The electric power sector consists of facilities which generate electricity primarily for use by the public. Energy is used for the generation, distribution, and transmission of electric power.
Total electric power sector expenditures on energy decreased 10.1 percent to $427.4 million from 2014 to 2015. Petroleum expenditures decreased 86.4 percent, natural gas expenditures decreased 31.0 percent, coal expenditures decreased 7.3 percent, and nuclear fuel expenditures decreased 4.7 percent. Wood and waste expenditures increased 11.8 percent.
In 2015, the electric power sector spent $329.7 million for coal, $77.2 million for nuclear fuel, $16.9 million for natural gas, $1.9 million for wood and waste, and $1.7 million for petroleum. There were no direct fuel costs for hydroelectric, geothermal, wind, photovoltaic, or solar thermal energy.
Coal expenditures were relatively three–quarters (77.1 percent) of the money spent in the electric power sector on energy in 2015. Expenditures on nuclear fuel and natural gas were 18.1 percent and 4.0 percent, respectively, of the total. Wood and waste expenditures were 0.44 percent while petroleum expenditures were 0.40 percent of the total.
The expenditures are in nominal dollars to provide a better comparison.
