Electric Power Sector Coal Stocks: July 2012

 

In July 2012, total coal stocks decreased 7.0 percent from the previous month as the continental United States consumes more coal for electricity generation during the hot, summer months. However, total coal stocks remained at relatively high levels in July 2012, due to the relatively cheap price of natural gas observed over the previous month.

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. In July 2012, total bituminous supply continued to show a slight uptick from the previous month, increasing to 82 days of burn. Total subbituminous supply remained unchanged at 71 days of burn. However, because coal consumption patterns are significantly different than past years, the actual days of burn held at electric power plants is likely higher than this metric, which is based on past consumption patterns.

Coal Stocks and Average Number of Days of Burn for Non-Lignite Coal by Region (Electric Power Sector)

		July 2012			July 2011			June 2012
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	7,454	61		6,200	45	20.2%	9,501	70	-21.5%
	Subbituminous	485	31		517	24	-6.2%	533	34	-9.1%
South	Bituminous	46,847	87		35,930	57	30.4%	51,718	84	-9.4%
	Subbituminous	7,549	70		4,115	36	83.4%	8,118	71	-7.0%
Midwest	Bituminous	17,890	73		13,065	50	36.9%	19,404	72	-7.8%
	Subbituminous	46,014	68		38,060	54	20.9%	48,842	67	-5.8%
West	Bituminous	7,410	126		7,502	122	-1.2%	7,354	118	0.8%
	Subbituminous	33,987	77		27,079	61	25.5%	35,238	77	-3.6%
U.S. Total	Bituminous	79,601	83		62,698	58	27.0%	87,977	82	-9.5%
	Subbituminous	88,035	71		69,770	54	26.2%	92,732	71	-5.1%

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