The Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Oct. 7 forecast that U.S. electricity consumption will reach a record 4,191 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) this year and 4,305 billion kWh in 2026.
The projected figures are up from the record 4,097 billion kWh in electricity consumption recorded last year, according to the EIA’s latest short-term energy outlook.
The agency forecast that residential power consumption will increase from 1,490 billion kWh last year to 1,508 billion kWh in 2025 and 1,512 billion kWh in 2026, according to the outlook.
Meanwhile, commercial sector power consumption is expected to reach 1,487 billion kWh this year and 1,565 billion kWh in 2026, up from 1,434 billion kWh in the previous year….