Deloitte Center for Energy Solutions
The American people are well-informed about the benefits of natural gas and industry leaders must continue to educate them about this clean-burning abundant domestic resource and the role it will play in our nation’s future.
In a new survey conducted by the Deloitte Center for Energy Solutions, 62 % of national respondents associate the word “clean” with natural gas from shale formations– making it the top association over other words.
Social Media in the Utility Industry
Pike Research has put out a report on social media and utility companies. In the report, they forecast that approximately 57 million customers worldwide will use social media to engage utilities in 2011, a number that will rise to 624 million customers by the end of 2017. They go on to forecast that Utility spending on social media will increase to $317 million in 2017, from about $195 million in 2011.
“Social media is a tricky play for utilities, as it is for other industries unaccustomed to such a transparent and uncontrolled form of communication with customers,” says senior analyst Neil Strother. “But there are ways to use the new social channels that benefit both the utility and the customer.”
Natural Gas Market Indicators
As the year nears its close, the remarkable fact to look back upon is that shale gas development has reshaped the nation’s supply environment. Domestic production has risen 2.1 percent year-over-year, growth reflecting additional gas produced from shale formations and sold into market.
The resulting boon of domestic gas has reduced average imports via pipeline from Canada and LNG re-gasification terminals, both of which have decreased in volume year over year. We also see strong gas-in-storage volumes entering the winter season, with working gas reaching a record peak for a second year in a row.
Natural Gas Efficiency Programs Report for 2010
Throughout the country, local utilities are helping their customers save energy and save money. In 2010, utilities invested nearly $838 million in natural gas efficiency programs. In 2011, America’s natural gas utilities budgeted nearly $1.2 billion towards energy efficiency and cost-saving programs that provide valuable tools, incentives and information to help customers understand and reduce their energy usage.
The savings have been passed on to their customers. Today, the American Gas Association released their Natural Gas Efficiency Programs Report for 2010 which shows that through these programs, customers saved $62 per household last year.
