Natural gas consumption in the U.S. reached a record high level of 85 billion cubic feet (2.41 billion cubic meters) per day marking a year-on-year increase of 3% in 2019, the country's Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Tuesday.
"New natural gas-fired electric capacity and lower natural gas prices led the increase in domestic natural gas consumption," the EIA said in a statement. The U.S.' natural gas consumption grew in the electric power sector by 2 billion cubic feet (56.6 million cubic meters) per day, or 7%, in 2019 compared to the previous year but remained relatively flat in its commercial, residential and industrial sectors.
In 2019, gas consumption in the U.S. electric power sector was 31 billion cubic feet (878 million cubic meters) per day, or 36% of total natural gas consumption in the country. The U.S. first saw a monthly record for electric power sector consumption of 41.1 billion cubic feet (1.16 billion cubic meters) per day in July 2019, and later in August 2019 when it climbed to 41.6 billion cubic feet (1.18 billion cubic meters) per day, according to the EIA.
"Natural gas continues to account for the largest share of electricity generation after first surpassing coal-fired generation on an annual basis in 2016," the EIA said. In 2019, natural gas accounted for 38% of total electricity generation in the U.S., which was followed by 23% for coal, and 20% for nuclear.
Anadolu Agency
