EIA adds new propane supply adequacy measures

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has added two new measures of propane supply adequacy to its weekly Propane Market Update, issued during the winter heating season.

In addition to its standard “days of supply” metric, which compares primary propane inventory to average consumption, the agency now publishes “days of disposition” and “days of supply under severe weather conditions.”

The EIA says these new measures, which were established in response to industry and stakeholder concerns, should provide additional information so propane dealers and customers can plan adequately. The information is included in EIA’s Propane Situation Update briefing deck published every week on its Winter Heating Fuels page.

According to the EIA, days of disposition compares primary propane inventory to average consumption, but it also includes average export levels to determine the remaining days of supply. Its severe weather days of supply metric compares primary inventory to average peak demand weeks for the previous five winters.

EIA continues to publish its weekly propane supply estimates, including production, stocks, imports/exports and product supplied, throughout the year.

Watch an EIA webinar announcing the changes.