The Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS) is the only comprehensive source of information on energy use by U.S. manufacturers. The survey collects data on energy consumption and expenditures, fuel-switching capability, onsite generation of electricity, and byproduct energy use. The first three MECS collections provided data for 1985, 1988, and 1991.

In order to stay attuned to customer needs and expectations regarding the collection and display of survey data, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) undertook the following assessment of the MECS:

A) From April to June, 1994, 8 user needs meetings were conducted, primarily within the Department of Energy, to determine the priorities for the types of data that would be most useful. These meetings were held with the following groups:

1. Office of Coal, Nuclear, Electric and Alternate Fuels (OCNEAF)
2. Office of Integrated Analysis & Forecasting (OIAF)
3. Office of Economic Analysis & Competition (OEAC)
4. Office of Waste Reduction Technologies (OWRT)
5. National Energy Information Center (NEIC)
6. International Statistics (IS) Branch
7. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
8. Gas Research Institute (GRI)

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B) EIA developed and conducted a Response Analysis Survey (RAS) of selected respondents to the 1991 MECS. The purposes of the RAS were to evaluate the effectiveness of certain questions and respondents' ability to reply accurately to them. The results of the RAS have been published in the Monthly Energy Review of March, 1995, a copy of which is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office at 202-653-2050;

C) EIA held discussions with the data collection agency, the Bureau of the Census, to determine survey design and wording that would facilitate the process of data gathering and reduce respondent burden;

D) EIA held discussions with concerned individuals who had a provincial interest in specific survey topics, for example, energy consumption of wood and paper-related products;

E) EIA undertook a review to decide the appropriateness of survey questions for a one-time collection of establishment activities related to electric motors; and

F) EIA developed a supporting statement to obtain governmental clearance of the survey form from the Office of Management and Budget.

The following major decisions concerning survey design, implementation, and data collection resulted from the assessment:

1. The expected sample size will be expanded to at least 22,000 establishments to accommodate data reporting at the level of census division;
2. Counts of establishment types will also be reported for selected data;
3. Data reporting will be furnished for additional Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes, as requested by OIAF. See User Needs Meeting with Office of Integrated Analysis & Forecasting (OIAF);
4. Survey wording will be clarified to collect energy consumption of wood and paper-related products;
5. Collection for energy consumption of natural gas will reflect deregulation of the natural gas industry, including purchases at firm, interruptible, and other service rates;
6. Survey questions will be added to determine the actual switching between natural gas and residual fuel oil, and the main reasons for the switch;
7. Survey wording will be clarified to consider utility sponsorship of Demand-Side Management programs;
8. Survey questions will be added to determine establishment involvement in such government-sponsored, energy-management programs as Green Lights, Motor Challenge, and Energy Star Buildings;
9. The types of in-place cogeneration technologies will be collected; and
10. Survey questions will be added to determine the evaluation method and type of listed information available for electric motors.

Contact:

robert.adler@eia.doe.gov

Robert Adler

Project Manager

Phone: (202) 586-1134

Fax: (202) 586-0018

URL: http:www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mecs/mecs91/consumption/mecs2e.html