In-brief analysis
March 5, 2026
This TIE has been updated to correct data and sources.
U.S. electricity net generation reached a record in 2025 based on data from our Electricity Data Browser. In 2025, the United States generated 4.43 thousand terawatthours (TWh) of electricity, up 2.8% from 2024 generation, which previously had been the highest annual total in our Monthly Energy Review Data Browser dataset dating back to 1949.
This growth contrasts with the trend of relatively flat electricity generation between the mid-2000s and early 2020s. Net generation is related to electricity demand. Much of the recent growth in electricity demand comes from the commercial sector, which includes data centers, and the industrial sector, which includes manufacturing establishments. In 2025, U.S. retail sales of electricity to ultimate customers, which is a key indicator of demand, increased compared with 2024 in all three sectors: residential (by 2.2%), commercial (by 2.9%), and industrial (by 0.7%).
We expect in our Short-Term Energy Outlook that electricity generation, driven by higher electricity demand, will continue to grow in 2026 and 2027.
Principal contributor: Kimberly Peterson
