Below-average US Northwest hydro year will boost natgas demand:
Barclays
Houston (Platts)--22Feb2013/258 pm EST/1958 GMT
Below-average hydro-electric power generation in the US Northwest
will boost natural gas demand by up to 250,000 Mcf/d in the region this
year, according to a Barclays Capital analysis released Friday.
Forecasts for water supply in the Northwest point to below-average hydro
power generation from April through September. "This should support
natural gas consumption in the region and reduce the need for
coal-to-gas displacement," it said.
The past two years featured ample water supply in the region, with 2011
being the fourth-most abundant year in the past 53, and 2012 ranking
sixth.
In contrast, forecasts for 2013 call for a rather dry summer season,
as water accumulation at the Dalles Dam on the Columbia River is
expected to rise to just 89% of historical norms, the report said. This
compares to 143% of normal in 2011 and 134% of normal in 2012.
The summer of 2010 saw a similar water supply at the Dulles Dam to what
is expected this year. In that year, gas demand for power generation in
the Pacific Northwest -- including Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana
-- averaged 530,000 Mcf/d from April through September. This compares
with 300,000 Mcf/d used for power generation in the region during the
same period in 2012.
"Consequently, a repeat of the 2010 hydro power generation levels should
result in an increase of roughly [200,000 to 250,000 Mcf/d] for natural
gas demand," the report said.
While not significant enough to cause a meaningful uptick in gas prices,
the incremental demand in the Pacific Northwest will "marginally
alleviate the need for gas to displace coal in the East," the report
said.
The expectations for a relatively weaker hydro year are already being
seen in the forward curves.
According to Platts forward assessments, prompt-summer basis at
Northwest Pipeline-Sumas this year is nearly 8 cents higher than the
summer 2012 package at the same time a year ago.
From January 1, 2012, through February 21, 2012, summer 2012 basis at
Sumas averaged at minus 24.75 cents/MMBtu, according to Platts
assessments. During the same time frame in 2013, summer 2013 basis at
Sumas averaged minus 17.05 cents/MMBtu.
Electricity forward prices also show higher levels for this year
compared to last summer.
From January 1, 2012, through February 21, 2012, the second quarter 2012
basis at Mid-Columbia averaged $20.50/MWh. During the same time period
in 2013, second-quarter prices for 2013 at Mid-Columbia averaged
$23.36/MWh, according to Platts data.
--Eunice Bridges,
eunice_bridges@platts.com
--Edited by Lisa Miller,
lisa_miller@platts.com
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