Natural gas proved reliable during polar vortex

The U.S. natural gas industry proved reliable and resilient during the polar vortex that put portions of the country into a deep freeze from Jan. 26 through Feb. 2.

“Natural gas was reliably and safely delivered throughout the country to customers that surely needed it. The entire value chain worked with communities to keep the heat on for most customers. Where there were challenges, the industry demonstrated remarkable resilience by recovering quickly,” said officials at the Natural Gas Council (NGC), which represents natural gas companies.

Temperatures during the week of the polar vortex were 16 percent colder than normal and 39 percent colder than the same week in 2018. New England was 14 percent colder than normal in late January and the East North Central of the United States (Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio) was 34 percent colder than normal.

On Jan. 30, natural gas demand in the United States hit a single-day record of 150.2 billion cubic feet (Bcf). The bulk of that load – 75 Bcf – went to the residential and commercial sector, while 34 Bcf went to power generation, 29 Bcf met industrial demand, and 13 Bcf went to exports and other end uses. The previous single day record was set on Jan. 1, 2018, when the United States used 147 Bcf of natural gas.

The impact on spot market prices for natural gas in the Midwest was subdued due to the presence of robust gas infrastructure in those regions. The greatest price impact was seen in the Northeast, particularly in places where pipeline infrastructure was lacking. Price impacts, however, were brief and less than in previous years.