In today’s AUSenergy News Update: Shockingly high electric rates in the Northeast may be attributed to low natural gas prices, forecasted rising temperatures across the U.S. might limit natural gas fuel demand, and the University of Wisconsin’s IceCube Neutrino Observatory finds energy beneath the ice.

Low Natural Gas Prices Cause Higher Electric Rates

Summary: National Grid has announced that their rates for electric consumers in the Northeast will increase by nearly 20% during this winter season.
AUS Comment: This increase is meant to account for the traditional winter price increases of natural gas, which accounts for over half of New England’s electricity generation.

Natural Gas Futures Fluctuate as Rising Temperatures May Limit Fuel Demand

Summary: Higher than average temperatures across the nation have led to lower than expected withdrawals from storage as of recent.
AUS Comment: The market is responding to an expected forecast more in line with historical averages, which should be reflected in the storage report from the EIA which is coming a day early this week.

UW’s IceCube Neutrino Observatory discovers energy beneath Antarctica’s ice

Summary: IceCube is a particle detector used to identify neutrinos, which are subatomic particles that have the ability to travel through walls and have no mass.  The research station uses optical sensors to record collisions between neutrinos and ice particles. Scientists there have discovered an unprecedented amount of neutrino energy beneath the Antarctic’s ice.
AUS Comment: Learning more about neutrino energy may provide deeper insight on the origins of the universe.