What Do Meteorologists Do for Energy Companies?

September 24, 2019 || Read Time: 3 minutes

Meteorologist energy forecasting map of the United States

Brent Rice

Meteorologist

Brent provides weather briefings to members of the supply department and creates seasonal forecasts. He received his Bachelor's degree in Meteorology with a concentration in Weather Risk Management from Penn State University.

Weather is a driving factor for pricing in the energy market. As the staff meteorologist for IGS, I’m responsible for analyzing weather trends to help our supply team determine buying strategies for our business customers.

How Does Weather Affect Energy Demand?

As the weather forecast changes, so does the market for gas and power. If a cold front is coming in, more natural gas will likely be used as people heat up their homes and businesses, which can drive up the price. Similarly, if a heat wave is on the horizon, many more people will be using electricity to run their fans and air conditioners.

IGS purchases energy in advance, so trying to understand the direction of the energy market is paramount. This is where I come in. By analyzing weather trends, collecting data, and ultimately forecasting upcoming weather patterns, I help IGS predict corresponding market changes for gas and electricity. Ultimately to help our customers.

What Tools do Meteorologists Use?

When I’m researching factors that are the most important to our supply department, the 6-10 and 11-15 day forecasts are some of the most significant. Notable changes in weather forecasts during these periods of time can heavily influence the natural gas and electricity markets. My role is to identify and communicate these changes.

Weather models are another important tool that I use to keep our supply department informed. The two most important weather models that I (and most people in the energy industry) look at are the GFS (American model) and the ECMWF (European model). It’s my job to report any changes that are made in these weather models, especially during the winter when they’re more volatile.

What Else Goes into Energy Demand Forecasting?

In addition to reporting on upcoming weather patterns and changing weather models, I’m also responsible for a variety of other weather-related tasks, including:

Producing month-ahead and seasonal forecasts
Analyzing historical weather data
Managing relationships with weather vendors

Learn More About Meteorologist Insights

If you’d like to know more about how meteorologists help energy companies make informed decisions to support their customers, check out our video: