Two U.S. markets occasionally produce more electricity from coal than from natural gas

Two electricity markets in the Midwest still generate more electricity from coal than from natural gas in at least some months of the year: Southwest Power Pool (SPP) and the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). We expect these two regions will generate more electricity from coal than from natural gas in some upcoming winter months, […]

U.S. total distillate inventories forecast to end 2025 and 2026 at multiyear lows

In our September Short-Term Energy Outlook, we forecast U.S. total distillate inventories to end 2025 and 2026 at lower levels than previous years because of significant inventory draws in 2025, strong export demand, and domestic production declines stemming from refinery closures. In the weeks since the publication of this forecast, U.S. distillate inventories have increased […]

Utility-scale batteries are more commonly used for price arbitrage

In our annual survey of power plant activity, we ask operators of utility-scale batteries how they are using their systems, and one use case is increasingly prevalent: price arbitrage. Arbitrage involves buying electricity when prices are relatively low and selling that electricity when prices are high.

U.S. Northeast is relying less on electricity imports from Canada

Over the past few years, net electricity inflows from Canada into New York (New York Independent System Operator, or NYISO) and New England (Independent System Operator of New England, or ISO-NE) have decreased. We identified this trend in an analysis in 2024, and the trend has continued through the first eight months of 2025. From […]

Summer diesel margins tighten with European supply shift

In early 2023, the European Union implemented a ban on seaborne imports of diesel fuel, commonly called gasoil, from Russia following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine the previous year. The ban reoriented trade flows as Europe imported more diesel from the Middle East and the United States rather than Russia. This summer, Europe’s increased reliance […]

Northwest U.S. natural gas prices remain historically low in 2025

Monthly average natural gas spot prices in the northwestern United States reached historic lows in 2025, as ample supply from Canada coincided with subdued regional demand for natural gas-fired electricity. At Northwest Sumas, a key pricing hub for natural gas in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, the daily spot price averaged $1.59 per million British thermal […]

Growing natural gas deficit leads Egypt to ramp up natural gas imports

In August 2025, Egyptian firm Blue Ocean Energy struck a $35 billion deal with partners in the Chevron-operated Leviathan field offshore of Israel to import more natural gas from Israel, the latest move by Egypt to meet natural gas demand that is outpacing domestic production. In our latest update to the Eastern Mediterranean Energy briefing, […]