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Beginning in 1996, consumption of natural gas for agricultural use was classified as industrial
use. In 1995 and earlier years, agricultural use was classified as commercial use.
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From 1967 through 1979, data for the District of Columbia are included with data for Maryland.
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From 1967 through 1979, data for New Hampshire and Vermont are included with data for Maine.
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Cautionary note: EIA expects that there may be some double counting in the number of residential and
commercial customers reported beginning in 1999.
EIA collects information on the number of residential and commercial consumers through a
survey of companies that deliver gas to consumers Form EIA-176, "Annual Report of Natural and Supplemental Gas Supply and Disposition"
.
The survey asks companies for the number of residential and commercial customers served as
sales customers as well as customers to whom they deliver gas purchased from others.
Traditionally, residential and commercial customers obtained gas and all services associated
with delivering it from their local distribution company (LDC). The LDC records these
customers as sales customers. Customer choice programs allow consumers to select the provider
from whom they purchase gas. When customers elect to purchase gas from a provider other than
the LDC, the LDC continues to deliver the gas to the customer even though it no longer sells
the gas. When customers switch to another provider, they become transportation service
customers for the LDC. A residential or commercial customer who enters a customer choice
program may be classified both as a traditional sales customer and, after entering the
program, as a transportation service customer. This double reporting affects the number of
residential and commerical consumers measured.
Customer choice programs, also known as retail unbundling programs, have been ongoing
since 1998.
Description of programs for States offering customer choice.
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Statistical Considerations (Sample Design, Estimation Procedures, Final Revisions, Reliability of Monthly Data).
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Beginning in 2009 , Pipeline and distribution use volumes include line loss, defined as known volumes of natural gas resulting from leaks, damage, accidents, migration, and/or blowdowns. They also include fuel used in liquefaction and regasification.
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