Natural gas powers 43% of US electricity and heats 45% of homes, making it a key energy source. Credit: Leonid Ikan/Shutterstock.

The US is bracing for a surge in natural gas demand as freezing weather and snowstorms threaten to cause widespread power outages, reported Reuters, citing energy analysts and reliability coordinators.

The current conditions could lead to the highest levels of natural gas demand this winter. The increased demand coincides with potential supply drops due to “freeze-offs,” which occur when oil and gas wells and pipes freeze.

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Natural gas is a critical energy source in the US, powering approximately 43% of the nation’s electricity generation and heating around 45% of homes.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) indicates that the expected jump in demand, coupled with a possible decline in supply, may result in higher natural gas prices in the coming week.

The combination of high demand and supply disruptions in January 2024 pushed spot gas prices at the US Henry Hub benchmark in Louisiana to more than $13 per million British thermal units (MBtu). Currently, next-day prices at the Henry Hub are around $3.65/MBtu, the highest levels since January 2024.

Additionally, the EIA projects that OPEC+ oil production cuts will reduce global oil inventories by approximately 700,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the first quarter of 2025 (Q1 2025).

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However, from Q2 onward, increased OPEC+ output and non-OPEC+ supply growth is expected to reverse this decline, with inventories expected to grow by around 100,000bpd for the rest of the year.

CenterPoint Energy has confirmed that its cold weather action plan is in place for power and gas customers in several states including Texas, Louisiana, Indiana, Ohio and Mississippi.

The North American Electric Reliability Corp has urged all entities in the electricity supply chain to take immediate action to ensure the highest levels of reliability, with a particular focus on natural gas supply due to the significant production in the mid-Atlantic and north-east regions.