Summary: GAO reviewed the results of the Professional Audit Review Team's (PART) evaluation of the Energy Information Administration (EIA) for the period October 1992 through June 1994.
GAO found that: (1) most recipients of EIA reports were confident in using the factual data in the reports and were satisfied with the reports' content; (2) 83 percent of the recipients stated that the reports were useful as sources of basic facts and for maintaining trend information; (3) only 13 to 20 percent of the recipients stated that the reports were useful for conducting investment analysis; (4) 15 to 23 percent of the recipients believed that the reports were timely for investment analysis purposes; (5) a majority of the recipients believed that the reports would be more useful if they were available sooner; (6) EIA improved the quality of the data contained in its Underground Gas Storage Report by extending the data reporting date by 10 days; (7) the National Energy Modeling System has allowed EIA to enhance its ability to represent and analyze alternative energy policies; (8) EIA has provided training and technical information to its technical monitors; and (9) EIA could reduce its operating costs by $5.8 million by performing more of its support services inhouse.
