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 10.8 percent to $328.4 million from 2019 to 2020. Petroleum expenditures decreased 25.0 percent, nuclear fuel expenditures decreased 15.9 percent, wood and waste expenditures decreased 11.1 percent, coal expenditures decreased 10.6 percent, and natural gas expenditures decreased 4.0 percent.
In 2020, the electric power sector spent $245.8 million for coal, $41.9 million for nuclear fuel, $36.5 million for natural gas, $2.7 million for petroleum, and $1.6 million for wood and waste. There were no direct fuel costs for hydroelectric, geothermal, wind, photovoltaic, or solar thermal energy.
Coal expenditures were relatively three–quarters (74.9 percent) of the money spent in the electric power sector on energy in 2020. Expenditures on nuclear fuel and natural gas were 12.8 percent and 11.1 percent, respectively, of the total. Petroleum expenditures were 0.82 percent while wood and waste expenditures were 0.49 percent of the total.
The expenditures are in nominal dollars to provide a better comparison.
