On February 3, 2025, the Energy Information Administration opened the portal for reporting Form EIA-112 Residential Utility Disconnections Survey. Submissions are due March 28, 2025.
The survey collects data from electric and natural gas providers regarding final termination notices, service disconnections, and reconnections for bill non-payment across residential customers. EIA states that the purpose of this survey is to better inform policymakers with authority over the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
To support APPA’s advocacy efforts, please contact Patricia Taylor, Director, Policy and Research at APPA, at: PTaylor@PublicPower.org if your utility has received this survey and detail concerns and any burden the reporting is imposing.
APPA has extended the deadline to submit feedback to Friday, March 7.
APPA is working to assess if the survey is burdensome for members, which will inform future follow up with EIA on the issue.
The survey received a three-year clearance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
During this first collection cycle, electric utilities that complete Form EIA-861 (small entities filing EIA-861S are excluded) are subject to this survey. For the following two cycles, electric utilities that complete Form EIA-861M will be subject to the survey. EIA estimates that this survey will take two hours to complete.
The survey is mandatory.
According to EIA’s Frequently Asked Questions document, “This report is mandatory under Title 15 U.S.C. §772(b). Failure to comply may result in criminal fines, civil penalties and other sanctions as provided by Title 15 U.S.C. §797. Title 18 U.S.C. §1001 makes it a criminal offense for any person knowingly and willingly to make to any Agency or Department of the United States any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements as to any matter within its jurisdiction.”
EIA has provided the following information:
- Portal Instructions: https://www.eia.gov/survey/form/eia_112/portal_instructions.pdf
- Survey Instructions: https://www.eia.gov/survey/form/eia_112/instructions.pdf
- Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.eia.gov/survey/form/eia_112/faqs.pdf
- Form: https://www.eia.gov/survey/form/eia_112/form.xlsx
- Contact: EIA Survey Support Team: eia4usa@eia.gov, 1-855-EIA-4USA (1-855-342-4872)
The agency emailed all contacts associated with EIA-861 about this survey. The email was sent from eia4usa@eia.gov with the subject line “THE EIA-112 DATA COLLECTION CYCLE IS NOW OPEN.”
In 2024, EIA issued two notices about this survey.
APPA responded to both notices, filing comments with EIA and OMB. It urged EIA to forgo the survey because the data requested is unnecessary, burdensome, and does not align with the notice’s stated purpose of informing federal and state energy assistance programs.
APPA also strongly recommended that should the survey be pursued, EIA increase the threshold for reporting to reduce the burden on smaller utilities. EIA was not receptive to this feedback.
APPA said it is exploring if there is an ability for EIA to reconsider conducting this survey.
