Utilities Burn 34% More Gas In February Than Year Earlier

U.S. utilities are burning a record amount of natural gas for generating electricity without triggering a predicted boost to the fuel's price from near 10-year lows. The power companies used 34% more gas in February than a year earlier, Energy Department data show. Southern Co., among the largest U.S. coal plant operators, is on pace to consume more gas than coal in 2012 for the first time in its 100-year history.