Electrical costs over the past 50 years*

Price of energy has increased over the past 50 years

The graph above shows the electrical cost from the year 1960 through 2011. The average cost of electricity is now 12 cents a kWh. The pattern shows a steady increase over the past 50 years. Following the same pattern, electrical cost will rise another 15% in the next 5 years, making the average cost for electricity over 15 cents a kWh by the year 2016. (This price does not include EPA Carbon Tax)

*Sources * 1960 – September 1977 – Federal Power Commission, Form FPC-5, “Monthly Statement of Electric Operating Revenues and Income.” * October 1977 – February 1980 – Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Form FPC-5, “Monthly Statement of Electric Operating Revenues and Income.” * March 1980-1982 FERC, Form FERC-5, “Electric Utility Company Monthly Statement.” * 1983 – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Form IEA-826, “Electric Utility Company Monthly Statement.” * 1984-1994 – EIA, Form EIA-861, “Annual Electric Utility Report.” * 1995 forward – EIA, Electric Power Monthly (March 2010), Table 5.3.

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