Summer

In an attempt to avoid a repeat of last summer’s rolling blackouts, California regulators have proposed a set of actions by the power utilities to add grid safety and reliability. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) proposal addresses added efforts to shave demand in peak load periods of summer heat. Earlier the CPUC had ordered…

From the Arctic to the Sahara, Texas is expected to experience quite the swing in temperatures this year. A preliminary summer forecast issued by WeatherBell Analytics LLC is projecting a hot summer centered in the Lone Star State. “Our summer outlook calls for above-normal temperatures for most of North America,” said chief forecaster Joe Bastardi.…

Though intense heat remains in the cards for the balance of summer, near-term forecasts shifted cooler over the weekend Analysts said still-strong summer temperatures should continue to drive exceptional levels of cooling demand Weak liquefied natural gas demand remains a stubborn headwind Though intense heat remains in the cards for the balance of summer, near-term…

U.S. electricity demand is expected to total 998 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) between June and August, a 5% decline compared with the same period last year and the lowest level of summer electricity consumption the country has experienced since 2009, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Electric grid operators in the Northeast will have no problem meeting summer demand even in the most extreme weather conditions as new supplies, including natural gas-oil generation plants, and demand-response resources enter service.

Perhaps more than ever, all eyes will be on the South Central region for natural gas markets this summer as robust associated production from oil wells and a projected doubling of natural gas exports will propel the market into uncharted waters. Factor in the need to refill historically low storage inventories and the potential for a major storm to hit the Gulf Coast, and the market is ripe for significant — though likely brief — price volatility.

June natural gas is set to open 2 cents higher Wednesday morning at $3.25 as traders study weather forecasts calling for concerted summer heat as well as Thursday’s anticipated lean inventory report. Overnight oil markets rose.

Henry Hub prices could see upward pressure later this summer as the current supply/demand balance erodes a roughly 300 Bcf storage surplus to the five-year average by August, according to analyst firm PointLogic Energy.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) should have enough generating capacity to meet expected power demand this spring and summer, the grid operator said Wednesday.