Public use microdata file

This 2009 version represents the 13th iteration of the RECS program. First conducted in 1978, the Residential Energy Consumption Survey is a national sample survey that collects energy-related data for housing units occupied as a primary residence and the households that live in them. Data were collected from 12,083 households selected at random using a complex multistage, area-probability sample design. The sample represents 113.6 million U.S. households, the Census Bureau’s statistical estimate for all occupied housing units in 2009 derived from their American Community Survey (ACS).

Data are available in two formats: CSV, a comma delimited file and a SAS data file. The comma delimited data file is accompanied by a corresponding "Layout file", which contains descriptive labels and formats for each data variable. The "Variable and response codebook" file contains descriptive labels for variables, descriptions of the response codes, and indicators for the variables used in each end-use model.

Users are strongly encouraged to read Using the 2009 microdata file to compute estimates and standard errors (RSEs).

This final version (Jan 2013) contains detailed site end-use consumption and expenditures data not available in previous releases. (Note: Additional weather-related variables were added to the file in July 2017. Otherwise, no other changes were made.)

Replicate weights

Standard errors (RSEs) and confidence intervals for survey estimates can be calculated using the replicate weights for each of the 12,083 RECS household cases.

Researchers interested in accessing confidential data files for statistical purposes can find instructions on our CIPSEA data page on applying for access via the Standard Application Process. We only grant access to confidential data under special circumstances.