• Wyoming excerpt: Challenges Facing Combined Heat and Power Today: A State by State Assessment (ACEEE, PDF, 1 pg)
• Full report of all states (ACEEE, PDF, 94 pgs)

Like Utah, electricity prices in Wyoming remain very low in comparison to the national average, as well as being nearly tied with Utah in terms of having the lowest prices among the southwest states. Along with these low prices, Wyoming has about the least volatility in price among the southwest states, trending nearly linearly over time with only slightly more than a cent difference in price over a five year period.

Source: EIA; data is year-to-date through December 2010.
Note: All data post January 2010 are preliminary estimates based on a cutoff model sample.

Natural gas prices in Wyoming are about the second least volatile and second lowest priced among the southwest states. Trends in prices stay fairly consistent with average national prices while remaining just less than two dollars cheaper at most periods of time for the commercial customers and remaining about even or slightly lower in price for industrial customers. Due to this relatively low price, and volatility, CHP projects have a good chance of being economically sound.

When evaluating CHP, a considerable amount of attention needs to be placed on the price of natural gas, and where it may be headed in the future. The combination of relatively low electric prices and rising natural gas prices makes it more difficult for a CHP project to be economic and generate cost savings, but there are still going to be successful applications for the appropriate use of CHP. The best applications are those that value high reliability, have higher electric rates during peak times, spend a high percentage of their energy bill on air conditioning, and/or potentially could make use of a "waste fuel."

Source: EIA; data is year-to-date through December 2010.

• Wyoming Public Service Commission
• Wyoming Business Council (state energy office)
• Pacificorp
• Questar Gas