Average U.S. households using natural gas for heating this winter (2025-2026) paid roughly $700 to $868 for the season, with costs largely flat or experiencing a moderate increase of about 8.4% compared to the previous winter.

Winter Storm Fern and normal bitter cold winter days and nights led to the spike. Global conflicts and market volatility also impacted pricing.

Still, for those using this source of energy taken from shale deposits, there appears to be no shortage to its availability or supply.

In Lycoming County, a region sitting squarely in the Marcellus Shale gas exploration epicenter of the Commonwealth, natural gas is an ace in the hand no matter the weather, global issues or market-based fluctuation.

Today, everyone’s eyes are on Iran and Europe, which seemingly affected the energy markets overnight.

“Global instability is a stark reminder that energy security is national security,” remarked Pat Henderson, vice president of communications & government affairs at the Marcellus Shale Coalition.

“America, and Pennsylvania in particular, is uniquely positioned to lead with abundant, responsibly produced natural gas that keeps energy reliable and affordable at home while supporting our allies abroad,” Henderson added.

“Importantly, domestic natural gas prices continue to be driven by U.S. market fundamentals, not overseas conflicts, which speaks to the strength and resilience of our market,” he noted.

However, while there are abundant sources of natural gas beneath Pennsylvania, it needs to be transported from the well sites to users.

“At the same time, this moment highlights the urgent need to invest in modern infrastructure, including additional LNG export capacity on the East Coast, so we can fully leverage Pennsylvania’s resources as a strategic asset for both our economy and global stability,” Henderson observed.

Based on other energy information sources, including the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration, America’s natural gas abundance – supported by development in Pennsylvania – has importantly insulated U.S. consumers from international volatility.

Despite disruptions to energy infrastructure and shipping routes overseas, U.S. natural gas prices have stayed relatively stable, around $3 per MMBtu at Henry Hub, thanks to abundant domestic supply.

As Politico recently reported: The reason the price is so low and stable in the United States is fracking — specifically, the combination of hydraulic fracturing and directional drilling that revived domestic oil and natural gas production after nearly 40 years of decline.

The shale drilling boom it created opened up vast oil and natural gas reserves and turned the United States into the world’s largest producer of oil and natural] gas.

The robust natural gas resources in the United States have helped insulate the US from tensions in the Gulf as evidenced by sub $3 Henry Hub prices.

Pennsylvania continues to see strong upstream momentum, with new horizontal wells increasing by more than 44% in 2025 and production up 5.1%.

Producers are responding to market fundamentals, not short-term geopolitical shocks, with disciplined, demand-driven development, according to the Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office.

In the U.S., weather and local supply-demand conditions remain the main drivers of natural gas pricing, meaning the war’s direct effect on domestic prices has been limited. Such occurrences as Winter Storm Fern and the polar or arctic air during January and February affect price.

According to the Energy Information Administration’s March 2026 Short-Term Energy Outlook the project is for the Henry Hub spot price to average 3.76 USD/MMBtu in 2026, supporting the point that U.S. natural gas price expectations remain anchored in domestic fundamentals rather than being directly “war-driven.”

On LNG exports and infrastructure needs, the current geopolitical environment is accelerating the case for expanding the U.S. LNG exports, particularly from East Coast infrastructure.

Pennsylvania produces roughly 7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas annually, accounting for nearly 20% of total U.S. output, and the natural gas recognized as the most responsibly produced.

Most LNG terminals today are on the Gulf Coast and adding a Philadelphia LNG terminal is considered to be a more efficient connection for clean Appalachian supply to global markets.

Studies and analysis of price trends confirm that since the U.S. began exporting LNG a decade ago, there have been no significant impact on domestic natural gas prices.

In fact, when LNG exports hit record highs in spring 2024, domestic prices were at a 30-year low, demonstrating the ability of U.S. natural gas markets to serve both global and domestic needs without compromising affordability.

Severe winter weather events like Fern highlight the indispensable role of natural gas in maintaining grid reliability.

During the storm, natural gas-fired generation in PJM increased more than 47% compared to the same week in 2025, demonstrating the ability of dispatchable resources to meet surging demand when other sources fall short.