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For those who may be unfamiliar with the nature and principal features of the Residential Energy Consumption Survey, this Data Quality presents some background information. There is a general overview of RECS, its objectives, and the timing of the periodic surveys. Another section describes the design and methodology of the 1993 RECS. The final section identifies significant changes as the survey design and procedures evolved from the initial survey (known as NIECS, the National Interim Energy Consumption Survey) in 1978 through the 1993 RECS.

Contents

1. Introduction (file size 215,612 bytes) pages 11.
   Purpose and Scope of This Report
   Sources of Information About Data Quality
   Relation of This Report to Other RECS Publications
   Structure of the Report
   
2. An Overview of RECS (file size 75,720 bytes) pages 18.
   A General Overview of RECS
   Overview of the 1993 RECS Design and Procedures
   Evolution of the RECS Design: 1978-1993
   
3. Coverage(file size 51,687 bytes) pages 11.
   RECS Target Populations
   Frame Development and Sample Selection Procedures
   Evaluation of Coverage Based on External Data Sources
   
4. Nonresponse(file size 99,150 bytes) pages 22.
   Nonresponse in the Household Survey
   Nonresponse in the Rental Agent Summary
   Nonresponse in the Supplier Survey
   Summary
   
5. Measurement Error(file size 112,311 bytes) pages 24.
   Special Data Collection Procedures
   Comparisons of Individual Household Data from Alternate Sources
   Questionnaire and Interviewer Effects on Measurement Error
   
6. Data Processing and Imputation(file size 117,369 bytes) pages 26.
   Data Processing Other than Imputation
   Imputation
   
7. Estimation and Sampling Error(file size 120,965 bytes) pages 25.
   Sample Weighting Procedures
   End-Use Estimation
   Sampling Errors
   
8. Comparisons of RECS Estimates with Other Data(file size 78,356 bytes) pages 17.
   Comparisons of RECS and Supplier Survey Estimates of Consumption
   Comparisons of RECS Data on Housing Unit and Household Characteristics with Data from Other Sources
   
9. Summary(file size 88,496 bytes) pages 18.
   Principal Sources of Error
   Current Research and Potential Design Changes
   Some Suggestions for Data Users
   

Appendices(file size 47,730 bytes) pages 12.

A. References
B. Related EIA Publications on Energy Consumption

Contact:

Eileen M. O'Brien

RECS Survey Manager

Phone: (202) 586-1122

Fax: (202) 586-0018

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