Electricity
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EIA's latest Short-Term Energy Outlook for electricity ›
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EIA's latest monthly electricity analysis ›
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Natural gas demand at power plants was high in summer 2012 ›
Energy in Brief articles
What is the electric power grid?
The grid of electric power lines has evolved into three large interconnected systems that move electricity around the country. Standards have been developed by the electric power industry to ensure coordination for the linked operations.
How much of our electricity is generated from renewable sources?
U.S. power plants used renewable energy sources — water (hydroelectric), wood, wind, organic waste, geothermal, and sun — to generate about 13% of our electricity in 2011.
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Electricity Explained
Electricity in the United States
Most of the electricity in the United States is produced using steam turbines. Coal is the most common fuel for generating electricity in the United States. In 2011, 42% of the country's nearly 4 trillion kilowatthours of electricity used coal as its source of energy.
Use of electricity
Electricity consumption totaled nearly 3,856 billion Kilowatthours (kWh) in 2011. U.S. electricity use in 2011 was more than 13 times greater than electricity use in 1950.
Features
Electric Power Monthly
Released August 24, 2012Provides monthly statistics at the state, Census division, and U.S. levels for net generation, fossil fuel consumption and stocks, quantity and quality of fossil fuels, cost of fossil fuels, electricity sales, revenue, and average revenue per kilowatthour of electricity sold.
Electricity Monthly Update
Released August 24, 2012The Electricity Monthly Update is a new EIA product that replaces the Monthly Flash Estimates for Electric Power Data, containing the most recently monthly data.
Smart Grid Legislative and Regulatory Policies and Case Studies
Released December 12, 2011
In recent years, a number of U.S. states have adopted or are considering smart grid related laws, regulations, and voluntary or mandatory requirements. At the same time, the number of smart grid pilot projects has been increasing rapidly.
What's New in Electricity
NRG-GenOn acquisition plan would create the largest independent power producer
September 6, 2012
Wholesale Market Data
September 6, 2012
Electric grid operators monitoring drought conditions
September 4, 2012