U.S. Energy Information Administration logo
Skip to sub-navigation

Electricity

Skip to page content
Glossary FAQS
See all Electricity Reports

Electricity Monthly Update

With Data for April 2026 Release Date: June 25, 2026 Next Release Date: July 23, 2026 Corrections/Revisions

Electric Power Sector Coal Stocks: April 2026


Total U.S. coal stockpiles increased by 5.0% to 116 million tons compared to the previous month. This month-over-month increase in coal stockpiles is normal during April 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 113 days of forward-looking days of burn in March 2026 to 104 days of burn in April 2026. For subbituminous units largely located in the western United States, the average number of days of burn also decreased, going from 129 days of burn in March 2026 to 120 days of burn in April 2026.

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

    April 2026 April 2025   March 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 819 87 1,180 111 -30.6% 1,420 150 -42.3%
  Subbituminous . . . . . . . .
South Bituminous 18,572 102 17,611 98 5.5% 17,732 110 4.7%
  Subbituminous 6,321 89 5,359 78 18.0% 5,732 93 10.3%
Midwest Bituminous 8,746 96 9,723 104 -10.0% 8,347 102 4.8%
  Subbituminous 32,477 109 29,573 103 9.8% 30,115 118 7.8%
West Bituminous 2,022 262 2,966 179 -31.8% 1,935 264 4.5%
  Subbituminous 31,490 150 30,447 135 3.4% 30,946 161 1.8%
U.S. Total Bituminous 30,160 104 31,479 106 -4.2% 29,433 113 2.5%
  Subbituminous 70,289 120 65,379 112 7.5% 66,794 129 5.2%

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.
Top