The share of U.S. natural gas-fired electricity increased year over year in June, while the share of other fuels declined.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's latest "Electric Power Monthly" released Aug. 26, utility-scale generation net of hydroelectric pumped storage fell 5.6% year over year in June to 352.1 million MWh.
Over the same period, gas-fired generation climbed 4.6% to 136.9 million MWh, accounting for 38.9% of the net total. Meanwhile, coal-fired generation declined 22.6% versus the prior-year period to 78.6 million MWh, to account for 22.3% of the nation's electricity.
Renewable output declined 3.8% year over year to 64.3 million MWh as growth among renewable resources was mixed. Renewables accounted for 18.3% of the nation’s electricity.
Year-to-date through June, utility-scale generation declined 2.3% to 1.97 billion MWh, with coal supplying 23.9% of the nation's power and natural gas at a 35.4% share. Meanwhile, renewable generation supplied 19.4% of the nation's power, compared with 19.3% a year earlier.
Over the same period, coal-fired generation declined 13.2% year over year to 470.1 million MWh, while gas-fired generation climbed 6.1% to 697.2 million MWh. Meanwhile, renewable generation declined 2.0% to 382.1 million MWh.

Power-sector coal stockpiles increased by 1.5 million tons during the month, against the 10-year average draw of 6.1 million tons. During the prior 10 years, June stockpile fluctuations versus the prior month have ranged from a draw of 10.3 million tons to a build of 552,435 tons.
The EIA estimates that the June stockpile level of 116.5 million tons translates to 89 days of burn and 62 days of burn, respectively, for bituminous and subbituminous coal, 24.6% above and 6.6% below the five-year averages for the month.

