EIA: U.S. energy consumption rose less than 1% during 1997

The Energy Information Administration reports U.S. energy use grew less than 1% in 1997, the lowest year-to-year growth in 6 years, although the economy expanded almost 4%. EIA said the low energy consumption was due to a warm winter and very cool summer compared with 1996. It said U.S. energy production did not keep pace with consumption, and consequently energy net imports rose to an all-time high. EIA said neighboring countries or territories (Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and

July 20, 1998

The Energy Information Administration reports U.S. energy use grew less than 1% in 1997, the lowest year-to-year growth in 6 years, although the economy expanded almost 4%.

EIA said the low energy consumption was due to a warm winter and very cool summer compared with 1996.

It said U.S. energy production did not keep pace with consumption, and consequently energy net imports rose to an all-time high.

EIA said neighboring countries or territories (Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Venezuela) accounted for more than half of U.S. net petroleum imports.

"Petroleum net imports are increasingly coming from countries in the Western Hemisphere. In 1997, our nation's oil supplies that came from Venezuela alone matched the total volume of oil coming to the U.S. from the Persian Gulf."

EIA said coal production and consumption set records in 1997. Nearly 90% of coal consumption was for electricity generation.

It said nonutility power producers accounted for 12% of electric power production, and they rely heavily on natural gas while conventional utilities mainly use coal.