Executive Summary

1. Introduction

2. Coal Distribution and Sulfur Content
    Coal Demand by Region
    Coal Supply by Region
      Regions Defined
      Regional Coal Characteristics
      Coal Distribution Shares By Supply Region
      Transportation Mode

3. Rail Coal Transportation Rates and Patterns
    Overall Trends in U.S. Rail Coal Transportation, Sulfur Levels, and Rates
      Coal Sulfur Levels
      Coal Transportation Distances
      Coal Transportation Rates
    Regional Patterns and Changes in U.S. Rail Coal Transportation
      Demand Regions - Contract Coal Transportation by Rail
      Demand at Boilers Affected by Phase I of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990
      Supply Regions - Contract Coal Transportation by Rail

Appendices

    A. Detailed Description of the Coal Transportation Rate Data Base
    B. Characteristics of Coal Supply Contracts Reported on the FERC Form 580
    C. Contract Coal Transportation Rates in Nominal Dollars

Tables

1.    Coal Demand Regions and Relevant Characteristics, 1988, 1993, and 1997

2.     Average BTU and Sulfur Content of Domestic Coal Received by Electric Utilities, 1988, 1993, and 1997

3.    Coal Supply Regions and Their Domestic Coal Distribution Shares, 1997

4.    Percentage of Demand Region Coal Receipts Coming from Each Supply Region, 1988, 1993, and 1997

5.    Domestic Coal Distribution by Demand Region and Transportation Mode, 1988, 1993, and 1997

6.    Tons of Contract Coal Shipped by Rail, by Sulfur Category, 1988-1997

7.    Average Distance of Contract Coal Rail Shipments by Rail, by Sulfur Category, 1988-1997

8.    Average Rate per Ton for Contract Coal Shipments by Rail, by Sulfur Category, 1988-1997

9.    Average Rate per Ton-Mile for Contract Coal Shipments by Rail, by Sulfur Category, 1988-1997

10.  Transportation Cost as a Percentage of Delivered Price for Contract Coal Shipments by Rail, by Sulfur Category, 1988-1997

11.  Low-Sulfur Coal Cost Variables for Contract Coal Shipments by Rail 1988, 1993, 1997

12.  Average Rate per Million Btu for Contract Coal Shipments by Rail, by Sulfur Category, 1988-1998

13.  Average Rate per Ton for Contract Coal Shipments by Rail Between Selected Supply and Demand Regions, 1988, 1993, and 1997

14.  Average Rate per Ton-Mile for Contract Coal Rail Shipments Between Selected Supply and Demand Regions, 1988, 1993, 1997

15.  Middle Atlantic Demand Region - Selected Statistics for Contract Coal Shipments by Rail to Electric Utilities, 1988, 1993, and 1997

16.  East North Central Demand Region - Selected Statistics for Contract Coal Shipments by Rail to Electric Utilities, 1988, 1993, and 1997

17. West North Central Demand Region - Selected Statistics for Contract Coal Shipments by Rail to Electric Utilities, 1988, 1993, and 1997

18. South Atlantic Demand Region - Selected Statistics for Contract Coal Shipments by Rail to Electric Utilities, 1988, 1993, and 1997

19. East South Central Demand Region - Selected Statistics for Contract Coal Shipments by Rail to Electric Utilities, 1988, 1993, and 1997

20. West South Central Demand Region - Selected Statistics for Contract Coal Shipments by Rail to Electric Utilities, 1988, 1993, and 1997

21. West South Central Demand Region - Comparison of Total Domestic Coal Receipts on FERC Form 423 with FERC Form 580 Contract Coal Receipts and Supplementary Data on Receipts, by State, 1988, 1993, and 1997

22. Mountain Demand Region - Selected Statistics for Contract Coal Shipments by Rail to Electric Utilities, 1988, 1993, 1997

23. Changes in Rail-Shipped Contract Coal Transportation at Phase I-Affected Boilers Compared to All Boilers, 1988, 1993 and 1997

24. Northern Appalachia Supply Region - Selected Statistics for Utility Coal Shipments by Rail, 1988, 1993, and 1997

25. Central Appalachia Supply Region - Selected Statistics for Utility Coal Shipments by Rail, 1988, 1993, and1997

26. Illinois Basin Supply Region - Selected Statistics for Utility Coal Shipments by Rail, 1988, 1993 and 1997

27. Powder River Basin Supply Region - Selected Statistics for Utility Coal Shipments by Rail, 1988, 1993, and 1997

28. Powder River Basin Supply Region - Changes in Rail Distribution of Contract Coal to Major Demand Regions, 1988, 1993, and 1997

29. Rockies Supply Region - Selected Statistics for Utility Coal Shipments by Rail, 1988, 1993, and 1997

A1. Comparison of FERC Form 423 and Coal Transportation Rate Database Coal Tonnages, 1979-1997

A2. Data Elements Available for the Calculation of Average Distance Shipped, 1979-1997

A3. Data Elements Available for the Calculation of Average Transportation Rate per Ton, 1979-1997

A4. Data Elements Available for the Calculation of Average Transportation Rate per Ton-Mile, 1979-1997

B1. Utility Contract Coal Shipments in 1997 by Utility, Contract Expiration Date, and Power Plant

C1. Average Rate per Ton for Contract Coal Shipments by Rail, by Sulfur Category, 1988-1997

C2. Average Rate per Million Btu for Contract Coal Shipments by Rail, by Sulfur Category, 1988-1997

C3. Average Rate per Ton-Mile for Contract Coal Shipments by Rail, by Sulfur Category, 1988-1997

C4. Average Rate per Ton for Contract Coal Shipments by Rail, by Demand Region, 1988-1997

C5. Average Rate per Million Btu for Contract Coal Shipments by Rail, by Demand Region, 1988-1997

C6. Average Rate per Ton-Mile for Contract Coal Shipments by Rail, by Demand Region, 1988-1997

C7. Average Rate per Ton for Contract Coal Shipments by Rail, by Supply Region, 1988-1997

C8. Average Rate per Million Btu for Contract Coal Shipments by Rail, by Supply Region, 1988-1997

C9. Average Rate per Ton-Mile for Contract Coal Rail Shipments by Rail, by Supply Region, 1988-1997

Figures

1. Coal Demand Regions (Census Divisions)

2. SO₂ Emissions from Electric Utility Coal-Fired Steam Units, 1988-1997

3. Coal Supply Regions

4. Supply Region Shares of Domestic Coal Distribution

5. Percentage Distribution of Contract Coal Shipped by Rail, by Sulfur Category, 1988-1997

6. Average Distance of Contract Coal Shipments by Rail, 1988-1997

7. Average Rate per Ton for Contract Coal Shipments by Rail, by Sulfur Category, 1988-1997

8. Average Rate per Ton-Mile for Contract Coal Shipments by Rail, by Sulfur Category, 1988-1997

9. Transportation Cost as a Percentage of Delivered Price for Contract Coal Shipments by Rail, by Sulfur Category, 1988-1997

10. Average Rate per Million Btu for Contract Coal Shipments by Rail, by Sulfur Category, 1988-1997

Contact:

Mr. Richard Bonskowski

richard.bonskowski@eia.doe.gov

Phone: (202) 287-1725