Episode 109: Winter Weather, Middle East Tensions, and the Rising Cost of Energy

“How This Winter’s Harsh Weather and Current Events in the Middle East Are Affecting Energy Costs” is the focus of this episode of Building Knowledge. Our guest is Tim Connors, Vice President of The Slattery Energy Consulting Group, returning to the podcast for his second appearance.During the conversation, Connors discusses how this winter’s unusually cold temperatures have driven up prices for natural gas and heating oil, and how repeated cold-weather events continue to expose pipeline and energy delivery constraints across the New York City metropolitan area. He also shares practical steps consumers can take to help manage rising energy costs and explains why power markets in the region remain vulnerable to volatility.The episode also explores the global factors shaping energy prices, including how potential disruptions to oil production or shipping routes in the Middle East could trigger spikes in global energy costs. Connors explains that while spare capacity elsewhere in the market could soften some impacts, more severe disruptions—particularly involving shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil shipments—could have significant consequences.Finally, Connors outlines his broader concerns about energy reliability and pricing for the New York metropolitan area and the United States in the weeks and months ahead.