US Consumption to Continue Decreasing

摘要

A forecasts a decreased total U.S. natural gas consumption in 2021 and 2022, following a decline in 2020. Consumption in 2020 was 1.9 Bcf/d lower than the all-time high of 85.1 Bcf/d set in 2019. Total consumption declined as a result of the economic slowdown associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and lower heating demand amid milder temperatures. Although we expect natural gas consumption to continue to fall in 2021 and 2022, changes in sector-level natural gas consumption show different trends than in 2020. The STEO forecasts that electric power will be the only sector that will consume less natural gas in 2021 after being the only sector to increase its natural gas consumption in 2020.