US coal supplyHOUSTON, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Coal supplies at U.S. power plants rose 0.8 percent this week from last week and were 23.8 percent greater than the same week of 2008as the annual autumn buildup continued, Genscape said Tuesday.
Generators had 182.3 million tons of coal on hand, compared with 180.8 million tons last Tuesday and 147.2 million tons the same week last year, the power industry data provider said.
U.S. generators as of Tuesday had an average of 69 days' supply of coal, assuming typical burn rates, Genscape said. That is one more than last week's estimated coal capacity.
As of Tuesday, power plants had 13 more days' supply than the same week last year. That is one less than last week's cushion over 2008 stockpiles, the data showed.
"The build continues relentlessly despite a sharp slowdown in deliveries of coal to domestic power plants," Genscape said.
East Central power plants were flush with coal, and South Atlantic plants, which were lagging 2008 levels, now have five days more average burn than at the same time in 2008, Genscape said.
"These two regions make up the bulk of demand for thermal coal in the U.S., and the continued stock build there threatens to keep a lid on (coal) prices for a few more quarters," Genscape said.
Genscape has said comparisons with last year become less meaningful after September because the economy weakened steeply in autumn 2008.
U.S. coal stockpiles usually grow in the spring and fall, when mild weather eases cooling or heating demand. Stockpiles typically shrink during summer or winter, which tend to boost power consumption for air-conditioning or heating.
Mathematical rounding sometimes affects the results, overstating some changes and understating others, Genscape has said. (Reporting by Bruce Nichols; Editing by John Picinich)
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