Gas prices a bigger factor in power hikes Stronger economy seen in some areas Pandemic may lessen price surge in 2021 Stronger North American power demand has had a muted effect on wholesale power prices, which have been driven sharply higher by surging natural gas prices, an S&P Global Platts analysis shows, but resurging COVID-19 cases may mitigate power price strength through the end of 2021. Receive daily email alerts, subscriber notes & personalize your experience. Register Now Aggregate weather-adjusted load hit an eight-year record this July of 526.5 average GW around-the-clock, according to S&P Global Platts Analytics data, but raw average daily peakloads in selected power markets have been up only modestly year-to-date, while wholesale power prices have been significantly stronger, driven by much higher natural gas prices. “The … load record is telling, as it aligns with the rapid economic growth that the US has experienced […]