub is nearly $1.70 per MMBtu below last year. But part of the reason is structural. Compliance with the EPA MATS began in April and analysts expected between 13 and 20 GW of coal-fired power plants to be either retired or repowered in 2015 alone. Some of the shift has already occurred and is contributing, at least in part, to the gas volumes to power generation. Does this market transformation render the Supreme Courts’ decision moot?

Visit this link to download the full Natural Gas Market Indicators report. Topics covered in this week’s report include: Reported Prices, Weather, Working Gas in Underground Storage, Natural Gas Production, Shale Gas, Rig Counts, Pipeline Imports and Exports, and LNG Markets.

Please direct questions and comments to Chris McGill at cmcgill@aga.org or Richard Meyer at rmeyer@aga.org.

Posted in Natural Gas, Natural Gas Market Indicators, supply | Comments Off on Natural Gas Market Indicators: July 13, 2015