INTRODUCTION

This User Guide contains information about the Household Energy Consumption Survey (HECS) conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) throughout 2012. The aim of this user guide is to assist users of data to better understand the potential and shortcomings in meeting their data needs. In particular, it contains information about:

• survey objectives and development
• concepts and definitions
• methods and procedures used in the collection of data and derivation of estimates
• quality, interpretation and availability of survey results.

The HECS collected information from a sample of 11,978 households over the period January 2012 to December 2012. Between January 2012 and June 2012, HECS was collected from households who participated in the second half of the 2011-12 Survey of Income and Housing (SIH). Households were asked for the same information collected in the SIH, as well as supplementary energy-related questions. These questions were continued for the remainder of 2012 on an additional sample.

The ABS would appreciate comments from users on the contents and presentation of information in this User Guide.

Comments should be sent to either: email <living.conditions@abs.gov.au> or phone (02) 6252 6174.