State Energy Data System

State Energy Data System
Name	State Energy Data System
Developer	United States Energy Information Administration
Released	0 1977
Genre	Energy statistics
License	Public domain
Website	https://www.eia.gov/state/seds/

State Energy Data System. It is the official source of comprehensive annual energy statistics for all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the United States as a whole. Developed and maintained by the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA), this system provides detailed estimates for energy production, consumption, prices, and expenditures. The data is a foundational resource for policymakers, researchers, and industry analysts tracking energy markets and energy policy across the nation.

Overview

The system serves as the premier subnational energy data repository for the United States, offering a consistent and comparable time series dating back to 1960. Its primary function is to disaggregate national-level data from sources like the Monthly Energy Review and the Annual Energy Outlook into state-level estimates. This granular view is essential for understanding regional disparities in energy resources, such as the dominance of petroleum in Alaska and Texas or renewable energy development in California and Iowa. The data supports analysis of trends in electric power sector generation, residential energy consumption, and the economic impacts of the energy industry.

Data Collection and Methodology

Data compilation relies on a complex methodology that integrates hundreds of source surveys, administrative data, and modeling techniques. Primary sources include EIA surveys like the Petroleum Supply Annual, the Natural Gas Annual, and the Electric Power Monthly. These federal datasets are supplemented with information from other agencies, including the United States Department of Transportation and the United States Census Bureau. Statistical models, such as the Fuel Allocation and Transportation Model, are employed to allocate national fuel consumption data down to the state level, ensuring consistency with reported national totals while accounting for state-specific economic and demographic factors.

Key Data Categories

The system organizes information into several major categories covering the full energy flow. Production data details the extraction of resources like coal, crude oil, and natural gas, highlighting leading states such as Wyoming and Pennsylvania. Consumption statistics are broken down by sector—commercial sector, industrial sector, transportation sector—and by fuel type, including motor gasoline, distillate fuel oil, and jet fuel. Financial data encompasses state-level energy expenditures and average prices for fuels like propane and heating oil. A critical category is energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, which are estimated based on fuel consumption data to inform climate and environmental policies.

Uses and Applications

The data is extensively utilized by state government agencies, such as the California Energy Commission and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, for crafting renewable portfolio standards and energy efficiency programs. Academic researchers and institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University employ it for economic and environmental modeling. The private sector, including firms like ExxonMobil and NextEra Energy, relies on it for market analysis and investment planning. Furthermore, it is a key input for international reporting to organizations like the International Energy Agency and for benchmarking by non-governmental organizations such as the World Resources Institute.

History and Development

The system was formally established in 1977 following the creation of the United States Energy Information Administration under the Department of Energy Organization Act. Its development was driven by the 1973 oil embargo, which exposed a critical lack of detailed, state-level energy data for crisis management and policy formulation. Early iterations focused on major fuels like petroleum and coal, with significant expansions over the decades to include renewable energy sources like wind power and solar energy, as well as comprehensive environmental data. Major methodological revisions have occurred periodically, often following landmark legislation such as the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

Relationship to Other Energy Data Systems

It is a core component of a larger integrated energy data network managed by the United States Energy Information Administration. It feeds directly into and draws from the Annual Energy Review and the International Energy Statistics database. The data is also closely aligned with the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey and the Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey for sectoral detail. At the international level, it complements systems like Eurostat's energy statistics for the European Union and data from the United Nations Statistics Division. For subnational analysis, it is often used alongside complementary datasets from the United States Geological Survey and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Category:Energy in the United States Category:United States Energy Information Administration Category:Energy databases Category:Government databases in the United States