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Fuel Price API for
Utilities & Power Generation

Real-time natural gas, fuel oil, and coal prices for dispatch optimization, procurement planning, and regulatory reporting. Enterprise-grade reliability.

40%+
US power from natural gas
5-Min Updates
Real-time price feeds
Regional Hubs
Henry Hub, regional basis

The Fuel Cost Challenge

Volatile gas prices make dispatch decisions difficult without real-time data

Regional basis spreads require tracking multiple pricing points

Regulatory reporting demands accurate, auditable fuel cost data

Data-Driven Fuel Management

Real-time prices for optimal dispatch and procurement timing

Regional hub coverage including Henry Hub and major trading points

Historical data for rate cases and regulatory filings

Complete Power Generation Fuel Coverage

Natural Gas

  • Henry Hub spot & futures
  • Regional basis (SoCal, Chicago)
  • TTF, JKM (international)
  • Forward curves

Fuel Oil

  • #2 Heating Oil
  • #6 Residual Fuel Oil
  • Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel
  • Regional variations

Related Data

  • Spark spreads
  • Heat rates
  • Crude oil benchmarks
  • Propane prices

Power Generation Use Cases

Dispatch Optimization

Make real-time dispatch decisions based on current fuel costs vs power prices.

  • • Economic dispatch modeling
  • • Unit commitment decisions
  • • Spark spread monitoring

Procurement

Optimize gas purchasing with market intelligence and price forecasting.

  • • Contract vs spot analysis
  • • Supplier benchmarking
  • • Hedging decisions

Regulatory Reporting

Document fuel costs for rate cases and regulatory filings.

  • • Fuel cost adjustment filings
  • • Rate case support
  • • Audit-ready data

Integration Example: Spark Spread Calculator

// Calculate spark spread for dispatch decision
const calculateSparkSpread = async (powerPrice, heatRate = 7.0) => {
  // Get current natural gas price
  const response = await fetch('https://api.oilpriceapi.com/v1/prices/natural-gas', {
    headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' }
  });

  const { price: gasPrice } = await response.json();

  // Spark spread = Power price - (Gas price * Heat rate)
  // Heat rate in MMBtu/MWh (typical CCGT: 6.5-7.5)
  const fuelCost = gasPrice * heatRate;
  const sparkSpread = powerPrice - fuelCost;

  return {
    powerPrice: powerPrice,           // $/MWh
    gasPrice: gasPrice,               // $/MMBtu
    heatRate: heatRate,               // MMBtu/MWh
    fuelCostPerMWh: fuelCost.toFixed(2),
    sparkSpread: sparkSpread.toFixed(2),
    recommendation: sparkSpread > 5 ? 'DISPATCH' : 'STANDBY'
  };
};

// Example: Power at $45/MWh, 7.0 heat rate
const spread = await calculateSparkSpread(45, 7.0);
// If gas is $4/MMBtu: sparkSpread = 45 - (4 * 7) = $17/MWh -> DISPATCH

Price Alerts

Get notified when gas prices hit dispatch thresholds or procurement targets.

Historical Data

10+ years of natural gas prices for rate cases and trend analysis.

Regional Coverage

Henry Hub plus regional basis points for accurate local pricing.

99.9% Uptime

Enterprise reliability for 24/7 power generation operations.

5-Min Updates

Near real-time gas prices for dispatch and trading decisions.

Forward Curves

Natural gas futures curves for procurement planning and budgeting.

Utilities & Power FAQ

Do you provide regional natural gas basis?

Yes, we provide Henry Hub as the benchmark plus major regional pricing points including SoCal Border, Chicago Citygate, and others. Enterprise plans can include additional regional hubs based on your pipeline interconnects.

Can I use this data for regulatory filings?

Absolutely. Our data is sourced from exchange prices and is suitable for fuel cost adjustment filings and rate cases. We provide timestamped data with complete audit trails. Contact us for documentation requirements.

What about coal and emissions data?

We currently focus on natural gas and fuel oil. Coal pricing and carbon emissions data are on our roadmap. Contact us to discuss your specific requirements and timeline.

Optimize Your Fuel Costs Today

Join power generators using our API for dispatch optimization and fuel procurement. Free trial with 100 API requests.

No credit card required100 free API callsEnterprise plans available