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Census Region
The use of natural gas by households varied significantly by Census Region (Figure 1). In the Midwest Region, natural gas was the most widely used—77 percent of all households used it for any end use and nearly all of those households used it as their main heating fuel. In addition, because the region's winter heating season is long, it is not surprising to find that the region consumed the most natural gas per household (Figure 2). On average, households in the Midwest in 1997 consumed 115 thousand cubic feet (mcf), compared with households in the West, which consumed 60 mcf on average.
The amount spent by households for natural gas, like the amount consumed, varied significantly by Census Region, but the pattern was different (Figure 3). The amount spent in the Northeast was greatest, although the amount consumed was 26 percent less than in the Midwest. Midwest expenditures were less because the price of natural gas was 34 percent less than in the Northeast (Figure 4).
When we apply prices projected by STEO to natural gas consumed by region, we can estimate expenditures that would occur in 2001 (Figure 3). We find that expenditures based on 2001 prices will be proportionately higher for each of the regions, just as at the national level.
Figure 1. Percent of Households That Use Natural Gas by Census Region, 1997
Source: EIA, Residential Energy Consumption Survey 1997.
Figure 2. Natural Gas Consumption per Household by Census Region, 1997
Source: EIA, Residential Energy Consumption Survey 1997.
Figure 3. Natural Gas Expenditures per Household in 1997 by Census Region
(Based on 1997 and 2001 Prices)
Sources: EIA, Residential Energy Consumption Survey 1997 and EIA, Short-Term Energy Outlook February 2001.
Figure 4. Natural Gas Prices by Census Region, 1997
Source: EIA, Residential Energy Consumption Survey 1997.