About the Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey

The Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS) is a national sample survey that collects information on the stock of U.S. manufacturing establishment, their energy-related building characteristics, and their energy consumption and expenditures.

The MECS was first conducted in 1985; the eighth, and most recent survey, began in 2011 and the first data will be appearing starting in February 2013 to provide data for calendar year 2012. MECS is currently conducted on a quadrennial basis.

Previous surveys were conducted for 1985, 1988, 1991, 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2006. In previous survey years, establishments reported their energy information on mail questionnaires; in 2006, most used a secure web-based questionnaire.  The 2006 MECS sample size of approximately 15,500 establishments was drawn from a nationally representative sample frame representing 97-98% of the manufacturing payroll. This sample allows EIA to report separate estimates of energy use for 21 3-digit industry subsectors, and 50 industry groups and industries according to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).

Specific questions on this product may be directed to:

Tom Lorenz
Phone: 202-586-3442
Fax: 202-586-0018

Robert Adler
Phone: 202-586-1134
Fax: 202-586-0018