Year in Review with Direct Energy Business President John Schultz

In 2016, there were a number of major energy developments. 

We recently caught up with Direct Energy Business president John Schultz to get his take on some of the year's most noteworthy natural gas, electricity and policy trends. 

Watch the full video interview below. 

Natural Gas Demand

In 2016, natural gas demand has largely been driven by the industrial and power sectors. While the U.S. hasn't exported an extremely significant amount of liquefied natural gas (LNG), it is the most the U.S. has ever exported and will make the U.S. a net exporter on an annual basis.

Trends in Energy Prices

It was two different stories for natural gas and power prices this year. Natural gas experienced some price volatility and the multi-year downward trend in prices bottomed out in 2016. However, power prices continued on a clear, downward trend. 

Election Impact 

Coal was a central issue in this year's U.S. presidential election. However, cheap natural gas makes it unlikely that coal will regain a significant share in U.S. power generation. The election may have a much more muted impact on the energy sector than some expected. 

For more insights on the year's biggest developments, check out the 10 most important energy numbers from 2016.