Pennsylvania Becomes Top Electricity Exporting State in 2020: EIA

Pennsylvania exported 78 million megawatt hours (MWh) of generated electricity to neighbouring states in 2020. This is the highest among any other state, despite other states such as Texas and Florida, producing more electricity, according to a Feb. 7 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

During 2020 more than 230 million MWh of electricity was generated in Pennsylvania. Retail electricity sales in the state totalled 140 million MWh, and after direct consumption and transmission losses, the residual electricity was exported to other states. A large number of states within the US fall within integrated market regions, also known as independent system operators. These integrated market regions allow electricity to flow without restrictions between states or parts of states within their boundaries.

In terms of electricity generation within Pennsylvania, natural gas accounted for roughly 52 percent of all electricity generated from assets in 2020, up by 15 percent compared to levels recorded in 2010. The use of natural gas for electricity generation in Pennsylvania surpassed nuclear in 2019, and now remains the state’s largest source of generation.

In 2020 Pennsylvania had the second highest level of nuclear generation, after Illinois, accounting for 33 percent  of the state’s electricity generation.  Meanwhile, coal use for electricity generation accounted for 10 percent in 2020, having previously been the state’s leading source of electricity generation until 2015, at which point it accounted for over 50 percent.

In times of low renewable generation and cold weather, as experienced in January 2022 the use of coal usually increases. Renewable electricity in 2020 accounted for 4 percent of the state’s electricity generation, up from 3 percent in 2010.

Renewable generation has increased by 50 percent from 2010 to 2020, with wind power generation more than doubling during the time period. Furthermore, solar power generation doubled between 2015 and 2020.