ABSTRACT
1 This chapter outlines the nature of the surveys carried out by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) since 1976 in order to collect energy consumption data in various sectors, and discusses how these data have actually been used in the development of federal policies and programs. Although recognizing the importance of attitudinal data, ElA's first priority has been to establish an organized and coherent set of basic statistics on consumption patterns. Using this basic information, the program offices and individual utilities have been able to move forward with specialized surveys, including attitudinal surveys, relating to particular programs under consideration.
