What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
For U.S. utility-scale electricity generation, natural gas produced less direct CO2 per kilowatt-hour than coal in 2023: 0.96 pounds versus 2.31 pounds, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). That does not settle which fuel has the lower full lifecycle climate impact, the lower cost in a particular market, or the better reliability. Those answers depend on upstream emissions, local prices and plant economics, and how each generator and its fuel supply perform when the grid needs them.
Which fuel emits less CO2 per kilowatt-hour?
On a direct-emissions basis, natural gas emitted substantially less CO2 per unit of electricity than coal in the EIA’s 2023 U.S. utility-scale averages. These figures describe CO2 released when plants generate electricity; they are not full lifecycle estimates, and EIA cautions that individual plant values can vary considerably.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
| U.S. utility-scale generation, 2023 | Coal | Natural gas |
|---|---|---|
| Direct CO2 per kilowatt-hour | 2.31 lb CO2/kWh (EIA, 2023) | 0.96 lb CO2/kWh (EIA, 2023) |
| Total CO2 from electricity generation | 709 million metric tons (EIA, 2023) | 790 million metric tons (EIA, 2023) |
The total-emissions row answers a different question from the per-kWh row. Natural gas generation produced more total CO2 in 2023 despite its lower average emissions intensity, because the two fuels generated different amounts of electricity. Total tons should not be read as emissions per unit of power.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Direct emissions are not the whole climate comparison
A lifecycle comparison would also account for emissions before fuel reaches a power plant. For gas, that includes methane released during production and transport; for coal, it includes impacts associated with mining and transport. The result also depends on plant efficiency and, for methane, the time horizon used to assess its warming impact. The cited EIA direct-emissions figures do not quantify those factors, so they do not establish a complete lifecycle ranking.
#1 Best Overall
- SAFETY YOU CAN TRUST WITH UL CERTIFICATION: With Emporia Energy, your home energy monitoring is safe, reliable, and certified. The Emporia Vue is UL Listed, meaning it has met rigorous safety standards for electrical products in the U.S. and Canada. This certification ensures that every component has been thoroughly tested to prevent hazards, such as overheating, short-circuiting, or fire, offering you peace of mind as you manage your home’s energy consumption.
- INSTALLS IN CIRCUIT PANEL of most homes with clamp-on sensors. Supports Single phase, Single-split phase, and 2-wire systems. 3-wire systems; 3-phase, 4-wire Wye systems with earthed (TN or TT) neutral (no-Delta) are supported with an additional 200A sensor (sold separately).
- 24/7 ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING: Automate, manage and control your home's real power anywhere, anytime to prevent costly repairs, conserve energy, and save costs. Monitor solar / net metering. PROTECTED BY A 1-YEAR WARRANTY.
- LOWER YOUR ELECTRIC BILL: Configure settings in the Emporia Energy App to automate energy management for time of use, peak demand, excess solar, and rewards programs. You can even see live reporting and invaluable savings opportunities instantly. Gauge real-time spending and get actionable notifications and automated energy management to help you reduce costs.
- REAL-TIME ENERGY DATA: REQUIRES 2.4 GHz WIFI WITH AN INTERNET CONNECTION to monitor energy use with iPhone / Android / Web app. Vue sensors collect energy data and are accurate from ±2%. The Vue is UL and CE Listed for your safety. 1 second data is only available in the app (when actively open) and retained 3 hours. Minute and hour data are retained in the cloud. 1 minute data is retained 7 days, 1 hour data is retained indefinitely. Export cloud data whenever you want in the app.
Which fuel produces electricity more cheaply?
There is no single, lasting national winner on cost. A meaningful comparison must specify where and when the fuel is delivered, which plants are being compared, and what costs are included. Coal and gas prices vary by state and month, while plant economics also depend on facility design, age, utilization, and operating costs.
Distinguish the three common cost questions
- Delivered fuel cost: the price paid to bring coal or gas to a generating plant. EIA provides monthly state-level delivered-fuel cost data and annual weighted-average fossil-fuel costs; these answer fuel-price questions, not the full cost of producing electricity.
- Cost to operate an existing plant: includes fuel and other operating expenses. A fuel-price comparison alone omits those other expenses, and an existing plant’s costs are not interchangeable with the cost of building a new one.
- Levelized cost of a new resource: a modeled measure that accounts for construction, financing, operations, and assumptions about utilization and policy. EIA’s Annual Energy Outlook 2026 levelized-cost report is a modeled new-resource comparison, not a statement of what every existing coal or gas plant currently costs.
For a defensible local comparison, match the same state and period for delivered fuel prices, then compare plants or resources on the same cost basis. EIA’s electricity-data index lists monthly delivered-fuel data, detailed annual and preliminary monthly EIA-923 plant and operator data, and annual weighted-average fuel costs. The index listed September 24, 2026, as the monthly release date and October 16, 2025, as the annual-data release date. Those datasets support a defined analysis; they do not supply one universal, current coal-versus-gas cost verdict.
Rank #2
- ⚡ EASY INSTALLATION: Installs in circuit panel of most homes with clamp-on sensors. Supports single-phase up to 240VAC line-neutral; single, split-phase 120/240VAC; and three-phase up to 415Y/240VAC (no Delta). The branch lines can automatically match different phases and have no restrictions in terms of quantity and voltage.Panels with access only to busbars will need flexible sensors available from SEM-Meter.
- ⚡ ENERGY MONITORING ANYTIME, ANYWHERE: Monitor your home's real power anywhere, anytime to prevent costly repairs, conserve energy, and save costs. Monitor solar / net metering. Light commercial 3 phase option available as a separate bundle. Protected by a 1-year warranty.
- ⚡ VARIOUS ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE MONITORING: Comes with 16 50A sensors to accurately monitor your air conditioner, furnace, water heater, washer, dryer, range, etc.
- ⚡ LOWER YOUR ELECTRIC BILL: SEM-Meter measures real-time spending and gets actionable notifications to understand where savings can be made, both to lower your electric bill and to conserve energy and protect the planet’s resources. Be an environmentalist.
- ⚡ REAL-TIME ENERGY DATA: Connect SEM-Meter device via 2.4GHz WiFi to monitor energy usage, with an accuracy range of 1%. View usage in real time through Android/Apple software. Statistics of power usage in now/day/week/month/year format: the validity period of hourly exported data is 90 days, and the exported data of day/month/year data is permanent, available at any time Export from application.
Which fuel is more reliable for electricity?
Reliability is not an intrinsic yes-or-no property of coal or gas. It depends on the generator’s availability and operating role, its ability to start or ramp when needed, fuel delivery during stressful conditions, and constraints on the surrounding grid. A claim that one fuel is categorically more reliable requires evidence for matched plants, regions, and events.
Plant type and operating role matter
Gas generators do not all operate alike. Combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plants are configured for base and intermediate load. Simple-cycle gas turbines, gas steam turbines, and internal-combustion generators are commonly used during high demand or to back up intermittent renewable generation; these types can start and ramp quickly.
Rank #3
- EM16P MODEL & LOCAL CONTROL & DATA PRIVACY: Access your home energy monitor data locally via Built-in Web UI, Open API, and MQTT without relying on cloud services. Unlike cloud-dependent monitors, Refoss ensures your data stays within your home network. Direct local access protects your privacy while giving you 100% full control of your home energy system.
- NATIVE HOME ASSISTANT & OPENCLAW AI: Experience seamless Native Home Assistant integration right out of the box—no firmware flashing or complex coding required. Featuring ✨NEW✨ OpenClaw Support, it enables AI-driven automation for smarter, real-time energy management and seamless smart home control.
- MAXIMIZE SOLAR & ZERO FEED-IN AUTOMATION: Designed for solar homes, the power monitor works with the Refoss app and Home Assistant to automatically use surplus solar power. Appliances like EV chargers, washing machines, and water heaters are powered during midday peaks, maximizing solar self-consumption and reducing low-value electricity feed-in to the grid. Optimizes usage and reduces bills.
- REAL-TIME MONITORING & ±1% ACCURACY: Monitor voltage, current, active power, and power factor of major appliances. Provides ±1% accuracy (200A: 2–200A; 60A: 1–60A) and ±2% at low current. Daily data stored up to 5 years and exportable. With no subscriptions or hidden fees, you get deep historical insights to help you identify every energy-saving opportunity and save 10–20% on monthly bills.
- SMART ALERTS & CIRCUIT-LEVEL CONTROL: Set usage targets for each individual circuit and receive instant alerts when appliances exceed normal consumption. Refoss app supports automation and peak management to optimize schedules, reduce peaks, and improve efficiency. Real-time electricity usage monitor for circuit-level insights.
| Gas plant type | Average capacity factor in 2022 | What the figure indicates |
|---|---|---|
| Combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT), fleetwide | Approximately 56% (EIA, 2022) | Average utilization across the fleet, not a reliability score |
| Newest CCGT cohort | Approximately 66% (EIA, 2022) | Utilization for that cohort, not a direct comparison with coal reliability |
| Simple-cycle gas turbine | Approximately 13% (EIA, 2022) | Low utilization can reflect a peaking or backup role |
| Gas steam turbine | Approximately 16% (EIA, 2022) | Low utilization can reflect a peaking or backup role |
| Internal-combustion generator | 18% (EIA, 2022) | Low utilization can reflect a peaking or backup role |
Capacity factor is the electricity generated over a period divided by what the plant could have generated at full output throughout that period. It measures utilization, not forced-outage probability, performance during a particular grid emergency, or whether a plant can deliver at the precise hour of peak demand. A peaking generator can have a low capacity factor by design.
What a reliability comparison needs to check
- Unit availability and forced outages, measured for comparable plants and periods.
- Dispatch characteristics, including start and ramp times, in the grid conditions being assessed.
- Fuel security during the relevant stress event, including on-site inventory or pipeline supply and any delivery constraints.
- Transmission limits and whether the plant can reach the part of the grid that needs power.
- Performance during the specific system peak or extreme-weather event, rather than an annual utilization average.
EIA notes that operating categories such as base load, intermediate, and peaking do not have strict boundaries because many variables affect how a plant is used. A plant’s label or capacity factor alone therefore cannot establish its reliability.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- SAFETY YOU CAN TRUST WITH UL CERTIFICATION: With Emporia Energy, your home energy monitoring is safe, reliable, and certified. The Emporia Vue is UL Listed, meaning it has met rigorous safety standards for electrical products in the U.S. and Canada. This certification ensures that every component has been thoroughly tested to prevent hazards, such as overheating, short-circuiting, or fire, offering you peace of mind as you manage your home’s energy consumption.
- INSTALLS IN CIRCUIT PANEL of most homes with clamp-on sensors. Supports Single phase, Single-split phase, and 2-wire systems. 3-wire systems; 3-phase, 4-wire Wye systems with earthed (TN or TT) neutral (no-Delta) are supported with an additional 200A sensor (sold separately).
- 24/7 ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING: Automate, manage and control your home's real power anywhere, anytime to prevent costly repairs, conserve energy, and save costs. Monitor solar / net metering. PROTECTED BY A 1-YEAR WARRANTY.
- LOWER YOUR ELECTRIC BILL: Configure settings in the Emporia Energy App to automate energy management for time of use, peak demand, excess solar, and rewards programs. You can even see live reporting and invaluable savings opportunities instantly. Gauge real-time spending and get actionable notifications and automated energy management to help you reduce costs.
- REAL-TIME ENERGY DATA: REQUIRES 2.4 GHz WIFI WITH AN INTERNET CONNECTION to monitor energy use with iPhone / Android / Web app. Vue sensors collect energy data and are accurate from ±2%. The Vue is UL and CE Listed for your safety. 1 second data is only available in the app (when actively open) and retained 3 hours. Minute and hour data are retained in the cloud. 1 minute data is retained 7 days, 1 hour data is retained indefinitely. Export cloud data whenever you want in the app.
Rank #4
- SAFE & RELIABLE: Meross smart energy consumption monitor is ETL‑certified and compliant with the UL 61010 testing standard, ensuring safe and reliable home energy monitoring. Works with most US homes: single-phase 2-wire systems, single-split phase 3-wire systems, and 3-phase 4-wire Wye systems with earthed (TN or TT) neutral (no Delta). Easy clamp‑on design installs in minutes. Invert CT readings in the app—no physical flipping. PROTECTED BY 2-YEAR WARRANTY for worry-free use.
- TRACK ENERGY & CUT BILLS: Track power, voltage, current, and power factor within ±1% accuracy. Clear power usage and cost charts by minute/hour/day/month/year help you easily understand your energy use. Store up to 5 years of data and export hourly reports for deep analysis. Most users save 10–20% on energy costs by spotting energy hogs and getting accurate insights to cut their bills.
- 24/7 ENERGY MONITORING + SMART ALERTS: Real-time home energy monitoring from anywhere. Set custom alerts for unusual usage spikes and threshold breaches for total peace of mind. Catch issues early with no subscriptions, no cloud lock‑in, and no hidden fees — all built-in. Supports 2 main circuits (200A) + 16 branch circuits (60A), making it perfect for precise, circuit-level energy monitoring.
- MAXIMIZE YOUR SOLAR SAVINGS (HOME ASSISTANT): This solar energy monitor integrates with Home Assistant to detect solar surplus and automatically power EV chargers, water heaters, and other high‑use appliances. Stop wasting solar energy—use it yourself and cut your electricity bill faster. The perfect home energy monitor for solar homes.
- LOCAL DATA, FULL PRIVACY, NO SUBSCRIPTIONS: Connect seamlessly with Home Assistant for advanced energy automation. All energy data stays local—no cloud, no delays, no privacy concerns. Take full control of your home energy, reduce waste, and protect your privacy. Supports Open API and Web Control.
How to read the comparison
- For direct CO2 per unit of power: the 2023 U.S. averages favor natural gas over coal.
- For lifecycle climate impact: the direct figures are insufficient; upstream methane and other fuel-cycle impacts must also be counted.
- For cost: there is no universal winner without a region, year, plant or resource, and a clearly defined cost measure.
- For reliability: assess the generators, fuel delivery, and grid conditions together; utilization figures are not outage statistics.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
