While our refrigerators hum and lights flicker to life unseen, the global utilities sector is undergoing a seismic transformation, as revealed by statistics showing that U.S. residential electricity use crept up another 1% in 2022 even as Europe’s demand fell by 3.6%, solar capacity surged by 5.2 gigawatts in just six months, and natural gas prices saw dramatic volatility amid an 80% drop in Russian imports to Europe, all while investments race to meet a projected €2 trillion in capital expenditures needed by 2030.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, U.S. residential electricity consumption averaged 10,791 kilowatt-hours per household, marking a 1% increase from 2021
- Global electricity generation reached 28,515 terawatt-hours in 2022, with coal accounting for 36.4% of the total
- U.S. utility-scale solar photovoltaic capacity added 5.2 gigawatts in the first half of 2023
- U.S. dry natural gas production reached a record 36.4 trillion cubic feet in 2022
- Global natural gas consumption hit 4,079 billion cubic meters in 2022, up 0.9% from 2021
- U.S. LNG exports averaged 11.9 billion cubic feet per day in 2022
- U.S. population served by community water systems was 306 million in 2021
- Global freshwater withdrawals totaled 4,000 km³ in 2020, with agriculture using 70%
- U.S. average daily per capita water use in homes was 82 gallons in 2019
- U.S. wastewater treatment plants number 16,000 serving 238 million people
- Global municipal wastewater generation is 359 billion m³/year, only 52% treated
- U.S. average cost to treat wastewater is $4.82 per 1,000 gallons in 2021
- U.S. regulated electric utilities had $1.2 trillion in assets in 2021
- Global utility market size projected at $8.5 trillion by 2028, CAGR 4.2%
- U.S. average residential electricity bill was $122/month in 2022
Electricity, gas, and water utilities are evolving globally with mixed energy and usage trends.
Electricity
- In 2022, U.S. residential electricity consumption averaged 10,791 kilowatt-hours per household, marking a 1% increase from 2021
- Global electricity generation reached 28,515 terawatt-hours in 2022, with coal accounting for 36.4% of the total
- U.S. utility-scale solar photovoltaic capacity added 5.2 gigawatts in the first half of 2023
- In 2021, the average U.S. retail price for electricity was 10.59 cents per kilowatt-hour for residential customers
- Europe's electricity demand fell by 3.6% in 2022 compared to 2021 due to energy crisis responses
- U.S. nuclear power plants generated 790 billion kilowatt-hours in 2022, representing 18% of total U.S. electricity
- China installed 87 gigawatts of wind power capacity in 2022, leading global additions
- U.S. electricity transmission losses averaged 5% of total generation in 2021
- In 2022, hydropower accounted for 15.4% of global electricity production
- Texas ERCOT grid peak demand hit 85,509 megawatts on July 20, 2022
- U.S. commercial sector electricity use was 1,398 billion kWh in 2021
- Germany's electricity from renewables reached 46.2% of total consumption in 2022
- U.S. battery storage capacity connected to the grid reached 5.3 GW by end of 2022
- India's electricity consumption grew 8.8% in FY 2022-23 to 1,504 billion units
- U.K. electricity demand was 310 TWh in 2022, down 4% from pre-pandemic levels
- U.S. industrial electricity sales totaled 1,017 billion kWh in 2022
- Brazil's Itaipu Dam generated 103.1 million MWh in 2021, world's second highest
- Australia's National Electricity Market had average wholesale prices rise 170% in 2022
- Japan's electricity generation from solar PV reached 104 TWh in FY2022
- U.S. EIA forecasts electricity demand growth of 0.8% annually through 2050
- South Korea's coal-fired power share dropped to 36.2% in 2022
- France's nuclear generation fell to 280 TWh in 2022 due to outages
- California's duck curve peak net load reached 37 GW in 2022
- Global electricity access reached 91% of population in 2021
- U.S. PJM Interconnection peak load was 165,492 MW on July 20, 2022
- Ontario, Canada's IESO set summer peak demand record of 26,919 MW in 2022
- Spain's electricity demand decreased 3.3% in 2022 to 248,389 GWh
- U.S. residential air conditioning accounted for 18% of electricity use in 2020
- Vietnam's electricity demand grew 11.8% in 2022 to 258.2 billion kWh
- U.S. net electricity generation from wind was 434 billion kWh in 2022
- In 2022, U.S. natural gas accounted for 40.3% of total utility-scale electricity generation, totaling 1,641 billion kWh
Electricity Interpretation
The global energy transition is a dizzying dance of progress and peril, where a single percentage point of U.S. residential demand, a record-breaking surge in Chinese wind power, and a stubbornly persistent coal habit all compete on a grid that's simultaneously getting smarter and more stressed.
Natural Gas
- U.S. dry natural gas production reached a record 36.4 trillion cubic feet in 2022
- Global natural gas consumption hit 4,079 billion cubic meters in 2022, up 0.9% from 2021
- U.S. LNG exports averaged 11.9 billion cubic feet per day in 2022
- Europe's natural gas imports from Russia fell 80% in 2022 to 43 bcm
- U.S. residential natural gas deliveries were 12.95 trillion cubic feet in 2021-2022 heating season
- Qatar's North Field expansion to boost LNG capacity to 126 mtpa by 2027
- U.S. natural gas storage inventories peaked at 3,621 Bcf on November 4, 2022
- Australia's LNG exports reached 81.4 mtpa in 2022
- Henry Hub spot price averaged $6.45/MMBtu in 2022, up from $3.91 in 2021
- Global LNG trade volume was 404 mt in 2022, up 6.6%
- U.S. pipeline imports of natural gas from Canada averaged 8.3 Bcf/d in 2022
- Russia's Gazprom delivered 100.9 bcm to Europe (non-EU) in 2022, down sharply
- U.S. shale gas production was 31.7 Tcf in 2022, 87% of total dry gas
- Norway's natural gas exports to Europe were 121 bcm in 2022
- U.S. industrial natural gas consumption was 10.4 Tcf in 2022
- Japan's LNG imports totaled 66.6 mt in 2022, down 4.2%
- Permian Basin dry gas production hit 20 Bcf/d in Q4 2022
- U.K. natural gas production fell to 0.3 bcm in 2022 from offshore fields
- U.S. electric power sector natural gas use was 16.2 Tcf in 2022
- Algeria's gas exports to Europe rose 47% to 52 bcm in 2022
- Marcellus shale gas output reached 35 Bcf/d in 2022
- China's natural gas consumption grew 9.4% to 364.6 bcm in 2022
- U.S. natural gas prices at Algonquin Citygate averaged $9.50/MMBtu in winter 2022-23
- Indonesia's LNG production capacity is 21 mtpa from Bontang, Tangguh, Donggi-Senoro
- U.S. commercial natural gas use was 3.3 Tcf in 2022
- Egypt became net gas exporter with 11 bcm surplus in 2022
- Haynesville shale gas production averaged 13.5 Bcf/d in 2022
- Global natural gas flaring volume was 148 bcm in 2022
- U.S. residential natural gas prices averaged $11.17 per thousand cubic feet in 2022
Natural Gas Interpretation
Amidst a global energy scramble that saw Europe frantically turning down Russia's taps, America's gas wells, pipelines, and LNG ports were humming like a well-rehearsed orchestra, cashing in on a discordant world while setting domestic records for both production and consumer pain.
Utility Economics
- U.S. regulated electric utilities had $1.2 trillion in assets in 2021
- Global utility market size projected at $8.5 trillion by 2028, CAGR 4.2%
- U.S. average residential electricity bill was $122/month in 2022
- Europe's utility sector capex needs €2 trillion by 2030 for net-zero
- U.S. water utility rates increased 4.6% annually 2012-2022
- Global renewable energy investment hit $495 billion in 2022
- U.S. investor-owned utilities earned 9.3% ROE in 2021
- China's state-owned utilities invested ¥2.5 trillion in grid 2022
- U.K. water company dividends totaled £1.1 billion 2010-2020 despite leaks
- U.S. natural gas utility margins averaged 25% in 2022
- Global smart grid market valued at $45 billion in 2022
- U.S. utility bonds outstanding $500 billion, average yield 3.5% in 2022
- India's power sector debt at ₹6.34 lakh crore in 2022
- Australia's NEM wholesale market turnover $70 billion in 2022
- U.S. residential water bills averaged $104/month for 5,000 gallons in 2022
- EU ETS revenue for utilities €38.8 billion in 2022
- U.S. utility M&A deals totaled 150 transactions worth $40 billion in 2022
- Japan's utility electricity sales revenue ¥18 trillion in FY2022
- Global district heating market $130 billion in 2022
- U.S. regulated water utilities serve 80% of population, $60B revenue
- Brazil's utility tariffs regulated, average hike 5.2% in 2022
- U.S. energy efficiency spending by utilities $8 billion in 2021
- Canada's utility sector capex $100 billion planned 2023-2027
Utility Economics Interpretation
Amidst a colossal global infrastructure scramble costing trillions, the humble consumer, from the U.S. to Brazil, is steadily funneling cash into a vast, leaky, and debt-laden system that must either modernize dramatically or face the shocking consequences.
Wastewater Management
- U.S. wastewater treatment plants number 16,000 serving 238 million people
- Global municipal wastewater generation is 359 billion m³/year, only 52% treated
- U.S. average cost to treat wastewater is $4.82 per 1,000 gallons in 2021
- China's wastewater treatment capacity reached 217 million tons/day by 2022
- EU urban wastewater treatment compliance is 95% for large agglomerations
- U.S. Clean Water Act violations by utilities totaled 1.9 million in 2020
- India's urban sewage treatment capacity covers 37% of generated sewage in 2022
- U.K. combined sewer overflows discharged 36 billion liters in 2022
- Global biogas from anaerobic digestion of wastewater could meet 10% of natural gas demand
- U.S. nutrient pollution from wastewater contributes 12% of nitrogen in rivers
- Brazil's largest wastewater treatment plant, Barueri, treats 4.5 million m³/day
- Australia's wastewater reuse is 3% of total effluent, targeting 20% by 2030
- U.S. PFAS detected in wastewater at 1,200 ng/L average in 2021 surveys
- Japan's sewage treatment rate is 79% of population in 2021
- Global wastewater treatment market valued at $300 billion in 2022
- U.S. septic systems serve 20% of households, risking groundwater
- South Korea's advanced wastewater treatment covers 10% of facilities in 2022
- U.S. combined sewer systems overflow 850 billion gallons annually
- Egypt's Bahr El-Baqar wastewater plant treats 5.6 million m³/day
- EU wastewater reuse potential is 6.6 billion m³/year
- U.S. biosolids production from wastewater is 8 million dry tons/year
- Thailand's wastewater treatment coverage is 20% in urban areas 2022
- Global investment gap for wastewater treatment is $1 trillion by 2030
- U.S. utility revenue from wastewater services totaled $24 billion in 2021
Wastewater Management Interpretation
A staggering global wastewater treatment gap reveals a grim alchemy where we spend billions to clean a fraction of our mess while simultaneously poisoning our rivers and squandering enough potential energy to power millions of homes.
Water Supply
- U.S. population served by community water systems was 306 million in 2021
- Global freshwater withdrawals totaled 4,000 km³ in 2020, with agriculture using 70%
- U.S. average daily per capita water use in homes was 82 gallons in 2019
- World's largest desalination plant, Sorek B, Israel, produces 200 million m³/year
- California urban water use averaged 132 gallons per capita per day in 2021
- Global bottled water consumption reached 605 billion liters in 2022
- U.S. public water systems total 148,000 serving 90% of population
- Aquifer depletion in High Plains, U.S., averaged 1.2 meters per year 2000-2020
- Singapore's NEWater recycled water meets 40% of demand in 2022
- U.S. total water withdrawals were 322 Bgal/d in 2015
- India groundwater extraction is 251 km³/year, 90% for irrigation
- U.K. average household water use is 141 liters per person per day in 2022
- Australia's total urban water supply was 2,369 GL in 2020-21
- China's South-North Water Transfer Project delivers 59.4 billion m³ cumulatively by 2022
- U.S. irrigation water withdrawals were 118 Bgal/d, 37% of total in 2015
- Saudi Arabia's desalination capacity is 7.8 million m³/day as of 2022
- EU average water exploitation index is 20% of available resources
- U.S. low-income households pay 3.2% of income on water bills in 2021
- Global water leakage in distribution systems averages 20-30% in urban areas
- Florida's average residential water use is 100 gallons per capita daily
- Japan's water supply coverage is 98.3% of population in 2021
- U.S. Great Lakes provide 20% of world's surface freshwater
- Mexico City's water deficit is 40% of daily demand
- South Africa's municipal water losses average 37% nationally in 2022
- U.S. thermostat-controlled smart water heaters save 10-20% on water heating
- Global investment in water supply infrastructure needs $114 billion annually to 2030
Water Supply Interpretation
Despite our planet being awash with clever recycling and massive desalination, humanity's water story remains a farce of leaking pipes, thirsty crops, and stark inequality, proving we're better at moving oceans than fixing a tap.
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