9. ELECTRICITY
heating, in electric boilers or heat pumps, and for cooling purposes in air conditioners. This leads to consumption peaks in both summer and winter periods (Figure 9.6).
Figure 9.6 Monthly electricity generation by source, January 2013-July 2018
500 000 |
GWh |
|
|
Others* |
|
|
|
|
400 000 |
|
Natural gas |
300 000 |
|
Coal |
|
Wind |
|
200 000 |
|
Solar |
|
Hydro |
|
|
|
|
100 000 |
|
Nuclear |
|
Demand** |
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Jan-13 Jul-13 Jan-14 Jul-14 Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 |
Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18 Jul-18 |
|
IEA (2019). All rights reserved.
US electricity demand peaks in both summer, when used in air conditioning, and in winter, when used for heating; coal and natural gas are used for covering demand peaks.
*Others includes oil, combustible renewables and other combustible non-renewables. **Demand refers to final consumption including distribution losses.
Note: GWh = gigawatt-hours.
Source: IEA (2019c), Monthly Electricity Statistics 2019, www.iea.org/statistics/.
The summer peaks are higher, with monthly demand sometimes above 400 TWh. Coal and natural gas are used as flexible power sources for covering the demand peaks. The shift towards increased gas demand for power generation has also created a summer peak for gas, which did not exist previously.
Electricity system regulation
The US electricity system, which covers generation, transmission, distribution and sales of electricity, is governed by government institutions at the federal, state and local levels. At the federal level, FERC is the primary regulator with broad authority over system reliability and interstate transmission, while state regulatory commissions generally oversee intrastate distribution and sales of electricity. In some states, local governments also have authority over issues such as the siting of power infrastructure (NREL, 2016).
FERC
FERC is an independent federal agency tasked with regulating the bulk power system, including interstate transmission of electricity and the operation of wholesale electricity markets. (The commission also regulates interstate flows of natural gas and liquefied natural gas [LNG] export terminals.) FERC comprises five commissioners, all appointed by the president for five-year terms, one of whom serves as chairperson. As an independent body, FERC is not subject to review by either the executive or legislative branch of government, though its decisions can be challenged through the judicial branch. Among its primary responsibilities for the electricity sector are:
186
IEA. All rights reserved.