EIA however noted that the rise in power prices was not uniform across electric markets as regional natural gas supply issues drove larger increases in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest.
According to the report, prices in New England were the highest in the nation mostly due to pipeline constraints that limited the delivery of natural gas.
Prices in the northwest region increased 82% in the first half of 2013, while the report said that hydroelectric generation dwindled in the region due to lack of rain, making it more dependent on natural gas.
The California power market also experienced a 59% increase in wholesale power prices, while prices in Texas grew less than much of the rest of the nation, largely because of the mild weather this spring.
EIA noted that spot natural gas prices at major hubs across the US increased between 42% and 146% in the first half of 2013, compared to the same period in 2012.
