HOUSTON, March 2 - Coal stockpiles at U.S. power plants fell 0.4 percent this week but remained 1.1 percent larger than the same week last year, Genscape said Tuesday.
U.S. generators -- who rely on coal to fuel about half of U.S. electricity production -- had 56 days worth of coal on hand, the same as last week, the power industry data provider said.
Companies averaged one more day of coal stockpiled than the same week of 2009 and one day less year-over-year cushion than last week, Genscape said.
Genscape estimated power generators as of Monday had 150.8 million tons of coal, down from 151.5 million tons stockpiled on Feb. 22 but up from 149.2 million tons the same week last year.
Cold weather boosted power plant coal consumption and rail shipments were interrupted by snowy weather, all of which weighed on inventories, weather data and rail company alerts indicated.
The numbers reflect adjustments to the Genscape model and restatement of inventories for early 2009 due to distortions caused by unprecedented substitution of gas for coal in that period.
Inventories typically grow in spring and fall when demand for heating and cooling drops. Stockpiles usually shrink during summer and winter when demand rises for climate control in homes, stores and factories.
The past 12 months have been different due to the economic slowdown followed by signs of rebound. Winter also has been more severe this year.
Mathematical rounding sometimes affects the results, overstating some changes and understating others, Genscape has said.
U.S. generators -- who rely on coal to fuel about half of U.S. electricity production -- had 56 days worth of coal on hand, the same as last week, the power industry data provider said.
Companies averaged one more day of coal stockpiled than the same week of 2009 and one day less year-over-year cushion than last week, Genscape said.
Genscape estimated power generators as of Monday had 150.8 million tons of coal, down from 151.5 million tons stockpiled on Feb. 22 but up from 149.2 million tons the same week last year.
Cold weather boosted power plant coal consumption and rail shipments were interrupted by snowy weather, all of which weighed on inventories, weather data and rail company alerts indicated.
The numbers reflect adjustments to the Genscape model and restatement of inventories for early 2009 due to distortions caused by unprecedented substitution of gas for coal in that period.
Inventories typically grow in spring and fall when demand for heating and cooling drops. Stockpiles usually shrink during summer and winter when demand rises for climate control in homes, stores and factories.
The past 12 months have been different due to the economic slowdown followed by signs of rebound. Winter also has been more severe this year.
Mathematical rounding sometimes affects the results, overstating some changes and understating others, Genscape has said.
