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Electricity Monthly Update

With Data for November 2024 Release Date: January 24, 2025 Next Release Date: February 26, 2025

Electric Power Sector Coal Stocks: November 2024


Total U.S. coal stockpiles increased by 2.5% to 131 million tons compared to the previous month. This month-over-month increase in coal stockpiles is normal during the fall months when coal power plants begin to build-up their stockpiles for use during the winter months.

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 increased from the previous month, going from 144 days of forward-looking days of burn in October 2024 to 154 days of burn in November 2024. For subbituminous units largely located in the western United States, the average number of days of burn also increased, going from 143 days of burn in October 2024 to 155 days of burn in November 2024.

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

    November 2024 November 2023   October 2024  
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 2,127 166 2,442 251 -12.9% 2,150 174 -1.1%
  Subbituminous . . . . . . . .
South Bituminous 20,805 151 22,615 165 -8.0% 20,339 143 2.3%
  Subbituminous 6,284 102 6,598 113 -4.8% 5,962 96 5.4%
Midwest Bituminous 12,472 145 13,260 148 -5.9% 11,869 131 5.1%
  Subbituminous 33,699 154 33,303 179 1.2% 33,706 146 -0.0%
West Bituminous 3,145 221 2,755 190 14.2% 3,292 228 -4.5%
  Subbituminous 31,176 172 31,390 183 -0.7% 30,183 158 3.3%
U.S. Total Bituminous 38,549 154 41,073 164 -6.1% 37,649 144 2.4%
  Subbituminous 71,158 155 71,291 173 -0.2% 69,852 143 1.9%

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.

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