Cooler Weather Knocks Down August Utilities

From StormWire:

BOTTOM LINE WEATHER POINTS
– Hurricanes Gustav and Ike also hurt energy production in several Gulf Coast states.
– Storm Exchange warned that cooler summer weather would hurt energy sectors in May.
– Government blames cooler summer weather for 3.2% drop in monthly utilities output.

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Temperature map from the Storm Exchange May "Summer Energy Outlook."

U.S. utilities output plunged 3.2% in August and the sector's capacity usage was 81.5%, down from 84.4% in July, according to a report released by the Federal Reserve. The federal government blamed unseasonably cool temperatures for the sharp decline in utilities output....MORE