AEO/IEO Customer Survey

Department of Energy
Washington, DC 20585

January 11, 2007

Ms. Sarah P. Garman
Department of Energy Desk Officer
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
Office of Management and Budget
Washington, DC 20503
SUBJECT: USE OF DOE-887 “DOE CUSTOMER SURVEYS” FOR A GENERIC
CLEARANCE FOR THE ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION ANNUAL
ENERGY OUTLOOK AND INTERNATIONAL ENERGY OUTLOOK CUSTOMER
SURVEYS EIA-887.
Dear Ms. Garman:
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) plans to use the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) approved generic clearance, DOE-887, "DOE Customer Surveys" (OMB
No. 1901-0302, expiring December 31, 2009) to survey stakeholders, partners and
customers who have registered on EIA’s Listserv to receive the Annual Energy Outlook
(AEO). Additionally, EIA proposes to survey stakeholders, partners and customers who
have registered on EIA’s Listserv to receive the International Energy Outlook (IEO). As
agreed to under the DOE-887 “DOE Customer Surveys” clearance, we will anticipate your
approval within two weeks. However, without the proper authority, we will not conduct the
survey. We will provide OMB with the results of this data collection when we submit the
annual report of surveys conducted under the generic clearance.
The Listserv contains e-mail addresses of EIA customers who are very familiar with its
products and services. Local, State, and Federal government personnel, members of
Congressional committees, trade association members, financial institution personnel,
consultants, economists, and educators are key stakeholders in both the AEO and IEO.
Senior management has endorsed this survey of Listserv registrants as a way to obtain
information on these two important EIA analytical products.
A team in EIA’s Statistics and Methods Group has developed the attached surveys in

response to Executive Order 12862, "Setting Customer Service Standards." In addition,
the Information Quality Act, P.L. 106-554, requires agencies to adopt information quality
goals of objectivity, utility, integrity, transparency and reproducibility. The EIA Strategic
Plan includes a goal to conduct systematic EIA-wide program and product reviews and to
involve customers and stakeholders more systematically in its corporate planning and
product review activities. The responses to the proposed questions will be used as input
for improving the delivery of EIA products and services to Federal, State and local
governments, communities, private businesses, non-profit organizations, colleges and
universities, and other customers. One or more papers will be written and delivered at
conferences summarizing the results of this survey. The EIA Today newsletter will also
contain an article on the survey and its results.
Respondents to the survey will consist of those on the AEO and IEO Listservs who are
willing to participate.
The survey will consist of two parts:
1. Web survey of those registered on EIA’s Listserv to receive the Annual Energy
Outlook and a separate web survey of those registered on EIA’s Listserv to
receive the International Energy Outlook.
2. Telephone follow-up with respondents who agreed to be contacted for in-depth
interview regarding their responses.
First, the survey will be sent via e-mail to a random sample of 500 of those who are
registered on the AEO and IEO Listservs, respectively. These responses will be collected
electronically via a web survey. The questionnaire contains questions on the relevance,
clarity, and usefulness of the AEO and IEO, respectively. Additional instructions will ask
respondents to answer some technical questions about these reports if they feel they are
familiar with the pertinent issues.
The intent of the survey is to obtain qualitative and quantitative information that will be
useful for making improvements to EIA’s efforts to deliver high-quality products and
services to partners, stakeholders, and other customers. The survey results will reflect
the opinions of those registered on the respective Listservs who choose to participate.
The survey team has the ability to process, analyze, prepare reports and presentations,
and communicate the results to decision makers, employees, and customers.
Participation will be voluntary, and data will be confidential.
The attached surveys will take approximately 10 minutes to answer and contain 20 and
12 questions for the AEO and IEO, respectively. The total burden for all the respondents
should not exceed 105 hours for each survey (250 respondents x 15 minutes/AEO)(250
respondents x 10 minutes/IEO).
Howard Bradsher-Fredrick is the point-of-contact for the survey and may be contacted at
(202) 287-1721. Other questions should be directed to Kara Norman on (202) 287-1902.

Sincerely,

Nancy J. Kirkendall
Director
Statistics and Methods Group
Energy Information Administration

Enclosure A – EIA Product Survey

Survey of Annual Energy Outlook Users

OMB No. XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Form Expires: x/xx/20xx

The Energy Information Administration is conducting an e-mail survey of the Annual Energy Outlook (AEO)
customers who are on our listserv. This voluntary short survey will take about 5-10 minutes to complete. Your
responses will be protected and used only to evaluate satisfaction with the information shown in this publication.
The purpose of the survey is to get feedback from users of the product and help EIA enhance the quality of this
timely publication.
Please enter the email address at which you received this survey:

(This field is necessary for us to follow-up with non-respondents without contacting you again.)

Which one of these groups best describes your affiliation?
Academia
Research and Consulting
Trade Association
Library
Media or Press
Banking or Investment
Energy Industry
Other Industry
U.S. Federal Government
Other Government (e.g., State, Tribal, Local)

4

Non-U.S. Government
Non-U.S. Organizations
Other: (Please indicate)

Because analyses by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) are required to be policy-neutral, the projections
in the Annual Energy Outlook 2007 (AEO2007) are based on laws and regulations in effect on October 31, 2006.
The potential impacts of pending or proposed legislation, regulations, and standards -- or of sections of legislation
that have been enacted but that require funds or implementing regulations that have not been provided or specified
-- are not reflected in the projections.

1
2
3
4

The AEO is used extensively in my work.
strongly disagree
disagree
neutral
agree
strongly agree
don't know
(If your answer is strongly disagree or disagree, please tell us why in Question 12.)
The AEO is clearly written.
strongly disagree
disagree
neutral
agree
strongly agree
don't know
(If your answer is strongly disagree or disagree, please tell us why in Question 12.)
The AEO is relevant.
strongly disagree
disagree
neutral
agree
strongly agree
don't know
(If your answer is strongly disagree or disagree, please tell us why in Question 12.)
The AEO shows accurate results.
strongly disagree
disagree
neutral
agree
strongly agree
don't know
(If your answer is strongly disagree or disagree, please tell us why in Question 12.)
If you are familiar with the modeling details behind the AEO, then please continue with questions 5
through 11, otherwise, please go directly to question 12.
5

5

I have used the AEO model.

6
7

I have read the AEO model documentation.

yes
yes

no
no

The AEO incorporates the changing industry structure
strongly disagree
disagree
neutral
agree
strongly agree
don't know
(If your answer is strongly disagree or disagree, please tell us why in Question 12.)
Appropriate assumptions (e.g. GDP, world oil prices, environment) are used in the AEO.

8

strongly disagree
disagree
neutral
agree
strongly agree
don't know
(If your answer is strongly disagree or disagree, please tell us why in Question 12.)

9

The methodology is suitable to the analysis of the following:
End-Use Sectors
(i)Residential Sector
strongly disagree

disagree

neutral

agree

strongly agree

don't know

disagree

neutral

agree

strongly agree

don't know

disagree

neutral

agree

strongly agree

don't know

(ii)Commercial Sector

a

strongly disagree
(iii)Industrial Sector
strongly disagree
(iv)Transportation

strongly disagree
disagree
neutral
agree
strongly agree
don't know
(If any of your answers to i - iv is strongly disagree or disagree, please tell us why in Question 12.)

b

Supply
(i)Petroleum
6

strongly disagree

disagree

neutral

agree

strongly agree

don't know

disagree

neutral

agree

strongly agree

don't know

disagree

neutral

agree

strongly agree

don't know

disagree

neutral

agree

strongly agree

don't know

(ii)Natural Gas
strongly disagree
(iii)Coal
strongly disagree
(iv)Renewables
strongly disagree

(v)Electric Power Generation
strongly disagree
disagree
neutral
agree
strongly agree
don't know
(If any of your answers to i - v is strongly disagree or disagree, please tell us why in Question 12.)

c
10
11
12

Petroleum Refining
strongly disagree
disagree
neutral
agree
strongly agree
don't know
(If your answer is strongly disagree or disagree, please tell us why in Question 12.)
The conclusions reached in the report are supported by the analysis in the AEO and its companion
report, "Assumptions to the AEO".
strongly disagree
disagree
neutral
agree
strongly agree
don't know
(If your answer is strongly disagree or disagree, please tell us why in Question 12.)
The information in the AEO is of high quality.
strongly disagree
disagree
neutral
agree
strongly agree
don't know
(If your answer is strongly disagree or disagree, please tell us why in Question 12.)
Is there anything else you would like to tell us about the AEO?

7

If you would be willing to be contacted by EIA staff to discuss your opinions on the AEO, then please enter your
phone number.
Yes, you may contact me for further input. Here is my phone number:
No, I prefer not to be contacted further

Submit Survey

8

Survey of International Energy Outlook
Users

OMB No. xxxxxxxxx
Form Expires: x/xx/20xx

The Energy Information Administration is conducting an e-mail survey of the International Energy Outlook (IEO)
customers who are on our listserv. This voluntary short survey will take about 5-10 minutes to complete. Your
responses will be protected and used only to evaluate satisfaction with the information shown in this publication.
The purpose of the survey is to get feedback from users of the product and help EIA enhance the quality of this
timely publication.
Please enter the email address at which you received this survey:

(This field is necessary for us to follow-up with non-respondents without contacting you again.)

Which one of these groups best describes your affiliation?
Academia
Research and Consulting
Trade Association
Library
Media or Press
Banking or Investment
Energy Industry
Other Industry
U.S. Federal Government
Other Government (e.g., State, Tribal, Local)
Non-U.S. Government
9

Non-U.S. Organizations
Other: (Please indicate)

Because analyses by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) are required to be policy-neutral, the projections
in the International Energy Outlook 2006 (IEO2006) are based on laws and regulations in effect on October 1,
2004. The potential impacts of pending or proposed legislation, regulations, and standards -- or of sections of
legislation that have been enacted but that require funds or implementing regulations that have not been provided
or specified -- are not reflected in the projections.

1
2
3
4

The IEO is used extensively in my work.
strongly disagree
disagree
neutral
agree
strongly agree
don't know
(If your answer is strongly disagree or disagree, please tell us why in Question 10.)
The IEO is clearly written.
strongly disagree
disagree
neutral
agree
strongly agree
don't know
(If your answer is strongly disagree or disagree, please tell us why in Question 10.)
The IEO is relevant.
strongly disagree
disagree
neutral
agree
strongly agree
don't know
(If your answer is strongly disagree or disagree, please tell us why in Question 10.)
The IEO shows accurate results.
strongly disagree
disagree
neutral
agree
strongly agree
don't know
(If your answer is strongly disagree or disagree, please tell us why in Question 10.)
If you are familiar with the modeling details behind the IEO, then please continue with questions 5
through 9, otherwise, please go directly to question 10.
10

I have read the IEO model documentation.

5
6

yes

no

The IEO incorporates the changing industry structure.
strongly disagree
disagree
neutral
agree
strongly agree
don't know
(If your answer is strongly disagree or disagree, please tell us why in Question 10.)
Appropriate assumptions (e.g., GDP, world oil prices, environment) are used in the IEO.

7

strongly disagree
disagree
neutral
agree
strongly agree
don't know
(If your answer is strongly disagree or disagree, please tell us why in Question 10.)
The conclusions reached in the report are supported by the analysis in the IEO.

8

strongly disagree
disagree
neutral
agree
strongly agree
don't know
(If your answer is strongly disagree or disagree, please tell us why in Question 10.)
The information in the IEO is of high quality.

9

strongly disagree
disagree
neutral
agree
strongly agree
don't know
(If your answer is strongly disagree or disagree, please tell us why in Question 10.)

10

Is there anything else you would like to tell us about the IEO?

If you would be willing to be contacted by EIA staff to discuss your opinions on the IEO, then please enter your
phone number.
Yes, you may contact me for further input. Here is my phone number:
No, I prefer not to be contacted further

Submit Survey

11