Resource Use: January 2026

Supply and fuel consumption

In this section, we look at the resources used to produce electricity. Generating units are chosen to run primarily on their operating costs, of which fuel costs account for the lion's share. Therefore, we present below, electricity generation output by fuel type and generator type. Since the generator/fuel mix of utilities varies significantly by region, we also present generation output by region.

Generation output by region

Net electricity generation in the United States decreased 0.7% compared to January 2025. All areas of the country, except for the Northeast, saw a decrease in electricity generation compared to the previous January. The Northeast was the only outlier, seeing an 8.2% year-over-year increase in electricity generation. This was mainly due to the Northeast experiencing cooler temperatures this January compared to the previous year, which led to an increased need for residential heating demand and thus, an increase in demand for electricity.

Electricity generation from coal increased in all parts of the country, except for Florida (up 18.8%), compared to January 2025. The change in electricity generation from natural gas was more mixed, with the Northeast, MidAtlantic, and Central regions all seeing an increase in natural gas generation compared to the previous January, while the Southeast, West, Florida, and Texas all saw a year-over year decrease in natural gas generation. Electricity generation from nuclear increased 2.1% compared to January 2025.

Fossil fuel consumption by region

The chart above compares coal consumption in January 2026 and January 2025 by region and the second tab compares natural gas consumption by region over the same period. Changes in coal and natural gas consumption were similar to their respective changes in coal and natural gas generation.

The third tab presents the change in the relative share of fossil fuel consumption by fuel type on a percentage basis, calculated using equivalent energy content (Btu). This highlights changes in the relative market shares of coal, natural gas, and petroleum. All regions of the country, except the Northeast and Florida, saw their shares of natural gas increase at the expense of coal. Florida was one of the outliers and saw its share of coal increase at the expense of natural gas. The Northeast saw other fossil fuels consumption increase at the expense of natural gas in January 2026. This sometimes occurs in the Northeast as the region has a propensity to dispatch oil-fueled generators when electricity demand gets high during the winter months.

The fourth tab presents the change in coal and natural gas consumption on an energy content basis by region. The changes in total coal and natural gas consumption were similar to the changes seen in total coal and natural gas net generation in each region.

Fossil fuel prices

November 2025 through January 2026 average fossil fuel spot prices were not available when the March 2026 Electricity Monthly Update was published.