We rely on electricity to power our technology, light up our homes and as electric vehicles become more prevalent, move us from place to place. Electricity is the flow of electrical charge and is the widest used form of energy. Electricity can be generated from renewable and non-renewable energy sources such as: fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and petroleum), wind, solar energy, and nuclear energy.
Sources of electricity
Currently natural gas is the largest source of electricity, providing 43 percent of the electricity in the United States, a slight increase over the previous year. Coal, nuclear and renewable energy sources (hydropower, wind, solar, etc) each generate about 20 percent of the electricity we use, making up most of the remaining 4.18 trillion kilowatthours (kWh) of electricity generated in the United States last year.
| Source | Amount Supplied |
| Natural gas | 43.1% |
| Coal | 16.2% |
| Nuclear | 18.6% |
| Hydropower | 5.7% |
| Wind | 10.2% |
| Solar | 3.9% |
| Biomass | 1.1% |
| Petroleum | 0.4% |
Deregulation of Electric Service
Historically electric service has been provided by a public entity, but beginning in the 1990s, some states started deregulating energy services, including electricity. Deregulation brings consumers a choice in provider and plans, competition between providers, and lower prices.
Currently 16 states allow for deregulated electricity (seven of those also allow for deregulated natural gas). State’s have their own policies when it comes to deregulated utility services and some limit deregulation to specific regions or electricity types.
States with Deregulated Electric Service
