Electricity
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U.S. power plants used renewable energy sources to generate about 13% of our electricity in 2011›
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Smart Grid Legislative and Regulatory Policies and Case Studies›
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Outlook for residential electricity prices ›
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Eighteen States have adopted electric retail choice programs ›
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Test drive EIA's new interactive electricity data browser ›
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State Electricity Profiles ›
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?
U.S. power plants used renewable energy sources — water (hydroelectric), wood, wind, organic waste, geothermal, and sun — to generate about 13% of our electricity in 2011.
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 2011, 42% of the Country's nearly 4 trillion kilowatthours of electricity used coal as its source of energy.
Use of electricity
Electricity consumption totaled nearly 3,856 billion Kilowatthours (kWh) in 2011. U.S. electricity use in 2011 was more than 13 times greater than electricity use in 1950.
Features
Electric Power Monthly
Released April 30, 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.
Electricity Monthly Update
Released April 30, 2012
The Electricity Monthly Update is a new EIA product that replaces the Monthly Flash Estimates for Electric Power Data, containing data for February 2012.
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.
What's New in Electricity
Electricity storage can smooth out moment-to-moment variations in electricity demand
May 22, 2012
Electricity storage can take advantage of daily price variations
May 21, 2012
Warm weather and low natural gas prices dampen spot electricity prices this winter
May 18, 2012
Survey Forms, Changes & Announcements
How is electricity consumed in U.S. homes? ›
Electricity-Related Maps
