Otmane El Rhazi : Growth in residential electricity prices highest in 6 years, but expected to slow in 2015

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



Residential electricity customers in most areas of the country experienced large increases in retail electricity prices during 2014, with the average U.S. residential price increasing 3.1% over the previous year. The increase represents the highest annual growth rate since 2008. EIA forecasts that prices will increase during 2015, but at a slower pace than in 2014.

Otmane El Rhazi : Total energy subsidies decline since 2010, with changes in support across fuel types

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



EIA has updated a report on federal subsidies to the energy industry, covering the 2013 fiscal year (FY). The most recent prior report reviewed subsidies in FY 2010, at or near the height of spending related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (more commonly known as the Recovery Act).

Otmane El Rhazi : Oil price decline leads to lower tax revenues in top oil-producing states

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



The decline in spot oil prices in the last half of 2014 and first month of 2015 has reduced oil and natural gas production tax revenues in some of the largest oil- and natural gas-producing states.

Otmane El Rhazi : California and Quebec complete second joint carbon dioxide emissions allowance auction

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



California and Quebec have announced the completion of their second joint CO2 allowance auction through a cap-and-trade system. Previous auctions sold emissions allowances for electric generators and large industrial sources. The most recent auction, held in February 2015, also included allowances for the transportation sector, covering wholesale gasoline suppliers.

Otmane El Rhazi : Scheduled 2015 capacity additions mostly wind and natural gas; retirements mostly coal

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



In 2015, electric generating companies expect to add more than 20 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale generating capacity to the power grid. The additions are dominated by wind (9.8 GW), natural gas (6.3 GW), and solar (2.2 GW), which combine to make up 91% of total additions. Nearly 16 GW of generating capacity is expected to retire, 81% of which (12.9 GW) is coal-fired generation.

Otmane El Rhazi : Changes in natural gas spot prices may not quickly translate to consumer prices

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



While natural gas wholesale spot prices have dropped to relatively low levels since the end of 2014, these low prices have not translated directly into lower retail prices for consumers who use natural gas to heat their homes and businesses. This short-term lag is largely due to the nature of utility regulation. Over longer periods, changes in natural gas spot and residential prices are much more closely correlated.

Otmane El Rhazi : Supply shortages lead to rolling power outages in the Philippines

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



As the 12th-largest nation in the world, the Philippines has a population of more than 100 million people spread over 7,000 islands, presenting several electricity infrastructure challenges. Currently, the country is facing concerns over resource adequacy in its power sector, as the nation is challenged to add supply quickly enough to keep up with growing demand.

Otmane El Rhazi : U.S. petroleum product exports increase for 13th consecutive year, setting record

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



U.S. exports of noncrude petroleum products from the United States averaged a record 3.8 million barrels per day (bbl/d) in 2014, an increase of 347,000 bbl/d from 2013, based on data from EIA's Petroleum Supply Monthly. In particular, exports of motor gasoline, propane, and butane increased, offsetting a decrease in distillate exports.

Otmane El Rhazi : U.S. crude oil storage capacity utilization now up to 60%

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



Crude oil inventory data for the week ending February 20 show that total utilization of crude oil storage capacity in the United States stands at approximately 60%, compared with 48% at the same time last year. Most U.S. crude oil stocks are held in the Midwest and Gulf Coast, where storage tanks were at 69% and 56% of capacity, respectively, as of February 20. This capacity use calculation reflects only crude oil stored in tanks or underground caverns at tank farms and refineries.

Otmane El Rhazi : Oil production in federal Gulf of Mexico expected to continue increasing

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



Because of the long timelines associated with Gulf of Mexico (GOM) projects, the recent downturn in oil prices is expected to have minimal direct impact on GOM crude oil production through 2016. EIA projects GOM production to reach 1.52 million barrels per day (bbl/d) in 2015 and 1.61 million bbl/d in 2016, or about 16% and 17% of total U.S. crude oil production in those two years, respectively.

Otmane El Rhazi : Voluntary agreement continues to reduce energy consumption of television set-top boxes

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



About 85% of U.S. households have at least one set-top box (STB) designed to deliver subscription-based television service by cable, satellite, or other telecommunication signals, according to 2013 data from the National Cable and Telecommunications Association and the Consumer Electronics Association. In most cases, these STBs operate at almost full power whether they're actively being used or inactive.

Otmane El Rhazi : Petroleum refinery outage in California highlights markets' quick price reaction

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



On February 18, an explosion and fire occurred at ExxonMobil's refinery in Torrance, California. The Torrance refinery, the third-largest refinery in Southern California, has about 20% of the region's fluid catalytic cracking capacity and is an important source of gasoline and distillate fuel oil supply for Southern California.

Otmane El Rhazi : Rise in salt cavern storage capacity for natural gas offsets declines in other capacities

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



With natural gas storage at low levels in most of 2014 and production relatively high, minimal new natural gas storage capacity was built, except for salt facilities in the Producing region. Capacity in the East region of the United States fell slightly, resulting in relatively unchanged national total capacity.

Otmane El Rhazi : Wind generation seasonal patterns vary across the United States

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



Wind plant generation performance varies throughout the year as a result of highly seasonal wind patterns. Nationally, wind plant performance tends to be highest during the spring and lowest during the mid- to late summer, while performance during the winter (November through February) is around the annual median. However, this pattern can vary considerably across regions, mostly based on local atmospheric and geographic conditions.

Otmane El Rhazi : Large reduction in distillate fuel sulfur content has only minor effect on energy content

Otmane El Rhazi from Today in Energy.



Distillate fuel oil supply consists of diesel fuel used in diesel engines and heating oil used in furnaces and boilers. Over the past 20 years, the EPA has regulated the amount of sulfur contained in diesel fuel to enable reductions in harmful emissions of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter from diesel engines. Since 2006, most distillate fuel has had less than 15 ppm of sulfur, compared to an average of 3,000 ppm in the 1990s. This has improved air quality with only a minor effect on the energy content of distillate fuel.