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Changes in Natural Gas Monthly Consumption Data Collection and the Short-Term Energy Outlook

December 1, 2010

Introduction

Beginning with the December 2010 issue of the Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), the Energy Information Administration (EIA) will present natural gas consumption forecasts for the residential and commercial sectors that are consistent with recent changes to the Form EIA-857 monthly natural gas survey. Firms are now reporting natural gas deliveries on the Form EIA-857 survey on a calendar-month basis, which should reduce the seasonality in the natural gas balancing item, which reflects the difference between total disposition and total supply at a national level. Issues surrounding the balancing item and the measures being taken to address them were discussed in Seasonality in the Natural Gas Balancing Item: Historical Trends and Corrective Measures, June 4, 2010. This STEO supplement reviews the expected effects of the Form EIA-857 survey changes and the related revisions to the Short-Term Energy Outlook models and reports. Beginning with the December 2010 issue of the Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), the Energy Information Administration (EIA) will present natural gas consumption forecasts for the residential and commercial sectors that are consistent with recent changes to the Form EIA-857 monthly natural gas survey. Firms are now reporting natural gas deliveries on the Form EIA-857 survey on a calendar-month basis, which should reduce the seasonality in the natural gas balancing item, which reflects the difference between total disposition and total supply at a national level. Issues surrounding the balancing item and the measures being taken to address them were discussed in Seasonality in the Natural Gas Balancing Item: Historical Trends and Corrective Measures, June 4, 2010. This STEO supplement reviews the expected effects of the Form EIA-857 survey changes and the related revisions to the Short-Term Energy Outlook models and reports.

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