The May bidweek national average gas price rose 12 cents to $1.83/MMBtu, with the biggest gains throughout the Southwest and Rockies, according to Inside FERC's Gas Market report, released Monday.
The May bidweek price at the benchmark Henry Hub increased 9 cents to average $1.99/MMBtu, which came as the NYMEX May natural gas futures contract expired at $1.995/MMBtu, up 9.2 cents from the April contract's close of $1.903/MMBtu.
In the Southwest, Southern California Gas jumped 24 cents to average $1.87/MMBtu. Elsewhere in the region, Pacific Gas and Electric city-gate was up 18 cents to average $2.08/MMBtu.
Toward the Rockies, Northwest Pipeline-Rockies jumped 26 cents to average $1.77/MMBtu. Prices at Cheyenne Hub were up nearly as much, rising 20 cents to average $1.76/MMBtu.
Around the Upper Midwest, Chicago city-gates also moved higher, rising 15 cents to average $2.04/MMBtu. Rockies Express Zone 3 made a smaller move, adding 8 cents to average $1.90/MMBtu.
Prices also rose throughout Northeast markets as Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Zone 6 New York rose 14 cents to average $1.45/MMBtu. Nearby Texas Eastern Transmission M-3 averaged $1.38/MMBtu after advancing 17 cents.
In New England, Algonquin Gas Transmission city-gates price held flat with April to average $2.52/MMBtu. Tennessee Gas Pipeline Zone 6 200 Line averaged $2.43/MMBtu, also unchanged from April.
Upstream, Dominion, Appalachia, prices rose 12 cents to average $1.31/MMBtu. Nearby Transco Leidy Line receipts prices jumped even more, adding 16 cents to average $1.30/MMBtu.
