According to the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA), domestic wholesale electricity prices were much higher in 2018 than in 2017, with increases ranging from 14% in the Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO) to 60% in the ERCOT electricity market (Texas). Besides, they were also more volatile, as spikes occurred during summer and winter months. In July 2018, record power demand levels and limited available generation capacity in Texas pushed monthly prices soared from the average US$36/MWh (July 2017) to US$112/MWh. Summer prices also rose in much of the western United States, such as California, where record high electricity demand and surging gas costs raised monthly CAISO wholesale prices to US$101/MWh.
Natural gas accounted for 35% of the total US electricity generation, up from 32% in 2017. Meanwhile, the share of total power generation from coal declined from 30% to 27% over the same period. Renewable generation from wind and solar power plants went up from a combined share of 8% in 2017 to 9% in 2018. As for hydropower generation, 2018 figures were relatively similar to the 2017 ones and hydro power plants accounted for 7% of the total domestic electricity production.