RESIDENTIAL SECTOR

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Why this indicator?

What are the trends?

What does it mean?

About the data		 Sidebar:

Household Energy Expenditures with Transportation

Summary

In 1993, the average household spent $897 for energy used in their residence (this does not include household transportation energy use, see the box entitled "Household Energy Expenditures with Transportation"). This is comparable to the $904 spent in 1970 (in constant 1993 dollars). During the early 1970s, household energy expenditures remained relatively stable despite increasing fuel prices. This was due to an 18-percent decline in household energy consumption from 1972 to 1975 and stable electricity prices. Household energy expenditures peaked in 1982 due to continued price increases coupled with only modest declines in household energy consumption. From 1983 to 1993 household energy expenditures declined 26 percent. This decline was due to a decrease in energy prices and a decline in household energy consumption. From its peak in 1972, household energy consumption declined 33 percent. This long-term decline without subsequent increases (despite lower energy costs) suggests that long-term gains in energy efficiency have been achieved in the residential sector.


Residential Electricity Consumption Residential Total Energy Consumption Residential Total Energy Expenditures Electricity Consumption per Household Energy Consumption per Household Energy Expenditures per Household
Year GWh TBtu million 1993$ kWh/hshld MBtu/hshld $1993/hshld
1970 15,400 132 $1,000 13,900 120 904
1971 16,500 138 $1,030 14,700 123 915
1972 18,900 148 $1,100 16,500 129 958
1973 19,300 144 $1,100 16,500 123 938
1974 19,400 136 $1,100 15,900 112 904
1975 19,200 132 $1,110 15,300 106 887
1976 20,300 135 $1,150 15,700 104 889
1977 20,600 139 $1,210 15,500 104 908
1978 21,900 140 $1,210 15,700 101 869
1979 24,000 148 $1,350 16,300 101 917
1980 24,400 139 $1,410 15,800 90 915
1981 28,500 149 $1,680 17,900 94 1057
1982 29,200 153 $1,870 18,200 96 1167
1983 27,300 141 $1,950 17,000 88 1213
1984 26,700 143 $1,920 16,300 87 1171
1985 27,900 152 $1,980 16,700 91 1185
1986 26,500 142 $1,770 15,600 84 1041
1987 25,800 139 $1,740 14,900 80 1002
1988 27,200 149 $1,800 15,200 84 1007
1989 28,700 157 $1,850 15,700 85 1009
1990 28,800 160 $1,810 15,400 86 967
1991 29,900 168 $1,780 15,600 88 926
1992 28,400 156 $1,650 14,400 79 835
1993 30,900 174 $1,810 15,300 86 897
Sources: Consumption and Expenditures -- Energy Information Administration; Households -- U.S. Census Data and OFM, Forecasting Division; Price Deflator -- OFM, Forecasting Division, Washington Economic and Revenue Forecast

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Why Select This Indicator?

The residential sector represents the energy consumption patterns of residents in the state and their direct energy expenses. The residential indicators are designed to show the trends in household energy use and energy costs. The residential indicators do not include household transportation energy consumption because historical transportation data for the residential sector are not available. The box entitled "Household Energy Expenditures with Transportation" includes estimates of transportation expenditures for 1990.

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What Are The Trends?

Household energy consumption peaked in 1972, then declined at a 4.8 percent annual rate through 1976 and then at a moderate 1.8 percent annual rate through 1986. Household consumption was relatively stable from 1986 to 1993. Electricity consumption was fairly constant from 1971 to 1993, except for 1981 to 1983, when it peaked at 16 percent above 1993 levels. The electricity share of household energy consumption was 40 percent in 1970, peaked at 66 percent in 1983 and declined to 60 percent in 1993.

Household energy expenditures were stable from 1970 to 1980. Declines in household energy consumption helped to offset increases in energy prices. Continued increases in energy prices (particularly electricity) pushed household energy expenditures up 33 percent from 1980 to 1983. Household expenditures declined 26 percent from 1983 to 1993. Most of this decline occurred from 1985 to 1987 due to falling energy prices.

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What Does It Mean?

Household energy consumption in 1993 was two-thirds of the peak in 1972. This decline in consumption seems to be strongly influenced by increases in energy prices, particularly in the early and mid-1970s. However when energy prices and household energy expenditures began to decline in the mid-1980s, household energy consumption stabilized and stayed relatively constant through 1993. Household consumption did not increase during this period, suggesting that long term gains in energy efficiency in the residential sector have been achieved.

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About The Data

Residential energy expenditure and consumption data are from the Energy Information Administration. Household data are from the U.S Census Bureau.

Household Energy Expenditures with Transportation

Adding household transportation energy expenditures to household residential expenditures doubles total household energy expenditures to $1,929 (for 1990 in 1993 dollars). This reinforces the significance of transportation energy expenditures. The major residential expenditures in the home are for space conditioning (heating, cooling and ventilation), water heating and refrigerators. The "other" category includes lighting, clothes washers, dryers, and other household appliances. Note that the distribution of expenditures in the figure are estimates. They are most representative of a single family residence. The values for a particular household will vary depending on the efficiency of the home, its age and its size. Differences in household travel patterns can significantly affect the level of travel expenditures.

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