STATSITICS

Look at the attached file, then prepare a 1,100 word paper addressing the topics below.

1. Calculate the measures of central tendency
2. Calculate the dispersion. Calculate the plus/minus 1,2, and 3 Sigma (standard deviation) ranges.
3. Display 3 different aspects of your descriptive statistical data using graphic and tabular techniques. Show at least 3 different graphs. Discuss if any of the 3 is preferred over others to address your research question.
4. Finally, make recommendations regarding your business research issue, problem or opportunity based on your findings. This recommendation should be in the form of a Power Point presentation to the stakeholders.
5. You need to assume that some of the stakeholders in the presentation room have not been exposed to some of your work. Therefore this has to be a comprehensive presentation covering from research proposal forward.

Electricity Bills Data Collection and Analysis
Electricity bills fluctuate from month-to-month due primarily to weather. Cold winter temperatures require more heat, and hot summer temperatures require more cooling methods. The trends in electricity bills researched by Team Maoe will show the impact of seasonality, including heating and air conditioning usage, on residential and commercial electricity bills.
Collect the Data
The research includes collecting data from primary sources to ensure the data is valid and reliable. Data from secondary sources will support the validity and reliability of the primary data. A primary source for data collection is the government website that provides generation and consumption trends by year and by month.
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is a primary source that provides "official energy statistics from the US Government" (eia.com, 2007). The generation trends for the past two years, and 2007 year-to-date data, indicate upward trends in the summer and winter and downward trends in the spring and fall. As the cold weather peaks in December and January, and hot weather peaks in July and August, generation and consumption increases in those months. Conversely, as the cold weather and hot weather decreases begin in February and September, energy generation also begins to decrease in those months as indicated on the following chart and graph:

Net Generation Total (All Sectors) through June 2007 (EIA)
2005 2006 2007
Jan 343,121 327,352 351,951
Feb 298,500 306,697 323,083
Mar 317,458 317,706 320,342
Apr 289,562 296,404 303,300
May 315,062 329,472 329,147
Jun 363,672 362,837 361,753
Jul 402,274 409,346
Aug 404,941 406,205
Sep 350,218 331,387
Oct 316,398 321,106
Nov 306,115 308,841
Dec 348,101 335,614

Methodology
The methodology used for collecting data was obtaining statistical data on energy generation and consumption from the primary and secondary sources. The measurements included comparing generation and consumption month-to-month and year-over-year to review seasonality trends.

Secondary Data
Secondary data can play a substantial role in the exploratory phase of any research when the task at hand is to define a research problem and to generate hypothesis. Secondary research occurs when a project requires summary or collection of existing data, as opposed to the data collected directly from respondents or research subjects for the express purpose of a project, often called empirical or primary research.
The most recent official statistical data on the Average Retail Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers: Total by End-Use Sector was found on the Energy Information Administration (2007), which was conducted during 1993 through June 2007. The historic data from the United States government (Energy Information Administration) therefore served as the main source of secondary data for this project. This statistical information on actual expenditure on average price of electricity to ultimate customers was considered relevant due to the substantial break-down of electricity cost for residential, commercial, industrial, and all other sectors that could be affected by the cost of electricity. Between 2005 and June 2007, the average retail price of electricity in cents per kilowatt-hour increased from 1.31for the residential sector, while during the same time frame, the increase in the commercial sector was 1.8, and for the industrial sector an increase of .85. Attached chart illustrate the increase in cost of electricity:
Average Retail Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers: Total by End-Use Sector, 1993 through June 2007
(Cents per Kilowatt-hour)

Year to Date
Period Residential Commercial Industrial Transportation Other All Sectors
2005 9.1 8.33 5.4 8.18 -- 7.76
2006 10.15 9.15 5.94 8.68 -- 8.6
2007 10.41 9.43 6.25 9.71 -- 8.93

The secondary data for this project was used to establish historic benchmarks. With these increases, American households and businesses must then increase their budgets for increase in cost of electricity.
Seasonal changes definitely play a large role in the amount of power consumed by
a household. The two charts below represent power usage over last year (2006-2007) from a member's home. The average bill during the fall time was $52; the average bill during the wintertime was $71; the average bill during the springtime was $75; and the average bill during the summertime was $157. During cooler months windows are typically open to keep the house naturally cool. This helps keep the electric usage down to a minimum. However, during hotter months the air conditioner constantly runs, which drives the electric usage up. The usage between seasons can be significant. The difference between the 2006 Fall and the 2007 Summer is over $105 in electric usage.

Recent Usage

10/08/06
298
$24.52 11/08/06
776
$63.68 12/08/06
867
$70.54 01/08/07
879
$72.16 02/08/07
984
$79.37 03/08/07
752
$62.32 04/08/07
720
$60.33 05/08/07
636
$55.10 06/08/07
1364
$111.13 07/09/07
1792
$145.67 08/08/07
1891
$151.54 09/08/07
2220
$175.88

Reading Date kWh Used Bill Amount
09/08/2007 2220 $175.88
08/08/2007 1891 $151.54
07/09/2007 1792 $145.67
06/08/2007 1364 $111.13
05/08/2007 636 $55.10
04/08/2007 720 $60.33
03/08/2007 752 $62.32
02/08/2007 984 $79.37
01/08/2007 879 $72.16
12/08/2006 867 $70.54
11/08/2006 776 $63.68
10/08/2006 298 $24.52