Increased congestion across the US rail network due to several weeks of extreme winter cold has forced some utilities to pull coal-fired units out of service in order to preserve dwindling stockpiles, according to testimony Thursday at the Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee meeting at the US Surface Transportation Board. Jeff Wallace, vice president of fuel services for Atlanta-based Southern Company, told STB commissioners and energy and railroad executives the cold weather has increased the company’s coal burn “significantly” and that a number of utilities are “very concerned about our ability to get [coal] supplies.” Wallace estimated coal burn this winter will be more than 15 million st above industry projections due to the cold weather. Article continues below… Request a free trial of: Coal Trader Platts Coal Trader provides:The latest prices for key benchmark coals Daily pricing for tons and allowances for SO2 […]