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U.S. electricity generation 1950-2017
U.S. electricity generation 1950-2017
Total electricity net generation in the U.S. from 1950 to 2017 (in billion kilowatt hours)
This statistic represents the total electricity net generation in the United States between 1950 and 2017. In 2017, approximately 4.01 trillion kilowatt hours of electricity were generated in the United States.
U.S. electricity generation
In 2016, the United States generated some four petawatt hours of electricity. Broken down by energy source, this includes about 36.75 billion kilowatt hours from solar energy and 226.49 billion kilowatt hours from wind power. While the bulk of US electricity is produced by investor-owned electric utilities, municipal utilities, federal agencies and utility co-operatives, a growing fraction of electricity – especially from renewable sources – is generated by private homes and businesses. As renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are gaining in importance, large companies including Google and IKEA are starting to accelerate renewable energy installations in order to actually produce more power than they use. Between 2005 and 2015, U.S. renewable energy generation increased from 358 terawatt hours to 550 terawatt hours of electricity.
The residential sector was ranked as the largest consumer of electricity in the United States. Retail electricity sales of some 1.41 petawatt hours went to residential users in 2016. Residential consumers are also asked to pay the most for electricity. The average retail price of electricity stood at around 10.28 US dollar cents per kilowatt hour in 2016. Residential users paid the highest prices for electricity while the commercial industry paid about 9.46 U.S. cents per kilowatt hour in comparison.
Total electricity net generation in the U.S. from 1950 to 2017 (in billion kilowatt hours)
Loading statistic...
| Net generation in billion kilowatt hours | |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 4,015 |
| 2016 | 4,077 |
| 2015 | 4,078 |
| 2014 | 4,094 |
| 2013 | 4,066 |
| 2012 | 4,048 |
| 2011 | 4,100 |
| 2010 | 4,125 |
| 2005 | 4,055 |
| 2000 | 3,802 |
| 1995 | 3,354 |
| 1990 | 3,038 |
| 1985 | 2,473 |
| 1980 | 2,290 |
| 1975 | 1,921 |
| 1970 | 1,535 |
| 1965 | 1,058 |
| 1960 | 759 |
| 1955 | 550 |
| 1950 | 334 |
| Net generation in billion kilowatt hours | |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 4,015 |
| 2016 | 4,077 |
| 2015 | 4,078 |
| 2014 | 4,094 |
| 2013 | 4,066 |
| 2012 | 4,048 |
| 2011 | 4,100 |
| 2010 | 4,125 |
| 2005 | 4,055 |
| 2000 | 3,802 |
| 1995 | 3,354 |
| 1990 | 3,038 |
| 1985 | 2,473 |
| 1980 | 2,290 |
| 1975 | 1,921 |
| 1970 | 1,535 |
| 1965 | 1,058 |
| 1960 | 759 |
| 1955 | 550 |
| 1950 | 334 |
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This statistic represents the total electricity net generation in the United States between 1950 and 2017. In 2017, approximately 4.01 trillion kilowatt hours of electricity were generated in the United States.
U.S. electricity generation
In 2016, the United States generated some four petawatt hours of electricity. Broken down by energy source, this includes about 36.75 billion kilowatt hours from solar energy and 226.49 billion kilowatt hours from wind power. While the bulk of US electricity is produced by investor-owned electric utilities, municipal utilities, federal agencies and utility co-operatives, a growing fraction of electricity – especially from renewable sources – is generated by private homes and businesses. As renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are gaining in importance, large companies including Google and IKEA are starting to accelerate renewable energy installations in order to actually produce more power than they use. Between 2005 and 2015, U.S. renewable energy generation increased from 358 terawatt hours to 550 terawatt hours of electricity.
The residential sector was ranked as the largest consumer of electricity in the United States. Retail electricity sales of some 1.41 petawatt hours went to residential users in 2016. Residential consumers are also asked to pay the most for electricity. The average retail price of electricity stood at around 10.28 US dollar cents per kilowatt hour in 2016. Residential users paid the highest prices for electricity while the commercial industry paid about 9.46 U.S. cents per kilowatt hour in comparison.
Show moreU.S. electricity generation
In 2016, the United States generated some four petawatt hours of electricity. Broken down by energy source, this includes about 36.75 billion kilowatt hours from solar energy and 226.49 billion kilowatt hours from wind power. While the bulk of US electricity is produced by investor-owned electric utilities, municipal utilities, federal agencies and utility co-operatives, a growing fraction of electricity – especially from renewable sources – is generated by private homes and businesses. As renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are gaining in importance, large companies including Google and IKEA are starting to accelerate renewable energy installations in order to actually produce more power than they use. Between 2005 and 2015, U.S. renewable energy generation increased from 358 terawatt hours to 550 terawatt hours of electricity.
The residential sector was ranked as the largest consumer of electricity in the United States. Retail electricity sales of some 1.41 petawatt hours went to residential users in 2016. Residential consumers are also asked to pay the most for electricity. The average retail price of electricity stood at around 10.28 US dollar cents per kilowatt hour in 2016. Residential users paid the highest prices for electricity while the commercial industry paid about 9.46 U.S. cents per kilowatt hour in comparison.
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- Release date
- March 2018
- Region
- United States
- Survey time period
- 1950 to 2017
- Supplementary notes
- The values have been rounded to provide a better understanding of the statistic.
Source
- Show sources information
- Show publisher information
- Release date
- March 2018
More information
- Region
- United States
- Survey time period
- 1950 to 2017
- Supplementary notes
- The values have been rounded to provide a better understanding of the statistic.
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Statistics on "Electricity in the United States"
- Electricity generation and use
The most important statistics
- Total electricity net generation in the U.S. from 1950 to 2017 (in billion kilowatt hours)U.S. electricity generation 1950-2017
- Total U.S. electricity net generation from 1990 to 2017, by fuel (in billion kilowatt hours)*Electricity generation by fuel in the United States 1990-2017
- Electricity generation by electric utilities in the U.S. from 2001 to 2017 (in million megawatt hours)U.S. electricity generation: electric utilities 2001-2017
- U.S. electricity exports from 1999 to 2017 (in gigawatt hours)Energy in the U.S. - electricity exports 1999-2017
- U.S. electricity imports from 1999 to 2017 (in terawatt hours)Energy in the U.S. - electricity imports 1999-2017
- Number of heating degree-days in the U.S. from 1950 to 2017Number of heating degree-days in the U.S. 1950-2017
- Number of cooling degree-days in the U.S. from 1950 to 2017Number of U.S. cooling degree-days 1950-2017
- Total electricity end use in the U.S. from 1975 to 2017 (in billion kilowatt hours)Electricity end use in the U.S. 1975-2017
- Retail electricity prices
The most important statistics
- Average retail electricity prices in the U.S. from 1990 to 2018 (in U.S. cents per kilowatt hour)U.S. average retail electricity prices 1990-2018
- Average U.S. retail prices of electricity between 1998 and 2017, by sector (in cents per kilowatt hour)* Average retail electricity price in the U.S. by sector 1998-2017
- Projected annual growth in U.S. residential electricity prices from 2000 to 2017U.S. residential electricity price growth forecast 2017
- Retail electricity sales in the United States from 1980 to 2017 (in billion kilowatt hours)*U.S. retail sales of electricity 1980-2017
- U.S. states with the highest electricity prices in 2017 (in U.S. dollars per million British thermal units)*Highest U.S. electricity prices among key states 2017
- U.S. electricity industry
The most important statistics
- Number of U.S. electricity providers in 2017, by ownership typeU.S. electricity providers by type 2017
- Value added of the U.S. utility sector from 1998 to 2017 (in million U.S. dollars)Value added of the U.S. utility sector 1998-2017
- Free cash flow for U.S. shareholder-owned electric utilities from 2002 to 2017 (in billion U.S. dollars)Free cash flow for shareholder-owned utilities: U.S. 2002-2017
- Net change in long-term debt of U.S. shareholder-owned electric utilities from 2002 to 2017 (in billion U.S. dollars)Long-term debt of shareholder-owned utilities: U.S. 2002-2017
- Operating expenses of U.S. shareholder-owned utilities in 2017, by category (in million U.S. dollars)Operating expenses by category: U.S. shareholder-owned utilities 2017
- Value of property, plant and equipment in service for U.S. shareholder-owned electric utilities from 2010 to 2017 (in million U.S. dollars)Property, plant & equipment: U.S. shareholder-owned utilities 2010-2017
- Largest electric utilities in the U.S. as of May 11, 2018, based on market value (in billion U.S. dollars)Largest U.S. electric utilities based on market value 2018
- Leading U.S. electric utilities based on the number of customers in 2017 (in 1,000s) Leading electric utilities based on number of consumers 2017
- Major U.S. utilities
The most important statistics
- Revenue of the American Electric Power Company from 2012 to 2018 (in million U.S. dollars)American Electric Power's revenue 2012-2018
- Operating revenue for Dominion Energy, Inc. from FY 2011 to FY 2018 (in million U.S. dollars)Dominion Energy's operating revenue 2011-2018
- Electricity sales of Duke Energy in FY 2018, by regulated utility (in gigwatt hours)Duke Energy's electricity sales by utility 2018
- Number of Edison International employees from FY 2010 to FY 2018Number of Edison International employees 2010-2018
- Number of customers of Southern Company in FY 2018, by sector (in 1,000s)Southern Company's customers by sector 2018
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Statistics
- U.S. electricity generation - independent power producers 1998-2015
- U.S. electric utilities - power net generation 1998-2015
- U.S. electric power plants by energy source 2016
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- U.S. electricity: number of power plants by sector 2010
- Solar energy generation in California 2006-2015
- Hydropower as a percentage of total electricity generating capacity 2000-2015
- Renewable electricity generation in Texas
- Renewable and total electricity net summer capacity
- Electricity net generation in Northwest Territory by fuel
- Geothermal energy generation in California 2003-2009
- Electricity net generation in Nova Scotia by fuel: 2010 and 2035
- U.S. electricity generation from solar sources by sector
- U.S. electricity production costs by source 2000-2014
- Quarterly industrial power generation PV module domestic shipment Japan FY 2017-2018
- Power generating machinery LPI in Japan 2010-2017
- Noncoincident electric summer peak load for contiguous U.S. 1990-2015
- Number of employees of Direct Énergie 2011-2016
- Hawaii's residential sector retail electricity sales 1990-2015
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- Electricity in India
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- Electricity in Brazil
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- Electricity in the United States
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- Electricity consumption in the United Kingdom (UK)
- Electricity production and consumption in Italy
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Statistics on "Electricity in the United States"
- Total electricity net generation in the U.S. from 1950 to 2017 (in billion kilowatt hours)
- Total U.S. electricity net generation from 1990 to 2017, by fuel (in billion kilowatt hours)*
- Electricity generation by electric utilities in the U.S. from 2001 to 2017 (in million megawatt hours)
- U.S. electricity exports from 1999 to 2017 (in gigawatt hours)
- U.S. electricity imports from 1999 to 2017 (in terawatt hours)
- Number of heating degree-days in the U.S. from 1950 to 2017
- Number of cooling degree-days in the U.S. from 1950 to 2017
- Total electricity end use in the U.S. from 1975 to 2017 (in billion kilowatt hours)
- U.S. industrial electricity use from 1980 to 2017, based on retail sales (in billion kilowatt hours)*
- U.S. retail electricity sales to commercial customers from 1980 to 2017 (in billion kilowatt hours)*
- U.S. residential retail electricity sales from 1999 to 2018 (in billion kilowatt hours)
- Average retail electricity prices in the U.S. from 1990 to 2018 (in U.S. cents per kilowatt hour)
- Average U.S. retail prices of electricity between 1998 and 2017, by sector (in cents per kilowatt hour)*
- Projected annual growth in U.S. residential electricity prices from 2000 to 2017
- Retail electricity sales in the United States from 1980 to 2017 (in billion kilowatt hours)*
- U.S. states with the highest electricity prices in 2017 (in U.S. dollars per million British thermal units)*
- Number of U.S. electricity providers in 2017, by ownership type
- Value added of the U.S. utility sector from 1998 to 2017 (in million U.S. dollars)
- Free cash flow for U.S. shareholder-owned electric utilities from 2002 to 2017 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Net change in long-term debt of U.S. shareholder-owned electric utilities from 2002 to 2017 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Operating expenses of U.S. shareholder-owned utilities in 2017, by category (in million U.S. dollars)
- Value of property, plant and equipment in service for U.S. shareholder-owned electric utilities from 2010 to 2017 (in million U.S. dollars)
- Largest electric utilities in the U.S. as of May 11, 2018, based on market value (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Leading U.S. electric utilities based on the number of customers in 2017 (in 1,000s)
- Revenue of the American Electric Power Company from 2012 to 2018 (in million U.S. dollars)
- Operating revenue for Dominion Energy, Inc. from FY 2011 to FY 2018 (in million U.S. dollars)
- Electricity sales of Duke Energy in FY 2018, by regulated utility (in gigwatt hours)
- Number of Edison International employees from FY 2010 to FY 2018
- Number of customers of Southern Company in FY 2018, by sector (in 1,000s)
- Electricity net generation through independent power producers in the U.S. from 1998 to 2015 (in million kilowatt hours)
- Electricity generation by U.S. electric utilities from 1998 to 2015 (in million megawatt hours)
- Number of power plants in the United States in 2016, by energy source
- Annual number of grid-connected PV installations in the U.S. from 2000 to 2009
- Number of combined heat and power (CHP) plants in the U.S. from 2010 to 2017, by energy source
- Number of U.S. power plants in 2010, by sector
- Solar power generation in California between 2006 and 2015 (in 1,000 megawatt hours)
- Hydropower electricity capacity as a percentage of total electricity generating capacity in the U.S. from 2000 to 2015
- Renewable electricity generation in Texas between 2003 and 2009 (in million kilowatt hours)*
- Renewable and total electricity net summer capacity in the U.S. between 2005 and 2010 (in megawatts)
- Electricity net generation from selected fuels in Northwest Territory in 2010 and 2035 (in gigawatt hours)*
- Geothermal energy generation in California U.S. between 2003 and 2009 (in million kilowatt hours)
- Electricity net generation from selected fuels in Nova Scotia in 2010 and 2035 (in gigawatt hours)*
- Electricity net generation from solar thermal and PV in 2010, by sector (in 1,000 kilowatt hours)
- U.S. electricity production costs from 2000 to 2014, by source (in cents per kilowatt hour)*
- Quarterly domestic shipment volume of photovoltaic (PV) modules for industrial power generation in Japan in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (in 1,000 kW)
- Labor productivity index (LPI) of power generating and distributing electrical machinery in Japan from 2010 to 2017
- Electric noncoincident summer peak load for the contiguous United States from 1990 to 2015 (in megawatts)
- Number of employees of the French company Direct Énergie from 2011 to 2016*
- Residential retail electricity sales from the electricity sector in Hawaii from 1990 to 2015 (in million megawatt hours)
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