Lower natural gas prices and higher petroleum prices this year have led to some striking changes in power generation, according to the latest data from the Energy Information Administration. EIA’s Monthly Flash Estimates shows gas-fired generation in May was up 21.4% compared to May 2005 while petroleum-fired power generation plummeted 42.3% compared to the same month last year.

Year to date consumption of natural gas from power generation as of the end of May was up a more modest 2.6% while petroleum liquids consumption was down a whopping 51%. Coal-fired generation year to date was down about 1.2% and coal consumption from generators was down about 1.3%. Nuclear generation was up 2.8% through May compared to the same period last year, and hydropower, which has benefited from heavy precipitation in the Northwestern states this year, was up 14.6%.

As a result of the lower coal consumption, EIA said coal inventories at the end of May were at their highest level since the middle of 2003, up about 11.1% compared to inventories in May 2005. Petroleum liquids inventories were at their highest level since early 2002 and were 18.1% higher than in May 2005. For more for EIA’s Monthly Flash Estimates go to https://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/flash/flash.html.

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