Electric Power Sector Coal Stocks: February 2013

 

In February 2013, total coal stocks decreased 1.7 percent from the previous month, indicating increased consumption of coal due to a combination of colder weather, lower prices for coal, and higher natural gas prices in many regions. Total coal stockpiles were around 177 million tons, the lowest total level since August of 2012 but still high for a winter month when stockpile levels typically fall due to increased consumption to meet heating demand.

Days of Burn

The average number of days of burn held at electric power plants is a forward looking estimate of coal supply given a power plant's current stockpile and past consumption patterns. As with total stockpile levels, the days of burn held at electric power plants remained at elevated levels. In February 2013, total bituminous supply remained flat from the previous month at 96 days. Total subbituminous supply increased from 80 days of burn in January 2013 to 85 days of burn in February 2013.

Coal Stocks and Average Number of Days of Burn for Non-Lignite Coal by Region (Electric Power Sector)

		February 2013			February 2012			January 2013
Zone	Coal	Stocks (1000 tons)	Days of Burn		Stocks (1000 tons)	Days of Burn	% Change of Stocks	Stocks (1000 tons)	Days of Burn	% Change of Stocks
Northeast	Bituminous	7,040	76		9,253	86	-23.9%	7,414	71	-5.0%
	Subbituminous	251	52		661	76	-61.9%	448	51	-43.9%
South	Bituminous	49,164	103		50,413	99	-2.5%	49,894	105	-1.5%
	Subbituminous	6,732	77		7,917	81	-15.0%	6,610	76	1.8%
Midwest	Bituminous	15,710	78		17,017	79	-7.7%	16,047	74	-2.1%
	Subbituminous	42,310	78		47,772	80	-11.4%	43,723	74	-3.2%
West	Bituminous	6,586	127		6,888	126	-4.4%	7,176	138	-8.2%
	Subbituminous	34,073	97		31,381	88	8.6%	33,380	92	2.1%
U.S. Total	Bituminous	78,500	96		83,571	95	-6.1%	80,531	96	-2.5%
	Subbituminous	83,365	85		87,730	83	-5.0%	84,161	80	-0.9%

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

NOTE: Stockpile levels shown above reflect a sample of electric power sector plants, which were used to create the days of burn statistics. These levels will not equal total electric power sector stockpile levels.