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  Data For: June 2004
  Report Released: September 13, 2004

  Next Release Date: Mid-October 2004


September 2004 Edition

Executive Summary

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Generation and Consumption of Fuels for Electricity Generation, June 2004

Generation: Total net generation of electric power in June 2004 was 342.4 terawatthours, a 5.7 percent increase over the 324.0 terawatthours generated in June 2003. Generation from coal-fired plants was 4.5 percent higher than in June 2003 and generation from natural gas-fired plants was 19.5 percent higher. Conventional hydroelectric generation declined by 11.4 percent (indicative of unusually low water conditions in the western United States).

 

Year-to-date total net generation (January through June 2004 compared to January through June 2003) increased 69.0 terawatthours or 3.7 percent. The largest increase was at natural gas-fired plants, where generation increased 11.1 percent, from 281.0 to 312.2 terawatthours. At nuclear power plants, generation increased 4.4 percent, from 373.2 to 389.5 terawatthours. Coal-fired generation increased 2.4 percent, from 943.4 to 966.3 terawatthours. Generation at conventional hydroelectric power plants decreased 6.4 percent, from 147.1 to 137.8 terawatthours.

Graphs showing the share of generation by energy source, the share of generation by sector, and generation by the three major energy sources (coal, nuclear and natural gas), are included in the executive summary for the first time this month. Year-to-date through June 2004, 50.4 percent of the Nation’s electric power was generated at coal-fired plants (Figure 1). Nuclear plants contributed 20.3 percent, 16.3 percent was generated by natural gas-fired plants, and 3.3 percent by petroleum-fired plants. Hydroelectric power contributed 7.0 percent, while other renewables (primarily wind, but also geothermal, solar, and biomass) and other miscellaneous energy sources generated the remaining 2.8 percent of electric power. Figure 2 shows net generation by month for the most recent months, through June 2004.

Consumption of Fuels: From June 2003 to June 2004 consumption of coal for electric power generation increased by 4.7 percent while consumption of petroleum liquids decreased by 2.8 percent. Natural gas consumption increased by 18.2 percent and petroleum coke consumption grew by 6.2 percent over the same time period.

Year-to-date consumption of coal for electric power generation increased by 2.7 percent. Natural gas consumption increased by 8.9 percent. The greater increase in generation at natural gas-fired plants (11.1 percent increase) indicates usage of newer, more efficient gas-fired generation. Liquid petroleum consumption decreased by 2.5 percent while consumption of petroleum coke increased 33.3 percent.

Industry Distribution of Generation and Consumption of Fuels: During June 2004, 65.5 percent of electric power generation was produced at utility power plants, 30.5 percent by independent power producers, and the remaining 4.0 percent at industrial and commercial combined heat and power plants. Utility‑operated power plants consumed 77.7 percent of the coal for electric power generation, compared to 20.8 percent by independent power producers. Also, utilities consumed 67.2 percent of the petroleum liquids, compared to 28.4 percent by independent power producers. While utilities accounted for the largest share of coal and petroleum liquids consumption, the reverse was true for natural gas, with independent power producers consuming 53.7 percent of the gas compared to 33.9 percent by utilities. The balance of coal, petroleum liquids and gas consumption is attributable to industrial and commercial combined heat and power plants.

For the period of January through June 2004, utility power plants produced 65.0 percent of the electric power in the Nation, while independent power producers (IPP) contributed 30.9 percent (Figure 3). The remaining 4.1 percent was generated by industrial and commercial combined heat and power plants. Year-to-date, utility operated plants consumed 76.9 percent of the coal, 32.0 percent of the natural gas, and 55.9 percent of liquid petroleum used to generate electric power. IPPs consumed 21.8 percent of the coal, 54.7 percent of the natural gas, and 39.5 percent of the liquid petroleum for electric power generation. Industrial CHP plants consumed the balance of fossil fuels for electric power generation.

Fuel Costs and Receipts, May 2004

The average price paid for natural gas by electricity generators in May was $6.09 per MMBtu. This was 8.8 percent higher than the April price of $5.60 per MMBtu, and 10.5 percent higher than the May 2003 price of $5.51 per MMBtu. The average price paid for petroleum liquids was $5.14 per MMBtu in May, an 11.0 percent increase when compared with the $4.63 per MMBtu price in April and 4.8 percent less than in May 2003. The average price of coal to electricity generators in May was $1.32 per MMBtu, up 1.5 percent from April 2004 and up 3.1 percent from May 2003.

Year-to-date, the average price paid for natural gas by electricity generators in May 2004 was $5.77 per MMBtu, a decrease of 1.0 percent from the same period in 2003. Year-to-date petroleum liquid prices were $4.81 per MMBtu, down 8.2 percent and coal prices were $1.30 per MMBtu, up 1.6 percent from the same period in 2003.

Retail Sales, Revenue and Average Retail Price, June 2004

Retail Sales, Revenue and Average Retail Price, June 2004. EIA previously collected retail sales and revenue data in a category described as "Other." This category was defined as including activities such as public street highway lighting, other sales to public authorities, sales to railroads and railways, and interdepartmental sales. In January 2004, EIA revised its survey to separate specifically the transportation data and reassigned the other activities not determined to be "Transportation" to the commercial and industrial sectors as appropriate. EIA is currently evaluating the data collected for "Transportation" and will publish them in the near future. The increase in both monthly and year-to-date commercial sales and revenues over last year can be attributed in part to this reclassification of "other" that cannot be classified as "Transportation."

Sales: June 2004 retail electricity sales were 6.1 percent higher than those for June 2003. Residential sales increased 11.5 percent and the commercial sector sales increased for the sixth consecutive month over last year as an indication of the reclassification explained above. Year-to-date electricity sales are now running 2.4 percent higher than year-to-date retail sales in 2003.

Revenue: Electricity revenues reflected an overall increase of 8.1 percent in June 2004 over June 2003. These gains are observed across all sectors. The June 2004 residential sector revenues were 12.0 percent over June 2003 and commercial revenues were 12.4 percent higher than the revenue for June 2003. June 2004 year-to-date revenues increased 4.0 percent over the year-to-date revenues for the same reporting period last year.

Prices: The overall price of retail electricity in June 2004 showed an increase of 1.9 percent over June 2003. This increase in price is reflected primarily in the industrial sector. Year-to-date electricity prices are 1.7 percent higher than for the same reporting period last year, reflecting increases in both the industrial and residential sectors (Figure 4).


CONTACTS

Jorge Luna-Camara - Coordinator
jorge.luna-camara@eia.doe.gov
Phone: (202) 287-1753


Melvin Johnson - Generation, Consumption, and Stocks
melvin.johnson@eia.doe.gov
Phone: (202) 287-1754


Charlene Harris-Russell - Sales, Revenue, and Average Retail Price of Electricity
charlene.harris-russell@eia.doe.gov
Phone: (202) 287-1747

Stephen Scott - Utility Fuel Receipts, Costs, and Quality
stephen.scott@eia.doe.gov
Phone: (202) 287-
1737

Rebecca McNerney- Nonutility Fuel Receipts, Costs, and Quality
rebecca.mcnerney@eia.doe.gov
Phone: (202) 287-
1913

Channele Wirman - Nonutility Generation, Consumption, and Stocks
channele.wirman@eia.doe.gov
Phone: (202) 287-
1928