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About the Survey

1.  Who sponsors the MECS?

The MECS is sponsored by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) of the U.S. Department of Energy. The Census Bureau acts as its collection agent.

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2.  Why have a MECS?

The MECS collects data on energy consumption and usage patterns for the manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy. The information will be used to publish aggregate statistics on the following: consumption of energy for fuel and nonfuel uses, energy characteristics of establishments in the manufacturing sector, energy consumption by end use, technologies currently in use by U.S. manufacturers, energy prices, electricity generation onsite, fuel switching capability, and participation in energy-management activities. This information will be used by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to implement policy plans effectively. See MECS web site at: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mecs/

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3.  Do I have to complete this survey?

Yes. This survey is mandatory under the Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974, Pub. Law No. 93-275, and under Title 3, Subtitle b, of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986, Pub. Law No. 99-509, as amended by Title 1, Subtitle G, of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, Pub. Law No. 102-486. Response is required by law from establishments included in the MECS sample and receiving the MECS survey. Failure to respond may result in criminal fines, civil penalties, and other sanctions as provided by law.

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4.  Are these data confidential?

Yes. Under Section 9 of Title 13, U.S. Code, your report to the Census Bureau is confidential. It may be seen only by sworn Census Bureau employees and may be used only for statistical purposes. The law also provides that copies retained in your files are immune from legal process.

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5.  What are the different reporting methods?

Census Taker is the U.S. Census Bureau's Internet Data Collection System (IDC) that allows respondents to complete their survey electronically through the Internet.

Downloadable Portable Document Formats (PDF's) are nonfillable, imaged files of the survey form. These files can be viewed and printed from the internet using a PDF reader such as Adobe Reader. However, this method requires respondents to complete the survey form by hand, and mail it back to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Standard mailing is for those establishments that do not have internet access. The survey form will be mailed to the establishment, completed by hand, and mailed back to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Last revised: June 11 2007 15:00:17