This report from the 1997 Economic Census-Mining presents data on the quantity and cost of fuels and electric energy used in mining. On an industry level, data is available on cost and quantity of separate fuels. This report supplements the industry series reports, and the materials summary report by making available the same detailed data by state and by type of operation.

Separate quantity and cost figures are provided on purchased coal, distillate and residual fuel oils, natural gas, gasoline and electric energy. The cost for other fuels used in the 1997 Economic Census-Mining consists of costs for liquid petroleum gas, coke, wood and other fuels. Undistributed fuels include the costs of fuels for establishments that reported a total cost of fuels but failed to report detailed fuels data. Also included in undistributed fuels are cost estimates for establishments which were not mailed report forms. Excluded are fuels for use as feedstock or raw materials.

Additional data were obtained on the quantity of fuels produced and consumed at the same establishment for heat and power. Such data were obtained on coal, crude petroleum and natural gas used at the producing establishment for power and heat. For electric energy, quantity figures were collected for total generated electric energy and electric energy sold.

In 1997, the U.S. Census Bureau published industries on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) basis for the first time. A caveat is indicated when making comparisons across the 1992 and 1997 reports, as not all industries may be compared one to one between the old Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) basis and current NAICS basis.

In 1997, total energy consumed for all mineral industries increased for all fuel types for which quantities are collected. At the state level, total expenditures for all fuels declined in several states. The largest percent increase in expenditures in fuels consumed for heat and power was in the offshore areas followed closely by an increase in Louisiana and New Hampshire. The overall trend is a slight decline in fuel expenditures by the lesser mining states, offset by large increases in Nevada, Louisiana and offshore areas. This trend is by no means true for every state, with Texas being a notable exception.

Movement of total expenditures for energy consumed for heat and power depended also on the type of mining. Total expenditures for heat and power decreased in the coal mining industry group. This is not contrary to the general decline in the number of establishments and value of shipments for the bituminous surface and underground coal mining industries. Conversely, the NAICS sub-sector Nonmetallic Mining and Quarrying showed a large increase in total energy expenditures. Industries that showed an increase in these expenditures include Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas Extraction, Natural Gas Liquid Extraction, Support Activities for Coal Mining, Drilling Oil and Gas Wells, and Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations.

The U.S. total quantity of fuel oil purchased and consumed increased. Most of the increase in distillate fuel oil consumption occurred in Louisiana. The increase is especially pronounced in the Drilling Oil and Gas Wells industry and in the Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations industry. Energy expenditure per production worker increased from $15,329 per production worker in 1992 to $18,399 per production worker in 1997, while remaining at about 4% of the value of shipments.

Energy expenditure in California increased by more than 46 percent. Natural gas expenditures more than doubled in the 1992 to 1997 interval, while expenditures on residual fuel oil decreased. Quantities of electricity purchased by the mining sector in California dropped by about 30% from the 1992 level while expenditures declined by just slightly over 27 %.

Unit values paid for fuels consumed for heat and power are derived on a national level using dollars not adjusted for inflation. Prices paid for coal showed remarkable stability from 1992 to 1997, declining less than 1% to $28.70 per short ton. Prices for residual fuel oil also declined from the 1992 level to $27.35 dollars per barrel. The remaining fuels for which unit values can be derived, distillate fuel oil, natural gas, and gasoline, all increased from their 1992 levels. On the national level, the increase in the unit value of a million cubic feet (mcf) of natural gas is quite pronounced, rising from $1.84 per mcf to $2.56 per mcf. In California, natural gas unit values increased by more than 50%, from $2.00 per mcf to $3.07 per mcf.

Electricity prices vary widely by state, from greater than 104 per kilowatt hour (kWh) in Hawaii and Rhode Island to a low of 3.24 per kWh in Utah. Electricity prices for mining in California were relatively stable, showing a slight increase from 6.74 per kWh in 1992 to 6.94 per kWh in 1997.

Listed below are the statistical tables for the Fuels and Electric Energy Report. If you have questions concerning the statistics in this report, call Sarah Osborne, Susan DiCola or Patricia Horning at 301-457-4680.