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US natgas prices turn unfavorable in Texas despite heat wave

U.S. spot gas rates in Texas on Tuesday fell below no for the first time considering that May as pipe upkeep caught gas in the Permian Shale even as demand for the fuel soars as consumers crank up their a/c to escape a brutal heat wave.

U.S. next-day power and gas prices have actually turned unfavorable several times up until now this year, especially in Texas, Arizona and California.

But negative costs usually come throughout the spring and autumn when demand for heating & cooling is low - not throughout a. summertime heat wave that requires power generators throughout the nation. to burn great deals of gas to produce electrical energy to keep air. conditioners humming.

Unfavorable costs signal there is excessive power or gas being. produced in an area. Energy companies can either minimize output, pay. somebody to take their power or gas, or, if they can get a. authorization, flare the unwanted gas.

Energy traders blamed the current negative prices, at least. in part, on upkeep anticipated to restrict the capability of U.S. energy business Kinder Morgan's 2.7-billion cubic feet. each day (bcfd) Permian Highway gas pipe to around 2.5 bcfd on. June 25-26.

One billion cubic feet of gas suffices to provide about 5. million U.S. homes for a day.

Traders kept in mind that the small Permian Highway capability. reduction was likely not the only reason for the unfavorable rates.

Permian Highway told consumers on June 19 that due to a. necessary repair work it will be required to remove a system at. Coyanosa Compressor Station on June 25th and 26th.

Kinder stated it expected the pipe to go back to complete. on June 27.

The Permian is the nation's greatest oil producing shale. basin. A great deal of gas likewise comes out of the ground in addition to the. oil there.

When oil costs are fairly high, like they have. been in current weeks, producers are willing to take a loss on. gas since they can still make lots of cash on their oil. sales.

Next-day gas costs at the Waha center fell to unfavorable $1 per. million British thermal systems (mmBtu) on June 24, below a. positive 22 cents on June 21.

That was the 18th time this year that Waha costs were. unfavorable and compares with averages of favorable $1.07 up until now in. June, positive 19 cents in May, positive 86 cents up until now this. year and favorable $1.82 in 2023.

(source: Reuters)