Despite projecting higher-than-average temperatures across much of the United States this winter that would typically dampen gas-fired power demand, FERC on Thursday predicted rising natural gas prices for the period.

A newly released Federal Energy Regulatory Commission report, “2021-2022 Winter Energy Market and Reliability Assessment,” anticipates an average Henry Hub futures price of $5.63/MMBtu for November through February 2022. The price forecast represents a $2.85, or 103%, increase from the winter 2020-2021 settled futures price, FERC said in the report.

Among various hubs, FERC stated that it expects the highest winter 2021-2022 futures prices at the Algonquin Citygate hub near Boston: $18.18 — a sharp increase from $4.20 last winter. The Commission report cited...