Which U.S. States and Cities Use the Most Electricity?
There are many who question how we can better save electricity through renewable methods, decreased consumption, or any other strategy to keep costs down. However, who the top energy-draining culprit is among the United States is often up for debate, as there is a size vs. energy efficiency debate. We’ve compiled a list of the U.S. states and cities that use the most electricity.
Among states, a surprising leader in energy consumption per 2017 U.S. Energy Information Administration gives way to more usual suspects. Notably, the highest total energy consumption does not necessarily equal the highest energy bill per capita.
- Louisiana (960 million Btu per capita; $6,860 per capita annually)
- Wyoming (885 million Btu per capita; $7,672 per capita annually)
- North Dakota (836 million Btu per capita; $7,087 per capita annually)
- Alaska (822 million Btu per capita; $6,911 per capita annually)
- Iowa (496 million Btu per capita; $4,418 per capita annually)
- Texas (472 million Btu per capita; $4,540 per capita annually)
- Nebraska (457 million Btu per capita; $4,299 per capita annually)
- South Dakota (441 million Btu per capita; $4,393 per capita annually)
- Oklahoma (418 million Btu per capita; $3,969 per capita annually)
- West Virginia (416 million Btu per capita; $4,111 per capita annually)
- Indiana (406 million Btu per capita; $4,069 per capita annually)
- Montana (399 million Btu per capita; $4,347 per capita annually)
- Mississippi (394 million Btu per capita; $4,396 per capita annually)
- Alabama (390 million Btu per capita; $4,192 per capita annually)
- Kentucky (372 million Btu per capita; $3,893 per capita annually)
- Kansas (369 million Btu per capita; $3,841 per capita annually)
- Arkansas (352 million Btu per capita; $3,765 per capita annually)
- Minnesota (329 million Btu per capita; $3,604 per capita annually)
- South Carolina (327 million Btu per capita; $3,776 per capita annually)
- New Mexico (327 million Btu per capita; $3,520 per capita annually)
For many of these states, geographical size does not necessarily indicate the amount of energy consumption. The largest exception to the rule is the state of Texas, which is the largest energy consumer overall but still falls short on the per capita measurement. For many states, such as Louisiana, residential and commercial energy consumption is dwarfed by industrial consumption which clocks in at almost 70% of energy consumption in the state. Similarly, the rest of the top five top energy consuming states have high energy consumption due to a robust industrial sector. Industry often refers to manufacturing but in the case of some of these states, can also refer to energy production facilities which may not directly put energy back into the local power grid, such as an oil refinery.
Cities provide an even more interesting window into energy where warmer climates dominate. In 2019, the following cities were the top energy users in the United States.
- Phoenix, Arizona
- San Antonio, Texas
- Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
- Tampa, Florida
- Austin, Texas
- Palm Bay-Melbourne, Florida
- Houston, Texas
- Miami, Florida
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Columbus, Ohio
- Kansas City, Kansas
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Orlando, Florida
Whether the culprit is a climate which requires a more active air conditioning system or a lack of energy efficient appliances or education, there seems to be an overall trend in energy use based on the location of the city. No matter where you stand on energy use, energy efficiency, or alternative energy, you can see that this data demonstrates that size does not always determine amount of use.
Surprising Facts About Energy Consumption in America
Energy consumption in America is nothing new for those who use it or work with it on a daily basis. America is one of the world’s leading creators and users of energy no matter the method of origin, from coal to solar and everything in between. Though energy is relied on to run most of our daily lives, how it actually works can be misunderstood. Oftentimes, the true surprise is how much even seasoned professionals do not know. Below are just some of the surprising facts about energy consumption in America that many are unaware of.
- Americans use around 25% of the world’s energy although we comprise of only about 5% of the population
- The third largest industry in the United States is energy or energy-related
- Among renewable energy, hydropower is the most used. This accounts for around 7% of America’s electricity
- More than $17 billion in energy-related natural gas improvements have been invested in the United States
- Though not commonly used in the United States, one wind turbine can power up to 300 typical homes
- Surprisingly, solar and wind production have more than tripled since 2008 although they still are not a large part of America’s energy production
- America continues to work to promote renewable energy sources through the federal and some state governments, but the U.S. Energy Information Administration has forecasted that the United States will be using non-renewable energy sources for most of its energy consumption through 2040
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there are more than 3 million jobs related to clean energy in the United states
- Hospitals are one of the largest energy consumers throughout the United States
- Energy use is a leading cost of K – 12 education, ranking as more expensive than textbooks and computer costs combined
- Heating and cooling costs in the summer and winter account for more than 50% of the average American’s annual utility bill
- The United States is the world leader in providing nuclear energy
- Energy inefficient homes are a cost drain on both energy producers and U.S. consumers. Estimates indicate that the United States spends more than $300 billion a year on energy that could be saved as a consequence of inefficient appliances, drafty windows, and other energy-wasting devices
- Since 2008, coal energy consumption has reliably reduced from one billion short tons to 636.5 million short tons. The United States is the world’s second largest coal energy consumer behind only China, whose consumption dwarfs many other countries combined
- The expected 2019/2020 average price of heating oil for homes is $3.02 a gallon, down from a record high of $3.88 in 2013/2014, but still exceeding the record low $2.06 in 2015/2016
- Among sectors of the U.S. economy, transportation has led total energy consumption since 1985 followed by industrial, residential, and then non-industrial commercial
- The United States was not the world leader in energy consumption in 2018. It was second to China. America was trailed by India, Russia, Japan, Canada, Germany, South Korea and others
- In 2017 and 2018, energy consumption in the United States by source increased for petroleum (oil), natural gas, nuclear, biomass, wind, solar, and geothermal, while it decreased for coal and hydroelectric energy sources
- Natural gas consumption in America is at an all-time high since 1995 after consistent increases in demand from 2009 – 2016. This has largely been driven by high demand from electric power followed by the industrial sector