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Electricity Monthly Update

With Data for February 2026 Release Date: April 23, 2026 Next Release Date: May 22, 2026 Corrections/Revisions

Electric Power Sector Coal Stocks: February 2026


Total U.S. coal stockpiles increased by 0.7% to 105 million tons compared to the previous month. Despite this slight increase, overall U.S. coal stockpiles remain at relatively low levels compared to stockpile levels observed over the last several years.

Days of burn



The average number of days of burn held at electric power plants is a forward-looking estimate of coal supply given a power plant's current stockpile and past consumption patterns. For bituminous units largely located in the eastern United States, the average number of days of burn decreased from the previous month, going from 130 days of forward-looking days of burn in January 2026 to 120 days of burn in February 2026. For subbituminous units largely located in the western United States, the average number of days of burn also decreased, going from 143 days of burn in January 2026 to 138 days of burn in February 2026.

Coal stocks and average number of days of burn for non-lignite coal by region (electric power sector)

    February 2026 February 2025   January 2026  
Zone Coal Stocks (1000 tons) Days of Burn Stocks (1000 tons) Days of Burn % Change of Stocks Stocks (1000 tons) Days of Burn % Change of Stocks
Northeast Bituminous 1,379 168 775 108 78.1% 1,491 182 -7.5%
  Subbituminous . . . . . . . .
South Bituminous 16,591 120 14,964 111 10.9% 17,162 131 -3.3%
  Subbituminous 5,202 95 4,930 88 5.5% 5,224 99 -0.4%
Midwest Bituminous 7,866 104 9,689 123 -18.8% 8,673 113 -9.3%
  Subbituminous 28,070 127 27,266 128 2.9% 26,276 127 6.8%
West Bituminous 1,849 170 2,650 191 -30.2% 1,905 166 -2.9%
  Subbituminous 29,860 169 28,121 151 6.2% 29,589 176 0.9%
U.S. Total Bituminous 27,685 120 28,077 120 -1.4% 29,231 130 -5.3%
  Subbituminous 63,133 138 60,318 133 4.7% 61,089 143 3.3%

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

NOTE: Stockpile levels shown above reflect a sample of electric power sector plants, which were used to create the days of burn statistics. These levels will not equal total electric power sector stockpile levels.
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