Market Monitor Blog
Your home for commercial electricity and natural gas market news—covering market factors like supply, demand, regulatory affairs, weather, and more.
ERCOT Strips Alone in Direction
While calendar strips for most other markets dropped over the past month, ERCOT North showed that Texas is indeed like a whole other country. Read more
We ARE Splitting Atoms
With several states adding “carbon free” generation to the technologies that are included in Renewable Portfolio Standards, it’s time to take a look at nuclear generation. Read more
Weak Winter Winds Down
Globally, this past winter was the second warmest in 141 years according to NOAA. Only the winter of 2016 was warmer. Read more
Can We Bet On a Summer Breeze in Texas?
ERCOT has seen additional summer capacity of 513 MW added since December 2019. About 348 MW of this total is wind. Will the market benefit from this capacity or will the historic intermittent nature of wind power be a factor in the summer of 2020? Read more
Gas Traders Expand Bearish View
Lower natural gas prices are ahead if you place any credence in positions held by major traders. As of last week’s CFTC Commitment of Traders report, major traders are net long 55% versus 49% one year ago in the three dominant futures and options contracts. In brief, traders hold more positions to buy… Read more
Unusual Fundamentals Welcome April
US natural gas stocks are 888 bcf above last year at this point and are set to enter the injection season at 2,000 bcf. It’s the first time in three years that we enter the cooling season (injections) with stocks that are above the five-year average. Read more
COVID-19 Impact on Europe Electricity Demand
A group of energy market analysts have attempted to analyze the impact on European electricity demand from COVID-19. Read more
COVID-19 and CO2
Is the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting restrictions having an impact on CO2 emissions? Read more
AGA on COVID-19
The American Gas Association offered this commentary on COVID-19 last week. Read more
Natural Gas Falls to Generation Low
The NYMEX Henry Hub spot natural gas benchmark fell to an historic low this week when it traded at $1.52/mmbtu. Read more