Capacity | Generation | Fuel Mix | Emission Reductions | Energy Efficiency | Customers, Sales, Revenues | Financial | Transmission | More for Members

Statistical Highlights

EEI maintains comprehensive statistical data on the electric industry and shareholder-owned electric companies. Below are quick statistical highlights providing an overview of the electric power industry. For more detailed information see: Products and Services.

Capacity

• The U.S. electric power industry's total installed generating capacity was 1,152,183 megawatts (MW) as of December 31, 2011—a 1.3-percent increase from 2010.
• U.S. shareholder-owned installed generating capacity was 416,189 MW as of December 31, 2011. This accounts for approximately 36 percent of total electric power industry installed capacity.
• Non-utility owned installed generating capacity grew from 480,661 MW in 2011 to 487,788 in 2011.

Generation

• In 2011, total U.S. electricity generation was 4,100,656 gigawatt-hours (GWh)—a 0.6 percent decrease from 2010.
• U.S. shareholder electric companies accounted for 1,571,269 GWh, or 38.3 percent, of total U.S. electricity generation.
• Electricity generation at non-utility-owned plants totaled 1,619,963 GWh and accounted for 39.5 percent of the total electricity generation in the United States.
• Read more about Electricity Generation.

Fuel Mix

2011 National Fuel Mix

• Coal provided 42.3 percent of our nation's electricity.
• Natural gas supplied 24.7 percent. 
• Nuclear energy produced 19.3 percent.
• Hydropower provided 7.6 percent of the supply. 
• Other renewable resources, such as geothermal, solar, and wind, provided 4.7 percent.
• Fuel oil provided 0.7 percent of the generation mix.  
• Other miscellaneous sources provided 0.6 percent.
• Learn more about the Diverse Fuels used to generate electricity.

Emission Reductions 

• The U.S. electric power sector has reduced air emissions substantially under existing programs.  Over the past 30 years, the industry has cut sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x) emissions by about 70 percent. 
• Ozone emissions in the eastern United States have been cut by 80 percent.  These efforts also cut emissions of mercury by about 50 percent.
• Read more about our industry's Climate Actions.

• From 1989 - 2010, electric utility efficiency programs saved about 1,171 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity.

• These efficiency programs saved enough electricity to power 102 million average U.S. homes for one year (based on 2010 average residential usage of 11,500 kWh/year).
• Learn more about the electric utility industry's energy-efficiency efforts.

Customers, Sales, and Revenues

• In 2011, the average number of ultimate customers served by the electric industry totaled 144,509,146—a 0.3 percent increase from 2010.
• The average electricity use per customer was 25,949 kilowatt-hours (kWh).
• Total electric utility revenues from sales to ultimate customers equaled $371 billion—a 0.6 percent increase from 2010.
• The average revenue received per kWh sold was 9.90 cents.
• According to the Energy Information Administration's Annual Energy Outlook 2013, electricity demand  is projected to decrease 0.1 percent in 2012.  Overall, electricity demand is expected to increase a total of 28.4 percent from 2011 to 2040.

Financial 

• In 2010, total energy operating revenues of shareholder-owned electric companies were $371.5 billion.
• Consolidated holding company-level assets of shareholder-owned electric companies were $1,134.9 billion as of December 31, 2010.
• Of these assets, $664.4 billion were net property in service.
• Total market capitalization of U.S. shareholder-owned electric companies was $407.3 billion on December 31, 2010.
• Read more financial statistics in EEI's Financial Review.

Transmission

• Shareholder-owned electric utilities spent approximately $11.1 billion on transmission investment in 2011, compared to $10.2 billion in 2010 (in nominal dollars).
• Shareholder-owned electric utilities are planning to invest $55 billion on transmission construction between 2012 and 2015 (Real $2011). 
• Read more about the electricity Transmission System.
• Access Construction Expenditure Data from the shareholder-owned electric utilities sector.

More for Members

• Many of EEI's for-sale statistical products are free to EEI members using their login. Print copies of the publications can be Purchased for an additional cost.

• Glossary of Electric Industry Terms 
  This invaluable reference gives you practical definitions for terms commonly used throughout the electric power industry — plus the meanings of the latest terminology.

• Profiles and Rankings of Shareholder-Owned Electric Companies 
  A resource for company-level information and key comparative industry data on most shareholder-owned electric companies.
• Statistical Yearbook of the Electric Utility Industry 
  The premier reference source for electric utility operations and financial performance statistics.
• Weekly Electric Output 
  Provides up-to-date electric output data for nine geographic areas, as well as the U.S. total (electronic subscription).

EEI Staff Contacts

• Chris Eisenbrey
  ceisenbrey@eei.org or 202-508-5574
• Stephen Frauenheim
  sfrauenheim@eei.org or 202-508-5580
• Peggy Suggs
  psuggs@eei.org or 202-508-5572