U.S. jet fuel consumption during the week of Thanksgiving was about half of last year’s

For the week of Thanksgiving 2020, estimated consumption of major transportation fuels (motor gasoline, distillate, and jet fuel) was 11% lower than during Thanksgiving week 2019. About half as much jet fuel was consumed during the week of Thanksgiving as last year, measured using product supplied as a proxy for consumption: 1.1 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2020 compared with 2.0 million b/d in 2019, according to estimates in the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Weekly Petroleum Status Report. More »

U.S. liquefied natural gas exports set a record in November

During the summer of 2020, monthly exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States were the lowest in 26 months but have since increased, and in November, estimated LNG exports surpassed the previous record set in January 2020. In the December 2020 Short-Term Energy Outlook, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimated that November U.S. LNG exports reached 9.4 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), which was 93% of peak LNG export capacity utilization. More »

Average monthly electricity bill for U.S. residential customers declined in 2019

In 2019, the average monthly electricity bill for residential customers in the United States was 1.8% lower than it had been in 2018, down from $118 to $115 per month. Although the average U.S. residential electricity price rose from 12.87 cents per kilowatthour (kWh) in 2018 to 13.01 cents/kWh in 2019, less-than-average monthly electricity consumption per customer resulted in a lower average bill in 2019 More »

Petroleum stocks at Northeast power plants have not changed much in recent years

In much of the United States, power plants that burn petroleum liquids are generally operated for short periods during times of peak electricity demand, such as during brief periods of cold winter weather. These plants maintain petroleum inventories so that they are ready to dispatch electricity when it's needed. Petroleum plays an important role in the Northeast (defined here as New York and New England) when electricity demand is high, particularly in the winter. According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), power plants in the Northeast held petroleum inventories of approximately 6.7 million barrels as of the end of September 2020, close to the average of 7 million barrels during the previous five Septembers. More »

In California, natural gas helps balance changes in electricity demand and solar output

In California wholesale electricity markets, natural gas-fired electricity generation helps to balance fluctuations in electricity demand with daily cycles in solar-powered electricity generation. Natural gas and solar are the two most prevalent sources of electricity generation in California; however, solar generation is non-dispatchable. Grid operators in the state use natural gas and, to a lesser extent, hydroelectricity and electricity imports from neighboring areas to balance changes in electricity demand. More »

U.S. petroleum refining capacity falls to its lowest level since May 2016

As of September 1 (the latest data available), the United States had 18.4 million barrels per calendar day (b/cd) of petroleum refining capacity, also known as operable atmospheric crude oil distillation capacity. U.S. refining capacity had reached a record high of nearly 19.0 million b/cd earlier this year, but several refineries have closed since then and reduced capacity to the lowest level since May 2016. More »