Reduced hydropower production led to higher natural gas prices in the West
5/9/2023 4:56:05 PM
CATEGORIES:
Energy
Relief, Response & Restrictions
Water Supply & Quality
AFFECTED AREAS:
Arizona
California
Colorado
Idaho
Montana
New Mexico
Nevada
Oregon
Utah
Washington
Wyoming
Start Date: 12/1/2022
- End Date: 3/31/2023
High utility bills in Colorado this past winter can be attributed to drought in California, where hydropower production was half of normal in 2022. To compensate for less electricity from hydropower, California utilities bought more natural gas, which increased prices across the West. In Colorado, the cost of delivered gas utilities rose nearly 100%.
The drought-related gas prices affected heating bills and the price of electricity. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimated that the price of electricity across the West may have risen by about 5%.
The Colorado Sun (Denver), May 9, 2023
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