Electric Utilities Can Benefit from Lower Oil Prices

Utilities generate their electricity using various sources of fuel including coal, oil, gas, hydro, nuclear, wind, thermal, and even wood. Some utilities, such as Consolidated Edison Inc. (ED), Energy East Corp. (EAS), and Northeast Utilities (NU), purchase some or even all of their energy from other power generators.

Many years ago, oil seemed to be the fuel generation of choice for a large number of utilities, but now, utilities use fewer oil-based generators. There are still a few electric utilities which have a substantial portion of their power generated from oil, and they are the ones who would benefit the most from the reduction in the price of oil [i.e. their generator fuel costs]. The utilities which have a significant portion of their generating sources from oil and their fuel sources are the following:

FPL Group (FPL): 63% oil, 13% purchased, 24% nuclear/coal/wind
Hawaiian Electric Industries (HE): 61% oil, 39% purchased
Progress Energy (PGN): 35% oil, 34% nuclear, 30% coal
Empire District Electric (EDE): 26% oil, 43% coal, 30% purchased
Entergy Corp. (ETR): 21% oil, 34% purchased, 33% nuclear