national energy data collection: do’s and don’ts
DESCRIPTION
National Energy Data Collection: Do’s and Don’ts. UN City Group Oslo, Norway February 7, 2006. Goals for today’s presentation. Who is EIA? What kinds of data do we collect? Who uses our data? What are our key products? - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
National Energy Data Collection: Do’s and Don’ts
UN City Group
Oslo, Norway
February 7, 2006
Goals for today’s presentation
Who is EIA?– What kinds of data do we collect?– Who uses our data?– What are our key products?
Share experience from EIA’s 29 years of energy data collection on the United States
– What works well?– What does not work well?– What challenges do we face?
Who we are
EIA was established by the Department of Energy Organization Act, 1977– Independent since its foundation
369 federal employees and about 250 contractors
$85 million budget (2006)
What data we collect
EIA has about 80 surveys– Petroleum (about 30)– Natural gas (about 15)– Electric power (about 15)– Uranium (8)– Coal (7)– Renewables (3)– Consumption (3)– Green house gases (2)– Finance, alternative fuels (1 each)
Who uses our work?
Government policy makers– Executive branch– Legislative branch
International community Energy industry participants Public
What we produce
Four main kinds of energy products:– Data– Analyses– Forecasts– Descriptive information about products
Good Practices for Statistical Agencies
Do continually review data and analysis programs to assess coverage and relevancy
Do conduct outreach with customers to obtain feedback on quality and timeliness of products
Do keep current with the technology to both collect and disseminate data
Do commit to transparency in terms of methods, documentation, and accuracy
Do employ high quality statisticians, economists, survey experts
Good Practices for Survey Design
Detailed understanding of what questions data need to address Minimizing respondent burden Using focus groups to decide what data to collect Conducting site visits; establish points of contact and develop
rapport with responders Use professional statisticians and survey methodologists Pre-test questionnaires Automate where possible Commit to iterative process that allows for constant
improvement
A survey success story
In 1990-1991, the U.S. Government wanted a snapshot of nationwide gasoline and diesel prices, as close to real-time as possible
With clear goal, EIA pondered how to get at this information
Result: same day information, within 1% accuracy, at one of the lowest costs of any survey conducted by EIA, now 15+ years running
Responses
Good response rates require lots of follow up– Follow up takes 2-3 times as much time and effort
as the original survey– This is why you made those personal contacts
Decide what level of accuracy you require– Ask whether the non-responders would change
the results of your survey If response is not mandatory, is there
something you can give back to participants?
Current challenges
Maintaining industry coverage Keeping pace with rapid industry change Addressing recruitment as current work force
retires Increasing concerns about confidentiality and
response burden
Contact information
Tara Billingsley
202-586-0172
[email protected] National Energy Information Center
202-586-8800