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The Full Cost of Electricity

A project to identify and quantify the full-system cost of electric power generation and delivery—from the power plant to the wall socket
photograph of transmission lines
EnergyTopicSpecial ReportsTypeNews

How to Predict a Utility’s Transmission and Distribution Costs: Count the Customers

The number of customers found in a utility’s territory, not how much energy is delivered to them, is the best predictor of annual transmission, distribution, and administration costs

3 min read
Overlook the cost to move power to the detriment of your renewable energy project
EnergyTopicTypeSpecial ReportsNews

How Do We Estimate Transmission Costs for New Generation?

Overlook the cost to move power to the detriment of your renewable energy project

2 min read
three power plant chimneys emitting vapor cloud
EnergyTopicTypeSpecial ReportsNews

How EPA Calculates the Cost of Environmental Compliance for Electricity Generators

The EPA approaches this task differently for greenhouse gases than for other pollutants

2 min read
Gas stove ring alight with blue natural gas flame
EnergyTopicTypeSpecial ReportsNews

Full Cost of Electricity: Modeling Natural Gas Prices Offers Insight for Future Fuel Prices

Market-calibrated forecasts for natural gas prices show historical trends, bode well for future updates with recent data sets

3 min read
turbine rotor in a gas turbine
EnergyTopicTypeSpecial ReportsNews

Impact of Renewable Generation on Operational Reserves Requirement: When More Could Be Less

How changes in regulations allowed wind power to increase in Texas without increasing operational reserves

2 min read
illustration of scale with light bulb balanced against dollar signs
EnergyTopicTypeSpecial ReportsNews

How Much Does the U.S. Government Subsidize Electricity Generating Technologies?

When considering only the portion of fossil fuel support that relates to electric power, renewables receive far more federal help

3 min read
artist illustration of people with arms raised
EnergyTopicTypeSpecial ReportsNews

Consumers Express Community Values With Their Electricity Choices

Values are personal, not necessarily logical, and when applied to electricity choices they can impact the market in unpredictable ways

3 min read
Illustration of lightbulb with dollar sign filament
EnergyTopicTypeSpecial ReportsNews

Calculating the Full Cost of Electricity—From Power Plant to Wall Socket

An interdisciplinary initiative of the Energy Institute aims to inform public policy discussion with comprehensive analysis and data

2 min read
Photograph of Edison bulbs
EnergyTopicTypeSpecial ReportsNews

Calculating the Full Cost of Electricity—Know Your History

The structure of the electricity industry—of generation, delivery, and use of electricity over the past century—has evolved significantly

3 min read
LCOE map produced by UT Austin
EnergyTopicTypeSpecial ReportsNews

How Does Geography Figure Into the Full Cost of Electricity?

To determine the full cost of electricity, you have to account for geographical factors

4 min read
photograph of rooftop solar installation
EnergyTopicTypeSpecial ReportsNews

Will Rooftop Solar Really Add to Utility Costs?

Study shows significant PV generation can be integrated in the grid with little or no additional cost to utilities and their customers

3 min read
A torn dollar bill in the shape of the state of Texas
EnergyTopicTypeSpecial ReportsNews

What Role Do Household Incomes Play in the Full Cost of Electricity?

Texas, a microcosm of the United States, shows that many households spend a fair fraction of their income on electricity

2 min read