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Electric Power Annual

With Data for 2024 Release Date: October 16, 2025 Next Release: October 2026 full report PDF
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Table 8.1. Average Operating Heat Rate for Selected Energy Sources,
2014 through 2024 (Btu per Kilowatthour)

Year Coal Petroleum Natural Gas Nuclear
2014 10428 10814 7907 10459
2015 10495 10687 7869 10458
2016 10493 10811 7863 10459
2017 10465 10834 7803 10459
2018 10481 11095 7811 10455
2019 10551 11205 7725 10442
2020 10655 11259 7725 10446
2021 10583 11224 7689 10429
2022 10689 11166 7740 10448
2023 10745 11465 7721 10452
2024 10777 11200 7754 10443

Note:
Coal includes anthracite, bituminous, subbituminous, lignite, waste coal, refined coal; and coal-derived synthesis gas.
Petroleum includes distillate fuel oil (all diesel and No. 1 and No. 2 fuel oils), residual fuel oil (No. 5 and No. 6 fuel oils and bunker C fuel oil, jet fuel, kerosene, petroleum coke, and waste oil.

Notes:
Included in the calculation for coal, petroleum, and natural gas average operating heat rate are electric power plants in the utility and independent power producer sectors.
Combined heat and power plants, and all plants in the commercial and industrial sectors are excluded from the calculations.
The nuclear average heat rate is the weighted average tested heat rate for nuclear units as reported on the Form EIA-860.

Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-923, "Power Plant Operations Report" and Form EIA-860, "Annual Electric Generator Report."

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