Released: February 2021

Next MECS will be fielded in 2022.

Table 10.20 Reasons that Made Electricity Unswitchable, 2018;

Level: National Data;Row: NAICS Codes;

Column: Reasons that Made Quantity Unswitchable;

Unit: Million Kilowatthours.

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

NAICS Electricity Unswitchable Capable of Using Adversely Affects Alternative Environmental Contract 

Code(a) Subsector and Industry Consumed as Fuel Electricity Fuel Use Another Fuel the Products Fuel Supply Restrictions(b) in Place(c) Alternat

Total United States

311 Food 92,018 90,799 67,480 691 626 647 1,575 

3112 Grain and Oilseed Milling 14,717 14,622 11,520 D 89 43 0 

311221 Wet Corn Milling 6,035 5,979 5,722 0 0 34 0 

31131 Sugar Manufacturing 1,179 1,179 787 0 0 0 D 

3114 Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food 9,945 9,907 6,682 57 Q 345 Q 

3115 Dairy Product 11,509 10,901 8,587 22 104 38 0 

3116 Animal Slaughtering and Processing 31,674 31,249 24,883 180 111 Q 208 

312 Beverage and Tobacco Products 14,184 14,065 11,442 452 46 21 133 

3121 Beverages 13,418 13,299 10,740 452 46 21 133 

3122 Tobacco 766 766 702 * 0 0 0 

313 Textile Mills 10,882 10,535 5,699 Q 0 Q Q 

314 Textile Product Mills 2,842 2,839 1,532 Q 133 0 Q 

315 Apparel 722 705 330 Q Q 0 Q 316 Leather and Allied Products 226 226 138 7 Q * Q 

321 Wood Products 21,764 21,503 16,690 341 Q 40 205 

321113 Sawmills 8,180 8,144 6,176 122 Q 0 44 

3212 Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Woods 6,817 6,800 5,681 6 6 Q 143 

321219 Reconstituted Wood Products 4,289 4,289 3,506 0 0 0 143 

3219 Other Wood Products 6,313 6,108 4,494 157 Q 36 Q 

322 Paper 55,961 D 36,744 1 704 D 1,959 

322110 Pulp Mills 2,033 D 1,291 1 0 D 0 322121 Paper Mills, except Newsprint 17,898 16,583 10,204 0 296 516 1,244 322122 Newsprint Mills 4,946 4,946 4,946 0 0 0 0 

322130 Paperboard Mills 18,401 17,240 11,323 0 81 424 715 

323 Printing and Related Support 10,032 10,014 6,908 379 Q 0 Q 

324 Petroleum and Coal Products 58,130 57,188 43,417 20 2,009 101 182 

324110 Petroleum Refineries 53,819 53,021 40,194 0 1,931 D D 324121 Asphalt Paving Mixture and Block 1,378 1,282 783 5 20 D D 

324122 Asphalt Shingle and Coating Materials 930 926 799 * 0 0 D 

324191 Petroleum Lubricating Oil and Grease Products 1,393 1,351 1,222 14 17 0 2 

324199 Other Petroleum and Coal Products 610 608 418 * 41 0 4 

325 Chemicals 160,480 158,421 103,482 1,558 350 1,654 3,399 

325110 Petrochemicals 7,903 7,851 3,934 0 1 0 0 

325120 Industrial Gases 23,068 22,758 11,807 0 0 0 71 325180 Other Basic Inorganic Chemicals 30,356 30,270 22,134 995 0 Q 1,418 

325193 Ethyl Alcohol 10,819 10,819 8,510 43 35 63 231 325194 Cyclic Crudes, Intermediate and Gum and Wood Chemicals 3,515 3,513 2,987 0 0 107 2 

325199 Other Basic Organic Chemicals 21,178 20,971 10,748 Q 29 43 Q 

325211 Plastics Materials and Resins 24,174 24,014 19,149 29 Q Q 484 325212 Synthetic Rubber 1,417 1,409 814 1 1 14 0 325220 Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments 2,728 2,346 1,750 0 54 3 4 

325311 Nitrogenous Fertilizers 5,137 5,044 3,836 0 0 Q 1,021 

Non Switchable Amount Attributed 
325312 Phosphatic Fertilizers 2,085 2,052 1,433 0 0 0 0 

3254 Pharmaceuticals and Medicines 10,447 10,236 5,403 223 0 771 68 

325412 Pharmaceutical Preparation 6,115 5,984 3,085 134 0 437 68 

325992 Photographic Film, Paper, Plate, and Chemicals 923 910 478 8 158 0 2 

326 Plastics and Rubber Products 49,327 48,945 31,736 Q Q Q Q 

327 Nonmetallic Mineral Products 37,923 37,301 24,246 305 326 189 612 

327120 Clay Building Material and Refractories 1,767 1,764 1,197 19 D 1 65 

327211 Flat Glass 1,419 1,322 1,198 0 0 60 0 

327212 Other Pressed and Blown Glass and Glassware 2,123 1,919 1,778 13 0 0 0 

327213 Glass Containers 3,447 3,433 3,083 0 0 0 0 327215 Glass Products from Purchased Glass 3,670 3,663 2,758 102 1 0 173 327310 Cements 11,421 11,421 5,120 0 D D D 327410 Lime 1,398 1,398 852 0 0 32 0 

327420 Gypsum 1,541 1,541 1,106 0 0 0 D 

327993 Mineral Wool 3,110 3,011 2,254 Q 0 D 0 

331 Primary Metals 113,382 113,036 81,859 376 1,174 70 1,773 

331110 Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloys 56,170 56,037 41,889 229 969 0 792 

3312 Steel Products from Purchased Steel 6,914 6,900 5,993 59 Q Q 147 

3313 Alumina and Aluminum 26,260 26,251 15,200 27 10 0 729 

331314 Secondary Smelting and Alloying of Aluminum 780 779 680 0 0 0 7 

331315 Aluminum Sheet, Plate and Foils 5,377 5,377 2,555 0 0 0 708 

331318 Other Aluminum Rolling, Drawing and Extruding 1,917 1,909 1,652 27 10 0 13 

3314 Nonferrous Metals, except Aluminum 13,272 13,235 11,424 Q 36 0 42 

331410 Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Smelting and Refining 7,887 7,863 7,265 0 0 0 1 

3315 Foundries 10,766 10,613 7,353 28 97 62 64 

331511 Iron Foundries 5,196 5,088 3,189 2 57 Q 37 331523 Nonferrous Metal Die‐Casting Foundries 2,078 2,056 1,477 Q 24 41 18 

331524 Aluminum Foundries, except Die‐Casting 788 782 510 2 Q 0 5 

332 Fabricated Metal Products 36,063 34,995 21,396 2,479 Q Q Q 

333 Machinery 23,569 23,307 15,692 Q 652 105 Q 334 Computer and Electronic Products 22,194 22,037 11,179 Q Q 1,656 294 

334413 Semiconductors and Related Devices 11,613 11,569 5,130 0 0 1,656 199 

335 Electrical Equip., Appliances, and Components 11,037 11,033 8,320 Q Q 0 Q 336 Transportation Equipment 50,462 49,870 30,525 314 Q 1,325 519 

336111 Automobiles 4,024 4,017 1,815 0 1 768 184 

336112 Light Trucks and Utility Vehicles 4,233 4,233 1,734 16 1 0 323 

3364 Aerospace Product and Parts 9,699 9,519 6,398 215 Q 557 Q 

336411 Aircraft 2,721 2,573 1,971 0 0 D 0 

337 Furniture and Related Products 4,669 4,561 2,877 Q Q 0 0 

339 Miscellaneous 9,547 9,418 6,993 Q Q Q Q 

Total 785,414 D 528,687 8,819 10,976 D 12,742 

(a) The Bureau of the Census classifies establishments using the 2017 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).

(b) The environmental restrictions 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.

* Estimate less than 0.5.

D=Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual establishments.

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

NA=Not available.Notes: Totals may not equal sum of components because of independent rounding.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Office of Energy Demand and Integrated Statistics, Form EIA‐846, 2018 Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey.

The Census Bureau has reviewed this data product for unauthorized disclosure of confidential information and has approved the disclosure avoidance practices applied (Approval ID: CBDRB‐FY20‐260).
Released: February 2021

Next MECS will be fielded in 2022.

RSE Table 10.20 Relative Standard Errors for Table 10.20;

Unit: Percents.

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

NAICS Electricity Unswitchable Capable of Using Adversely Affects Alternative Environmental Contract 

Code(a) Subsector and Industry Consumed as Fuel Electricity Fuel Use Another Fuel the Products Fuel Supply Restrictions(b) in Place(c) Alternat

Total United States

311 Food 11.4 11.5 15.4 38.3 48.6 23.8 36.8 

3112 Grain and Oilseed Milling 1.9 1.9 2.1 D 5.8 20.0 X 

311221 Wet Corn Milling 0.0 0.0 0.0 X X 0.0 X 

31131 Sugar Manufacturing 0.0 0.0 0.0 X X X D 

3114 Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food 6.1 6.1 4.7 18.5 86.1 13.9 58.7 

3115 Dairy Product 3.3 3.4 4.3 0.0 37.7 32.4 X 

3116 Animal Slaughtering and Processing 31.0 31.4 39.5 34.1 33.4 88.1 27.5 

312 Beverage and Tobacco Products 15.5 15.7 19.2 44.2 39.7 31.9 9.7 

3121 Beverages 16.4 16.6 20.4 44.3 39.7 31.9 9.7 

3122 Tobacco 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 X X X 

313 Textile Mills 6.1 6.3 9.1 88.8 X 90.5 90.8 314 Textile Product Mills 7.9 7.9 13.6 86.7 0.0 X 99.4 

315 Apparel 11.3 11.5 21.9 77.7 74.4 X 69.0 316 Leather and Allied Products 5.1 5.1 6.3 31.7 62.9 84.0 57.6 

321 Wood Products 2.9 2.9 2.1 18.9 79.3 6.2 9.1 

321113 Sawmills 6.2 6.2 1.6 33.9 82.1 X 4.6 

3212 Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Woods 1.2 1.2 1.5 36.0 42.6 80.4 0.0 

321219 Reconstituted Wood Products 1.5 1.5 1.9 X X X 0.0 

3219 Other Wood Products 5.8 5.9 7.3 28.6 96.6 0.0 97.7 

322 Paper 1.2 D 1.9 0.0 27.8 D 0.0 

322110 Pulp Mills 0.0 D 0.0 0.0 X D X 

322121 Paper Mills, except Newsprint 0.0 0.0 0.0 X 0.0 0.0 0.0 322122 Newsprint Mills 0.0 0.0 0.0 X X X X 

322130 Paperboard Mills 0.0 0.0 0.0 X 0.0 0.0 0.0 

323 Printing and Related Support 7.8 7.9 10.6 49.2 51.8 X 85.2 

324 Petroleum and Coal Products 0.5 0.5 0.6 5.7 0.1 26.0 0.6 

324110 Petroleum Refineries 0.0 0.0 0.0 X 0.0 D D 324121 Asphalt Paving Mixture and Block 8.7 9.4 3.5 21.9 10.6 D D 

324122 Asphalt Shingle and Coating Materials 1.7 1.7 1.8 0.0 X X D 324191 Petroleum Lubricating Oil and Grease Products 18.4 18.9 21.0 0.0 0.0 X 0.0 324199 Other Petroleum and Coal Products 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 X 0.0 

325 Chemicals 1.4 1.4 1.7 13.1 9.8 32.1 2.7 

325110 Petrochemicals 0.0 0.0 0.0 X 0.0 X X 

325120 Industrial Gases 3.5 3.6 4.5 X X X 0.0 

325180 Other Basic Inorganic Chemicals 2.0 2.0 2.8 3.1 X 72.0 0.0 

325193 Ethyl Alcohol 1.9 1.9 2.6 0.0 0.0 26.7 25.5 325194 Cyclic Crudes, Intermediate and Gum and Wood Chemicals 0.0 0.0 0.0 X X 0.0 0.0 

325199 Other Basic Organic Chemicals 5.2 5.3 5.2 52.5 2.9 0.0 72.2 325211 Plastics Materials and Resins 2.4 2.5 3.2 49.8 55.6 73.7 4.4 

325212 Synthetic Rubber 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 X 

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

325311 Nitrogenous Fertilizers 12.5 12.8 17.0 X X 87.1 0.0 

325312 Phosphatic Fertilizers 0.0 0.0 0.0 X X X X 

3254 Pharmaceuticals and Medicines 2.9 3.0 2.4 3.4 X 0.0 12.9 

325412 Pharmaceutical Preparation 1.7 1.7 2.8 0.0 X 0.0 12.9 325992 Photographic Film, Paper, Plate, and Chemicals 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.6 0.0 X 0.0 

326 Plastics and Rubber Products 7.7 7.7 10.7 92.3 95.3 58.3 52.9 

Non Switchable Amount Attributed to
327 Nonmetallic Mineral Products 2.5 2.6 3.2 41.6 2.8 7.6 19.5 

327120 Clay Building Material and Refractories 3.6 3.6 5.3 0.0 D 0.0 42.8 

327211 Flat Glass 0.0 0.0 0.0 X X 0.0 X 

327212 Other Pressed and Blown Glass and Glassware 0.6 0.7 0.6 17.0 X X X 

327213 Glass Containers 0.0 0.0 0.0 X X X X 

327215 Glass Products from Purchased Glass 1.4 1.4 1.8 23.4 0.0 X 0.3 327310 Cements 0.4 0.4 0.3 X D D D 

327410 Lime 0.0 0.0 0.0 X X 0.0 X 

327420 Gypsum 2.0 2.0 2.8 X X X D 

327993 Mineral Wool 0.4 0.4 0.5 88.2 X D X 

331 Primary Metals 1.1 1.1 1.5 6.3 3.8 21.3 0.7 

331110 Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloys 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 X 0.0 

3312 Steel Products from Purchased Steel 17.6 17.6 20.4 21.3 65.5 72.8 7.1 

3313 Alumina and Aluminum 0.1 0.1 0.2 3.0 0.0 X 0.6 

331314 Secondary Smelting and Alloying of Aluminum 1.5 1.5 1.5 X X X 0.0 

331315 Aluminum Sheet, Plate and Foils 0.0 0.0 0.0 X X X 0.0 

331318 Other Aluminum Rolling, Drawing and Extruding 1.2 1.2 1.4 3.0 0.0 X 32.4 

3314 Nonferrous Metals, except Aluminum 0.9 0.9 0.8 53.6 49.9 X 1.9 

331410 Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Smelting and Refining 0.6 0.6 0.6 X X X 0.0 

3315 Foundries 0.9 0.9 1.3 33.7 7.7 22.1 9.7 

331511 Iron Foundries 1.5 1.6 2.5 0.0 0.7 91.7 5.0 

331523 Nonferrous Metal Die‐Casting Foundries 1.2 1.2 1.5 51.9 17.5 0.0 30.7 

331524 Aluminum Foundries, except Die‐Casting 1.1 1.1 1.1 41.0 88.5 X 0.0 

332 Fabricated Metal Products 10.0 10.3 13.0 41.9 50.3 99.5 99.5 

333 Machinery 17.2 17.4 24.3 56.2 37.8 21.4 56.9 334 Computer and Electronic Products 6.8 6.8 6.7 63.2 71.2 0.0 43.6 

334413 Semiconductors and Related Devices 3.3 3.3 4.9 X X 0.0 43.9 

335 Electrical Equip., Appliances, and Components 8.8 8.8 11.6 51.5 83.8 X 96.1 

336 Transportation Equipment 9.2 9.3 10.6 29.6 98.4 0.4 1.7 

336111 Automobiles 0.0 0.0 0.0 X 0.0 0.0 0.0 

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

3364 Aerospace Product and Parts 4.2 4.2 6.3 20.2 73.3 1.1 79.6 

336411 Aircraft 10.0 10.5 13.8 X X D X 

337 Furniture and Related Products 8.6 8.7 11.0 85.5 88.4 X X 

339 Miscellaneous 11.2 11.3 14.4 70.1 58.8 96.5 94.4 

Total 1.8 D 2.4 14.3 31.7 D 7.6 

(a) The Bureau of the Census classifies establishments using the 2017 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).

(b) The environmental restrictions 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.

* Estimate less than 0.5.

D=Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual establishments.

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

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

NA=Not available.Notes: Totals may not equal sum of components because of independent rounding.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Office of Energy Demand and Integrated Statistics, Form EIA‐846, 2018 Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey.

The Census Bureau has reviewed this data product for unauthorized disclosure of confidential information and has approved the disclosure avoidance practices applied (Approval ID: CBDRB‐FY20‐260).