Annual Electric Power Generating Stations Survey (EPGS)

Detailed information for 2014

Status:

Active

Frequency:

Annual

Record number:

2193

The purpose of this survey is to obtain information on the supply of, and/or demand for, energy in Canada.

Data release - December 1, 2015

Description

The purpose of this survey is to obtain information on the supply of, and/or demand for, energy in Canada. This information serves as an important indicator of Canadian economic performance, and is used by all levels of government in establishing informed policies in the energy area. The private sector also uses this information in the corporate decision-making process.

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

Subjects

  • Energy
  • Nuclear and electric power

Data sources and methodology

Target population

The universe consists of utilities and companies which have at least one plant with a total generating capacity of over 500 KW or one photovoltaic solar plant with a total generating capacity of over 100 KW, excluding auxiliary units.

The frame is established with information obtained from different sources. Information from provincial energy boards who license generating stations are a primary source for identifying companies for the survey's target population. Other energy surveys such as the Annual Electricity Supply and Disposition Survey (record number 2194) and the Monthly Electricity Supply and Disposition Survey (record number 2151) can identify new companies and/or new generating stations. The Annual Industrial Consumption of Energy Survey (record number 5047) can help identify industrial establishments which generate electricity as part of their ongoing business operations.

Instrument design

The questionnaire comprises the total capacity by type. For each electric power generating station, the questionnaire comprises the name, location, ownership, year of installation, plant capacity, type of fuel or water supply, by type, by plant, and by province/territory.

Head Office sends each respondent a questionnaire to which is attached a printout of their return for the previous year, and asks the respondent to indicate any changes.

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: 2015-07-31 to 2015-10-23

Responding to this survey is mandatory.

Data are collected directly from survey respondents.

The data are collected through a mail-out / mail-back process. Follow-ups are conducted by phone, fax or e-mail as needed.

Respondents who are completing the questionnaire for the first time receive a letter with information about the survey.

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

Error detection

Methods of error detection include the following:

- The data are compared with data for the respondent for the last reference period.

- Fuel types used are checked against the Electric Power Thermal Generating Station Fuel Consumption Survey (Survey ID 2196).

Imputation

The response rate for this survey is very high. As a consequence, minimal imputation is required and minimal bias resulting from non-response is introduced in these data. If required, imputation is done manually, using the response from the previous year.

New generating stations and their generating capacity are found by conducting research on the internet. The first time these new generating stations are included in the survey, their generating capacity information is sent to the respondent for verification and if they do not respond, the data found during the research phase is used.

Quality evaluation

Data on fuel types are compared with amounts reported in the Electric Power Thermal Generating Station Fuel Consumption survey. Figures in company annual reports are also checked.

Disclosure control

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects which 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.

Confidentiality analysis includes the detection of possible direct disclosure, which occurs when the value in a tabulation cell is composed of a few respondents or when the cell is dominated by a few companies.

Revisions and seasonal adjustment

There is no seasonal adjustment. Data from previous years may be revised based on updated information.

Data accuracy

Since the survey is a census of the target population, there is no sampling error. Given the very high response rate and the error detections based on other sources, non-sampling errors are reduced.

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