Latest statistics from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed the country’s energy consumption fell to its lowest in three decades in April. According to the data, the US consumed 6.5 quadrillion British thermal units (quads) during the month, the lowest monthly energy use since September 1989. US energy consumption in April 2020 declined 14% from a year earlier, marking the sharpest year-on-year decrease on EIA’s record going back to 1973.
According to EIA, US energy use is typically low in April. In 14 of the last 20 years, April is the month with the lowest energy use in the year. Demand for heating and cooling in April is usually low due to mild weather. This year, the month coincided with the peak of COVID-19 containment measures in the US which significantly curbed energy demand.
US petroleum consumption declined by 27% year-on-year to 14.7 million bpd in April 2020, the lowest US monthly petroleum consumption since May 1983. The decrease is attributed to stay-at-home orders and other travel limitations which put pressure on demand for transportation fuels.
Natural gas demand increased 2% year-on-year to 74.9 Bcfd in April 2020, driven by a 15% rise in demand from residential customers amid the stay-at-home orders. Colder temperatures propelled natural gas consumption for heating fuel, while low prices boosted gas demand from the electric power sector.
Coal consumption plunged 27% year-on-year to 27.4 million short tons in April 2020, the lowest in EIA’s monthly records for April. US coal use has been in a downtrend since its peak in 2007. This year’s decline was mostly driven by lower demand from the electric power sector, which fell to 23.6 million short tons in April from 33.5 million short tons a year earlier.
Electricity end-use consumption decreased 4% year-on-year to less than 269 billion kWh in April 2020, the lowest since November 2001. Industrial and commercial electricity demand fell 9% and 11% year-on-year, respectively. Meanwhile, residential electricity consumption rose from 8% year-on-year to 97 billion kWh.
