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 1,119,673 megawatts (MW) as of December 31, 2009—a 1.0-percent increase from 2008.
• U.S. shareholder-owned installed generating capacity was 406,539 MW as of December 31, 2009. This accounts for approximately 36 percent of total electric power industry installed capacity.
• Non-utility owned installed generating capacity grew from 471,102 MW in 2008 to 476,502 in 2009.

Generation

• In 2009, total U.S. electricity generation was 3,949,694 gigawatt-hours (GWh)—a 4.1percent decrease from 2008.
• U.S. shareholder electric companies accounted for 1,561,291 GWh, or 39.5 percent, of total U.S. electricity generation.
• Electricity generation at non-utility-owned plants totaled 1,542,020 GWh and accounted for 39.0 percent of the total electricity generation in the United States.
• Read more about Electricity Generation.

Fuel Mix

2010 National Fuel Mix

• Coal provided 44.9 percent of our nation's electricity.
• Natural gas supplied 23.8 percent. 
• Nuclear energy produced 19.6 percent.
• Hydropower provided 6.1 percent of the supply. 
• Other renewable resources, such as geothermal, solar, and wind, provided 4.1 percent.
• Fuel oil provided 0.9 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 2009, the average number of ultimate customers served by the electric industry totaled 143,497,060—a 0.2 percent increase from 2008.
• The average electricity use per customer was 25,066 kilowatt-hours (kWh).
• Total electric utility revenues from sales to ultimate customers equaled $353 billion—a 2.8 percent decrease from 2008.
• The average revenue received per kWh sold was 9.83 cents.
• According to the Energy Information Administration's preliminary 2010 data, electricity demand increased 4.3 percent in 2010, and is projected to decrease 1.5 percent in 2011.  Overall, electricity demand is expected to increase a total of 19.5 percent from 2010 to 2035.

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 $10.2 billion on transmission investment in 2010, compared to $9.3 billion in 2009 (in nominal dollars).
• Shareholder-owned electric utilities are planning to continue increasing their transmission investments, from approximately $12.6 billion in 2011 to $13.5 billion in 2014.
• 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