Electricity Monthly Update
End Use: May 2020
Retail rates/prices and consumption
In this section, we look at what electricity costs and how much is purchased. Charges for retail electric service are based primarily on rates approved by state regulators. However, a number of states have allowed retail marketers to compete to serve customers and these competitive retail suppliers offer electricity at a market-based price.
EIA does not directly collect retail electricity rates or prices. However, using data collected on retail sales revenues and volumes, we calculate average retail revenues per kWh as a proxy for retail rates and prices. Retail sales volumes are presented as a proxy for end-use electricity consumption.
Average revenue per kWh by state
Average revenue per kilowatthour figures decreased in 18 states and the District of Columbia in May compared to last year. The largest decline was found in Florida, down over 17%. Thirty two states increased revenue per kilowatthour compared to last year, led by Michigan (up almost 12%) and Vermont (up almost 9%).
| Average Revenues/Sales (¢/kWh) | Retail Sales (thousand MWh) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| End-use sector | May 2020 | Change fromMay 2019 | May 2020 | Change fromMay 2019 | Year to Date | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residential | 13.14 | -1.5% | 105,345 | 5.5% | 542,452 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial | 10.44 | -0.7% | 93,332 | -15.8% | 496,606 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Industrial | 6.48 | -3.3% | 71,195 | -11.7% | 371,194 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transportation | 9.29 | -2.1% | 452 | -26.0% | 2,842 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 10.45 | 0.3% | 270,325 | -7.4% | 1,413,093 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total average revenues per kilowatthour (kWh) rose 0.3% in May to 10.45 cents/kWh. All sectors dropped from last May, with the Industrial sector leading the decline, down by 3.3%. The Transportation sector followed, dropping by 2.1%. The Residential and Commercial sectors fell by 1.5% and 0.7%, respectively. Total retail sales were down by 7.4% from May 2019. Three sectors fell from a year ago. The Transportation dropped the most, down by 26.0%. The Commercial and Industrial sectors were both down by 15.8% and 11.7%, respectively. The Residential sector rose by 5.5%.
Retail sales
State retail sales volumes were down in 43 states and the District of Columbia in May compared to last year. Maine had the largest year-over-year decline, down over 18%. The District of Columbia, Wyoming, and South Carolina followed, each falling by over 15%. Seven states had retail sales volume increases in May, led by Arizona, which rose by over 21%.
Cooling Degree Days (CDD) were down in 24 states and the District of Columbia compared to last May. The greatest percentage drop in CDDs occurred in Maryland, which was down over 62%. The District of Columbia, Virginia, and North Carolina followed, each dropping more than 55%. Twenty states had an increase in CDDs in May, with Vermont, Michigan, Colorado, and New Hampshire all seeing the largest increases in CDDs compared to the previous May. Two states, Connecticut and Rhode Island, had no change in CDDs from May 2019.