- Attendees:
- NEIC:
Sandra Wilkins
Marion King
Trisha Christian
Jonathan Cogan
- EEUISD: Transportation & Industrial Branch
John Preston
Bob Adler
Mark Schipper
Cindy Magee
Mike Margreta
Summary
Due to the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT), the Manufacturing Energy Consumption
Survey (MECS) has become a biennial collection, instead of triennial, starting with the 1994
collection. In addition, it is expected that the sample size will be expanded to accommodate data
reporting on the basis of census division.
The MECS publication of 1991 data is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 1994. However, at
the present time, 1991 MECS data tables are already available on EIA's Electronic Publishing
System (EPUB). As a result, it is anticipated that the overview section in the 1991 publication
will not need to be as detailed as that of the 1988 publication.
The MECS team was most interested in hearing about the types of customer requests that NEIC
has received for MECS data.
Based on contact with NEIC, some customers have expressed disappointment that more
four-digit Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Codes were not carried in the MECS
publication. Of the approximate 450 four-digit SICs in existence, the MECS publishes data for the
40 that it considers the most important, either in terms of manufacturing consumption of energy,
industrial growth, or special programmatic interest.
Frequently, MECS data were requested by specific U.S. state, but MECS collection by state
would be prohibitively expensive and time consuming. Most likely at the state level, data would
need to be withheld in a number of categories to avoid disclosure for individual
establishments.
Some customers would like more specific detail per physical unit of energy consumption. For
example, how many Btu's does it take to produce one ton of paper, or how much energy does it
take to make a single item of a particular product? However, the MECS was not designed to
collect that kind of informational detail. Moreover, such a collection would prove burdensome to
establishments because they usually produce many different products without regard to tracking
energy consumption per product line.
Mr. Preston suggested that NEIC could conduct a survey of readership interest to determine
what types of overviews, explanations, descriptions, and analyses are important to customers, and
hence, should be included in the MECS publication. NEIC countered that a few pertinent
questions on mechanized bulletin board(s) would serve the purpose equally well, while allowing
customers to say what other items are needed that are not now available.
To inform past customers of the availability of the 1991 MECS data tables, NEIC provided a
distribution contact (Nancy Nicoletti) and suggested sending them a notice. Mr. Schipper
announced that those tables are also available in Lotus format on a set of six diskettes, but NEIC
said that they no longer distribute diskettes. Rather, other government agencies are available for
diskette distribution as part of a sales program.
In conclusion, the MECS team thanked NEIC for its insights into customer demands. The
MECS staff will continue to pursue an appropriate distribution network for 1991 data tables.
File Last Modified: April 1, 1997
- 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/mecs3f.html
