Natural Gas Spot Prices (Henry Hub)
$5.29/MMBtu
Direction: Up
Natural gas futures reached about $5.29/MMBtu on Dec. 5, 2025, up ~72% from a year earlier; high prices push electricity rates up. Score: 2/10.
Natural Gas Storage Levels
3,923 Bcf
Direction: Up
Working gas in storage decreased by 12 Bcf to 3,923 Bcf on Nov. 28, 2025; lower storage reduces supply and raises electricity rates. Score: 3/10.
Coal Prices & Availability
CAPP $81/st, NAPP $62, PRB $15
Direction: Up
Spot prices increased to $81 in Central Appalachia, $62 in Northern Appalachia and $15 in the Powder River Basin; rising coal prices increase electricity rates. Score: 4/10.
Renewable Generation Output (Wind & Solar)
17% share (2024)
Direction: Down
Wind and solar produced 17% of U.S. electricity in 2024; solar up 27% and wind up 7%; increasing renewable share helps lower electricity rates. Score: 8/10.
Hydropower Reservoir Levels
259.1 BkWh (2025 forecast)
Direction: Down
EIA forecasts hydropower generation to increase 7.5% in 2025 to about 259.1 billion kWh; major reservoirs like Shasta (113%) and Oroville (121%) are above normal. Improved hydropower reduces electricity rates. Score: 7/10.
Electricity Demand Forecasts (Load Forecasts)
420 GW peak
Direction: Up
Winter heating demand pushes load high.
Real-Time & Day-Ahead Wholesale Power Prices
$45/MWh
Direction: Up
LMPs trending upward due to high demand.
Capacity Market Prices (PJM, ISO-NE, NYISO)
$130/MW-day
Direction: Up
High clearing price due to supply retirements.
Transmission Congestion Levels
High
Direction: Up
Congestion in Northeast corridors.
Fuel Switching Economics (Gas vs. Coal Spread)
Gas $4 vs Coal $2.50
Direction: Up
Gas cheaper relative to coal encourages switching.
Levels of Utility Fuel Hedging
75% hedged
Direction: Flat
Hedging moderate; exposures remain.
Power Plant Outages (Forced & Planned)
5 GW offline
Direction: Up
Maintenance outages reduce supply.
Installed Reserve Margin
15%
Direction: Flat
Reserve margin adequate.
Transmission Expansion & Constraints
3 projects
Direction: Down
New lines to bring cheaper generation; relieve congestion.
Regulatory & Policy Changes
Carbon price $50/ton
Direction: Up
Carbon pricing increases costs for fossil generation.
Utility Rate Case Filings
Multiple 2025 cases
Direction: Up
Utilities seek higher rates to cover fuel and infrastructure costs.
Fuel Transportation Costs
$18.77/ton
Direction: Down
Adjusted, down from $19.29 in 2022: average transportation cost for coal fell to $18.77/ton; some utilities like DTE returned fuel & transportation savings to customers, lowering bills.
LNG Export Volumes
100 Bcf/week
Direction: Up
Record LNG exports tighten U.S. supply: 26 vessels shipped about 100 Bcf from Aug 28–Sep 3, 2025; exports are 6.9% higher year-to-date, with Europe taking 62.5% and Africa 6.9% of shipments, lifting domestic gas prices.
Weather & Climate Trends
Heat waves & cold snaps
Direction: Up
Extreme weather events (heat waves, cold snaps, and storms) drive demand spikes; NERC projects winter peak demand to be 20 GW higher than last year, increasing risk of price spikes and volatility.
Battery Storage Deployment & Costs
31.5 GW (US), 393.5 GWh global
Direction: Down
Utility-scale battery capacity is soaring: global storage reached 393.5 GWh (24-fold increase since 2020) and the U.S. commissioned 11.9 GW in 2024, raising cumulative capacity to 31.5 GW. Falling prices and supportive policies reduce peaks and volatility.
This dashboard summarizes all 20 electricity rate indicators with their current values and directions. Use the individual indicator pages to explore the charts and detailed analysis for each one.