Methodology:

The General Authority for Statistics uses a unified working methodology that is consistent with the nature of each statistical product in all of its statistical work. As a result, it is dependent on the Manual of Statistical Proceedings in accordance with the international organizations established working procedures. The statistical product has eight basic phases, plus a ninth phase known as "Comprehensive Management," as shown in the following illustrations and explanations

The first three phases (Scope, Design and Organization) are cooperative ones; conducted by GASTAT jointly with the developmental bodies benefiting from its data. Likewise, the fourth phase (Data Collection) is a cooperative stage conducted by the Authority jointly with the statistical population (households or establishments) to get the data and information. The following three phases (Tabulation, Revision and Publication) are purely statistical ones, undertaken by the Authority. Then, the eighth phase (Assessment) is conducted jointly with the beneficiaries. ‘Management’ is an organizational and managerial phase running throughout all previous phases. Those phases have been applied to the Electrical Energy Statistics Publication as follows:

It is the starting point for the production of the Electrical Energy Statistics Publication, and is and is the initial step of collaboration between the General Authority for Statistics and its partners from government agencies and beneficiaries, represented in (Ministry of Energy, Water and Electricity Regulatory Authority, Saudi Electricity Company, SAMA, and research centers in universities, in addition to regional and international organizations represented in: GCC Statistical Centre and of the results of Electrical Energy  statistics. These entities have been approached with these entities with the aim of support and data access, understanding their needs and identifying their requirements, and taking into account the prospective of those entities to ensure the achievement of all the objectives of Electrical Energy statistics, which are summarized as follows:

• Support decision makers, policymakers, researchers and those interested in up-to-date and comprehensive statistics on Saudi Arabia's electricity statistics.
• Create a database that can be used as a reliable basis for supplying energy statistics to interested and specialized persons.
• Use this data for local, regional and international comparison purposes.

It is during this phase that a complete design for the statistical product is set forth. During this phase, the data collection method and tools are identified. The beneficiaries are engaged in all these processes, and their feedback is taken into account, so that the product would live up to their expectations.

Key outputs of this phase are:

1. Statistics Sources:

The Electrical Energy Statistics Publication relies in its data on the data of the administrative records of the Ministry of Energy to be calculated and included by GASTAT in the Electrical Energy Statistics Publication.

2. Terms and concepts associated with the Electrical Energy Statistics Publication:

• Available Capacity: It is the available capacity to produce electricity from all electrical energy production in Saudi Arabia, that can be obtained in certain circumstances.
• Peak Load: It is the highest load to provide electrical energy for a fixed period within a specified period of time.
• Business Regions: Electric energy in Saudi Arabia is classified in terms of consumption, production, transmission, and distribution based on four business regions: the central, eastern, western, and southern regions. 
  3. Indicators:

Some of the most prominent indicators in the Electrical Energy Statistics Publication are:

4. Index calculation method:

5. Coverage:

Spatial Coverage:

This publication covers the electrical energy statistics energy data at the level of Saudi Arabia according   data available from its official sources

Temporal Coverage: 

The Electrical Energy Statistics Publication data in this version are in time series spanning between 2010-2021.

It is the final preparation phase. In this phase, the required workflow procedures are established for preparing the Electrical Energy Statistics Publication, starting with the next “Collection Phase” and ending with the “Assessment Phase”, and the organization and grouping of those procedures. The optimal sequence of those procedures is chosen to arrive to a methodology that achieves the objectives of the Electrical Energy Statistics Publication. Those procedures were also described and documented to facilitate any updates in future iterations. The statistical workflow procedures were tested and examined to ensure their compliance with the requirements of preparing the Electrical Energy Statistics Publication in its final form, approve the procedures of statistical workflow, and develop a roadmap for implementation.

GASTAT has collaborated with the relevant government bodies to obtain data on Electrical Energy statistics from administrative records available at those bodies via formal communication to the data owners. The data is sent via e-mail and various means of transfer. The data is then uploaded and maintained on GASTAT databases in order to prepare for inspection and review in accordance with scientific statistical approach and recognized quality standards. The data owner is referred to if any observations are detected.

During this phase, the Department of Energy Statistics specialists performed data processing and analysis based on the following procedures:

• Sorting and arranging data in sequence or in different sets or categories.
• Summarizing detailed data into key points or data.
• Combining many data segments and ensuring their interconnection.
• Processing missing or incomplete data.
• Processing illogical data.
• Converting data into statistically significant data.
• Organizing, presenting, and interpreting data.

Data are presented in proper tables so that they may be simply summarized, understood, comprehended, and extracted, as well as compared to other data and statistical significances. Furthermore, such data may be conveniently accessed in the form of tables.

First: Data Outputs Validation:

Following the processing and verification of the data obtained in the Fourth Phase, GASTAT performed calculations and result extraction, uploaded the outputs, and stored them on the database. Final audits were performed by Department of Energy Statistics specialists utilizing contemporary and software techniques suited for review and audit purposes.

Second: Dealing with Confidential Data:

According to Royal Decree No. 23 dated 07/12/1397, data must always be kept confidential, and must be used by GASTAT for statistical purposes only. Therefore, the data are protected in the data servers of GASTAT.

First: Preparing and Processing Results Designed for Publication:

In this phase, GASTAT coordinated, organized and reviewed the data results of the Publication. Next, it prepared tables and charts of data and indicators, and added the metadata and methodology in both English and Arabic.

Second: Preparing Media Materials and Announcing the Publication Date:

In this phase, GASTAT prepares media materials to announce the Publication release on various platforms, including social media. GASTAT then releases the Publication on the defined date first on its website using different formats, such as open data in Excel files,  

to ensure easy dissemination and access for all clients and anyone interested in energy statistics. The Publication is also uploaded to the website’s statistics library. 

Third: Communicating with Clients and Providing them with the Publication:

GASTAT believes in the importance of communicating with the clients who use its data. Therefore, once the Electrical Energy Statistics Publication is released, GASTAT communicates with the clients and provide them with the Publication. GASTAT receives the questions and enquiries of the clients about the Publication and its results through the following channels:

• GASTAT official website:  www.stats.gov.sa 
• GASTAT official email: info@stats.gov.sa
• Client support email: cs@stats.gov.sa
• Official visit to GASTAT headquarter in Riyadh or one of its branches in KSA regions.
• Official letters.
• Statistical help line: (920020081)

After the Publication is released and received by all GASTAT’s clients, the clients are contacted again in this phase which allows for evaluating the whole statistical process that was carried out, with the aim of constant improvement to obtain high-quality data. Proposed improvements may include methodologies, processes, systems, statisticians’ skills and statistical frameworks. This phase is done in collaboration with data users and GASTAT’s clients through a number of steps:

First: Collecting measurable assessment inputs:

In this step, the most important comments and notes of all phases are collected and documented from their sources, for example notes written by specialists responsible for reviewing, auditing and analyzing data collected from administrative records. Comments and notes provided by data users after publishing the data are collected and documented. Feedback taken from various mass media as well as clients’ comments sent to GASTAT main channels are also considered.

Second: Assessment:

Collected assessment inputs are analyzed, and the results of this analysis are compared with pre-anticipated results. Accordingly, potential improvements and solutions are identified and discussed with specialists and experts; and concerned parties are duly involved. In this phase, the performance and satisfaction of clients’ use of the results of the Electrical Energy Statistics Publication are measured. Based on that, recommendations are developed to enhance the quality of the results of the next publications.

It is a comprehensive phase applies to each phase of the Electrical Energy Statistics production. During this phase, the plan of production is developed, which includes the feasibility study, risk management, financing methods, in addition to publication spending mechanisms. The plan also covers the development of performance indicators, quality standards and workforce map required for production. The tasks assigned to different departments at each phase will be monitored and reported to ensure that GASTAT meets its obligations towards its clients.