Overview

Natural gas is the second most widely used energy source in California. Depending on yearly conditions, 40 to 45 percent of the total is burned for electricity generation; 10 percent is consumed in facilitating the extraction of oil and gas, while the rest is used for everything from space heating to fuel for bus fleets.

Natural gas-fired generation has been the dominant source of electricity in California for many years, as it fuels over half of electricity consumption, both from in-state and imported sources. Because natural gas is a dispatchable resource that fills in the gaps from other resources, use varies greatly from year to year. The availability of hydroelectric resources, the emergence of renewable resources for electricity generation, and overall consumer demand are the variables that shape natural gas use in generation. Gas use was lower in 2011, which experienced above average hydro availability compared to the gas use in 2010 and 2012, which had average hydro availability. Gas demand variability has also been affected by the widespread additions of variable wind and solar resources.

California receives its gas from regionally diverse sources. The majority of its natural gas supply comes from the American Southwest, the Rocky Mountains, and Canada, making up roughly 85 percent of total supplies.   More information on natural gas in California...

Facts & Stats