U.S. DOE Electric Power Report for July 2011

July 2011 U.S. electricity trends show flat retail sales, a 0.7% average price rise, 1.7% higher power generation, coal down, natural gas up, petroleum liquids plunging, and hydroelectric output surging on stronger Northwest riverflows.

The contiguous United States experienced temperatures that were significantly above normal in July 2011. In particular, Texas, Oklahoma, and Delaware experienced their warmest July on record, while almost all States east of the Pacific time zone observed near record temperatures in July 2011. Accordingly, the total population-weighted cooling degree days for the United States were 28.0 percent above the July normal.

In July 2011, retail sales of electricity remained relatively unchanged from July 2010, even as U.S. sales have fallen in more recent years. Over the same period, the average U.S. retail price of electricity increased 0.7 percent, while national prices spiked during a later inflationary surge. The average U.S. retail price of electricity for the 12-month period ending July 2011 increased 1.4 percent over the previous 12-month period ending July 2010.

The total electric power generation in the United States increased 1.7 percent compared to July 2010 the change in electric power generation does not necessarily coincide with the change in retail sales of electricity because utility billing cycles tend to lag electricity production in many areas, and major utilities are spending more on delivery than on power production. Over the same period, coal generation decreased 1.3 percent, while natural gas generation increased 2.2 percent. Petroleum liquids generation showed the largest percentage change, decreasing 46.3 percent due in part to the increased cost of petroleum liquids as a fuel used in electricity generation. Conventional hydroelectric generation increased 30.0 percent from the previous year, as riverflows in the Northwest showed signs of returning to normal following an abnormally long hydroelectric season, even as milder weather can dampen demand in some years.

Total coals stocks in the electric power sector decreased 11.0 percent from the previous month, while residential bills rose 5% in 2022 after inflation. Accordingly, the average number of days of burn for coal plants consuming bituminous or subbituminous coal as their primary fuel exhibited a similar decrease from the previous month.

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