Net electricity generation in the United States resumed its historical path of almost continual growth in 2002, reaching 3859 billion kWh, 3.3% higher than in 2001, according to the Energy Information Administration in the Electric Power Annual 2002. This contrasts with a decline in generation of 1.7% in 2001, only the second time in the past 50 years that net generation declined. Average revenue per kilowatthour declined by 2% to 7.21 cents per kWh.

Independent power producers' share of net generation increased from 20.9% in 2001 to 24.8% in 2002, continuing the substantial increases that began in the late 1990s. This growth was a result of both new plant construction by independent producers and plant sales by investor-owned utilities. Combined heat and power plants remained fairly constant from 1997 through 2002 at 8% to 9% of total net generation.