EIA Codes Documentation

EIA 860M Reference Codes

This API uses standardized codes from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) to represent balancing authorities, energy sources, and prime movers. These codes are derived from official EIA forms and documentation. Use these codes to filter or interpret results in API responses.
Official EIA Documentation:

Example Queries

  • To find all solar projects in CAISO, filter using: energy_source_code = "SUN" and balancing_authority_code = "CISO"
  • To find planned combined cycle plants in ERCOT, filter using: prime_mover_code = "CC" and balancing_authority_code = "ERCO"

Balancing Authority Codes

Balancing authority codes in EIA Form 860M data are standardized by NERC (North American Electric Reliability Corporation). These codes may not match current corporate names due to mergers, acquisitions, or other business changes. The codes used in our API data come from the EIA Form 860M monthly generator inventory reporting.

Most common balancing authorities

Below are the most common balancing authorities that represent the 7 major RTOs and ISOs in the US:
CodeName
CISOCalifornia Independent System Operator
ERCOElectric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc.
MISOMidcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc.
ISNEISO New England Inc.
NYISNew York Independent System Operator
PJMPJM Interconnection, LLC
SWPPSouthwest Power Pool

All balancing authority codes

CodeBalancing authority name
AECPowerSouth Energy Cooperative
AECIAssociated Electric Cooperative, Inc.
AMPLAnchorage Municipal Light & Power
AVAAvista Corporation
AVRNAvangrid Renewables LLC
AZPSArizona Public Service Company
BANCBalancing Authority of Northern California
BPATBonneville Power Administration
CEAChugach Electric Assn Inc
CHPDPublic Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County
CISOCalifornia Independent System Operator
CPLEDuke Energy Progress East
CPLWDuke Energy Progress West
CSTOConstellation Energy Control and Dispatch, LLC
DEAAArlington Valley, LLC - AVBA
DOPDPUD No. 1 of Douglas County
DUKDuke Energy Carolinas
EEIElectric Energy, Inc.
EPEEl Paso Electric Company
ERCOElectric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc.
FMPPFlorida Municipal Power Pool
FPCDuke Energy Florida Inc
FPLFlorida Power & Light Company
GCPDPublic Utility District No. 2 of Grant County, Washington
GLHBGridforce Energy Management, LLC
GRIDGridLiance
GRIFGriffith Energy, LLC
GRISGridforce South
GVLGainesville Regional Utilities
GWANaturEner Power Watch, LLC (GWA)
HECOHawaiian Electric Co Inc
HGMANew Harquahala Generating Company, LLC - HGBA
HSTCity of Homestead
IIDImperial Irrigation District
IPCOIdaho Power Company
ISNEISO New England Inc.
JEAJEA
LDWPLos Angeles Department of Water and Power
LGEELG&E and KU Services Company as agent for Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities
MISOMidcontinent Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc.
NANo balancing authority
NA - AKNo balancing authority - AK
NA - HINo balancing authority - HI
NA - PRNo balancing authority - PR
NBSONew Brunswick System Operator
NEVPNevada Power Company
NSBNew Smyrna Beach, Utilities Commission of
NWMTNorthWestern Energy (NWMT)
NYISNew York Independent System Operator
OVECOhio Valley Electric Corporation
PACEPacifiCorp - East
PACWPacifiCorp - West
PGEPortland General Electric Company
PJMPJM Interconnection, LLC
PNMPublic Service Company of New Mexico
PSCOPublic Service Company of Colorado
PSEIPuget Sound Energy
SCSouth Carolina Public Service Authority
SCEGSouth Carolina Electric & Gas Company
SCLSeattle City Light
SECSeminole Electric Cooperative
SEPASoutheastern Power Administration
SOCOSouthern Company Services, Inc. - Trans
SPASouthwestern Power Administration
SRPSalt River Project
SWPPSouthwest Power Pool
TALCity of Tallahassee
TECTampa Electric Company
TEPCTucson Electric Power Company
TIDCTurlock Irrigation District
TPWRCity of Tacoma, Department of Public Utilities, Light Division
TVATennessee Valley Authority
WACMWestern Area Power Administration - Rocky Mountain Region
WALCWestern Area Power Administration - Desert Southwest Region
WAUWWestern Area Power Administration UGP West
WWANaturEner Wind Watch, LLC
YADAlcoa Power Generating, Inc. - Yadkin Division

Energy Source Codes

Energy source codes are defined by the EIA for Form 860M monthly generator inventory reporting. The EIA Form 860M includes a codes spreadsheet that defines energy sources and prime movers for generators with 1 MW or greater combined nameplate capacity. These are the codes used in our API data.
These codes represent the primary fuel or energy type used at a generating facility. The most commonly used codes are:
CodeDescription
SUNSolar
WNDWind
MWHElectricity used for energy storage (megawatt hour)
NUCNuclear
WATWater (Hydro)
GEOGeothermal
NGNatural gas
ANT,BIT,LIG,SUB,WC,RCAll coal-related codes

All energy sources codes

Here is EIA’s full list of energy source codes and groupings:
GroupCodeDescription
Fossil Fuels
CoalANTAnthracite Coal
CoalBITBituminous Coal
CoalLIGLignite Coal
CoalRCRefined Coal (A coal product that is created when impurities and/or moisture are removed to improve heat content and reduce emissions. Includes any coal which meets the IRS definition of refined coal. Does not include coal processed by coal preparation plants.)
CoalSGCCoal-Derived Synthesis Gas
CoalSUBSubbituminous Coal
CoalWCWaste/Other Coal (including anthracite culm, bituminous gob, fine coal, lignite waste, waste coal)
Petroleum ProductsDFODistillate Fuel Oil (including diesel, No. 1, No. 2, and No. 4 fuel oils)
Petroleum ProductsJFJet Fuel
Petroleum ProductsKERKerosene
Petroleum ProductsPCPetroleum Coke
Petroleum ProductsPGPropane, gaseous
Petroleum ProductsRFOResidual Fuel Oil (including No. 5 and No. 6 fuel oils, and bunker C fuel oil)
Petroleum ProductsSGPPetroleum Coke Derived Synthesis Gas
Petroleum ProductsWOWaste/Other Oil (including crude oil, liquid butane, liquid propane, naphtha, oil waste, re-refined motor oil, sludge oil, tar oil, or other petroleum-based liquid wastes)
Natural Gas and Other Fossil GasBFGBlast Furnace Gas
Natural Gas and Other Fossil GasNGNatural Gas
Natural Gas and Other Fossil GasOGOther Gas
Renewable Fuels
Solid Renewable FuelsABAgricultural By-products
Solid Renewable FuelsMSWMunicipal Solid Waste
Solid Renewable FuelsOBSOther Biomass Solids
Liquid Renewable (Biomass) FuelsWDSWood/Wood Waste Solids (including paper pellets, railroad ties, utility poles, wood chips, bark, and wood waste solids)
Liquid Renewable (Biomass) FuelsBLQBlack Liquor
Liquid Renewable (Biomass) FuelsOBLOther Biomass Liquids
Liquid Renewable (Biomass) FuelsSLWSludge Waste
Liquid Renewable (Biomass) FuelsWDLWood Waste Liquids excluding Black Liquor (includes red liquor, sludge wood, spent sulfite liquor, and other wood-based liquids)
Gaseous Renewable (Biomass) FuelsLFGLandfill Gas
Gaseous Renewable (Biomass) FuelsOBGOther Biomass Gas (includes digester gas, methane, and other biomass gasses)
Renewables
All Other Renewable FuelsGEOGeothermal
All Other Renewable FuelsSUNSolar
All Other Renewable FuelsWATWater at a Conventional Hydroelectric Turbine, and water used in Wave Buoy Hydrokinetic Technology, Current Hydrokinetic Technology, and Tidal Hydrokinetic Technology
All Other Renewable FuelsWNDWind
All Other Fuels
All Other FuelsH2Hydrogen
All Other FuelsMWHElectricity used for energy storage
All Other FuelsNUCNuclear Uranium, Plutonium, Thorium
All Other FuelsPURPurchased Steam
All Other FuelsTDFTire-derived Fuels
All Other FuelsWATPumping Energy for Reversible (Pumped Storage) Hydroelectric Turbine
All Other FuelsWHWaste heat not directly attributed to a fuel source
All Other FuelsOTHOther

Prime Mover Codes

Prime mover codes identify the equipment that converts energy into electricity at power plants. These codes are standardized by the EIA for Form 860M monthly generator inventory reporting. Prime movers represent the mechanical equipment that drives the electrical generator (e.g., steam turbine, wind turbine, photovoltaic cells).
Here is the full list of EIA prime mover codes:
Prime mover codesDescription
BAEnergy Storage, Battery
BTTurbines Used in a Binary Cycle (including those used for geothermal applications)
CACombined-Cycle – Steam Part
CEEnergy Storage, Compressed Air
CPEnergy Storage, Concentrated Solar Power
CSCombined-Cycle Single-Shaft (Combustion Turbine and Steam Turbine share a single generator)
CTCombined-Cycle Combustion Turbine Part
ESEnergy Storage, Other (Specify on Schedule 9, Comments)
FCFuel Cell
FWEnergy Storage, Flywheel
GTCombustion (Gas) Turbine (including Jet Engine design)
HAHydrokinetic, Axial Flow Turbine
HBHydrokinetic, Wave Buoy
HKHydrokinetic, Other
HYHydraulic Turbine (including turbines associated with delivery of water by pipeline)
ICInternal Combustion (diesel, piston, reciprocating) Engine
PSEnergy Storage, Reversible Hydraulic Turbine (Pumped Storage)
OTOther
STSteam Turbine (including Nuclear, Geothermal, and Solar Steam; excludes Combined Cycle)
PVPhotovoltaic
WTWind Turbine, Onshore
WSWind Turbine, Offshore

Status Detailed Codes

Status codes track the operational and development status of generators throughout their lifecycle. These codes are defined in EIA Form 860M monthly generator inventory reporting. The status field helps distinguish between operating, planned, under construction, and retired generators.
The status_detailed field provides granular information about a generator’s lifecycle stage and operational status. These codes help distinguish between various states of development, operation, and retirement.

Lifecycle Stages and Status Details

Lifecycle StageStatus CodeStatus DetailsDescription
Operating / ActiveOPOperatingCurrently in commercial operation.
SBStandby/Backup: available for service but not normally usedGenerator is available but not normally used.
OAOut of service but expected to return to service in next calendar yearTemporarily offline but expected to return soon.
OSOut of service and NOT expected to return to service in next calendar yearOffline with no expected return.
OTOtherDoes not fit standard categories.
Construction / DevelopmentUUnder construction, less than or equal to 50 percent completeConstruction started, ≤ 50% complete.
VUnder construction, more than 50 percent completeConstruction underway, > 50% complete.
TSConstruction complete, but not yet in commercial operationConstruction done, not yet operating.
Planned / ProposedPPlanned for installation, but regulatory approvals not initiatedEarly planning stage, no approvals yet.
LRegulatory approvals pending. Not under constructionApprovals in progress; construction not started.
TRegulatory approvals received. Not under constructionApprovals complete, awaiting construction.
Inactive / CanceledCNCanceled or PostponedProject was canceled or indefinitely delayed.
RERetiredGenerator permanently removed from service.