Gas Utilities/Transportation and Distribution Systems (Monthly)

Detailed information for March 2014

Status:

Active

Frequency:

Monthly

Record number:

2149

This monthly survey collects data on the activities of Canadian natural gas distributors and transporters.

Data release - May 21, 2014

Description

This monthly survey collects data on the activities of Canadian natural gas distributors and transporters. Data collected covers a wide range of information such as: direct sales, sales to residential, commercial, industrial customers and associated revenues, imports and exports.

This data is required for integration into the input-output sector of the Canadian System of National Accounts. Data is intended for use by survey respondents, federal departments and agencies, provincial ministries and authorities, industry associations, industry analysts, the press and the general public to assess trends in the natural gas distribution and transportation sector of the Canadian economy.

Reference period: Month

Collection period: 20 calendar days after the end of the reference month

Subjects

  • Crude oil and natural gas
  • Energy
  • Energy consumption and disposition

Data sources and methodology

Target population

The universe is comprised of all companies classified as operating in natural gas distribution (NAICS 221210) or in natural gas pipeline transportation (NAICS 486210) according to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The target population is those companies found on Statistics Canada's Business Register and classified to NAICS codes 221210 and 486210.

Instrument design

The questionnaires were designed using Statistics Canada questionnaire design standards. The design was done in consultation with the survey's partners (i.e. provincial energy boards and the Canadian Gas Association). The questionnaire is respondent completed in paper format delivered by mail or in electronic format.

The questionnaires are subject to regular revision to reflect changes in business activities and practices.

Sampling

This survey is a census with a cross-sectional design.

Data are collected for all units of the target population, therefore, no sampling is done.

Data sources

Responding to this survey is mandatory.

Data are collected directly from survey respondents.

The data is collected through a mail-out/mail-back process, while providing respondents with the option of telephone or other electronic filing methods. Follow-up procedures are applied when a questionnaire has not been received after a pre-specified period of time: respondents are phoned or sent a fax to remind them to send their questionnaire in order to reach the survey target response rate (100% per month).

View the Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s).

Error detection

Data processing procedures identify missing data, data entry errors, assess validity of reported data and determine input-output balances for each survey respondent and transactions (or transfers) between respondents. Macro-level edits detect unusual data fluctuations within a current survey period.

Imputation

On occasion some respondents may be unable to respond or may be late in responding. In such cases, missing data is automatically imputed based on historical information, for example, data from the same month of the previous year.

Quality evaluation

In order to ensure the accuracy and consistency of the data such as the inter-provincial movements, imports and exports of natural gas and deliveries to final customers, the results of the survey are reconciled with other Statistics Canada energy surveys such as the Survey on crude oil and natural gas (survey ID # 2198). Other federal departments, provincial and territorial authorities routinely monitor the data.

Disclosure control

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects that could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Various confidentiality rules are applied to all data that are released or published to prevent the publication or disclosure of any information deemed confidential. If necessary, data are suppressed to prevent direct or residual disclosure of identifiable data.

In order to prevent any data disclosure, confidentiality analysis is done using the Statistics Canada Generalized Disclosure Control System (G-Confid). G-Confid is used for primary suppression (direct disclosure) as well as for secondary suppression (residual disclosure). Direct disclosure occurs when the value in a tabulation cell is composed of or dominated by few enterprises while residual disclosure occurs when confidential information can be derived indirectly by piecing together information from different sources or data series.

Revisions and seasonal adjustment

Revised data is incorporated into the database up to 24 months after the current reference month. Major revisions are incorporated as required, beyond these limits.

Data accuracy

The survey is a census of the target population. As a consequence, under-coverage is minimal, and minimal bias resulting from non-response is introduced. If changes are received from respondents, the data are incorporated and the published data are revised.

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