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EIA ReportsU.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Hydroelectric Generation Up at Electric Utilities, As Natural Gas Plant Output Drops in 1996Conventional hydroelectric power generation at electric utilities in the United States increased 12 percent between 1995 and 1996, according to data released today by the Energy Information Administration. Improved water conditions in the Pacific Northwest due to heavy precipitation during the winter, combined with meltdown of mountain snowpack during the spring and summer, sustained reservoir levels for hydroelectric generation. Meanwhile, capability at conventional hydroelectric facilities remained constant. Over half of the electric power generated by electric utilities at hydroelectric facilities in the United States in 1996 was in the Pacific Contiguous Census Division, which includes California, Oregon, and Washington. Output in this Census division was nearly 10 percent more than the 1995 level of 170 billion kilowatthours of electricity, and boosted the level of nationwide hydroelectric generation at utilities to 328 billion kilowatthours, its highest level in 5 years. According to the Electric Power Annual 1996 Volume 1,output of electricity at gas-fired units dropped by 15 percent to a level of 263 billion kilowatthours (the lowest level since 1993) partly due to a substantial increase in the cost of gas. The average cost of gas delivered to electric utilities on a dollars-per-million-Btu basis was $2.64 in 1996 ( the highest since 1985). In 1995, the average cost was $1.98 (the lowest since 1979). Coal continued to make the largest contribution to electricity generation -- providing 1,737 billion kilwatthours, or 57 percent of total utility generation (see figure). A record 863 million short tons of coal were delivered to electric utilities, 36 million more than in 1995. This growth (along with higher hydroelectric output) largely offset the drop in natural gas use at utilities and helped to meet higher electricity demand. The average cost of coal delivered to utilities slipped from $1.32 to $1.29 per million Btu -- continuing the downward trend of the past 11 years. Nuclear power plants provided 675 billion kilowatthours of electricity, about the same as in 1995. Preliminary data indicate that retail sales of electricity to ultimate consumers rose 2 percent in 1996, as usage rose in all major end-use sectors. The residential sector led with an increase of 36 billion kilowatthours from 1995 sales. However, average revenue per kilowatthour of electricity sold to ultimate consumers declined to 6.87 cents, a drop of 0.02 cents. Copies of the Electric Power Annual 1996 Volume 1 are available from the U.S. Government Printing Office (202-512-1800) or through EIA's National Energy Information Center, Room 1F-048, Forrestal Building, Washington, DC 20585 (202-586-8800). The report is available electronically on EIA's Internet Web Site (http://www.eia.doe.gov). The direct Internet address is ftp://ftp.eia.doe.gov/pub/electricity/epav196.pdf.
EIA Press Contact: Thomas Welch, 202/586-1178, thomas.welch@eia.doe.gov EIA-97-22 Contact:
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