For multiple reasons, SPP has been using substantially more gas and less coal this month. Even though total generation, and thermal generation, are not up but down, the dispatch curve is suddenly favoring gas again. Gas achieved its highest 1-day share in two years yesterday, at about 45% of the thermal power market.
As the heat begins to build, this trend will be important to track. Last year gas was cheap. Very cheap. Until mid-summer. This year, it seems that coal's price advantage isn't helping (In SPP specifically), so when that YOY comparison fades in June, will gas make new utilization highs?
