Electricity

Analysis & Projections

Test-drive new tables and interactive graphing features ›

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, www.eia.gov/beta, new electricity table formats and charting tools.
State Electricity Profiles ›

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, State Electricity Profiles, released January 30, 2012.
Wholesale electricity prices mostly lower in 2011 ›

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Today in Energy, January 11, 2012.
Electricity prices vary by region ›

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electricity Monthly Update.
How old are U.S. power plants? ›

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Energy in Brief article, How old are U.S. power plants?, August 8, 2011.
Coal is the largest source of electricity generation in the United States ›

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Review 2010, October 19, 2011.

Energy in Brief articles

What is the electric power grid?

The grid of electric power lines has evolved into three large interconnected systems that move electricity around the country. Standards have been developed by the electric power industry to ensure coordination for the linked operations.

How much of our electricity is generated from renewable sources?

Americans used renewable energy sources — water (hydroelectric), wood, biofuels, wind, organic waste, geothermal, and sun — to meet about 8% of our total energy needs in 2009.

See all Energy In Brief articles ›

Electricity Explained

Electricity in the United States

Most of the electricity in the United States is produced using steam turbines. Coal is the most common fuel for generating electricity in the United States. In 2010, 45% of the Country's nearly 4 trillion kilowatthours of electricity used coal as its source of energy.

Use of electricity

Electricity consumption totaled nearly 3,884 billion Kilowatthours (kWh) in 2010. U.S. electricity use in 2010 was more than 13 times greater than electricity use in 1950.

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Features

Electricity Monthly Update

Released January 30, 2012

The Electricity Monthly Update is a new EIA product that replaces the Monthly Flash Estimates for Electric Power Data, containing data for November 2011. Warm temperatures across the Eastern half of the continental U.S. led to flat or lower retail sales of electricity during November 2011.

Annual Energy Outlook 2012 Early Release Overview

Released January 23, 2012

This release is an abridged version of the Annual Energy Outlook that highlights changes in the AEO Reference case projections for key energy topics, including electricity generation. The Early Release includes data tables for the Reference case only. The full AEO2012 will be released April 26, 2012.

Electric Power Annual 2010

Released November 9, 2011

Presents 12 years (1999-2010) of National-level data on electricity generating capacity, electricity generation and useful thermal output, fuel receipts, consumption, and emissions.

Electric Power Monthly

Released January 18, 2012

Provides monthly statistics at the State, Census division, and U.S. levels for net generation, fossil fuel consumption and stocks, quantity and quality of fossil fuels, cost of fossil fuels, electricity sales, revenue, and average revenue per kilowatthour of electricity sold.