Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to generate electricity with different types of power plants?
EIA has historical data on the average annual operation, maintenance, and fuel costs for existing power plants by major fuel/energy source types in Table 8.4. Average Power Plant Operating Expenses for Major U.S. Investor-Owned Electric Utilities, 2001 through 2011 (Mills per Kilowatthour)1 of the Electric Power Annual.
EIA has projections for electricity generation costs in the Annual Energy Outlook 2013. The most recent available for different types of power plants are Levelized Cost of New Generation Resources in the Annual Energy Outlook 2013, which includes estimated costs in dollars per megawatthour (mWh) based on a 30-year cost recovery period for various types of power plants that begin operation in 2018.
1 A mill is equal to 1/000 of a U.S. dollar, or 1/10 of one cent. Mills per kilowatthour (kWh) equals dollars per mWh. Divide mills per kWh by 10 to convert to cents per kWh.
Learn more:
Electricity Market Module and Renewable Fuels Module of the Assumptions to the Annual Energy Outlook 2013
Electricity Market Module and Renewable Fuels Module of the National Energy Modeling System: An Overview
Electricity Market Module and Renewable Fuels Module of the Model Documentation for Annual Energy Outlook 2012
Updated Capital Cost Estimates for Electricity Generation Plants
Last updated: May 14, 2013
Other FAQs about Prices
- Are the prices that EIA publishes adjusted for inflation?
- Does EIA have city or county-level energy consumption and price data?
- Does EIA have energy prices for countries?
- Does EIA have ethanol price data?
- Does EIA have gasoline prices by city, county, or zip code?
- Does EIA publish coking coal prices?
- Does EIA publish electric utility rate, tariff, and demand charge data?
- Does EIA publish off-road diesel fuel prices?
- How do I calculate diesel fuel surcharges?
- How do I compare heating fuels?
- How much does it cost to generate electricity with different types of power plants?
- How much does it cost to produce crude oil and natural gas?
- What was the highest U.S. average retail price of regular gasoline?
- What's up (and down) with gasoline prices?
- Where can I find inflation-adjusted gasoline prices?
- Where can I find out about energy-related grants or tax credits for my home or business?
- Where can I get help paying my utility bills?
- Who do I contact to complain about high energy prices?
- Why am I being charged more for propane than the price on EIA's website?
- Why are the retail pump prices for gasoline and diesel fuel in increments of 0.9 cents?
- Why don't fuel prices change as quickly as crude oil prices?
- Why has diesel fuel been more expensive than gasoline?
- Why is the United States exporting gasoline when prices are so high?
- How much tax do we pay on a gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel?
- What are the differences between various types of crude oil prices?
- What are the different coal prices published by EIA?
- What can I expect to pay for heating this winter?
- What do I pay for in a gallon of regular gasoline?
- What is the outlook for gasoline prices for 2013 and for 2014?
- What is the outlook for home heating fuel prices this winter?