Energy Information Administration EIA

The 1973 Arab oil embargo revealed that the government had little reliable data on energy supplies, and Congress began building a federal energy statistics office in 1974. The Department of Energy Organization Act of August 4, 1977, established the Energy Information Administration within the new department. The law makes its products independent: they are not subject to approval by any other federal official. It is led by an Administrator confirmed by the Senate and is one of the principal federal statistical agencies.

EIA collects data from refiners, utilities, pipelines, mines, and power plants and publishes weekly figures on crude oil and gasoline inventories that move commodity markets, along with a weekly survey of retail gasoline and diesel prices. Its monthly Short-Term Energy Outlook forecasts prices and supply for the coming two years, and its Annual Energy Outlook projects U.S. energy production, use, and emissions decades ahead. Congress, regulators, businesses, and researchers use its data on electricity generation, household energy use, and international markets.

Like other statistical agencies, EIA faces long-term pressure from falling survey response and tight budgets. In 2025 it lost a significant share of its staff in federal workforce reductions and delayed some publications, prompting concern from energy analysts and industry groups that rely on its data. Officials said core weekly and monthly reports would continue, while former officials warned that cuts to staff and surveys could erode quality over time.