The use of client files of energy companies Hans Pouwelse Statistics Netherlands October 24, 2012 Statistical method for monitoring energy consumption in service sectors and households

Statistics Netherlands 1 Content background use of client files as alternative steps forward results concluding remarks

Statistics Netherlands 2 Background Situation energy statistics in the Netherlands in 2005 Positive: energy production sector and manufacturing industries (‘the heavy users’) solid production process, based on surveys, high response rates, intensive contact with key companies statistical results of good quality and timeliness results basis for energy balance sheets

Statistics Netherlands 3 Background Situation energy statistics in the Netherlands in 2005 Negative: Other sectors (households, service sectors, etc. ) response rates, quality response and statistical results poor and decreasing irregular statistical coverage, only once every 3 to 5 years poor quality external information (households, agriculture) lack of finance and staff capacity to improve the shortcomings with traditional questionnaires But: increasing demand

Statistics Netherlands 4 Promising alternative ask energy companies for their files with individual client information The idea is simple:  Energy companies have all the necessary information they need to send bills to their individual clients, including the supplied amounts of energy - 8 mln electricity connections - 7 mln gas connections  Collecting this individual client information is much more efficient and less costly than asking many individual consumers

Statistics Netherlands 5 Advantages  Only a limited number of respondents have to be bothered (general policy in the Netherlands to minimize the response burden)  Less costly and more efficient  Increasing quality statistical results (An important source of errors can be avoided: energy consumers no longer have to identify their electricity and gas consumption on annual basis from the information they receive from their energy supplier)  Data on energy consumption can be published for each economic activity (NACE-code) and households annually

Statistics Netherlands 6 Steps forward (1) Legal obligation  Energy companies will not cooperate on a voluntary basis  Legal obligation is necessary  Realised in 2004 as modification of the Dutch statistical law

Statistics Netherlands 7 Steps forward (2) which companies: energy suppliers or network operators?  Energy suppliers: - more information (quantities, prices, costs, taxes) - more and varying number of companies - varying number of clients/connections per company (switching allowed)  Network operators: - only quantities electricity and natural gas - only few and stable number of companies (14, all both electricity and gas) - stable number of clients/connections Choice: Network operators

Statistics Netherlands 8 Steps forward (3) Identify type of client: house hold or business? and type of business (NACE code)?  Records contain address data  Linking to other data: - home register (7 mln dwellings) - general business register (1 mln records) - other administrative data (register real estate appraisal, Dutch land use register, GIS-techniques and others)  Amount of energy

Statistics Netherlands 9 Steps forward (3) Many problems had to be solved:  house number extension (standardisation)  district heating, central heating bloc of flats  combined dwellings/business (one connection)  multiple connections per company (establishments)  multiple companies per connection (office building hired by several companies, one connection)  And many others!

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Statistics Netherlands 16 Results Households Regular statistics production electricity and gas consumption since 2008 (information from statistical period 2004) Broken down by region (municipal level) Broken down by housing types and household characteristics (by matching with microdata home characteristics and household characteristics) Microdata available for external researchers

Statistics Netherlands 17 Gas consumption detached homes 2010

Statistics Netherlands 18 Electricity consumption detached homes 2010

Statistics Netherlands Apartment Rowhouse Corner house Semi-detached Detached Apartment Rowhouse Corner house Semi-detaced Detached Electricity (kWh)Gas (m3) BolswardBlaricum

Statistics Netherlands 20 Natural Gas consumption Building period

Statistics Netherlands 21 Bouwperiode Electricity consumption

Statistics Netherlands 22 Results Service sectors First results published in May this year (statistical period 2010); 2011 by the end of this year Separate table, integration into Dutch Energy Balance follows as soon as possible Break down by region as far as possible (confidentiality)

Statistics Netherlands 23 natural gas electricity Sector/branche (SIC 2008)mln m3mln kWh (F Construction) G Wholesale and retail trade H Transportation and storage I Accommodation and food serving J Information and communication K Financial institutions L Renting, buying, selling real estate M Other specialised business services N Renting and other business support O Public administration and services P Education Q Health and social work activities R Culture, sports and recreation S Other service activities U Extraterritorial organisations 620 © Statistics Netherlands, Den Haag/Heerlen Natural gas and electricity supplies to service sectors 2010

Statistics Netherlands 24 Electricity consumption in the services sectors (%) Wholesale and retail trade Transportation and storage Public administration and defense Accommodation and food service activities Human health and social work activities Information and communication Financial and insurance activities Real estate activities Other service activities

Statistics Netherlands 25 Gas consumption in the services sectors (%) Wholesale and retail trade Human health and social work activities Public administration and defense Accommodation and food service activities Education Real estate activities Transportation and storage Arts and recreation Other service activities

Statistics Netherlands 26 Concluding remarks Client files of energy companies have proven to be a very good source for making energy statistics! Generally usable for all economic sectors with only consumtion of electricity and natural gas and no own energy production Cheaper, more efficient, good quality, with little administrative burden compared to traditional surveys