Beneficial Electrification and Grid Opportunities

A Digital Report of the Active Efficiency Collaborative.

Beneficial electrification – transitioning end-uses powered by fossil fuels to electricity in circumstances where certain benefits are achieved – is a major trend that is accelerating in energy markets across the world.

What Is Beneficial Electrification?

Dynamic Regional Map

Regional Insights

Beneficial electrification requires consideration of local context, including the local climate, the ease of electrifying certain end-uses, the electricity market structure and state-specific regulations, the conventional fuels in use, and state and local policies regarding decarbonization and fuel-switching.

Browse a few different geographical views of beneficial electrification at the state level, including:

Figure 1: Heating fuels in the United States
Figure 2: Electricity consumption and carbon consumption across the U.S. power system; and
A dynamic map, which allows comparisons of other datasets, including heating/cooling days, average electricity retail pricing, EV deployments, and policies related to GHG emissions reductions and electrification.

Figure 1: Fraction of housing units using a given fuel for primary space heating

Different regions of the United States rely on different heating fuels. Electricity is most common in the Southeast and Northwest; fuel oil is most common in the Northeast; natural gas is most common in cities, whereas propane and electricity (and fuel oil in the Northeast) are most common in rural areas where gas distribution is less common. This distribution suggests greater opportunities for beneficial electrification of heating functions in the Northeast, and potentially Midwest regions. Maps created by NREL using data from 5-yr 2017 Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS). IPUMS USA, University of Minnesota, www.ipums.org.

Electricity

Map of the US showing the saturation of Electricity as a heating fuel

Natural Gas

Propane

Fuel Oil

Other Fuel

Figure 2: Electricity consumption and carbon consumption across the U.S. power system, 2016.

This map shows two views of the carbon footprint of the U.S. electricity system in 2016: electricity consumption (upper) and carbon consumption (lower), including the exchanges between balancing authorities. In general, the carbon intensity of electricity is the lowest in the Pacific Northwest, the Northeast, and California; it is the highest in the Rocky Mountains. (National Academy of Sciences, 2019)

Dynamic Regional Insights Map

Regional Data

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Choose a variable to filter map with

Average Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers for All Sectors (Cents/kWh)

Light Duty Electric Vehicle Registrations, 2018

Population-Weighted Heating Degree Days

Population-Weighted Cooling Degree Days

State Greenhouse Gas Emissions Targets

Executive Target

Statutory Target

No target

Both Targets

State Policies and Rules Regarding Beneficial Electrification

Supportive policies in place, with additional specific guidance/rules pending

Fuel switching or substitution encouraged through guidelines or fuel-neutral goals

No policy but utilities or program administrators have received approval for fuel switching or substitution programs in certain cases

No fuel-switching or substitution policy or programs

Fuel switching or substitution prohibited or discouraged

Percent of End-Use Energy From Electricity, Excluding Losses (%)

Residential

Retail Electricity, Geotherm, and solar, divided by total energy use.

Commercial

Retail Electricity, Geotherm, and solar, divided by total energy use.

Natural Gas

Retail Electricity

Petroleum

Other

Bar numerical values: 2018 energy consumption by fuel in Trillion BTU. Other category includes all other resources including coal, solar, biomass, and geothermal.

Click on a state for a summary of all the variables at a glance

Click on a variables to see how all states are doing

Regional Data Table

Explore the data that was used in the map above in a filterable table format for quick comparisons

State	Cost of Electricity (Cents/kWh)	Electric Vehicles 2018	Degree Days Heating	Degree Days Cooling	Emissions Targets	Beneficial Electrification Policies	Natural Gas	Petroleum	Electricity	Other	Natural Gas	Petroleum	Electricity	Other
Alabama	10.48	1450	3180	1879	No target	No policy but utilities/program administrators have received approval in certain cases	27.4	12.8	80.1	0.4	35.7	5.8	112.9	2.2
Alaska	20.82	530	3534	846	No target	Fuel switching or substitution encouraged through guidelines or fuel-neutral goals	14.1	8.7	9	1.4	18.1	6.9	6.7	6
Arizona	11.51	15000	5308	1397	No target	Fuel switching or substitution prohibited or discouraged	33.1	16.2	101.3	7.5	36.5	5	118.3	21.5
Arkansas	8.88	520	2152	2750	No target	Fuel switching or substitution prohibited or discouraged	56.2	7.3	41.9	1.2	35.5	4	65.7	7.8
California	19.26	256800	3534	846	Both	Fuel switching or substitution encouraged through guidelines or fuel-neutral goals	256.3	85.8	395.1	44.1	438.2	24.8	304	112.1
Colorado	10.82	11700	5308	1397	Statutory Target	Supportive policies in place, with additional specific guidance/rules pending	59.9	14.2	71.7	4	137.6	11.8	65.8	15.1
Connecticut	19.32	4450	6531	536	Statutory Target	Supportive policies in place, with additional specific guidance/rules pending	59.9	16.3	42.2	2.7	54.7	63.6	44.6	9.7
Delaware	9.96	720	2383	2516	Executive Target	No policy but utilities/program administrators have received approval in certain cases	16.3	3.5	14.8	0.4	12.6	5.4	17.3	1.7
Florida	10.53	25200	2383	2516	No target	No fuel-switching or substitution policy or programs	65.6	51.2	328.5	3.7	17.6	6.8	428.3	38.8
Georgia	10.53	15300	2383	2516	No target	No policy but utilities/program administrators have received approval in certain cases	58.1	24.7	161.4	0.8	136.7	8.9	203.7	4.1
Hawaii	26.09	6590	3534	846	Executive Target	No fuel-switching or substitution policy or programs	2.5	5.8	10.3	7.5	0.6	0.5	9.2	7.7
Idaho	8.53	1080	5308	1397	No target	No fuel-switching or substitution policy or programs	19.9	5.5	22	2.8	28.6	4.4	28.8	14.4
Illinois	9.46	12400	6428	832	No target	No policy but utilities/program administrators have received approval in certain cases	249.1	22.5	173.2	1.5	451	22.8	161.1	9.4
Indiana	9.92	3030	6428	832	No target	No fuel-switching or substitution policy or programs	90.1	15.1	82.9	7	150.8	14.8	118	17.2
Iowa	11.3	1090	7073	954	No target	No fuel-switching or substitution policy or programs	60.2	12.7	42.4	3.5	75.1	23.6	50.6	6
Kansas	10.74	1610	7073	954	No target	Fuel switching or substitution prohibited or discouraged	41.8	6	55.2	1.4	69.7	8.4	48.4	4.6
Kentucky	8.65	1240	3180	1879	No target	No fuel-switching or substitution policy or programs	40.4	10.2	68.2	2.5	54.1	6.4	94.6	11.3
Louisiana	7.63	1110	2152	2750	No target	Fuel switching or substitution prohibited or discouraged	35.6	8.6	84.2	1.1	38.6	1.8	109.4	3.5
Maine	13.53	750	6531	536	Both	Supportive policies in place, with additional specific guidance/rules pending	9.9	17.7	15.2	4.8	3.2	41	16.6	20.9
Maryland	10.72	8080	2383	2516	Statutory Target	No fuel-switching or substitution policy or programs	80.7	19	100.8	4.2	90.2	21.8	96	11.8
Massachusetts	18.33	9760	6531	536	Both	Fuel switching or substitution encouraged through guidelines or fuel-neutral goals	122.4	19.9	88.5	14.8	134.3	85.5	69.2	15.2
Michigan	12.84	4210	6428	832	Executive Target	No policy but utilities/program administrators have received approval in certain cases	188.9	21.2	132.8	11.8	342.5	45.5	119.9	40.9
Minnesota	11.59	4740	7073	954	Statutory Target	Fuel switching or substitution prohibited or discouraged	116.9	16.3	79.8	7.1	147.9	32.1	77.9	20.3
Mississippi	9.18	390	3180	1879	No target	No fuel-switching or substitution policy or programs	21.6	7.7	49.6	1	25.1	5.5	65.9	1.7
Missouri	11	3450	7073	954	No target	No fuel-switching or substitution policy or programs	70.7	16.5	106.4	5.3	116.2	16.7	127.8	21
Montana	9.33	500	5308	1397	Executive Target	No fuel-switching or substitution policy or programs	27.4	3.6	16.8	2.4	23.6	7.2	17.7	14.4
Nebraska	9.88	850	7073	954	No target	No fuel-switching or substitution policy or programs	37.5	5	32.6	1.3	44.9	6.6	35.5	3.4
Nevada	8.88	4810	5308	1397	Statutory Target	No fuel-switching or substitution policy or programs	34	8.6	41.4	3.1	43.4	2.1	45.9	7.3
New Hampshire	16.01	1120	6531	536	Executive Target	No policy but utilities/program administrators have received approval in certain cases	10.4	13.3	15.2	2.8	8.4	36.7	15.8	13.2
New Jersey	14.73	12100	5754	784	Executive Target	Supportive policies in place, with additional specific guidance/rules pending	174.1	20.7	132.4	13.1	257.5	29.7	100.8	12.7
New Mexico	10.53	1260	5308	1397	Executive Target	No fuel-switching or substitution policy or programs	26.9	4.3	30.8	2.5	35.6	4.4	23.3	12.7
New York	16.03	16600	5754	784	Statutory Target	Fuel switching or substitution encouraged through guidelines or fuel-neutral goals	341	71.6	261.9	16.6	501.6	137.1	177.9	44
North Carolina	9.66	7320	2383	2516	Executive Target	No fuel-switching or substitution policy or programs	59.7	27.3	168.2	4.2	75.4	23.8	210.3	12.1
North Dakota	9.33	170	7073	954	No target	No fuel-switching or substitution policy or programs	15.6	3.7	23.3	0.5	13.7	7.1	17.5	1.1
Ohio	9.51	6510	6428	832	No target	No fuel-switching or substitution policy or programs	190.8	32.5	161	5.3	321.3	27.8	185.8	24.5
Oklahoma	8.04	3290	2152	2750	No target	Fuel switching or substitution prohibited or discouraged	48.5	9.9	72.4	0.6	69.5	7.9	82.3	4.2
Oregon	9.2	12400	3534	846	Both	No fuel-switching or substitution policy or programs	31	11.3	56.2	5.5	45.5	4.5	64.6	26.5
Pennsylvania	9.79	7990	5754	784	Executive Target	Fuel switching or substitution prohibited or discouraged	171.6	43.5	147.5	9.7	262.7	107.8	190.7	38.7
Rhode Island	17.45	600	6531	536	Statutory Target	No policy but utilities/program administrators have received approval in certain cases	13.1	4	12.6	0.7	21.1	16.3	10.7	1.7
South Carolina	10.1	1950	2383	2516	No target	Fuel switching or substitution prohibited or discouraged	26	12.8	75.9	0.9	31.5	5.1	108.7	3.8
South Dakota	10.43	260	7073	954	No target	No fuel-switching or substitution policy or programs	13.4	2.3	16.7	1.4	15.2	5.4	17.1	3.1
Tennessee	9.81	3980	3180	1879	No target	Fuel switching or substitution encouraged through guidelines or fuel-neutral goals	61	14.8	126	1.7	77.6	7	151.4	7.6
Texas	8.82	22600	2152	2750	No target	Fuel switching or substitution prohibited or discouraged	220.2	46.7	489.7	3.4	233.4	16.7	536.6	9.6
Utah	9.01	5220	5308	1397	No target	No fuel-switching or substitution policy or programs	44.2	6.2	41.2	1.9	70.3	2.7	33.1	7.1
Vermont	16.2	1060	6531	536	Statutory Target	Fuel switching or substitution encouraged through guidelines or fuel-neutral goals	7.6	7.4	6.8	2.9	4.2	18	7.2	16.1
Virginia	9.53	8370	2383	2516	No target	No fuel-switching or substitution policy or programs	78.6	29.7	178.3	7.9	94.2	23.8	163.6	15.5
Washington	8.32	28400	3534	846	Statutory Target	Fuel switching or substitution prohibited or discouraged	62	21	100.3	5.3	90.8	12.2	120.6	29.2
West Virginia	8.8	230	2383	2516	No target	Fuel switching or substitution prohibited or discouraged	27.4	5.2	26.5	1.5	28.7	4	39.9	9.7
Wisconsin	11.72	3680	6428	832	No target	No policy but utilities/program administrators have received approval in certain cases	104.8	15.2	82.2	5.3	151.5	29.5	76.6	30.4
Wyoming	8.51	170	5308	1397	No target	No fuel-switching or substitution policy or programs	14.7	2.4	12.8	1.1	14	3.4	9.4	4.3