by Kevin Killough
The latest figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration show that Americans are consuming a record amount of natural gas.
In 2023, the U.S. consumed 89.1 billion cubic feet of gas in 2023, which was a record, according to the EIA. Since 2018, American consumption of natural gas increased by an average of 4% annually.
The increase was entirely due to rising consumption in the production of electricity. Retired coal-fired power plants are being replaced with natural gas-fired generation, which is shifting that sector toward increased gas use.
From 2022 to 2023, electric power consumption of natural gas rose 7%, while industrial consumption remained flat.
Residential consumption of natural gas fell 10%, and commercial consumption fell 6%. Commercial consumption is gas used by non-manufacturing businesses, which includes hotels, restaurants, stores and other service enterprises.
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Kevin Killough is a reporter for Just the News.
