Form EIA-846A/C, ``Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey''

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Energy Information Administration

Form EIA-846A/C, ``Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey''

AGENCY: Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of the proposed revision of forms EIA-846A/C,

``Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey,'' and solicitation of

comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Energy Information Administration (EIA), as part of its

continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden (required

by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, Pub. L. No. 96-511, 44 U.S.C.

3501 et seq.), conducts a presurvey consultation program to provide the

general public and other Federal agencies with an opportunity to

comment on proposed and/or continuing reporting forms. This program

helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired

format, reporting burden is minimized, reporting forms are clearly

understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents

can be properly assessed. Currently, EIA is soliciting comments

concerning the proposed revision to forms EIA-846A/C, ``Manufacturing

Energy Consumption Survey.''

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 30,

1994. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find

it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice,

you should advise the contact listed below of your intention to do so

as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Mr. Robert K. Adler, Energy End Use

Division, Energy Information Administration, EI-632, Forrestal

Building, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, D.C. 20585.

Mr. Adler's telephone number is (202) 586-1134, FAX number (202)

586-0018. His Internet address is [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO OBTAIN COPIES OF THE PROPOSED FORMS AND

INSTRUCTIONS: Requests for additional information or copies of the

forms and instructions should be directed to Robert K. Adler at the

address listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background.

II. Current Actions.

III. Request for Comments

I. Background

In order to fulfill its responsibilities under the Federal Energy

Administration Act of 1974 (Pub. L. No. 93-275) and the Department of

Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. No. 95-91), the Energy Information

Administration is obliged to carry out a central, comprehensive, and

unified energy data and information program. As part of this program,

EIA collects, evaluates, assembles, analyzes, and disseminates data and

information related to energy resource reserves, production, demand,

and technology, and related economic and statistical information

relevant to the adequacy of energy resources to meet demands in the

near and longer term future for the Nation's economic and social needs.

The Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS) has been

conducted three times previously, covering the years 1985, 1988, and

1991. The MECS has collected basic data on energy consumption, fuel-

switching, and in 1991, end-uses, energy management activities, and

energy-saving technologies. The MECS forms the basis for major

publications on energy consumption and energy intensity (e.g.,

Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey: Consumption of Energy, 1988

and Changes in Energy Intensity in the Manufacturing Sector, 1980-

1988.)

The proposed 1994 MECS design utilizes experience gained from the

administration and processing of the three previous surveys and

consultations with respondents, trade association representatives, and

data users. EIA conducted user needs assessment meetings with frequent

customers of the MECS data both inside and outside the Department of

Energy. When meetings were not feasible, outside customers especially

were given a chance to present their requests through mail or phone

conversation. This notice can serve as another chance for customers to

express their manufacturing energy data needs.

Additionally, a formal survey of 1991 MECS respondents about their

experiences in completing that questionnaire was done during the

conduct of the MECS to determine other enhancements and redesign

directions for the 1994 survey.

II. Current Actions

EIA proposes to make the changes described below to the 1991 MECS

survey forms for use in 1994. These changes are being made to better

serve the needs of data users, streamline the administration and

processing of the survey, and reduce respondent burden where possible.

The frequency of the MECS is also changing. In accordance with Section

171 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT), the MECS, beginning in

1994, will be conducted biennially.

The sample size for the 1994 MECS has been increased to

Permit more extensive coverage of industries consuming

wood and biomass (approximately 5 additional four-digit Standard

Industrial Classification codes)

Better serve the National Energy Modeling System (NEMS) by

providing inputs at a finer geographic level (Census Division) for two-

digit and selected four-digit Standard Industrial Classification codes

Enable the MECS to publish reliable population counts of

manufacturing characteristics collected on the MECS forms

Improve the reliability of estimates.

As in previous versions, the 1994 MECS will contain five sections:

Section I, Non-Combustible Energy Sources; Section II, Combustible

Energy Sources; Section III, Fuel Switching Capability; Section IV,

Estimated Percent Consumption by End Use; and Section V, Establishment

Checklist. In addition, the 1994 MECS will collect minimal information

to determine the operational status of the manufacturing establishment

for purposes of statistical sampling.

As in the 1991 survey, separate forms will be used to meet the

special needs of three major groups of manufacturers. EIA-846A will be

sent to the majority of the manufacturing establishments; EIA-846B will

be sent to establishments in SIC 2911 (Petroleum Refining); and EIA-

846C will be sent to all other establishments in SIC 29 (Petroleum

Refining and Related Industries), as well as establishments in SIC 24

(Lumber and Wood Products), SIC 26 (Paper and Allied Products), SIC 28

(Chemicals and Allied Products), and SIC 3312 (Blast Furnaces and Steel

Mills). EIA-846A is the most general form and collects the basic

consumption and fuel-switching data. EIA-846B minimizes burden for the

refining industry by taking advantage of data already collected by

other EIA surveys. Finally, EIA-846C is very similar to EIA-846A except

that it collects additional information on energy source shipments.

Specific changes in data items from the 1991 MECS are discussed

section by section below.

Section I (Noncombustible Energy Sources): This section will not

differ among the three forms. The noncombustible energy sources

(electricity, steam, and industrial hot water) will remain as the

column headings with desired quantities forming the rows of the table.

One question, a checkbox for the source of renewable electricity

generation, will be added for 1994.

Proposed to be dropped from the 1994 MECS Section I is the

requirement that establishments that received transfers of

noncombustible energy sources from outside establishments indicate the

name, address and telephone number of the supplier. This will result in

the removal from the MECS of Form EIA-846D, a questionnaire that was

sent in 1988 and 1991 to company-owned electric generating plants

serving manufacturers. The institution and further development of Form

EIA-867, ``Annual Nonutility Power Producer Report'' made the EIA-846D

redundant.

Section II (Combustible Energy Sources): In 1994, the MECS will

contain revised wood- and biomass-related energy source categories to

agree with respondent and data-user understanding of these energy

sources. Specifically,

The category ``Roundwood'' will be expanded to explicitly

include any wood product (roundwood, wood chips, and bark) generated

from harvested trees.

Wood Waste will be termed Wood Residue and it will include

byproducts from mill processing (bark, slabs, sawdust, shavings).

``Waste Materials'' will be more specifically defined as

wood/paper related refuse.

Natural gas is another energy source that will be modified in 1994

to reflect the deregulation of the natural gas industry and emerging

purchasing patterns of manufacturers. The MECS will collect natural gas

purchases and cost data within the major categories:

Local Distribution Company/Utilities (LDC)

Other Sources (Pipelines, Brokers, and Other).

For LDC purchases of natural gas, the 1994 MECS will collect

purchases and expenditures for three natural gas service rates: Firm,

Interruptible, or Other. For other sources, the quantity of purchases

will be collected but not subdivided. However, costs will be collected

for three components of the Other Sources purchases total: cost of

supplies, cost of transportation, and unspecified costs.

Section III (Fuel Switching): Previously, fuel switching data were

restricted to fuel switching capability, rather than actual fuel

switching experiences. This section will continue to collect

information on the capabilities of a manufacturing establishment,

however, it will be enhanced with questions pertaining to actual fuel

substitution. These questions for each fuel are:

Number of times substitutions occurred

Primary reason(s) for substitution, such as: supply

shortage or curtailment of this fuel, down-time caused by maintenance,

less expensive substitute, environmental restriction on emissions or

waste

If ``less expensive substitute'' was chosen as a primary

reason, the respondent is asked to supply a range that contains the

difference between the alternative fuel price and the current fuel

price as percentage of the current price.

Section IV (Estimated Percent Consumption by End Use): No

substantial changes from the 1991 version are anticipated. Definitions

and instructions will be enhanced to clarify possible ambiguities among

the categories.

Section V (Establishment Checklist): There are three subsections in

Section V: Part A. Estimated Square Footage of Buildings, Part B.

Energy Management Activities, Part C. General Technologies, and other

parts concerning specific technologies relevant only to selected

industries.

EIA and the Bureau of the Census jointly conducted a survey of MECS

respondents for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness and

comprehensibility of certain aspects of the 1991 MECS questionnaire.

The results of the survey relating to Part A indicate that most

respondents could provide an estimate of the enclosed square-footage

without major difficulty. Accordingly, the 1994 MECS questionnaire will

ask for those estimates. Those respondents who would still prefer to

give an estimate within a broad category will be given that option.

The list for Part B will be expanded to include participation in

certain Federal government programs, such as the Environmental

Protection Agency's ``Green Lights'' and DOE's ``Motor Challenge.''

Third party sponsorship will be separated from Self-only participation

as a column-header.

Part C, the checklist for energy-saving technologies, will be

expanded to include specific cogeneration technologies.

III. Request for Comments

Prospective respondents and other interested parties should comment

on the proposed revisions. The following general guidelines are

provided to assist in the preparation of responses. Please indicate to

which form(s) your comments apply.

As a potential respondent:

A. Are the instructions and definitions clear and sufficient? If

not, which instructions require clarification?

B. Can the data be submitted using the definitions included in the

instructions?

C. Can data be submitted in accordance with the response time

specified in the instructions?

D. Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to

average eight hours per response. How much time, including time for

reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and

maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the

collection of information, do you estimate it will require you to

complete and submit the required form(s)?

F. What is the estimated cost of completing these forms, including

the direct and indirect costs associated with the data collection?

Direct costs should include all costs, such as administrative costs,

directly attributable to providing this information.

G. How can the form(s) be improved?

H. Do you know of any other Federal, State, or local agency that

collects similar data? If you do, specify the agency, the data

element(s), and the means of collection.

As a potential user:

A. Can you use data at the levels of detail indicated on the

form(s)?

B. For what purpose would you use the data? Be specific.

C. How could the form(s) be improved to better meet your specific

needs?

D. Are there alternate sources of data and do you use them? What

are their deficiencies and/or strengths?

E. For the most part, information is published by EIA in U.S.

customary units, e.g., cubic feet of natural gas, short tons of coal,

and barrels of oil. Would you prefer to see EIA publish more

information in metric units, e.g., cubic meters, metric tons, and

kilograms? If yes, please specify what information (e.g., coal

production, natural gas consumption, and crude oil imports), the metric

unit(s) of measurement preferred, and in which EIA publication(s) you

would like to see such information.

EIA is also interested in receiving comments from persons regarding

their views on the need for the information contained in the

Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized

and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the form(s). They

also will become a matter of public record.

Statutory Authorities: Section 2(a) of the Paperwork Reduction

Act of 1980 (Pub. L. No. 96-511), which amended Chapter 35 of Title

44 of the United States Code [See 44 U.S.C. Sec. 3506(a) and

(c)(1)].

Issued in Washington, D.C., August 24, 1994.

Yvonne M. Bishop,

Director, Office of Statistical Standards, Energy Information

Administration.

[FR Doc. 94-21537 Filed 8-30-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P