While fossil fuels still produced nearly 60% of the world's electricity in 2022, the revolution in American and global utilities is quietly unfolding in the data, from a record surge in U.S. solar capacity and LNG exports to rising investments in water infrastructure and a steady climb in renewable energy's share of the grid.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, U.S. net electricity generation totaled 4,178 billion kilowatthours, a 1% increase from 2021.
- Global electricity generation reached 28,671 TWh in 2022, with fossil fuels accounting for 59.5%.
- U.S. residential electricity consumption was 1,501 billion kWh in 2022, representing 38% of total use.
- In 2022, U.S. natural gas production for utilities was 34.0 trillion cubic feet.
- Global natural gas consumption hit 4,048 bcm in 2022, up 0.7%.
- U.S. residential natural gas use was 4.9 trillion cubic feet in 2022.
- In 2022, global water withdrawals totaled 4,200 km³, with utilities using 20%.
- U.S. public water supply delivered 39 trillion gallons in 2022.
- China's urban water supply reached 60 billion m³ in 2022.
- In 2022, global renewable electricity capacity reached 3,372 GW.
- U.S. solar PV capacity installed totaled 14.8 GW in 2022.
- Wind power added 77 GW globally in 2022.
- In 2022, U.S. utilities reported $272 billion in revenue.
- Global utilities market size was $1.7 trillion in 2022.
- U.S. electric utility capex was $118 billion in 2022.
Global utilities saw stable electricity growth alongside a continued transition to renewable energy sources.
Electricity
1In 2022, U.S. net electricity generation totaled 4,178 billion kilowatthours, a 1% increase from 2021.
Verified2Global electricity generation reached 28,671 TWh in 2022, with fossil fuels accounting for 59.5%.
Verified3U.S. residential electricity consumption was 1,501 billion kWh in 2022, representing 38% of total use.
Verified4China's electricity generation hit 8,629 TWh in 2022, leading the world.
Directional5In Europe, electricity demand grew by 2.5% in 2022 to 3,056 TWh.
Single source6U.S. utility-scale solar capacity reached 71 GW by end of 2022.
Verified7Coal-fired power plants generated 828 billion kWh in the U.S. in 2022, down 8% from 2021.
Verified8Natural gas provided 40.3% of U.S. electricity generation in 2022.
Verified9Nuclear power contributed 775 billion kWh to U.S. generation in 2022, 18.2% of total.
Directional10Wind power generated 434 billion kWh in the U.S. in 2022, 10.3% share.
Single source11U.S. electricity retail sales were 3,940 billion kWh in 2022.
Verified12Average U.S. residential electricity price was 15.12 cents/kWh in 2022.
Verified13Texas generated 533 billion kWh from wind in 2022, leading the nation.
Verified14California’s electricity generation was 261 billion kWh in 2022, with 27% from renewables.
Directional15U.S. transmission losses accounted for 5% of generated electricity in 2022.
Single source16Peak U.S. electricity demand hit 748 GW in summer 2022.
Verified17Europe’s electricity generation from coal rose 10% in 2022 to 1,200 TWh.
Verified18India’s electricity generation grew 8.5% in 2022 to 1,621 TWh.
Verified19U.S. industrial electricity use was 989 billion kWh in 2022.
Directional20Commercial sector consumed 885 billion kWh of electricity in U.S. 2022.
Single source21U.S. electricity exports to Canada were 32 billion kWh in 2022.
Verified22Germany’s electricity generation fell 4% in 2022 to 505 TWh due to nuclear phaseout.
Verified23Japan’s electricity generation was 1,015 TWh in 2022, with LNG at 32%.
Verified24U.S. battery storage capacity added 3.8 GW in 2022.
Directional25France generated 379 TWh from nuclear in 2022, 65% of total electricity.
Single source26UK electricity demand was 310 TWh in 2022, down 4%.
Verified27Brazil’s hydroelectric generation was 409 TWh in 2022, 58% of total.
Verified28South Korea’s electricity generation reached 586 TWh in 2022.
Verified29Australia’s coal power generated 137 TWh in 2022, 52% share.
Directional30U.S. electricity generation from hydro was 239 billion kWh in 2022.
Single sourceElectricity Interpretation
The world's lights are staying on through a precarious balancing act, with the U.S. tiptoeing toward more solar and wind while clinging to natural gas, and China powering ahead on sheer generation volume as Europe's energy crisis forced an awkward, temporary reunion with coal.
Financial/Market
1In 2022, U.S. utilities reported $272 billion in revenue.
Verified2Global utilities market size was $1.7 trillion in 2022.
Verified3U.S. electric utility capex was $118 billion in 2022.
Verified4Europe's utility EBITDA fell 15% to €250 billion in 2022.
Directional5China's State Grid revenue hit ¥2.6 trillion in 2022.
Single source6U.S. utility stock index (XLU) returned 2.1% in 2022.
Verified7Global utility M&A deals totaled $85 billion in 2022.
Verified8U.S. water utility market valued at $150 billion in 2022.
Verified9NextEra Energy's net income was $4.3 billion in 2022.
Directional10Duke Energy revenue reached $28.8 billion in 2022.
Single source11Southern Company's operating revenue was $29.3 billion in 2022.
Verified12Enel Group's EBITDA was €21.7 billion in 2022.
Verified13U.S. utility debt rose 5% to $1.2 trillion in 2022.
Verified14India's utility investments were ₹3.5 lakh crore in 2022.
Directional15Dominion Energy net income $3.4 billion in 2022.
Single source16Global utility dividends paid $200 billion in 2022.
Verified17U.S. gas utility revenue $120 billion in 2022.
Verified18Iberdrola's profit hit €4.9 billion in 2022.
Verified19U.S. utility ROE averaged 9.8% in 2022.
Directional20EDF's revenue was €143 billion in 2022.
Single source21Australia's AGL Energy revenue AUD$11.8 billion in 2022.
Verified22U.S. renewable project financing $40 billion in 2022.
Verified23National Grid's operating profit £3 billion in 2022.
Verified24U.S. utility customer count 165 million electric in 2022.
Directional25RWE's EBITDA €5.1 billion in 2022.
Single source26Global utility bonds issued $300 billion in 2022.
Verified27American Water Works revenue $4.1 billion in 2022.
Verified28U.S. utility credit ratings stable for 85% in 2022.
VerifiedFinancial/Market Interpretation
In 2022, the utilities industry demonstrated that powering civilization is a business of staggering scale, where trillion-dollar revenues are relentlessly recycled into massive investments and debt, leaving investors with steady but decidedly unglamorous returns.
Natural Gas
1In 2022, U.S. natural gas production for utilities was 34.0 trillion cubic feet.
Verified2Global natural gas consumption hit 4,048 bcm in 2022, up 0.7%.
Verified3U.S. residential natural gas use was 4.9 trillion cubic feet in 2022.
Verified4Europe's natural gas imports fell 40% in 2022 to 326 bcm.
Directional5Russia exported 175 bcm of pipeline gas to Europe in 2022, down from 2021.
Single source6U.S. LNG exports reached 11.9 bcfd in 2022, a record.
Verified7China's natural gas consumption grew 9% to 364 bcm in 2022.
Verified8Average Henry Hub spot price was $6.45/MMBtu in 2022.
Verified9U.S. natural gas storage inventories peaked at 3,761 bcf in 2022.
Directional10Qatar's LNG production was 77 mtpa in 2022.
Single source11Australia's natural gas exports hit 81 mtpa LNG in 2022.
Verified12U.S. industrial natural gas consumption was 10.5 tcf in 2022.
Verified13Pipeline capacity from Permian Basin expanded 5 bcfd in 2022.
Verified14Japan's LNG imports were 66 mt in 2022.
Directional15Canada exported 8.5 bcfd natural gas to U.S. in 2022.
Single source16U.S. natural gas-fired power generation was 1,682 billion kWh in 2022.
Verified17Norway's gas exports to Europe were 122 bcm in 2022.
Verified18U.S. rig count for natural gas averaged 130 in 2022.
Verified19Global LNG trade volume was 404 mt in 2022.
Directional20Iran's natural gas production was 256 bcm in 2022.
Single source21U.S. commercial natural gas use was 3.3 tcf in 2022.
Verified22Algeria exported 52 bcm gas via pipeline in 2022.
Verified23U.S. natural gas imports from Canada dropped 3% to 8.4 bcfd in 2022.
Verified24Turkmenistan's gas exports rose to 32 bcm in 2022.
Directional25Average U.S. citygate price was $7.30/MMBtu in 2022.
Single source26Nigeria's LNG exports were 22 mtpa in 2022.
Verified27U.S. shale gas production was 24.5 tcf in 2022.
Verified28Egypt became net gas exporter with 9 bcm surplus in 2022.
Verified29Global natural gas production grew 3.7% to 4,078 bcm in 2022.
DirectionalNatural Gas Interpretation
While the U.S. produced and stockpiled gas with almost reckless abundance, the global market convulsed, with Europe scrambling to replace Russian pipelines with a record-setting flood of American LNG, proving that energy security is now a frantic game of musical chairs played with tankers and geopolitics.
Renewables
1In 2022, global renewable electricity capacity reached 3,372 GW.
Verified2U.S. solar PV capacity installed totaled 14.8 GW in 2022.
Verified3Wind power added 77 GW globally in 2022.
Verified4EU renewable share in electricity was 42% in 2022.
Directional5China's renewable capacity hit 1,213 GW in 2022.
Single source6U.S. wind capacity reached 141 GW by end-2022.
Verified7Global hydro capacity was 1,296 GW in 2022.
Verified8India's renewable additions were 13.1 GW in 2022.
Verified9Brazil's wind generation was 72 TWh in 2022.
Directional10Offshore wind capacity globally was 35 GW in 2022.
Single source11U.S. utility-scale solar generation was 205 TWh in 2022.
Verified12Germany's renewable electricity production rose 7% to 252 TWh in 2022.
Verified13Global green hydrogen projects reached 347 in 2022.
Verified14Australia's rooftop solar was 3.7 GW added in 2022.
Directional15Vietnam's solar boom added 11 GW in 2022.
Single source16U.S. renewable electricity share was 22% in 2022.
Verified17Morocco's Noor solar complex generated 1.8 TWh in 2022.
Verified18Denmark's wind share hit 55% of electricity in 2022.
Verified19Global CSP capacity was 6.6 GW in 2022.
Directional20Chile's solar PV reached 7 GW in 2022.
Single source21U.S. geothermal generation was 15.8 TWh in 2022.
Verified22South Africa's REIPPPP added 2.5 GW renewables in 2022.
Verified23Global battery storage for renewables was 25 GW in 2022.
Verified24Portugal's renewables covered 61% of electricity in 2022.
Directional25U.S. distributed solar capacity was 28 GW cumulative in 2022.
Single source26Global bioenergy capacity was 145 GW in 2022.
VerifiedRenewables Interpretation
The global energy transition is no longer a polite suggestion from Mother Nature, but a full-scale construction project with China as the foreman, Europe as the lead architect, and even the rooftops of Australia and Vietnam now busily pitching in.
Water Supply
1In 2022, global water withdrawals totaled 4,200 km³, with utilities using 20%.
Verified2U.S. public water supply delivered 39 trillion gallons in 2022.
Verified3China's urban water supply reached 60 billion m³ in 2022.
Verified4Europe’s wastewater treatment covered 95% of population in 2022.
Directional5U.S. average residential water use was 82 gallons per capita daily in 2022.
Single source6India's water utility investments hit $10 billion in 2022.
Verified7Global desalination capacity was 95 million m³/day in 2022.
Verified8U.S. wastewater treatment plants numbered 14,748 in 2022.
Verified9Australia's per capita water use fell to 79 liters/day in 2022.
Directional10Brazil's water losses in distribution were 39% in 2022.
Single source11U.S. utility water rates rose 4% on average in 2022.
Verified12UK's water leakage rate was 24% of supply in 2022.
Verified13Japan's wastewater treatment rate was 80% in 2022.
Verified14Global investment in water infrastructure was $142 billion in 2022.
Directional15U.S. industrial water withdrawal was 15 billion gallons/day in 2022.
Single source16France's drinking water quality met standards for 98% in 2022.
Verified17South Africa's water supply coverage was 82% urban in 2022.
Verified18Mexico City's water deficit was 40% in 2022.
Verified19Germany's per capita water consumption was 127 liters/day in 2022.
Directional20U.S. lead pipe replacements targeted 6 million by 2022 progress.
Single source21Saudi Arabia's desalination produced 30% of water in 2022.
Verified22Canada's wastewater effluent standards met by 75% plants in 2022.
Verified23Italy's water tariffs averaged €2.00/m³ in 2022.
Verified24Thailand's urban water coverage reached 95% in 2022.
Directional25Global bottled water consumption was 600 billion liters in 2022.
Single source26U.S. thermoelectric power water withdrawal was 133 billion gal/day in 2022.
Verified27Spain's reuse of treated wastewater was 10% in 2022.
Verified28U.S. water utility revenue was $58 billion in 2022.
VerifiedWater Supply Interpretation
While billions are invested and mighty cubic kilometers flow, our vital water story is one of glaring contrasts: impressive treatment coverage in some nations is undermined by rampant leaks in others, rising rates meet falling conservation, and global infrastructure races to close the gap between ambitious desalination and sobering daily deficits.
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