Released: October 2017

Next MECS will be fielded in 2019

Table 10.21 Reasons that Made Natural Gas Unswitchable, 2014;

 Level: National Data;

 Row: NAICS Codes;

 Column: Reasons that Made Quantity Unswitchable;

 Unit: Billion Cubic Feet.

Total Amount of Total Amount of Equipment is Not Switching Unavailable Long-Term Unavailable

NAICS Natural Gas Unswitchable Capable of Using Adversely Affects Alternative Environmental Contract Storage for Another Combinations of Don't Know/

Code(a) Subsector and Industry Consumed as Fuel Natural Gas Fuel Use Another Fuel the Products Fuel Supply Restrictions(b) in Place(c) Alternative Fuels(d) Reason Cols. F, G, H, I, J, and K Didn't Answer

Total United States

311 Food 554 428 311 6 4 32 3 7 22 11 33

 3112 Grain and Oilseed Milling 129 90 71 * * 9 * * 6 1 Q

 311221 Wet Corn Milling 46 41 32 0 0 4 0 * 5 0 0

 31131 Sugar Manufacturing 15 12 9 0 0 * 0 0 1 1 2

 3114 Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food 102 90 55 1 1 17 1 6 Q 1 8

 3115 Dairy Product 66 49 41 2 * * * * 2 1 2

 3116 Animal Slaughtering and Processing 122 95 63 * 2 3 1 1 11 1 13

312 Beverage and Tobacco Products 47 41 31 0 * 2 * * Q 1 5

 3121 Beverages 42 38 29 0 * 1 0 * Q 1 5

 3122 Tobacco 5 3 2 0 * * * * * * *

313 Textile Mills 35 24 20 0 * 0 * * * Q 1

314 Textile Product Mills 16 10 7 0 * 0 0 * 2 0 *

315 Apparel 2 1 1 * 0 0 0 0 * * *

316 Leather and Allied Products 1 1 1 * * 0 * * * 0 *

321 Wood Products 48 42 37 * 1 * * 1 * 1 2

 321113 Sawmills 6 5 4 0 * * 0 1 * * *

 3212 Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Woods 28 25 22 0 1 0 0 1 * 1 *

 321219 Reconstituted Wood Products 20 19 17 0 1 0 0 * 0 0 *

 3219 Other Wood Products 12 10 9 * * 0 * * * * 1

322 Paper 424 338 274 2 19 15 1 2 6 12 7

 322110 Pulp Mills 29 19 18 0 0 * 0 0 0 0 0

 322121 Paper Mills, except Newsprint 156 132 113 0 3 5 * 0 * 8 2

 322122 Newsprint Mills 8 8 5 * 0 * 0 0 * 0 2

 322130 Paperboard Mills 183 141 104 1 16 9 1 1 4 4 1

323 Printing and Related Support 38 30 24 * Q Q * * Q * *

324 Petroleum and Coal Products 1,041 852 667 4 25 3 2 1 41 48 62

 324110 Petroleum Refineries 972 801 627 3 25 1 0 0 40 44 60

 324121 Asphalt Paving Mixture and Block 41 26 17 * * 2 2 * * Q 1

 324122 Asphalt Shingle and Coating Materials 10 9 8 * 0 0 0 * * 1 *

 324199 Other Petroleum and Coal Products 7 6 6 0 0 0 * * 0 0 *

325 Chemicals 1,946 1,800 1,449 5 99 35 23 4 7 85 93

 325110 Petrochemicals 300 291 W * 0 W 0 0 * W 0

 325120 Industrial Gases 37 33 9 0 0 0 0 0 * 1 22

 325180 Other Basic Inorganic Chemicals 147 140 121 Q 4 * 2 * * 9 1

 325193 Ethyl Alcohol 353 318 283 0 3 10 6 0 0 10 7

 325194 Cyclic Crudes, Intermediate and Gum and Wood Chemicals 23 18 15 0 * * 1 0 0 2 *

 325199 Other Basic Organic Chemicals 353 324 248 0 Q W 14 * W 37 19

 325211 Plastics Materials and Resins 365 352 253 0 89 4 * * W 1 W

 325212 Synthetic Rubber 18 17 6 * 0 * 0 2 * * 10

 325220 Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments 13 10 7 0 * 2 * 0 0 * *

 325311 Nitrogenous Fertilizers 154 148 W 3 0 W 1 0 0 * 7

 325312 Phosphatic Fertilizers 24 24 4 0 * 0 0 * 0 0 20

 3254 Pharmaceuticals and Medicines 49 35 27 * * 4 0 * 1 1 1

 325412 Pharmaceutical Preparation 21 15 13 * * 1 0 * * 1 *

 325992 Photographic Film, Paper, Plate, and Chemicals 4 2 2 0 0 * * 0 * 0 *

326 Plastics and Rubber Products 87 60 48 Q Q * * * Q Q Q

327 Nonmetallic Mineral Products 324 297 235 12 * 2 4 Q 5 19 19

 327120 Clay Building Material and Refractories 34 31 26 1 0 0 * * 2 1 1

 327211 Flat Glass 45 41 29 3 0 0 2 0 * 7 *

 327212 Other Pressed and Blown Glass and Glassware 24 20 15 1 0 1 0 0 1 2 *

 327213 Glass Containers 45 43 37 0 0 0 1 0 0 5 *

 327215 Glass Products from Purchased Glass 11 10 9 * * 0 0 * * * 1

 327310 Cements 20 16 11 Q * * 0 0 * 2 1

 327410 Lime 6 6 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3

 327420 Gypsum 46 43 36 5 0 0 0 0 * 0 1

 327993 Mineral Wool 20 19 17 * 0 * 0 0 1 1 *

331 Primary Metals 625 590 414 Q 71 9 2 * 30 45 16

 331110 Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloys 390 373 232 * 67 7 * 0 15 43 8

 3312 Steel Products from Purchased Steel 26 23 19 Q 1 0 * 0 1 * *

 3313 Alumina and Aluminum 114 108 90 * 1 * * * 10 * 5

 331314 Secondary Smelting and Alloying of Aluminum 16 14 9 * 1 * * * * 0 4

 331315 Aluminum Sheet, Plate and Foils 44 42 34 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 *

 331318 Other Aluminum Rolling, Drawing and Extruding 13 10 7 * * * * 0 1 * 1

 3314 Nonferrous Metals, except Aluminum 41 37 33 * 1 1 * * * 1 1

 331410 Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Smelting and Refining 16 15 15 0 0 0 0 * * * *

 3315 Foundries 54 49 40 * 1 * 1 * Q 1 2

 331511 Iron Foundries 15 14 12 * 1 0 0 0 * * 1

 331523 Nonferrous Metal Die-Casting Foundries 16 15 12 * * 0 1 * 1 * *

 331524 Aluminum Foundries, except Die-Casting 8 8 6 0 0 * * 0 * * 1

332 Fabricated Metal Products 186 169 140 Q Q 0 Q Q Q Q Q

333 Machinery 70 56 44 Q Q 0 * * 5 Q Q

334 Computer and Electronic Products 45 38 29 * 0 1 * * * 2 7

 334413 Semiconductors and Related Devices 24 20 13 0 0 * 0 * * 0 6

335 Electrical Equip., Appliances, and Components 26 23 15 0 * 1 * * 1 4 Q

336 Transportation Equipment 141 127 97 * 1 1 * Q 12 9 3

 336111 Automobiles 18 18 18 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

 336112 Light Trucks and Utility Vehicles 24 24 17 0 0 0 0 * 5 2 *

 3364 Aerospace Product and Parts 28 24 17 * * 1 * * 2 3 1

 336411 Aircraft 10 7 6 0 0 1 0 * 1 0 *

337 Furniture and Related Products 14 12 9 * * * * * 1 * *

339 Miscellaneous 25 14 10 * 0 * * 0 * Q 1

Total 5,693 4,953 3,865 35 231 100 38 29 136 250 269

 * Estimate less than 0.5.

Non Switchable Amount Attributed to:

 (a) The Bureau of the Census classifies establishments using the 2012 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).

 (b) The environmental resrictions related to air quality that limit the amount of the usable alternative fuel that could be used instead. 

 (c) Long-term contracts are typically with a utility or third-party supplier such as an energy broker and requires the purchase of a fuel for an extended amount of time. 

 (d) The storage of usable alternative fuels is not available due to the potential environmental impact of storage tanks.
 Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Office of Energy Consumption and Efficiency Statistics, Form EIA-846, '2014 Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey.' 

 W=Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual establishments.

 Q=Withheld because Relative Standard Error is greater than 50 percent.

 NA=Not available.

 Notes: Totals may not equal sum of components because of independent rounding. 
Released: October 2017

Next MECS will be fielded in 2019

RSE Table 10.21 Relative Standard Errors for Table 10.21;

 Unit: Percents.

Total Amount of Total Amount of Equipment is Not Switching Unavailable Long-Term Unavailable

NAICS Natural Gas Unswitchable Capable of Using Adversely Affects Alternative Environmental Contract Storage for Another Combinations of Don't Know/

Code(a) Subsector and Industry Consumed as Fuel Natural Gas Fuel Use Another Fuel the Products Fuel Supply Restrictions(b) in Place(c) Alternative Fuels(d) Reason Cols. F, G, H, I, J, and K Didn't Answer

Total United States

311 Food 3.1 3.8 4.8 35.9 10.2 4.1 38.6 19.6 7.9 42.8 11.0

 3112 Grain and Oilseed Milling 2.3 2.7 2.3 48.7 0.1 2.6 0.1 0.1 1.4 33.2 77.2

 311221 Wet Corn Milling 0.0 0.0 0.0 X X 0.0 X 0.0 0.0 X X

 31131 Sugar Manufacturing 0.1 0.1 0.1 X X 0.1 X X 0.1 0.1 0.1

 3114 Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food 2.0 2.3 2.9 18.8 6.3 0.9 43.6 22.3 59.2 20.6 8.8

 3115 Dairy Product 2.3 2.5 2.7 20.4 4.5 64.7 0.1 18.8 10.6 17.4 22.2

 3116 Animal Slaughtering and Processing 2.8 3.1 3.8 54.6 15.1 2.1 33.3 39.9 11.7 10.6 14.4

312 Beverage and Tobacco Products 4.4 5.0 6.3 X 62.4 3.9 0.1 30.3 58.7 3.3 11.4

 3121 Beverages 5.0 5.4 6.7 X 62.6 4.2 X 42.7 71.8 3.3 11.4

 3122 Tobacco 0.1 0.1 0.1 X 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1

313 Textile Mills 17.1 22.5 26.0 X 92.7 X 86.0 76.7 11.2 63.3 18.3

314 Textile Product Mills 16.6 26.5 34.8 X 49.7 X X 45.6 14.1 X 65.8

315 Apparel 12.8 16.4 20.5 92.7 X X X X 96.0 53.7 27.5

316 Leather and Allied Products 5.4 6.3 6.9 30.3 74.4 X 55.0 87.7 70.4 X 28.9

321 Wood Products 3.9 4.1 4.5 68.4 7.9 0.1 11.2 1.6 10.9 26.6 23.6

 321113 Sawmills 3.0 2.7 3.2 X 0.1 0.1 X 0.1 0.1 0.1 7.0

 3212 Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Woods 4.1 3.9 4.2 X 1.1 X X 2.2 0.9 31.8 2.8

 321219 Reconstituted Wood Products 4.6 4.9 5.3 X 0.5 X X 0.1 X X 0.1

 3219 Other Wood Products 11.5 13.4 15.4 68.4 75.4 X 11.2 62.5 76.3 19.6 36.9

322 Paper 1.1 1.3 1.6 39.4 1.5 0.1 2.9 23.9 24.1 0.8 10.3

 322110 Pulp Mills 0.0 0.0 0.0 X X 0.0 X X X X X

 322121 Paper Mills, except Newsprint 0.1 0.1 0.1 X 0.1 0.1 0.1 X 0.1 0.1 0.1

 322122 Newsprint Mills 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 X 0.0 X X 0.0 X 0.0

 322130 Paperboard Mills 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

323 Printing and Related Support 20.0 24.7 30.0 96.2 78.3 80.5 51.8 63.3 58.9 80.2 49.4

324 Petroleum and Coal Products 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.1 25.3 20.9 19.9 0.2 3.2 0.2

 324110 Petroleum Refineries 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 X X 0.1 0.1 0.1

 324121 Asphalt Paving Mixture and Block 5.6 8.4 7.8 0.1 6.8 34.2 22.1 28.6 23.1 52.1 6.8

 324122 Asphalt Shingle and Coating Materials 1.3 1.5 1.7 0.1 X X X 0.1 0.1 0.1 13.0

 324199 Other Petroleum and Coal Products 0.0 0.0 0.0 X X X 0.0 0.0 X X 0.0

325 Chemicals 1.0 1.0 1.2 22.7 1.4 5.5 8.7 30.0 26.5 5.4 3.2

 325110 Petrochemicals 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 X 0.1 X X 0.1 0.1 X

 325120 Industrial Gases 1.4 1.5 5.0 X X X X X 0.1 0.1 0.9

 325180 Other Basic Inorganic Chemicals 3.2 3.4 3.9 63.6 2.5 35.9 0.1 0.1 0.1 12.3 36.1

 325193 Ethyl Alcohol 3.8 4.3 5.0 X 1.7 16.2 33.6 X X 19.9 0.1

 325194 Cyclic Crudes, Intermediate and Gum and Wood Chemicals 0.0 0.0 0.0 X 0.0 0.0 0.0 X X 0.0 0.0

 325199 Other Basic Organic Chemicals 1.4 1.5 1.3 X 64.4 6.8 4.8 0.1 55.6 8.4 8.0

 325211 Plastics Materials and Resins 0.8 0.7 0.9 X 0.1 23.6 63.3 0.1 0.2 2.6 2.5

 325212 Synthetic Rubber 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 X 0.0 X 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

 325220 Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments 0.0 0.0 0.0 X 0.0 0.0 0.0 X X 0.0 0.0

 325311 Nitrogenous Fertilizers 3.3 0.1 0.2 0.0 X 0.1 0.1 X X 0.1 0.1

 325312 Phosphatic Fertilizers 0.0 0.0 0.0 X 0.0 X X 0.0 X X 0.0

 3254 Pharmaceuticals and Medicines 2.5 3.2 3.5 26.1 12.7 14.9 X 0.1 7.9 0.2 12.2

 325412 Pharmaceutical Preparation 1.5 1.9 2.3 49.1 0.1 0.1 X 0.1 7.5 0.2 6.0

 325992 Photographic Film, Paper, Plate, and Chemicals 3.2 5.8 6.9 X X 0.1 0.0 X 0.0 X 0.0

326 Plastics and Rubber Products 12.4 15.5 18.1 87.0 65.9 79.8 99.0 91.8 68.3 64.3 57.7

327 Nonmetallic Mineral Products 4.1 4.5 5.3 4.8 25.2 17.8 0.1 73.7 10.1 0.6 23.7

 327120 Clay Building Material and Refractories 3.3 3.6 4.3 10.5 X X 0.1 0.1 0.1 5.3 23.5

 327211 Flat Glass 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 X X 0.0 X 0.0 0.0 0.0

 327212 Other Pressed and Blown Glass and Glassware 0.9 1.0 0.3 13.3 X 0.1 X X 2.8 1.5 37.9

 327213 Glass Containers 0.0 0.0 0.0 X X X 0.0 X X 0.0 0.0

 327215 Glass Products from Purchased Glass 13.7 15.0 16.8 0.9 38.3 X X 5.4 0.7 0.8 13.6

 327310 Cements 2.1 2.4 0.5 56.6 0.1 0.1 X X 0.1 0.1 0.1

 327410 Lime 0.0 0.0 0.0 X X X X X 0.0 X 0.0

 327420 Gypsum 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 X X X X 0.1 X 0.1

 327993 Mineral Wool 0.8 0.3 0.3 0.0 X 0.1 X X 0.1 0.1 0.1

331 Primary Metals 0.6 0.6 0.6 62.7 0.1 0.4 13.4 0.1 7.2 0.3 0.8

 331110 Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloys 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 X 0.1 0.1 0.1

 3312 Steel Products from Purchased Steel 5.8 6.6 2.9 84.9 0.1 X 91.2 X 0.1 36.2 5.2

 3313 Alumina and Aluminum 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 13.3 0.1

 331314 Secondary Smelting and Alloying of Aluminum 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 X 0.1

 331315 Aluminum Sheet, Plate and Foils 1.0 1.0 1.3 X X X X X 0.1 X 0.1

 331318 Other Aluminum Rolling, Drawing and Extruding 1.2 1.0 1.3 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 X 0.1 13.3 0.7

 3314 Nonferrous Metals, except Aluminum 3.8 4.1 4.7 0.1 0.1 4.8 14.8 0.1 21.9 0.5 6.3

 331410 Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Smelting and Refining 0.9 0.9 0.9 X X X X 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0

 3315 Foundries 4.4 4.8 2.6 45.0 0.1 0.1 11.4 0.1 65.6 12.7 5.2

 331511 Iron Foundries 1.4 1.5 1.6 61.8 0.0 X X X 22.5 4.9 9.7

 331523 Nonferrous Metal Die-Casting Foundries 1.4 1.3 1.4 65.1 0.1 X 12.6 0.1 6.7 42.4 0.1

 331524 Aluminum Foundries, except Die-Casting 11.7 11.9 15.1 X X 0.1 47.1 X 1.3 0.1 0.1

332 Fabricated Metal Products 12.0 13.1 14.7 88.7 72.3 X 99.5 71.8 51.3 71.5 56.3

333 Machinery 12.3 13.6 15.8 58.3 67.1 X 99.0 65.9 47.8 57.0 61.2

334 Computer and Electronic Products 12.5 14.6 19.5 86.8 X 22.0 89.0 81.1 44.1 20.6 4.7

 334413 Semiconductors and Related Devices 1.5 1.8 2.6 X X 0.1 X 84.2 26.1 X 0.1

335 Electrical Equip., Appliances, and Components 9.7 10.8 14.2 X 97.5 0.1 97.5 64.0 46.6 27.1 53.9

336 Transportation Equipment 5.5 5.8 7.1 65.9 47.3 0.1 38.7 67.1 16.0 20.2 32.9

 336111 Automobiles 0.0 0.0 0.0 X X X X X 0.0 X X

 336112 Light Trucks and Utility Vehicles 0.0 0.0 0.0 X X X X 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

 3364 Aerospace Product and Parts 6.4 7.5 9.2 93.7 16.9 0.1 0.1 2.3 2.2 33.1 29.9

 336411 Aircraft 14.0 19.2 25.3 X X 0.1 X 2.3 6.5 X 44.6

337 Furniture and Related Products 13.2 15.2 18.5 96.2 57.0 92.4 95.6 97.6 34.2 82.6 63.1

339 Miscellaneous 27.2 18.0 19.4 97.4 X 83.8 70.3 X 47.2 91.7 34.9

Total 0.8 0.8 1.0 9.8 1.8 2.5 6.7 22.9 3.6 3.2 3.5

Non Switchable Amount Attributed to:

 (a) The Bureau of the Census classifies establishments using the 2012 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).

 (b) The environmental resrictions related to air quality that limit the amount of the usable alternative fuel that could be used instead. 

 (c) Long-term contracts are typically with a utility or third-party supplier such as an energy broker and requires the purchase of a fuel for an extended amount of time. 

 (d) The storage of usable alternative fuels is not available due to the potential environmental impact of storage tanks.
 -- Estimation is not applicable. Energy source is not included in series.

 Notes: Totals may not equal sum of components because of independent rounding. 

 Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Office of Energy Consumption and Efficiency Statistics, Form EIA-846, '2014 Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey.' 

 * Estimate less than 0.5.

 W=Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual establishments.

 Q=Withheld because Relative Standard Error is greater than 50 percent.

 NA=Not available.

 X=Not defined because RSE corresponds to a value of zero.