Section 7. Electricity - Statistical Data Included

Monthly Energy Review, August, 2001

Overview. Electricity is produced by electric utilities, which are the traditional, regulated part of the industry, and nonutility power producers, which are expanding rapidly as the industry moves away from regulated entities.

In 2000, U.S. electricity net generation totaled 3.8 trillion kilowatthours. Electric utilities generated 3.0 trillion kilowatthours (79 percent of the total) and nonutility power producers generated 0.8 trillion kilowatthours (21 percent). The Nation imported 50 billion kilowatthours of electricity and exported 15 billion kilowatthours.

Net Generation. In May 2001, total net generation of electricity was 307 billion kilowatthours, 2 percent less than in May 2000. At utilities, net generation was 219 billion kilowatthours, down 14 percent, while at nonutility power plants, net generation was 88 billion kilowatthours, up 52 percent, compared to 1 year earlier.

At utilities in May 2001, fossil fuels (primarily coal) accounted for 72 percent of net generation, nuclear 20 percent, and renewable resources 8 percent. At nonutility power plants, fossil fuels were estimated to account for 69 percent of net generation, nuclear accounted for 21 percent, and renewable resources were estimated to be 11 percent of the total.

Electric Utility Retail Sales. May 2001 total utility sales of electricity to end-users were 262 billion kilowatthours, 2 percent less than in May 2000. May 2001 electricity sales to residential consumers were at 82 billion kilowatthours (31 percent of the month's total), commercial users 88 billion kilowatthours (33 percent), industrial consumers 84 billion kilowatthours of electricity (32 percent), and other users 9 billion kilowatthours (3 percent).

Consumption of Fossil Fuels. In May 2001, 80 million short tons of coal were consumed to generate electricity, 3 percent more than in May 2000. Of the total, 66 million short tons (2 percent less than a year earlier) were consumed at electric utilities and 13 million short tons (39 percent more than a year earlier) were consumed by nonutility power producers.

In May 2001, 553 billion cubic feet of natural gas were estimated as consumed to generate electricity, 3 percent less than in May 2000. Of the total, 235 billion cubic feet (24 percent less than a year earlier) were consumed by electric utilities and 318 billion cubic feet (21 percent more than a year earlier) were estimated as consumed by nonutility power plants.

Stocks of Coal and Petroleum. At the end of May 2001, 136 million short tons of coal were held in storage for electricity generation, 6 percent less than in May 2000. Of the total, 111 million short tons (13 percent less than a year earlier) were held at electric utilities and 25 million short tons (48 percent more than a year earlier) were held by nonutility power plants.

At the end of May 2001, 36 million barrels of petroleum liquids (i.e., heavy and light oil) were held in storage for electric utilities, 4 percent more than in May 2000.