Section 7. Electricity

Monthly Energy Review, April, 2000

Overview. Electricity is produced by electric utilities and nonutility power producers. Electric utilities are the traditional, regulated part of the industry; nonutility power producers are the unregulated, highly competitive part of the industry. In general, nonutility power producers are expanding rapidly as the industry moves away from regulated entities.

In 1999, U.S. electricity net generation totaled 3.7 trillion kilowatthours. Electric utilities generated 3.2 trillion kilowatthours (87 percent of the total) and nonutility power producers generated 0.5 trillion kilowatthours (13 percent). The Nation imported 43 billion kilowatthours of electricity and exported 14 billion kilowatthours.

Net Generation. In January 2000, net generation of electricity totaled 319 billion kilowatthours, 265 billion kilowatthours at utilities and 55 billion kilowatthours at nonutilities. At utilities, fossil fuels (primarily coal) accounted for 66 percent of net generation, nuclear 25 percent, and renewable resources 9 percent. At nonutilities, fossil fuels (primarily natural gas) accounted for 81 percent of the generation, 14 percent from renewable resources (primarily wood), and 5 percent other resources.

Electric Utility Retail Sales. In January 2000, utilities sold a total of 286 billion kilowatthours of electricity to end users, 1 percent more than in January 1999. In January 2000, residential consumers purchased 109 billion kilowatthours (38 percent of the total), industrial consumers 87 billion kilowatthours of electricity (30 percent), commercial users 81 billion kilowatthours (28 percent), and other users 9 billion kilowatthours (3 percent).

Consumption of Fossil Fuels. In January 2000, utilities consumed 76 million short tons of coal to generate electricity (3 percent less than in January 1999), 190 billion cubic feet of natural gas (8 percent more than a year earlier), and 9 million barrels of petroleum (46 percent less than a year earlier). Nonutility power producers consumed 11 million short tons of coal (120 percent more than a year earlier), 195 billion cubic feet of natural gas (13 percent more than in January 1999), and 8 million barrels of petroleum (45 percent more than a year earlier).

Stocks of Coal and Petroleum. At the end of January 2000, electric utilities held 122 million short tons of coal and nonutility power producers held 15 million short tons, for total stocks of 136 million short tons. At the end of the month, utilities held 40 million barrels of petroleum and nonutilities held 9 million barrels, for a stock total of 49 million barrels. January 2000 total coal stocks were 9 percent above the level at the end of January 1999, but January 2000 total petroleum stocks were 19 percent lower than the level at the end of January 1999.

[Figure 7.1-7.5 ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Sources for Table 7.1

Sources for Imports and Exports of Electricity

1973-September 1977: Unpublished Federal Power Commission data.

October 1977-1980: Unpublished Economic Regulatory Administration (ERA)data.

1981: DOE, Office of Energy Emergency Operations, "Report on Electric Energy Exchanges with Canada and Mexico for Calendar Year 1981," April 1982 (revised June 1982).

1982 and 1983: DOE, ERA, Electricity Exchanges Across International Borders.

1984-1986: DOE, ERA, Electricity Transactions Across International Borders.

1987 and 1988: DOE, ERA, Form ERA-781R, "Annual Report of International Electrical Export/Import Data."

1989: DOE, Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy, Form FE-781 R, "Annual Report of International Electrical Export/Import Data."

1990-1998: Data for Mexico: DOE, Fossil Energy, Office of Fuels Programs, Form FE-781 R, "Annual Report of International Electrical Export/Import Data." Data for Canada: the National Energy Board of Canada.

1999 forward: EIA estimates based on preliminary data from DOE, Fossil Energy, and actual data from the National Energy Board of Canada.

Sources for Table 7.3

1973-September 1977--Federal Power Commission Form FPC-4, "Monthly Power Plant Report."

October 1977-1979--Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Form FPC-4, "Monthly Power Plant Report."

1980--Energy Information Administration (EIA), Electric Power Monthly, March 1991, Table 4, and (for geothermal energy and other) FERC, Form FPC-4, "Monthly Power Plant Report."

1981--EIA, Electric Power Monthly, March 1992, Table 4, and (for geothermal energy and other) FERC, Form FPC-4, "Monthly Power Plant Report."

1982--EIA, Electric Power Monthly, March 1993, Table 4, and (for geothermal energy and other) EIA,

Form EIA-759, "Monthly Power Plant Report." 1983-1989--EIA, Electric Power Monthly, March 1994, Table 4, and (for small components) EIA, Form EIA-759, "Monthly Power Plant Report." 1990 forward--EIA, Electric Power Monthly, April 2000, Tables 4 and 5, and (for small components) EIA, Form EIA-759, "Monthly Power Plant Report."

Sources for Table 7.5

1973-September 1977--Federal Power Commission (FPC), Form FPC-5, "Monthly Statement of Electric Operating Revenue and Income."