- Henry Hub gas averaged $2.93 per MMBtu from June through August 2026, 6% below the same months of 2025 (EIA).
- Solar generation rose about 22%, or an estimated 19.4 billion kWh, over the same period (The Center Square).
- Solar helped, but record gas output, healthy storage and LNG maintenance also pushed prices down.
- Nothing in the sources shows that household electric bills fell.
Natural gas got cheaper this summer even as the country set heat records. July 2026 was the hottest July on record in the Lower 48, averaging 77°F, according to NOAA. The Center Square reports that July electricity sales hit a record 415.2 billion kilowatt-hours.
What the federal data show
Compared with summer 2025, the EIA estimates (as relayed by OilPrice.com and Enerdata) that solar generation rose by about 19.4 billion kilowatt-hours. Wind rose by about 9.3 billion, a 9.8% increase per The Center Square. Gas-fired generation also climbed, by about 7.5 billion kilowatt-hours, or 1.8%.
Put together, wind and solar added roughly four times as much generation as gas did, per OilPrice.com. So gas plants did not have to carry all of the extra demand. That is not the same as gas use falling, because it didn’t.
| Measure (June to August 2026 vs. 2025) | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Henry Hub gas price | $2.93 per MMBtu, down 6% | EIA via Enerdata, OilPrice.com |
| Solar generation | Up about 19.4 billion kWh (22%) | The Center Square, Enerdata |
| Wind generation | Up about 9.3 billion kWh | Enerdata, OilPrice.com |
| Gas-fired generation | Up about 7.5 billion kWh (1.8%) | The Center Square, OilPrice.com |
More than one thing cut the price
Solar limited the growth in gas burn, but it was one factor among several. OilPrice.com points to dry gas output running about 2.7 billion cubic feet a day (2%) higher, storage inventories above average, and maintenance at LNG export terminals that trimmed export demand.
For related coverage of how storage helps in heat waves, see Texas Grid Battery Storage Hit a Record 13.3 GW This Summer.
Why It Matters to You
Gas supplied about 40% of U.S. electricity in 2025, according to Enerdata. When gas prices spike during heat waves, utilities that burn gas may pass higher fuel costs to customers through fuel adjustment charges. Cheaper gas and more solar reduce that risk, but any effect on your bill depends on your utility, your state and how fuel costs are recovered. If you want to see what changed, check the fuel cost line on your bill this winter.
What the numbers don’t show
- The price figure is a wholesale benchmark. Retail electricity rates also reflect delivery, taxes and capacity costs, and the sources do not show a drop in household bills.
- The National Energy Assistance Directors Association projected in June that the average summer electric bill would reach about $792, up 10.5% from $717 in 2025. That is a projection, not a measured result.
- Gas generation rose 1.8% year over year, so solar did not hold gas use flat.
- No figures are given here for specific households or for Texas solar capacity, because the sources don’t support them.
Quick answers
Did solar make gas cheaper?
It helped. Added solar and wind meant gas plants had to cover less of the extra demand. But record gas production, storage levels and LNG maintenance also pushed prices down.
Did electric bills fall this summer?
The sources do not say so. NEADA projected higher summer bills because of more cooling use and higher electricity prices.
Where does the 22% come from, and what is Henry Hub?
The Center Square reports solar generation was up 22% in June to August 2026 versus the same months in 2025, based on federal data. Henry Hub is the Louisiana pipeline hub whose spot price is the main U.S. benchmark for natural gas.
Sources
- Enerdata: US Henry Hub gas prices declined by 6% despite record summer heat (Sep 30, 2026)
- OilPrice.com: Why Record Heat Failed to Lift U.S. Natural Gas Prices (Sep 25, 2026)
- The Center Square (via Now.Solar): Natural gas prices down as solar power generation jumps 22% (Oct 3, 2026)
- NEADA: Summer Cooling Costs Projected to Hit Record Highs as Household Electric Bills Rise 10.5% (Jun 8, 2026)