California Electricity Generation
The graphs and charts below feature statistics on California electricity generation and consumption. You can compare these graphs for California with whichever states you choose.
Also see electricity generation from renewable energy in California.
Total Electricity Consumption in California
Most economists link electricity consumption directly with economic growth. Analysts at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Information Administration (EIA) project that the U.S. gross domestic product will grow at an average annual rate of 2.9% per year through 2030. And they predict electricity consumption will grow over this same period at a rate of 0.8% per year. That means electric power consumption, and the accompanying infrastructure to produce and deliver electricity, will be about 43% greater in 2030 than it is today.
For California, looking at past consumption trends is one good indicator for projecting growth rates into the future.
Source: Energy consumption by state is taken from the DOE Energy Information Administration State Energy Consumption, Price, and Expenditure Estimates (SEDS database).
| California electricity consumption in 2010 (million kWh) |
258,531 |
|---|---|
| Percent of U.S. electricity consumption | 6.9% |
| State rank | 2 |
| Average annual increase in California electricity consumption 1980–2010 | 1.4% |
|---|---|
| U.S. growth rate | 1.9% |
| Percent growth state rank | 37 |
Electricity Consumption in California by Sector
The portion of electricity consumed in the major energy consuming sectors can provide energy analysts an indication about where the greatest potential for savings lies.
California Electricity Consumption by Sector 2010
(million kWh)
U.S. Electricity Consumption by Sector 2010
2010 percentage of electricity consumed in:
| Commerce | 47% |
|---|---|
| Industry | 19% |
| Homes | 34% |
Source: EIA SEDS database.
Fuel Sources for Electric Power Generation
The fuel mix used by electric power companies to generate electricity points to the relative carbon intensity in the state electric power sector.
Fuel Sources for Electric Power Generation in California in 2009
(trillion Btu)
Fuel Sources for Electric Power Generation in the United States in 2009
The fuel mix used by electric power companies to generate electricity points to the relative carbon intensity in the state electric power sector.
Source: Energy consumption by state is taken from the EIA SEDS database.