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Electricity Monthly Update

With Data for August 2025 Release Date: October 24, 2025 Next Release Date: November 25, 2025

Electric Power Sector Coal Stocks: August 2025


Total U.S. coal stockpiles decreased by 3.8% to 105 million tons compared to the previous month. This month-over-month decrease in coal stockpiles is normal during the summer months when coal power plants operate more and use up their stockpiles to meet summer 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 increased from the previous month, going from 120 days of forward-looking days of burn in July 2025 to 123 days of burn in August 2025. For subbituminous units largely located in the western United States, the average number of days of burn also increased, going from 111 days of burn in July 2025 to 117 days of burn in August 2025.

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

    August 2025 August 2024   July 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 1,399 156 1,808 204 -22.6% 1,059 153 32.1%
  Subbituminous . . . . . . . .
South Bituminous 16,519 127 19,217 149 -14.0% 16,391 122 0.8%
  Subbituminous 5,424 90 6,040 103 -10.2% 5,179 74 4.7%
Midwest Bituminous 8,936 105 11,367 135 -21.4% 9,426 105 -5.2%
  Subbituminous 24,144 101 31,140 140 -22.5% 25,779 92 -6.3%
West Bituminous 2,745 149 3,441 193 -20.2% 2,928 153 -6.3%
  Subbituminous 28,554 147 29,267 149 -2.4% 29,655 144 -3.7%
U.S. Total Bituminous 29,599 123 35,833 149 -17.4% 29,805 120 -0.7%
  Subbituminous 58,122 117 66,446 139 -12.5% 60,612 111 -4.1%

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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