Section 7. Electricity - Statistical Data Included

Monthly Energy Review, July, 2000

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 1999, U.S. electricity net generation totaled 3.7 trillion kilowatthours. Electric utilities generated 3.2 trillion kilowatthours (86 percent of the total) and nonutility power producers generated 0.5 trillion kilowatthours (14 percent). The Nation imported 42; billion kilowatthours of electricity and exported 14 billion kilowatthours.

Net Generation. In April 2000, net generation of electricity totaled 280 billion kilowatthours, 1 percent more than in April 1999. At utilities, net generation was 227 billion kilowatthours, down 5 percent, while at nonutility power plants, net generation was 52 billion kilowatthours, up 41 percent.

At utilities in April 2000, fossil fuels (primarily coal) accounted for 65 percent of net generation, nuclear 24 percent, and renewable resources 12 percent. At nonutility power plants, fossil fuels (primarily natural gas) accounted for 78 percent of net generation, 18 percent from renewable resources, and 4 percent other resources.

Electric Utility Retail Sales. In April 2000, utilities sold a total of 246 billion kilowatthours of electricity to end users, slightly more than in April 1999. In April 2000, industrial consumers purchased 86 billion kilowatthours of electricity (35 percent of the month's total), residential consumers 76 billion kilowatthours (31 percent), commercial users 76 billion kilowatthours (31 percent), and other users 8 billion kilowatthours (3 percent).

Consumption of Fossil Fuels. In April 2000, 71 million short tons of coal were consumed to generate electricity, slightly less than in April 1999. Of the total, 62 million short tons (8 percent less than a year earlier), were consumed at electric utilities and 9 million short tons (142 percent more than a year earlier) were consumed by nonutility power producers.

In April 2000, 444 billion cubic feet of natural gas was consumed to generate electricity, 3 percent less than in April 1999. Of the total, 214 billion cubic feet (16 percent less than a year earlier) was consumed by electric utilities and 230 billion cubic feet (13 percent more than a year earlier) was consumed by nonutility power plants.

Stocks of Coal and Petroleum. At the end of April 2000, 143 million short tons of coal were held in storage for electricity generation, 1 percent less than in April 1999. Of the total, 128 million short tons (8 percent less than a year earlier) were held at electric utilities and 15 million short tons (177 percent more than a year earlier) were held by nonutility power plants.

At the end of April 2000, 44 million barrels of petroleum liquids were held in storage for electricity generation, 19 percent less than in April 1999. Of the total, 38 million barrels were held at electric utilities and 7 million barrels were held by nonutility power plants.

[Figures 7.1-7.5 ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Sources for Table 7.1, 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, Fossil Energy, Form FE-781R, "Annual Report of International Electrical Export/Import Data."

1990-1998: Mexico's data: DOE, Fossil Energy, Office of Fuels Programs, Form FE-781R, "Annual Repsort of International Electrical Export/Import Data." Canada's data (metered energy, firm and interruptible): 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 199 l, 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, July 2000, Tables 4 and 5, and (for small components) EIA, Form EIA-759, "Monthly Power Plant Report."