U.S. Energy Consumption Reaches Record High

Total U.S. energy consumption jumped to a record 84.0 quadrillion Btus (quads) in 1993, up 2.2% from 1992, according to the just-released

Annual Energy Review

1993, published by the U.S. Department of Energy. A corresponding drop in domestic energy production to 65.8 quads (down 1.6% from 1992—the third consecutive drop) meant growing dependence on imported energy. Net energy imports increased to 16.9 quads (96% of which was petroleum), the highest level since 1978. Dependence on imported petroleum (net imports divided by total consumption) increased to 43.8% in 1993 (the second highest level in history—1977 was higher). Meanwhile, U.S. consumption of electricity increased 3.7% to a record 2,865 billion kWh, and residential electricity consumption increased 6.2% to 994 billion kWh.