Table 4.14. Fuel-Switching Capacity of Operable Generators: From Natural Gas to Petroleum Liquids,
by Year of Initial Commercial Operation, 2011 (Megawatts, Percent)

Year of Initial Commercial Operation Number of Generators Net Summer Capacity Fuel Switchable Net Summer Capacity Reported to Have No Factors that Limit the Ability to Switch to Petroleum Liquids
Pre-1970 351 13,529 8,755
1970-1974 388 18,826 11,293
1975-1979 104 9,913 6,021
1980-1984 49 978 210
1985-1989 108 3,230 410
1990-1994 210 12,029 1,457
1995-1999 132 9,653 2,163
2000-2004 380 39,538 5,804
2005-2009 105 14,448 2,066
2010-2011 52 5,414 20
Total 1,879 127,559 38,199

Notes: Petroleum includes distillate fuel oil (all diesel and No. 1, No. 2, and No. 4 fuel oils), residual fuel oil (No. 5 and No. 6 fuel oils and bunker C fuel oil), jet fuel, kerosene, petroleum coke (converted to liquid petroleum, see Technical Notes for conversion methodology), waste oil, and beginning in 2011, synthetic gas and propane. Prior to 2011, synthetic gas and propane were included in Other Gases.
In 2011, EIA corrected the NAICS codes of several plants which resulted in a net capacity shift from the electric utility sector to the commercial sector.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-860, "Annual Electric Generator Report."