A spike in power demand is driving the U.S. to use natural gas, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reports. (Source: Shutterstock.com)
The U.S. used more natural gas in 2023 than ever before, and in 2024 appears set to use even more.
In 2023, natural gas consumption rose 1% and reached an average of 89.4 Bcf/d, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In the first nine months of 2024, gas consumption was up by 1% to an average of 89.8 Bcf/d from the same period of 2023.
The primary reason for the increase: growing demand for electricity at a time when many utilities are phasing out coal plants. Natural gas use decreased in the residential and commercial sectors, EIA said.
The power sector used 6.7% more natural gas (2.2 Bcf/d) in 2023 than in 2022 and accounted for 40% of U.S. gas consumption in 2023. At the same time, residential customers used 8.9% less gas to cook food and heat their homes in 2023 than the previous year. Commercial customer use also dropped by 4.8%
U.S. electrical power demand has been increasing overall, though the weather trends in 2023 could also explain the bump in gas usage. The summer of 2023 was one of the hottest on record in the continental U.S., meaning electrical demand during the summer months jumped up to power air conditioning. A warmer-than-average winter in the opening months also meant homes and businesses used smaller amounts of gas for heating.
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