Data sources - Appendix B

Natural Gas Monthly, May, 2003

The data in this publication are taken from survey reports collected by the Energy Information Administration (ETA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and the Office of Fossil Energy of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The ETA is the independent statistical and analytical agency within the DOE. The FERC is an independent regulatory commission within the DOE that has jurisdiction primarily in the regulation of electric utilities and the interstate natural gas industry. The Office of Fossil Energy has the authority under Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act of 1938 to grant authorizations for the import and export of natural gas.

Data are collected from annual, quarterly, and monthly surveys. The primary annual report is the Form EIA-176 "Annual Report of Natural and Supplemental Gas Supply and Disposition," a mandatory survey of all companies that deliver natural gas to consumers or that transport gas across State lines. The Office of Fossil Energy provides quarterly files of monthly data on imports and exports. The monthly reports include surveys of the natural gas industry, surveys of the electric power industry, and a voluntary survey completed by energy or conservation agencies in the gas-producing States. The monthly natural gas industry surveys are the Form ELA-191 filed by companies that operate underground storage facilities, the voluntary Form EIA-895 filed by the gas-producing States and the U.S. Minerals Management Service, the Form EIA-857, filed by a sample of companies that deliver natural gas to consumers, and the Form EIA-910, filed by natural gas marketers in select States. The electric power industry surveys are the Form EIA-906 filed by a sample of electric power generators and the Form FERC-423 filed (for price data) by fossil-fueled electric utilities. Responses to the monthly surveys are mandatory, except for Form EIA-895. A description of the survey respondents, reporting requirements, and processing of the data is given on the following pages for each of the surveys. Copies of the forms and instructions are available on the ETA website.

Form EIA-176, "Annual Report of Natural and Supplemental Gas Supply and Disposition"

The Form EIA-176 is mailed to all identified interstate and intrastate natural gas pipeline companies; investor and municipally owned natural gas distributors; underground natural gas storage operators; synthetic natural gas plant operators; and field, well, or processing plant operators that deliver natural gas directly to consumers (including their own industrial facilities); and/or companies that transport gas across a State border through field or gathering facilities. Each company is required to file if it meets the survey specifications. The mailing in 2002 for report year 2001 totaled approximately 2000 questionnaire packages. While final nonresponse rates vary, the rates have averaged about 1 percent in recent years.

The EIA-176 is a multi-line, multi-page schedule for reporting all supplies of natural gas and supplemental gaseous fuels and their disposition within the State indicated. Respondents file completed forms with ETA in Washington, DC. Data for the report year are due by March 1st. Extensions of the filing deadline for up to 30 days are granted to any respondent upon request.

All natural gas and supplemental gaseous fuels volumes are reported on a physical custody basis in thousand cubic feet (Mcf), and dollar values are reported to the nearest whole dollar. All volumes are reported at 14.73 pounds per square inch absolute pressure (psia) and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Data from Form EIA-176 are also published in the Natural Gas Annual. Data reported on this form are no longer considered proprietary. Response to the form continues to be mandatory.

Form EIA-895," Monthly and Annual Quantity and Value of Natural Gas Report"

Data collection on the Form EIA-895, "Monthly and Annual Quantity and Value of Natural Gas Report," began in January 1995. This form was designed to replace the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) voluntary form, "Monthly Report of Natural Gas Production." All gas-producing States and the U.S. Minerals Management Service are requested to report on the Form EIA-895; a voluntary report. In 1996, an annual schedule was added to the voluntary Form EIA-895 to replace a prior annual production form. The form was designed to provide a standard reporting system, to the extent possible, for the natural gas data reported by the States. Data are not considered proprietary.

Form EIA-895 is mailed to energy or conservation agencies in all 32 natural gas producing States. All producing States participate voluntarily in the EIA-895 survey by filing the completed form or by responding to telephone contacts. Reports on company production are due 20 days after the end of the report month to the States. (In most cases, the data are not available to the States until after this time period.) Therefore, States are requested to send the report within 80 days after the end of the report month. Monthly data are obtained from about half of the reporting States and MMS on this schedule. ETA prepares estimates for the remaining States based on annual data submissions from the States until monthly State data are provided. The annual schedule of the Form EIA-895 is due with the December data report. Of the 32 natural gas producing states, all participated in the annual EIA-895 survey by filing the completed form or by responding to telephone calls.