The United States generated ***** terawatt-hours of electricity in 2024, one of the largest figures recorded in the indicated period. In comparison to the previous year, power generation decreased by *** terawatt-hours. U.S. electricity market and the role of renewables Unlike the use of fossil fuels, U.S. renewable electricity generation has increased in recent years, amounting to more than *** terawatt-hours in 2023. Wind power has become the main renewable source of electricity generation in the North American country, having surpassed conventional hydroelectric power in 2019. Who are the main consumers of electricity? The residential sector was ranked as the largest consumer of electricity in the United States in 2023. Electricity retail sales to residential users have grown by almost *** terawatt-hours since the beginning of the century.

In the United States, electricity derived from coal has decreased over the past two decades, with the annual output declining by almost 65 percent between 2010 and 2024. In contrast, there has been a rise in natural gas and renewable sources within the energy mix. How is electricity generated in the U.S.? Most electricity in the U.S. is generated from steam turbines, which can be powered by fossil and nuclear fuels, biomass, geothermal, and solar thermal energy. Other systems such as gas turbines, hydro turbines, wind turbines, and solar photovoltaics are also major generation technologies. Electric utilities in the U.S. generated more than 2,241 terawatt hours in 2024, accounting for just over half of the power output in the country that year. Growing renewable capacity Renewable sources have become more prominent in the U.S. over the past years, particularly wind, hydro, and solar energy. The former has overtaken conventional hydropower, becoming the leading renewable energy source in the U.S. since 2019. Wind and solar power have also accounted for the largest share of electricity capacity additions in the country in recent years.

Graph and download economic data for Electric Power Production for United States (M0128AUSM247NNBR) from Jan 1936 to Jan 1957 about electricity, production, and USA.

The electricity production in the United States peaks in the summer and winter months, the latter season being when the electricity demand of the country is at its highest. The U.S. produced ****** terawatt-hours of electricity in April 2025. By comparison, in the same month the previous year, the U.S. produced ****** terawatt-hours of electricity.

Graph and download economic data for Industrial Production: Utilities: Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution (NAICS = 2211) (IPG2211S) from Jan 1972 to Jul 2025 about power transmission, distributive, electricity, IP, production, industry, indexes, and USA.

Rooftop solar photovoltaic installations on residential buildings and nuclear power have the highest unsubsidized levelized costs of energy generation in the United States. If it wasn't for federal and state subsidies, rooftop solar PV would come with a price tag between 122 and 284 U.S. dollars per megawatt-hour. Rooftop installations have a higher levelized cost range due to their relatively small capacity when compared with utility-scale power plant facilities. LCOE for solar PV Levelized cost of electricity or energy generation (LCOE) is a measure used to compare cost efficiency of different electricity generating technologies. It describes the average expense of building and maintaining a power plant divided by its total power output over the facility’s lifetime. The global levelized cost of electricity for solar PV averaged 0.04 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour in 2023. The economic viability of solar PV installations is dependent on a variety of factors largely centering around topography and the predominant weather pattern at the installation site. In regions with high sunshine duration, installing solar PV would come with lower LCOE’s as electricity production may be higher. As countries may stretch across highly variable topography and even across climate zones, solar PV LCOE may also vary greatly within a country. The U.S. has some of the lowest LCOE’s for utility-scale solar PV. Capital costs by energy technology In terms of capital costs – the one-time expense arising from the purchase of land, construction material, and building of the power plant for new power plants expected to come live in 2028, offshore wind power is the most expensive in the United States. It had an estimated levelized capital costs of roughly 89.6 U.S. dollars per megawatt-hour as of March 2023. Capital costs for solar PV are comparatively low.

United States US: Electricity Production From Coal Sources: % of Total data was reported at 34.233 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 39.651 % for 2014. United States US: Electricity Production From Coal Sources: % of Total data is updated yearly, averaging 51.846 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2015, with 56 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 57.679 % in 1988 and a record low of 34.233 % in 2015. United States US: Electricity Production From Coal Sources: % of Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Energy Production and Consumption. Sources of electricity refer to the inputs used to generate electricity. Coal refers to all coal and brown coal, both primary (including hard coal and lignite-brown coal) and derived fuels (including patent fuel, coke oven coke, gas coke, coke oven gas, and blast furnace gas). Peat is also included in this category.; ; IEA Statistics © OECD/IEA 2014 (http://www.iea.org/stats/index.asp), subject to https://www.iea.org/t&c/termsandconditions/; Weighted average; Electricity production shares may not sum to 100 percent because other sources of generated electricity (such as geothermal, solar, and wind) are not shown. Restricted use: Please contact the International Energy Agency for third-party use of these data.

US energy production measures total energy production by nuclear, coal, crude oil and natural gas plant liquids, renewables and dry natural gas. Total energy production includes direct-use energy, energy derived from refined products and electricity generated from nuclear, coal, renewables and gas power plants. Data is sourced from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) and is measured in quadrillions of British thermal units (BTUs).

United States US: Electricity Production From Oil Sources: % of Total data was reported at 0.904 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.923 % for 2014. United States US: Electricity Production From Oil Sources: % of Total data is updated yearly, averaging 4.834 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2015, with 56 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.167 % in 1977 and a record low of 0.774 % in 2012. United States US: Electricity Production From Oil Sources: % of Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Energy Production and Consumption. Sources of electricity refer to the inputs used to generate electricity. Oil refers to crude oil and petroleum products.; ; IEA Statistics © OECD/IEA 2014 (http://www.iea.org/stats/index.asp), subject to https://www.iea.org/t&c/termsandconditions/; Weighted average; Electricity production shares may not sum to 100 percent because other sources of generated electricity (such as geothermal, solar, and wind) are not shown. Restricted use: Please contact the International Energy Agency for third-party use of these data.

United States US: Electricity Production From Natural Gas Sources: % of Total data was reported at 31.942 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 26.888 % for 2014. United States US: Electricity Production From Natural Gas Sources: % of Total data is updated yearly, averaging 17.344 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2015, with 56 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 31.942 % in 2015 and a record low of 9.464 % in 1988. United States US: Electricity Production From Natural Gas Sources: % of Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Energy Production and Consumption. Sources of electricity refer to the inputs used to generate electricity. Gas refers to natural gas but excludes natural gas liquids.; ; IEA Statistics © OECD/IEA 2014 (http://www.iea.org/stats/index.asp), subject to https://www.iea.org/t&c/termsandconditions/; Weighted average; Electricity production shares may not sum to 100 percent because other sources of generated electricity (such as geothermal, solar, and wind) are not shown. Restricted use: Please contact the International Energy Agency for third-party use of these data.

The United States generated around 1,802 terawatt hours of electricity from natural gas in 2023, the highest production volume in the period of consideration, with figures having almost tripled since 2000. Natural gas has become the leading fuel for electricity generation in the U.S., having surpassed coal in 2015.

The USA: Electricity production capacity, million kilowatts: The latest value from 2023 is 1235.35 million kilowatts, an increase from 1201.26 million kilowatts in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 47.89 million kilowatts, based on data from 189 countries. Historically, the average for the USA from 1980 to 2023 is 884.14 million kilowatts. The minimum value, 577.61 million kilowatts, was reached in 1980 while the maximum of 1235.35 million kilowatts was recorded in 2023.

The North American Distributed Power Generation Market is Segmented by Technology (Solar PV, Wind, Combined Heat and Power (CHP), and Other Technologies) and Geography (United States, Canada, and Rest of North America). The report offers the installed capacity and forecasts for the market in gigawatts (GW) for the above segments.

The size of the North America Power Industry market was valued at USD XX Million in 2023 and is projected to reach USD XXX Million by 2032, with an expected CAGR of % during the forecast period. The power industry in North America is experiencing a profound transformation, influenced by advancements in technology, changes in regulations, and evolving energy requirements. This sector, which includes the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity, is essential to the economic framework of the region, catering to both residential and industrial consumers. Recent developments indicate a marked shift towards cleaner and more sustainable energy options, particularly renewables, while still maintaining a significant dependence on natural gas. This transition is driven by a mix of environmental regulations, technological progress, and an increasing focus on minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. The North American power industry is shaped by several key factors, including the growing incorporation of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, which are altering the energy landscape and prompting necessary upgrades to grid infrastructure to enhance reliability and adaptability. Innovations in energy storage and smart grid technologies are also critical, improving the efficiency and stability of power distribution systems. Furthermore, regulatory frameworks and incentives designed to encourage energy efficiency and lower carbon emissions are expediting the adoption of cleaner technologies. As the region continues to progress through its energy transition, the North American power industry is set for expansion, characterized by a combination of upgraded infrastructure, cutting-edge technologies, and a robust commitment to sustainability. This transformation mirrors broader global movements towards cleaner and more resilient energy systems. Recent developments include: In August 2022, The U.S. Department of Energy's Water Power Technologies Office has given GE Research, the technological development division of General Electric Company, a 30-month, USD 4.3 million projects to increase the operating capacity and flexibility of hydropower assets., In October 2022, Belltown Power U.S. sold a 6 GW portfolio of solar, coupled, and stand-alone battery storage development projects to ENGIE North America (ENGIE). 33 projects totaling approximately 2.7 GW of solar energy, 0.7 GW of paired storage, and 2.6 GW of standalone battery storage are included in the transaction. Acquisition of 33 early to late-stage projects will accelerate renewables development across multiple states in North America., In November 2022, EE North America joined up with Elio Energy to build a 2GW solar power pipeline and energy storage assets in Arizona and neighboring states in the United States. The company intends to build 10GW of renewable energy capacity in the country by 2026 in order to assist state and local governments across the United States in meeting their net-zero emissions targets.. Key drivers for this market are: 4., Supportive Government Policies and Incentives4.; Environmental Concerns. Potential restraints include: 4., Fossil Fuel Subsidies. Notable trends are: Conventional Thermal is Likely Dominate the Market.

Graph and download economic data for Total Revenue for Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution, All Establishments, Employer Firms (REVEF2211ALLEST) from 2009 to 2022 about power transmission, distributive, employer firms, accounting, revenue, electricity, establishments, services, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Sectoral Output for Utilities: Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (NAICS 2211) in the United States (IPUCN2211T301000000) from 1988 to 2024 about power transmission, distributive, utilities, electricity, NAICS, production, and USA.

The average for 2022 based on 25 countries was 5.25 million kilowatts. The highest value was in the USA: 112.69 million kilowatts and the lowest value was in Bermuda: 0 million kilowatts. The indicator is available from 2000 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

United States US: Renewable Energy Consumption: % of Total Final Energy Consumption data was reported at 8.717 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 8.754 % for 2014. United States US: Renewable Energy Consumption: % of Total Final Energy Consumption data is updated yearly, averaging 5.454 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2015, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.754 % in 2014 and a record low of 4.089 % in 1994. United States US: Renewable Energy Consumption: % of Total Final Energy Consumption data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Energy Production and Consumption. Renewable energy consumption is the share of renewables energy in total final energy consumption.; ; World Bank, Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) database from the SE4ALL Global Tracking Framework led jointly by the World Bank, International Energy Agency, and the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program.; Weighted Average;

Graph and download economic data for Producer Price Index by Industry: Electric Power Generation: Utilities (PCU2211102211104) from Dec 2003 to Jul 2025 about power transmission, utilities, electricity, PPI, industry, inflation, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

The USA: Primary energy production: The latest value from 2023 is 102.782 quadrillion Btu, an increase from 98.584 quadrillion Btu in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 3.097 quadrillion Btu, based on data from 190 countries. Historically, the average for the USA from 1980 to 2023 is 73.808 quadrillion Btu. The minimum value, 61.64 quadrillion Btu, was reached in 1983 while the maximum of 102.782 quadrillion Btu was recorded in 2023.