Definitions, Sources and Explanatory Notes

 Category:   Natural Gas Consumption
 Topic:   Consumption by End Use

  Definitions

Key Terms Definition
Commercial Consumption Gas used by nonmanufacturing establishments or agencies primarily engaged in the sale of goods or services. Included are such establishments as hotels, restaurants, wholesale and retail stores and other service enterprises; gas used by local, State, and Federal agencies engaged in nonmanufacturing activities.
Distribution Use Natural gas used as fuel in the respondent's operations.
Electric Power Consumption Gas used as fuel in the electric power sector.
Electric Power Sector An energy-consuming sector that consists of electricity-only and combined heat and power (CHP) plants whose primary business is to sell electricity, or electricity and heat, to the public -i.e., North American Industry Classification System code 22 for plants. Combined heat and power plants that identify themselves as primarily in the commercial or industrial sectors are reported in those sectors.
Industrial Consumption Natural gas used for heat, power, or chemical feedstock by manufacturing establishments or those engaged in mining or other mineral extraction as well as consumers in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. Also included in industrial consumption are generators that produce electricity and/or useful thermal output primarily to support the above-mentioned industrial activities.
Lease Fuel Natural gas used in well, field, and lease operations, such as gas used in drilling operations, heaters, dehydrators, and field compressors.
Pipeline Fuel Gas consumed in the operation of pipelines, primarily in compressors.
Plant Fuel Natural gas used as fuel in natural gas processing plants.
Residential Consumption Gas used in private dwellings, including apartments, for heating, air-conditioning, cooking, water heating, and other household uses.
Vehicle Fuel Consumption The quantity of fuel used by vehicles. Vehicle fuel consumption is computed as the vehicle miles traveled divided by the fuel efficiency reported in miles per gallon (MPG). Vehicle fuel consumption is derived from the actual vehicle fuel mileage collected and the assigned MPGs obtained from EPA certification files adjusted for on-road driving.

For definitions of related energy terms, refer to the EIA Energy Glossary.

  Sources

1930-1975: Bureau of Mines, Minerals Yearbook, "Natural Gas" chapter. 1976-1978: EIA, Energy Data Reports, Natural Gas Annual. 1979: EIA, Natural Gas Production and Consumption, 1979. 1980-1989: Form EIA-176, "Annual Report of Natural and Supplemental Gas Supply and Disposition" and Form EIA-759, "Monthly Power Plant Report" . 1990: Form EIA-176, "Annual Report of Natural and Supplemental Gas Supply and Disposition" ,Form EIA-759, "Monthly Power Plant Report" and Form EIA-64A, "Annual Report of the Origin of Natural Gas Liquids Production" . 1991-1995: Form EIA-176, "Annual Report of Natural and Supplemental Gas Supply and Disposition" ,Form EIA-759, "Monthly Power Plant Report" Form EIA-64A, "Annual Report of the Origin of Natural Gas Liquids Production" and EIA-627, "Annual Quantity and Value of Natural Gas Report." 1996-2000: Form EIA-895, "Monthly and Annual Quantity and Value of Natural Gas Production Report" ,Form EIA-857, "Monthly Report of Natural Gas Purchases and Deliveries to Consumers"; Form EIA-910, "Monthly Natural Gas Marketer Survey." , Form EIA-759, "Monthly Power Plant Report" , EIA computations, and Natural Gas Annual 2000. 2001-current: Form EIA-895, "Monthly and Annual Quantity and Value of Natural Gas Production Report" (2006 - annual only), Form EIA-857, "Monthly Report of Natural Gas Purchases and Deliveries to Consumers"; Form EIA-910, "Monthly Natural Gas Marketer Survey." , Form EIA-923, "Power Plant Report" , Form EIA-176, "Annual Report of Natural and Supplemental Gas Supply and Disposition" , Form EIA-886, "Annual Survey of Alternative Fueled Vehicle Suppliers and Users" , Form EIA-914, "Monthly Natural Gas Production Report" (2007 - current), Form EIA-923, "Power Plant Operations Report" (2007 - annual only, 2008 - monthly and annual electric), and EIA estimates.

  • Background on "Natural Gas Monthly" data
  • Background on "Natural Gas Annual" data
  • Natural Gas Survey Forms and Instructions

    •   Explanatory Notes

  		• Annual consumption volumes are available through the Natural Gas Navigator for the Total United States for 1949 forward. The volumes for 1949 forward represent the current sectoral concepts introduced in 2001 and used throughout the Energy Information Administration. A comprehensive description of the concepts and changes they imply may be found in the 2001 Annual Energy Review, Appendix H, Estimating and Presenting Power Sector Fuel Use in EIA Publications and Analysis.
  		• Discussion of new definitions of industrial and electric power consumption from Natural Gas Monthly (April 2003)
  		• Lease fuel quantities were estimated by assuming that the proportions of onsystem production used as lease fuel by respondents to the Form EIA-176, "Annual Report of Natural and Supplemental Gas Supply and Disposition," were the same as the proportions of gross withdrawals as reported on Form EIA-895, “Annual Quantity and Value of Natural Gas Production Report,” used as lease by all operators.
  		• Monthly lease and plant fuel use is estimated from monthly marketed production by assuming that the preceding annual percentage remains constant for the next twelve months.
  		• Monthly pipeline fuel use is estimated from monthly total consumption (excluding pipeline fuel) by assuming that the preceding annual percentage remains constant for the next twelve months.
  		• 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.
  		• Vehicle fuel in the monthly view is included in the annual total of deliveries to all consumers, but not in the State level monthly volumes.
  		• Electric Utility includes all steam electric utility generating plants with a combined capacity of 50 megawatts or greater.
  		• Beginning with 1965 data, all volumes are shown on a pressure base of 14.73 psia at 60 degrees Fahrenheit. For prior years, the pressure base is 14.65 psia at 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
  		• From 1967 through 1979, data for the District of Columbia are included with data for Maryland.
  		• From 1967 through 1979, data for New Hampshire and Vermont are included with data for Maine.
  		• Beginning with data for August 2010, residential and commercial consumption is calculated using a methodology that more closely aligns these volumes with the calendar month. See Natural Gas Monthly, Appendix C, Estimation Procedures, for more details.
  		• In December 2011, monthly and annual volumes of industrial gas in Maine were revised upward back to 2002 to correct a misclassification of gas reported on the Form EIA-176.
  		• The Electric Power Annual publication is typically released after the Natural Gas Annual Publication, and as a result, the most recent complete year shown in the Natural Gas Annual publication reflects preliminary volumes and prices in the electric sector. These preliminary figures are not finalized until the release of the following Natural Gas Annual.
  		• Standard Error for Natural Gas Deliveries and Price to Consumers by State.
  		• Statistical Considerations (Sample Design, Estimation Procedures, Final Revisions, Reliability of Monthly Data).
  		• 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.