U.S. 2018 Electricity Sales Set New Record
Up 4% over 2017
Power consumption increase caused by:
- warmer summers
- population growthResidential and commercial power consumption increase in 2018, industrial declined
The following consists of excerpts from U.S EIA publications. See list of sources at end of this report.
U.S. net electricity generation increased by 4% in 2018, reaching a record high of 4,178 million megaWatthours (MWh), according to the Department of Energy - Energy Information Administration’s Electric Power Monthly - December 2018. Last year was the first time total utility-scale generation surpassed the pre-recession peak of 4,157 million MWh set in 2007.
Annual electric energy, United States, 1950 - 2018. U.S. Energy Information Administration graph with Linecurrents edits. <tap-click to enlarge>
Weather is the primary driver of year-to-year fluctuations in electricity demand.
The increased demand for electricity in 2018 - including record demand in the commercial and residential sectors - is largely attributable to cold winters and a hot summer.
Hotter summers trend
Population-weighted cooling degree days, an indicator of warm weather and air conditioning demand, reached a record high in 2018.
Cooling-degree days, United States, 2000 - 2018. U.S. Energy Information Administration graph with Linecurrents edits. <tap-click to enlarge>
Electric A/C cooling
About 87% of U.S. households cool their homes in the summer with air conditioning,
Indoor cooling/air-conditioning types by U.S. region. U.S. EIA map/chart with Linecurrents edits. <tap-click to enlarge>
Electric indoor space heating
Heating degree days, the indicator of cold weather and space heating demand, were also higher in 2018 than in recent years. Thirty-five percent of U.S. homes use electricity as their primary heating source during the winter.
Heating-degree days, United States, 2000 - 2018. U.S. Energy Information Administration graph with Linecurrents edits. <tap-click to enlarge>
Residential, commercial & industrial electric power consumption
The hot summer and relatively cold winter months of 2018 contributed to increased retail electricity sales to the residential sector, up 6% from the previous year.
Electricity use in commercial buildings is also affected by the weather but to a lesser degree; electricity sales to the commercial sector last year increased 2% from 2017.
Electricity use in the industrial sector has been relatively unchanged in recent years, with 2018 electricity sales to this sector 3% lower than in 2017.
Economic and population growth are the primary drivers of rising electricity demand, with the number of households growing 0.7% per year and commercial floorspace increasing 1.0% per year from 2018 through 2050 in EIA’s Annual Energy Outlook 2019 Reference case. Electricity sales to the residential and commercial sectors are expected to grow more slowly, at 0.4% and 0.5%, respectively, as improvements in technology and energy efficiency standards moderate electricity consumption growth.
Electric energy sales by consumer scetor, United States, 1950 - 2018. U.S. Energy Information Administration graph with Linecurrents edits. <tap-click too enlarge>
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Sources - more info:
Record U.S. electricity generation in 2018 driven by record residential, commercial sales . . . U. S. Energy Information Administration - March 6, 2019
Air conditioning and other appliances increase residential electricity use in the summer . . . U. S. Energy Information Administration - May 22, 2017
Electric Power Monthly - December 2018 . . . U. S. Energy Information Administration - Release date: February 27, 2019