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NASEO Energy Data & Security Committee

Letter to Jay Hakes, EIA

November 23, 1998

Jay Hakes, Administrator
Energy Information Administration
U.S. Department of Energy
1000 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20858

Dear Mr. Hakes:

As we discussed when we met in September, the NASEO Liaison Group is concerned that budget cuts and staff reductions may be eroding the quality of EIA data. We have prepared an analysis which compares the budget history of EIA to other federal statistical agencies. This analysis shows that EIA is the only agency whose budget has been cut in the FY95 - FY 99 time frame. These cuts, and recent reports from data users and the trade press, suggest that the quality of EIA data is at risk without additional funding.

Attached you will find a copy of the analysis we prepared. While this is an initial assessment, we believe it supports our conclusion that EIA warrants additional funding. In a September 1997 letter to you from the Liaison Group, we also supported $5 million in additional funding for EIA. We continue to support this additional funding for FY 2000. We believe these funds are needed to address the problems we have identified, provide for the continuation of important state level data, and assure funding for the redesign of data collection for the electric power industry necessitated by the ongoing restructuring of that industry. The Liaison Group met on August 14, 1998 and discussed several matters including the data quality issues and the status of EIA's budget. Based on the discussion at that meeting the Liaison Group asked me to meet with you and to analyze the problem more closely.

We are pleased to hear that you believe that the important state level data can continue to be collected and published. However, as you said the ongoing effort to manage work loads with a reduced budget and less staff, coupled with additional demand for new work, could place some state data at risk. We are very concerned about this problem and look forward to working with you to assure critical state data is preserved.

We are also interested in seeing that existing efforts to produce new products will allow easy access to time series data. The IQII system on the EIA web site shows promise. However, it is still cumbersome. A simple opening page is needed that will allow users to directly extract specific historical time series. Another area in need of attention on the EIA web site is navigation tools and menu structures. While the natural evolution from printed publications to Web-based publication is a reasonable approach, users still need an understanding of the publications in order to efficiently access the information on the Web. As web sites grow larger, the need for more effective navigation tools grows. This is the newest set of challenges to future web site development.

All of us who rely on EIA's state level energy data support and appreciate your dedication to preserving and improving these important statistical programs. The Liaison Group welcomes the opportunity to assist you in addressing these important issues.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey R. Pillon,
for the Ad Hoc Liaison Group

Ad Hoc Liaison Group Members:

• Diane DeVaul Northeast Midwest Institute Washington D.C.
• Cheryl DeVol Indiana Department of Commerce, Indianapolis, IN
• Ron Forsythe Miss. Dept. of Eco. and Comm. Develop. Jackson, MS
• Jeff Burks Utah Dept. of Natural Resources Salt Lake City, UT
• Thom Kelly California Energy Commission Sacramento, CA
• Donald E. Milsten Energy Consulting Services Baltimore, MD
• Tom Franks Vermont Department of Public Service Montpelier, VT
• Jeffrey R. Pillon Michigan Public Service Commission Lansing, MI
• John M. Stapleton Kentucky Division of Energy Frankfort, KY

Copy to:
Richard Sedano, Chairman, NASEO
Frank Bishop, Executive Director, NASEO
Jeffrey Genzer, General Counsel, NASEO

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