Annual End-Use of Natural Gas Survey (AGSD)

Detailed information for 2015

Status:

Active

Frequency:

Annual

Record number:

2167

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

Data release - December 1, 2016

Description

This survey collects data on the activities of Canadian natural gas distributors. Data collected cover sales (in volume) to final customers in manufacturing, mining, construction, forestry logging, agriculture, hunting and trapping establishments, electric power generation, commercial services as well as the residential sector.

These data are required for integration into the input-output sector of the Canadian System of National Accounts. Data are 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 sector of the Canadian economy.

Statistical activity

The survey is administered as part of the Integrated Business Statistics Program (IBSP). The IBSP has been designed to integrate approximately 200 separate business surveys into a single master survey program. The IBSP aims at collecting industry and product detail at the provincial level while minimizing overlap between different survey questionnaires. The redesigned business survey questionnaires have a consistent look, structure, and content.

The integrated approach makes reporting easier for firms operating in different industries because they can provide similar information for each branch operation. This way they avoid having to respond to questionnaires that differ for each industry in terms of format, wording and even concepts. The combined results produce more coherent and accurate statistics on the economy.

Reference period: Calendar year

Collection period: 20 days after the reference period.

Subjects

  • Energy

Data sources and methodology

Target population

The target population is comprised of all establishments in Canada engaged in natural gas distribution classified to NAICS 221210 under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS 2012). The observed population are those establishments in the target population for which business information is available on Statistics Canada's Business Register.

Instrument design

The questionnaire was designed using Statistics Canada questionnaire design standards. The design was done in consultation with the survey's partners. The questionnaire is respondent completed in paper format delivered by mail, fax or in electronic format.

The questionnaires are subject to regular revision to reflect changes in industry classification.

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

Data collection for this reference period: 2016-04-18 to 2016-06-29

Responding to this survey is mandatory.

Data are collected directly from survey respondents.

The data are 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.

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

Error detection

Data processing procedures identify missing data, data entry errors and assess the validity of reported data. Macro-level edits detect unusual data fluctuations within a current survey period. Survey results are routinely reconciled with the monthly survey of Gas Utilities: Transportation and Distribution Systems (Survey ID # 2149).

Imputation

Some respondents may be unable to respond or may be late in responding. In such cases, missing data may be imputed based on historical information, for example, data from the previous year or other data sources.

Estimation

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Quality evaluation

In order to ensure the accuracy and consistency of the data, the results of the survey are reconciled with other Statistics Canada energy survey such as the monthly survey of Gas Utilities/Transportation and Distribution Systems (Survey ID 2149). 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

This methodology does not apply to this survey.

Data accuracy

The response rate for this survey is 89%.

For a census, the main source of error in statistical estimates is due to non-response. Non-response bias is minimized by making special effort during data collection to encourage non-respondents to reply to the questionnaire. In cases where imputation is required, imputed data is carefully reviewed to ensure validity and consistency with current and any previously reported data that is available.

Documentation

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