Reported emissions from the Electrical Equipment Production & Use sector decreased from 4.3 million metric tons (MMT) CO₂e in 2011 to 2.6 MMT CO₂e in 2018, a decrease of 39 percent. The  decreasing emissions trend may be driven by electric utilities taking advantage of inexpensive emission reduction opportunities, such as replacing leaking circuit breakers.[1] EPA’s voluntary SF₆ Emission Reduction Partnership for Electric Power Systems has increased awareness of the magnitude and environmental impact of SF₆ emissions and of economically efficient best practices to reduce emissions.  The number of reporters in this sector also decreased during this period, from 127 in 2011 to 90 in 2018, which likely also contributed to the decrease in reported emissions. (see When is a facility eligible to stop reporting?)

[1]    Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2016. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. April 12, 2018. EPA 430-R-18-003. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks-1990-2016