The national median self-generation share fell from 60.8% in 2008 to 48.2% in 2024 — crossing below 50% for the first time. The average regulated utility now purchases more electricity than it generates. Drivers include coal and nuclear plant retirements without replacement generation, growth of wholesale renewable energy contracts, and deliberate strategies to reduce owned generation in favor of purchased power agreements.
FPL at 97.4% self-gen represents the traditional vertically integrated utility. ConEd at 7.5% is a wires-only utility buying nearly everything from the wholesale market. Both are legitimate models with different risk profiles. For regulators, the self-gen ratio is key to prudency reviews — it determines whether fuel cost increases reflect decisions the utility controlled or market conditions beyond its control.
| Utility | St | Self-Gen % | Purchases % | Total Supply (TWh) | Change 2008→2024 |
|---|
| Year | Value 1 | Value 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | — |
| 2023 | — | — |