Independent Fiscal Office Reported First Quarter PA Natural Gas Production Declined Slightly From 4th Quarter, Lowest In Any Quarter Of 2025

On June 2, the Independent Fiscal Office reported first quarter 2026 natural gas production of 1,928 billion cubic feet in Pennsylvania, a slight decline from the fourth quarter of 2025 (1,936 billion cubic feet) and lower than any quarter in 2025.

The IFO reported 101 new shale gas wells were spud [drilled] in the first quarter, the fewest new wells drilled than in the last three quarters of 2025.

The average Pennsylvania hub price for natural gas was $5.22, an increase of $1.53-- 41.5%-- from a year ago.

"The first quarter price was heavily impacted by January ($9.99), as prices surged in response to Winter Storm Fern in January. 

"Due to the regional impact of the storm, the average Pennsylvania spot price exceeded the Henry Hub (national benchmark) by more than $2.00 for the month of January. 

"For February and March, the average Pennsylvania spot price was $2.83, a decrease of $0.79 (-21.9%) from the same two months of the prior year.

"Preliminary data show that natural gas spot prices continued that steep decline into 2026 Q2." 

"Spot prices will not reflect contemporaneous prices paid by businesses and consumers. 

"EIA data show that the average price of natural gas sold to Pennsylvania residential and commercial consumers in 2026 Q1 increased by 12% from the prior year."

Click Here for a copy of the report.

PA Oil & Gas Industry, Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - May 30 to June 5: Abandoned Conventional Wells Top 258; Holes In Shale Gas Water Pipeline; New Shale Well Casing/Cement Failure [PaEN] 

     -- DEP Finds Multiple Holes In Pipeline Liner, Failure To Comply With Erosion & Sedimentation Permit At Expand Operating Aboveground Shale Gas Water Pipeline Construction Site In Bradford County  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - June 6 [PaEN] 

    -- DEP Issues Chapter 105 Permit For 8 Mile, 24-Inch EQT ARO LLC Water Pipeline To Support Shale Gas Development In State Forest Land In Lycoming County  [PaEN] 

    -- DEP Invites Comments On Proposed Termination Of NPDES Water Quality Permit For Mercatoris Oil Co. Inc. For Failure To Comply With Permit In Crawford County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Posted 75 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In June 6 PA Bulletin  [PaEN] 

Related Articles This Week:

-- House Committee To Consider Bills To Prohibit Road Dumping Oil & Gas Wastewater, Set Minimum Standards For Power Plant Community Benefit Agreements, Encourage Monarch, Native Insect Habitats On June 8  [PaEN] 

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - June 8  [PaEN] 

-- Independent Fiscal Office Reported First Quarter PA Natural Gas Production Declined Slightly From 4th Quarter, Lowest In Any Quarter Of 2025  [PaEN] 

NewsClips:

-- WPXI: Peoples Natural Gas Customers In Western PA Push Back On 13.8% Rate Hike Calling It ‘Blatant Theft’

-- Sen. Lindsey Williams Urges Peoples Gas To Withdraw Proposed 13.8% Natural Gas Rate Increase   

-- PUC Reminds Consumers Of Hearings  In Westmoreland County On Proposed 13.8% Peoples Natural Gas Rate Increase

-- WTAE: Residents, Businesses Voice Concern As Energy Costs Spike Throughout Pennsylvania 

-- PUC Consumer Reminder: Summer Electric Price Changes Begin June 1  

-- Utility Dive: Electric Generators Need More Reliable Natural Gas Supply To Protect Grid Reliability During Extreme Weather Events 

-- Bloomberg Columnist: A LNG Natural Gas Glut Is On Its Way - By Javier Blas

[Posted: June 2, 2026]  PA Environment Digest