US coal stockpiles at power plants reached lowest monthly level since 2014, EIA reports

Coal stockpiles levels at electric power plants were 144 million tons in August, the lowest monthly level since late 2014, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Electric Power Monthly.

Coal stockpiles at U.S. coal-fired power plants typically increase during the spring and fall, when electricity demand is relatively low, and decrease during the summer and winter, when demand is relatively high. Coal stockpiles are typically at their lowest point in August.

Based on data through August, coal receipts at power plants averaged 53,000 tons in each month of 2017, slightly lower than the average monthly consumption rate of 56,000 tons.

EIA found that approximately 55 percent of total coal stocks were subbituminous coal. Coal plants using this type of coal could operate for approximately 80 days at August 2017 stockpile levels.

42 percent of coal stocks are bituminous coal, which would allow a plant to operate for approximately 90 days at August 2017 stockpile levels.

EIA’s report also found that, as of August 2017, 57 percent of U.S. coal-fired electricity generating capacity had more than 60 days of burn. Approximately 33 percent of capacity had between 30 days to 60 days of burn, and approximately 10 percent had less than 30 days of burn.

Coal stockpile data for individual power plants are currently considered confidential. At the end of this year, EIA will release coal stockpile data by plant for 2002 to 2016.