Americans consumed record amounts of natural gas in 2023

The latest figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration show that Americans are consuming a record amount of natural gas.

In 2023, the U.S. consumed 89.1 billion cubic feet of gas in 2023, which was a record, according to the EIA. Since 2018, American consumption of natural gas increased by an average of 4% annually.

The increase was entirely due to rising consumption in the production of electricity. Retired coal-fired power plants are being replaced with natural gas-fired generation, which is shifting that sector toward increased gas use.

From 2022 to 2023, electric power consumption of natural gas rose 7%, while industrial consumption remained flat.

Residential consumption of natural gas fell 10%, and commercial consumption fell 6%. Commercial consumption is gas used by non-manufacturing businesses, which includes hotels, restaurants, stores and other service enterprises.