Energy Prices in Nebraska's Commercial Sector
The commercial sector consists of nonmanufacturing business establishments. Included are hotels, motels, restaurants, wholesale businesses, retail stores, laundries, and other service enterprises; health, social, and educational institutions; and federal, state, and local governments. Streetlights, pumps, bridges, and public services are also included. Fuel used in motor vehicles for commercial purposes is included in the transportation sector.
Examples of common uses of energy in the commercial sector include space heating, water heating, refrigeration, air conditioning, and cooking.
Using an equivalent measure of million British thermal units (Btu), the graph below compares the prices of fuel. The prices are also in nominal dollars to provide a better comparison.
In 2021, the highest price was for electricity at $25.81 per million Btu followed by motor gasoline at $24.22, kerosene at $23.30, propane at $18.18, and diesel fuel at $16.81. Residual fuel was $12.47, natural gas was $6.29, and wood and waste was $3.77. If any fuel had consumption low enough to round to zero, the price is shown as $0.
The price for ethanol is not tracked, and there are no direct fuel costs for hydroelectric, geothermal, wind, photovoltaic, or solar thermal energy, so no prices are reported.
Energy Prices by Fuel Type,
Commercial Sector
Nebraska, 2010 – 2021
[Nominal Dollars per Million British Thermal Units (Btu)]
| Year | Coal | Electricity | Natural Gas | Petroleum | Renewable | Annual Average | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel Fuel | Kerosene | Motor Gasoline | Propane | Residual Fuel | Wood and Waste | |||||
| 2021 | $0.00 | $25.81 | $6.29 | $16.81 | $23.30 | $24.22 | $18.18 | $12.47 | $3.77 | $15.97 |
| 2020 | $0.00 | $26.05 | $5.12 | $10.55 | $14.75 | $17.15 | $10.72 | $8.34 | $3.71 | $14.91 |
| 2019 | $0.00 | $25.94 | $5.45 | $15.62 | $22.72 | $20.90 | $11.60 | $11.27 | $4.46 | $14.96 |
| 2018 | $0.00 | $25.87 | $5.92 | $17.09 | $25.95 | $21.93 | $14.56 | $11.07 | $4.03 | $15.37 |
| 2017 | $0.00 | $25.93 | $6.00 | $13.69 | $16.84 | $19.78 | $14.04 | $9.75 | $3.04 | $16.07 |
| 2016 | $0.00 | $25.79 | $5.15 | $11.26 | $13.46 | $17.62 | $10.46 | $0.00 | $3.17 | $15.82 |
| 2015 | $0.00 | $25.42 | $6.06 | $13.45 | $16.89 | $19.80 | $20.14 | $0.00 | $4.55 | $15.87 |
| 2014 | $0.00 | $25.58 | $6.98 | $22.74 | $32.72 | $27.59 | $23.15 | $15.88 | $5.60 | $16.36 |
| 2013 | $0.00 | $25.21 | $6.26 | $24.39 | $30.40 | $28.85 | $20.60 | $0.00 | $5.56 | $15.86 |
| 2012 | $0.00 | $24.57 | $6.08 | $24.76 | $29.74 | $29.59 | $19.33 | $16.83 | $5.15 | $16.26 |
| 2011 | $0.00 | $23.40 | $6.62 | $24.20 | $28.35 | $28.96 | $21.65 | $0.00 | $6.24 | $15.11 |
| 2010 | $0.00 | $22.38 | $7.05 | $17.83 | $25.05 | $22.74 | $19.51 | $11.60 | $5.73 | $14.86 |
Energy Prices by Fuel Type,
Commercial Sector
Nebraska, 1990 – 2009
[Nominal Dollars per Million British Thermal Units (Btu)]
| Year | Coal | Electricity | Natural Gas | Petroleum | Renewable | Annual Average | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel Fuel | Kerosene | Motor Gasoline | Propane | Residual Fuel | Wood and Waste | |||||
| 2009 | $0.00 | $21.49 | $7.35 | $14.06 | $23.58 | $19.00 | $18.57 | $7.94 | $5.27 | $14.40 |
| 2008 | $0.00 | $19.59 | $9.51 | $23.92 | $23.36 | $25.38 | $23.22 | $12.35 | $6.47 | $14.68 |
| 2007 | $2.10 | $18.73 | $9.00 | $17.50 | $22.22 | $22.94 | $19.50 | $0.00 | $5.39 | $14.11 |
| 2006 | $1.89 | $18.15 | $9.50 | $15.93 | $19.59 | $20.49 | $18.05 | $7.75 | $4.83 | $14.03 |
| 2005 | $1.28 | $17.52 | $9.36 | $13.78 | $15.41 | $17.92 | $16.26 | $6.62 | $4.75 | $13.59 |
| 2004 | $1.21 | $17.13 | $7.53 | $9.27 | $11.15 | $14.58 | $13.46 | $5.03 | $3.73 | $12.15 |
| 2003 | $1.13 | $17.03 | $6.85 | $7.13 | $10.04 | $12.24 | $11.46 | $3.87 | $3.63 | $11.83 |
| 2002 | $1.15 | $16.89 | $5.07 | $5.90 | $8.45 | $10.88 | $9.16 | $0.00 | $3.15 | $11.13 |
| 2001 | $1.14 | $16.58 | $7.35 | $6.52 | $9.19 | $11.58 | $12.38 | $4.05 | $3.43 | $11.89 |
| 2000 | $0.00 | $16.27 | $5.44 | $7.05 | $9.18 | $12.07 | $10.97 | $3.93 | $3.24 | $10.84 |
| 1999 | $0.00 | $16.44 | $4.15 | $4.35 | $4.88 | $8.72 | $8.25 | $2.69 | $2.31 | $10.08 |
| 1998 | $1.42 | $16.41 | $4.24 | $3.83 | $4.31 | $8.19 | $8.82 | $2.64 | $2.45 | $9.98 |
| 1997 | $1.42 | $16.41 | $4.89 | $4.92 | $5.62 | $9.62 | $9.88 | $2.65 | $2.94 | $9.70 |
| 1996 | $1.45 | $16.60 | $4.44 | $5.24 | $6.00 | $10.02 | $9.35 | $0.00 | $3.32 | $9.04 |
| 1995 | $1.42 | $16.46 | $4.05 | $4.30 | $4.97 | $9.21 | $7.71 | $2.38 | $2.90 | $8.84 |
| 1994 | $1.46 | $16.88 | $4.30 | $4.29 | $6.00 | $9.21 | $7.71 | $2.08 | $2.96 | $9.00 |
| 1993 | $1.43 | $17.28 | $4.38 | $4.50 | $6.28 | $9.11 | $6.50 | $2.27 | $3.05 | $9.29 |
| 1992 | $1.57 | $17.15 | $4.08 | $4.68 | $7.13 | $9.09 | $7.67 | $1.97 | $3.12 | $9.05 |
| 1991 | $1.43 | $16.84 | $3.93 | $4.88 | $7.52 | $9.43 | $8.25 | $2.03 | $3.41 | $8.58 |
| 1990 | $1.48 | $17.21 | $3.92 | $5.50 | $8.28 | $9.49 | $9.29 | $2.22 | $3.56 | $8.85 |
Energy Prices by Fuel Type,
Commercial Sector
Nebraska, 1970 – 1989
[Nominal Dollars per Million British Thermal Units (Btu)]
| Year | Coal | Electricity | Natural Gas | Petroleum | Renewable | Annual Average | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel Fuel | Kerosene | Motor Gasoline | Propane | Residual Fuel | Wood and Waste | |||||
| 1989 | $1.47 | $16.93 | $3.82 | $4.44 | $6.78 | $8.42 | $7.12 | $2.02 | $2.95 | $8.56 |
| 1988 | $1.57 | $16.22 | $3.81 | $3.80 | $6.26 | $7.22 | $7.65 | $2.13 | $2.67 | $8.04 |
| 1987 | $1.62 | $16.43 | $3.76 | $4.21 | $6.38 | $7.58 | $7.70 | $2.60 | $2.65 | $8.32 |
| 1986 | $1.67 | $16.55 | $3.95 | $3.67 | $6.29 | $7.28 | $8.10 | $0.00 | $2.78 | $8.22 |
| 1985 | $2.51 | $16.78 | $4.29 | $6.00 | $7.81 | $9.67 | $6.73 | $0.00 | $3.46 | $8.27 |
| 1984 | $1.70 | $16.44 | $4.35 | $6.34 | $7.89 | $9.55 | $5.43 | $0.00 | $3.60 | $7.90 |
| 1983 | $1.67 | $16.66 | $4.29 | $6.37 | $7.70 | $9.61 | $5.66 | $0.00 | $3.54 | $7.80 |
| 1982 | $1.79 | $14.32 | $3.56 | $7.46 | $6.06 | $10.71 | $5.10 | $4.03 | $3.66 | $6.51 |
| 1981 | $1.97 | $14.06 | $3.02 | $7.80 | $6.74 | $11.37 | $4.97 | $4.64 | $3.77 | $6.21 |
| 1980 | $1.69 | $12.86 | $2.33 | $6.49 | $5.17 | $10.06 | $4.97 | $3.22 | $3.06 | $5.00 |
| 1979 | $1.72 | $10.43 | $2.01 | $4.80 | $3.53 | $7.41 | $3.21 | $2.33 | $2.20 | $4.04 |
| 1978 | $1.47 | $9.66 | $1.54 | $3.07 | $3.00 | $5.50 | $3.21 | $1.68 | $1.54 | $3.51 |
| 1977 | $1.17 | $8.94 | $1.39 | $3.01 | $2.73 | $5.29 | $3.03 | $1.83 | $1.45 | $3.06 |
| 1976 | $1.03 | $8.16 | $1.16 | $2.67 | $2.57 | $5.06 | $2.59 | $1.73 | $1.28 | $2.63 |
| 1975 | $0.81 | $6.96 | $1.00 | $2.45 | $2.39 | $4.76 | $2.38 | $1.75 | $1.20 | $2.36 |
| 1974 | $0.57 | $5.94 | $0.81 | $2.29 | $2.00 | $4.27 | $2.34 | $1.67 | $1.14 | $2.03 |
| 1973 | $0.24 | $5.39 | $0.75 | $1.24 | $1.01 | $3.21 | $1.25 | $0.66 | $0.74 | $1.88 |
| 1972 | $0.22 | $5.37 | $0.57 | $1.12 | $0.85 | $3.00 | $1.12 | $0.72 | $0.64 | $1.57 |
| 1971 | $0.41 | $5.08 | $0.58 | $1.11 | $0.85 | $3.00 | $1.16 | $0.59 | $0.64 | $1.51 |
| 1970 | $0.16 | $4.87 | $0.52 | $1.03 | $0.79 | $3.03 | $1.07 | $0.50 | $0.60 | $1.37 |
Sources: State Energy Price and Expenditure Report. Energy Information Administration, Washington, DC. Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, Lincoln, NE.
Note: The average column contains the average price of all commercial sector energy sources for each year.