Washington, 27 July (Argus) — US electricity generation during the first five months of 2012 decreased 1.8pc from the same period in 2011.

Maryland led the list of states with year-to-date decreases with a drop of 22pc, while Tennessee came in second with a 16pc fall, the Energy Information Administration said in its Electric Power Monthly report on 26 July. Generation in West Virginia and Massachusetts dropped 15pc and 14pc, respectively.

The decrease in generation is likely a result of the unusually mild winter.

Among the few states with increases were Delaware and Arkansas, where net generation increased 52pc and 18pc, respectively.

Total coal-fired net generation dropped 20pc to 561.4mn MWh, compared with 705.8mn MWh during the first five months of 2011. Natural gas-fired generation jumped 36pc to 479mn MWh, from 352.8mn MWh in the same period last year. Nuclear energy added just 0.4pc to 315.9mn MWh.

Conventional hydroelectric generation fell 14pc to 126.8mn MWh from 147.3mn MWh during the first five months of 2011. The drop comes as output in top producing states Washington, Oregon and California decreased 10pc, 11pc and 51pc, respectively.

Wind energy gained 18pc to 63.5mn MWh.

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