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Electricity Monthly Update

With Data for January 2026 Release Date: March 24, 2026 Next Release Date: April 23, 2026 Corrections/Revisions

Electric Power Sector Coal Stocks: January 2026


Total U.S. coal stockpiles decreased by 5% to 104 million tons compared to the previous month. This month-over-month decrease in coal stockpiles is normal as coal power plants throughout the country draw down their stockpiles to meet winter electricity 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. For bituminous units largely located in the eastern United States, the average number of days of burn decreased slightly from the previous month, going from 131 days of forward-looking days of burn in December 2025 to 130 days of burn in January 2026. For subbituminous units largely located in the western United States, the average number of days of burn increased, going from 140 days of burn in December 2025 to 143 days of burn in January 2026.

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

    January 2026 January 2025   December 2025  
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 1,491 182 1,087 107 37.1% 1,727 187 -13.7%
  Subbituminous . . . . . . . .
South Bituminous 17,162 131 15,834 124 8.4% 19,497 139 -12.0%
  Subbituminous 5,224 99 5,275 94 -1.0% 5,495 92 -4.9%
Midwest Bituminous 8,673 113 10,410 134 -16.7% 9,453 106 -8.3%
  Subbituminous 26,276 127 29,247 144 -10.2% 27,627 123 -4.9%
West Bituminous 1,905 166 2,720 207 -30.0% 1,927 151 -1.2%
  Subbituminous 29,589 176 29,431 164 0.5% 28,641 170 3.3%
U.S. Total Bituminous 29,231 130 30,052 131 -2.7% 32,604 131 -10.3%
  Subbituminous 61,089 143 63,953 147 -4.5% 61,763 140 -1.1%

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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