Why doesnt Con Edison burn natural gas, exclusively?
There are three reasons why natural gas is not the exclusive fuel. Two out of our 6 steam plants have boilers that can only burn oil. While natural gas is currently the less expensive fuel, it has not always been so. There have been times when oil was less expensive than natural gas. And lastly, during the winter season, there are some days when natural gas is in short supply. When natural gas is in short supply, it must be given to Con Edisons gas customers before any is used in Con Edisons own facilities. Because Con Edison has the capability to produce steam from two different fuels, Con Edison can reliably produce steam at the best price.
