The Energy Buyer's Guide | 05.18.2026

Summer natural gas futures rally amid first significant heat of the season.

- Prompt-month natural gas futures rallied, with the June contract climbing near $3.00 per MMBtu as early-season heat lifted summer demand expectations.

- The EIA reported an 85-Bcf storage injection, almost exactly in line with the five-year average but well below last year’s build for the same week.

- Power generation demand for natural gas rose to seasonal highs as the first significant cooling event of the year moved across the central and eastern U.S.

- Winter 2026-27 pricing remains near four-year lows despite the potential for tighter summer balances if LNG exports rebound and production remains flat.