Electricity
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EIA's latest Short-Term Energy Outlook for electricity ›
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Cheaper natural gas alters generation dispatch in Southeast ›
EIA's latest monthly electricity analysis ›
EIA projects annual growth in U.S. electricity generation averaging 0.9 % ›
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.
See all Energy In Brief articles ›
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
Short-Term Energy Outlook
Released December 11, 2012 | Next Release: Janurary 8, 2013
EIA's monthly energy projections through 2013 includes projections for electricity generation and prices.
Annual Energy Outlook 2013 Early Release
Released December 5, 2013
This release is an abridged version of the Annual Energy Outlook that highlights changes in the AEO Reference case projections for key energy topics, including electricity. The Early Release includes data tables for the Reference case only. The full AEO2013 will be released Spring of 2013.
What's New in Electricity
Electricity Wholesale Market Data
December 13, 2012
Cheaper natural gas alters generation dispatch in Southeast
December 6, 2012
Canada Week: Integrated electric grid improves reliability for United States, Canada
November 27, 2012