Residential Energy Consumption Survey

The Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) datasets include edited housing unit-level data collected through the RECS Household Survey (EIA-457A) and Energy Supplier Surveys (EIA-457D-G). EIA administers RECS to a nationally representative sample of housing units to collect a reference year snapshot of energy characteristics, usage patterns, and household demographics. This information is combined with data from energy suppliers to estimate energy costs and usage for heating, cooling, appliances and other end uses. RECS is not a longitudinal study. Researchers are advised to use RECS data for cross-sectional studies and not as a time series since the sample, study design, questionnaire, and statistical processes differ across survey cycles. Researchers are encouraged to consult each cycle’s documentation for more information. Most information collected by RECS is available in a public use microdata file with disclosure protections applied so individual respondents are not identifiable. Monthly energy bills are available as restricted-use microdata. Research applications may include a combination of variables from both the non-public and public use microdata files. Public use microdata file may be helpful in evaluating subpopulation sample sizes prior to submitting a research application.