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Electricity Monthly Update

With Data for March 2026 Release Date: May 22, 2026 Next Release Date: June 24, 2026 Corrections/Revisions

Electric Power Sector Coal Stocks: March 2026


Total U.S. coal stockpiles increased by 5.9% to 111 million tons compared to the previous month. This month-over-month increase in coal stockpiles is normal during March when coal power plants begin to build up their stockpiles for use during the summer months when electricity demand is higher.

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. For bituminous units largely located in the eastern United States, the average number of days of burn decreased from the previous month, going from 120 days of forward-looking days of burn in February 2026 to 113 days of burn in March 2026. For subbituminous units largely located in the western United States, the average number of days of burn also decreased, going from 138 days of burn in February 2026 to 129 days of burn in March 2026.

Coal stocks and average number of days of burn for non-lignite coal by region (electric power sector)

    March 2026 March 2025   February 2026  
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 1,420 150 1,001 117 41.9% 1,379 168 2.9%
  Subbituminous . . . . . . . .
South Bituminous 17,732 110 16,586 106 6.9% 16,591 120 6.9%
  Subbituminous 5,732 93 5,459 89 5.0% 5,202 95 10.2%
Midwest Bituminous 8,347 102 9,663 114 -13.6% 7,866 104 6.1%
  Subbituminous 30,115 118 29,134 119 3.4% 28,070 127 7.3%
West Bituminous 1,935 264 2,648 178 -26.9% 1,849 170 4.6%
  Subbituminous 30,946 161 29,137 143 6.2% 29,860 169 3.6%
U.S. Total Bituminous 29,433 113 29,898 113 -1.6% 27,685 120 6.3%
  Subbituminous 66,794 129 63,731 124 4.8% 63,133 138 5.8%

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.
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