Relay Performance During Stable Power Swings Reliability Standard, 57549-57553 [2015-24279]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 185 / Thursday, September 24, 2015 / Proposed Rules
a signatory of the Common Rule NPR.
However, through this proposed rule,
the Commission proposes to adopt the
Common Rule NPR and solicits
comment on the proposal.
II. CPSC’s Proposed Regulatory Text
List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 1028
Human research subjects, Reporting
and recordkeeping requirements,
Research.
For the reasons stated in the
preamble, the Consumer Product Safety
Commission proposes to revise 16 CFR
part 1028 to read as follows:
PART 1028—PROTECTION OF HUMAN
SUBJECTS
Cross-Reference.
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v–
1(b).
PART 1028—PROTECTION OF HUMAN
SUBJECTS
§ 1028.101
Cross-Reference.
The provisions set forth at 45 CFR
part 46, subpart A, concerning the
protection of human research subjects,
apply to all research conducted,
supported, or otherwise subject to
regulation by the CPSC.
Dated: September 21, 2015.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety
Commission.
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Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
18 CFR Part 40
[Docket No. RM15–8–000]
CPSC’s current regulations on the
protection of human subjects are the
regulations promulgated by all of the
departments and agencies subject to the
Common Rule, as codified under the
CPSC’s regulations at 16 CFR part 1028.
For the reasons provided in the
Common Rule NPR (80 FR 53933), the
CPSC would adopt the amended
regulatory text provided in the Common
Rule NPR. Because the CPSC follows the
HHS regulations in 45 CFR part 46,
subpart A, the CPSC proposes to amend
the Commission regulations at 16 CFR
part 1028 to cross-reference the HHS
regulations in 45 CFR part 46, subpart
A.
Sec.
1028.101
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Relay Performance During Stable
Power Swings Reliability Standard
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
AGENCY:
The Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission proposes to
approve Reliability Standard PRC–026–
1 (Relay Performance During Stable
Power Swings), submitted by the North
American Electric Reliability
Corporation. The proposed Reliability
Standard is designed to ensure that
applicable entities use protective relay
systems that can differentiate between
faults and stable power swings. In
addition, the Commission requests
comment regarding the potential burden
of modifying the applicability of
proposed Reliability Standard PRC–
026–1 to include relays with a time
delay of 15 cycles or greater in instances
where either (1) an element has been
identified by a Planning Coordinator as
potentially susceptible to power swings
or (2) an entity becomes aware of a bulk
electric system element that tripped in
response to a stable or unstable power
swing due to the operation of its
protective relay(s), even if the element
was not previously identified by the
planning coordinator.
DATES: Comments are due November 23,
2015.
ADDRESSES: Comments, identified by
docket number, may be filed in the
following ways:
• Electronic Filing through https://
www.ferc.gov. Documents created
electronically using word processing
software should be filed in native
applications or print-to-PDF format and
not in a scanned format.
• Mail/Hand Delivery: Those unable
to file electronically may mail or handdeliver comments to: Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the
Commission, 888 First Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20426.
Instructions: For detailed instructions
on submitting comments and additional
information on the rulemaking process,
see the Comment Procedures Section of
this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kenneth Hubona (Technical
Information), Office of Electric
Reliability, Federal Energy Regulatory
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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57549
Commission, 888 First Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20426, (301) 665–
1608, kenneth.hubona@ferc.gov.
Kevin Ryan (Legal Information), Office
of the General Counsel, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street NE., Washington, DC
20426, (202) 502–6840, kevin.ryan@
ferc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Pursuant to section 215 of the
Federal Power Act (FPA),1 the
Commission proposes to approve
Reliability Standard PRC–026–1 (Relay
Performance During Stable Power
Swings), submitted by the North
American Electric Reliability
Corporation (NERC), the Commissionapproved Electric Reliability
Organization (ERO). The proposed
Reliability Standard applies to planning
coordinators, as well as generator
owners and transmission owners that
apply certain load-responsive protective
relays in specific, identified
circumstances, and is designed to
ensure the use of protective relay
systems that can differentiate between
faults and stable power swings. In
addition, the Commission proposes to
approve NERC’s proposed
implementation plan, and the assigned
violation risk factors and violation
severity levels.
2. Consistent with directives issued in
Order No. 733,2 the Commission
proposes to find that the proposed
Reliability Standard addresses
undesirable relay operation due to
power swings,3 and provides an equally
effective and efficient alternative to the
Order No. 733 directive requiring the
use of protective relay systems that can
differentiate between faults and stable
power swings and, when necessary,
retirement of protective relay systems
that cannot meet this requirement.4
Further, as discussed below, the
Commission seeks comment regarding
the potential burden of modifying the
applicability of proposed Reliability
Standard PRC–026–1 to include relays
with a time delay of 15 cycles or greater
in instances where either (1) an element
has been identified by a Planning
Coordinator as potentially susceptible to
power swings or (2) an entity becomes
aware of a bulk electric system element
that tripped in response to a stable or
1 16
U.S.C. 824o (2012).
Relay Loadability Reliability
Standard, Order No. 733, 130 FERC ¶ 61,221
(2010), order on reh’g and clarification, Order No.
733–A, 134 FERC ¶ 61,127, order on reh’g and
clarification, Order No. 733–B, 136 FERC ¶ 61,185
(2011).
3 Order No. 733, 130 FERC ¶ 61,221 at P 153.
4 Id. P 150.
2 Transmission
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unstable power swing due to the
operation of its protective relay(s), even
if the element was not previously
identified by the planning coordinator.
Depending on the response, the
Commission may direct that NERC
develop modifications to the proposed
Reliability Standard.
I. Background
A. Mandatory Reliability Standards and
Order No. 733 Directives
3. Section 215 of the FPA requires a
Commission-certified ERO to develop
mandatory and enforceable Reliability
Standards, subject to Commission
review and approval.5 Pursuant to
section 215 of the FPA, the Commission
established a process to select and
certify an ERO,6 and subsequently
certified NERC.7
4. On March 18, 2010, in Order No.
733, the Commission approved
Reliability Standard PRC–023–1
(Transmission Relay Loadability) and
directed NERC to develop a new
Reliability Standard that requires the
use of protective relay systems that can
differentiate between faults and stable
power swings and, when necessary,
retirement of protective relay systems
that cannot meet this requirement.8 In
Order No. 733, the Commission cited
the findings of both NERC and the U.S.Canada Power System Outage Task
Force on the causes of the 2003
Northeast Blackout, explaining that the
cascade during this event was
accelerated by zone 2 and zone 3 relays
that continued to operate because these
devices could not distinguish between a
dynamic, but stable, power swing and
an actual fault.9 The Commission
recognized that addressing stable power
swings is a complex issue which
impacted the 2003 Blackout, and yet
there was no Reliability Standard that
addresses the issue; therefore, the
Commission directed NERC to develop
a Reliability Standard to address
5 16
U.S.C. 824(d) and (e).
Concerning Certification of the Electric
Reliability Organization; and Procedures for the
Establishment, Approval, and Enforcement of
Electric Reliability Standards, Order No. 672, FERC
Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,204, order on reh’g, Order No.
672–A, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,212 (2006).
7 North American Electric Reliability Corp., 116
FERC ¶ 61,062, order on reh’g and compliance, 117
FERC ¶ 61,126 (2006), aff’d sub nom. Alcoa, Inc.
v. FERC, 564 F.3d 1342 (D.C. Cir. 2009).
8 Order No. 733, 130 FERC ¶ 61,221 at P 150.
9 Id. PP 3–4, 130 (citing U.S.-Canada Power
System Outage Task Force, Final Report on the
August 14, 2003 Blackout in the United States and
Canada: Causes and Recommendations, at 80
(2004); and August 14, 2003 Blackout: NERC
Actions to Prevent and Mitigate the Impacts of
Future Cascading Blackouts, at 13 (2004)).
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undesirable relay operation due to
stable power swings.10
5. On February 17, 2011, in Order No.
733–A, the Commission denied
rehearing of Order No. 733 and clarified
that ‘‘[w]e continue to believe that not
addressing stable power swings
constitutes a gap in the current
Reliability Standards and must be
addressed.’’ 11 Therefore, the
Commission affirmed the directive that
NERC develop a Reliability Standard
addressing stable power swings.12 The
Commission also clarified that it did not
require a Reliability Standard
containing an absolute obligation to
prevent protection relays from operating
unnecessarily during stable power
swings or an across-the-board
elimination of all zone 3 relays, but only
the development of a standard that
addresses protection systems that are
vulnerable to stable power swings
(resulting from Category B and Category
C contingencies from the NERC
Planning Standards in place at that
time) that will result in inappropriate
tripping.13 In Order No. 733–B, the
Commission denied further clarification
regarding the issue.
B. NERC Petition and Proposed
Standard PRC–026–1
6. On December 31, 2014, NERC
submitted a petition seeking approval of
proposed Reliability Standard PRC–
026–1, as well as the associated
implementation plan, and violation risk
factors and violation severity levels.14
NERC avers that proposed Reliability
Standard PRC–026–1 satisfies the Order
No. 733 directive to develop a new
standard that requires the use of
protective relay systems that can
differentiate between faults and stable
power swings. According to NERC, the
proposed Reliability Standard sets forth
requirements that prevent the
unnecessary tripping of bulk electric
system elements in response to stable
power swings.15 NERC further explains
that the identification of bulk electric
system elements with protection
systems at-risk of operating as a result
of a stable or unstable power swing and
subsequent review by the applicable
generator owner or transmission owner
‘‘provides assurance that relays will
continue to be secure for stable power
swings if any changes in system
impedance occur.’’ 16
7. According to NERC, the proposed
Reliability Standard is ‘‘directly
responsive’’ to the Order No. 733
directive that NERC develop a standard
addressing undesirable relay operation
due to stable power swings.17 NERC
explains, however, that the proposed
Reliability Standard ‘‘includes an
alternative to the Commission’s
approach to require ‘the use of
protective relay systems that can
differentiate between faults and stable
power swings and, when necessary,
phases out protective relay systems that
cannot meet this requirement.’ ’’ 18
NERC notes that in Order No. 733–A,
the Commission clarified that it had not
intended ‘‘to prohibit NERC from
exercising its technical expertise to
develop a solution to an identified
reliability concern that is equally
effective and efficient as the one
proposed in Order No. 733.’’ 19 In
support of its alternative solution, NERC
states that ‘‘it is generally preferable to
emphasize dependability over security
when it is not possible to ensure both
for all possible system conditions’’ and
avers that ‘‘[p]rohibiting use of certain
types of relays, such as those protective
relay systems that cannot differentiate
between faults and stable power swings,
may have unintended negative
outcomes for Bulk-Power System
reliability.’’ 20
8. Proposed Reliability Standard PRC–
026–1 has four requirements and two
attachments. NERC explains that
Attachment A ‘‘provides clarity on
which load-responsive protective relay
functions are applicable’’ under the
standard.21 Specifically, Attachment A
provides that proposed Reliability
Standard PRC–026–1 applies to:
any protective functions which could trip
instantaneously or with a time delay of less
than 15 cycles on load current (i.e., ‘‘loadresponsive’’) . . . .
According to NERC, the 15 cycle time
delay ‘‘is representative of an expected
power swing having a slow slip rate of
0.67 Hertz (Hz) and is the average time
that a stable power swing with that slip
rate would enter the relays’
characteristic, reverse direction, and
then exit the characteristic before the
time delay expired.’’ 22 NERC states that
16 Id.
10 Id.
P 153.
11 Order No. 733–A, 134 FERC ¶ 61,127 at P 104.
12 Id.
13 Id. P 107.
14 Proposed Reliability Standard PRC–026–1 is
available on the Commission’s eLibrary document
retrieval system in Docket No. RM15–8–000 and on
the NERC Web site, www.nerc.com.
15 See NERC Petition at 4.
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17 Id. at 23 (citing Order No. 733, 130 FERC ¶
61,221 at P 153).
18 Id. (quoting Order No. 733, 130 FERC ¶ 61,221
at P 162).
19 Id. at 11 (citing Order No. 733–A, 134 FERC ¶
61,127 at P 11).
20 Id. at 24.
21 Id. at 31.
22 Id. at 30.
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the proposed standard does not apply to
‘‘functions that are either immune to
power swings, block power swings, or
prevent non-immune protection
function operation due to supervision of
the function.’’ 23 Attachment B contains
the criteria for the evaluation of loadresponsive protective relays that are
within the scope of proposed Reliability
Standard PRC–026–1.24 According to
NERC, Attachment B ‘‘will reduce the
need for simulation by comparing the
load-responsive protective relay to
specific criteria’’ set forth in Attachment
B.25
9. According to NERC, Requirement
R1 of the proposed Reliability Standard
requires the planning coordinator to
identify bulk electric system elements
that meet one or more of four criteria
and subsequently notify, at least once
each calendar year, the respective
generator owners and transmission
owners of the identified at-risk
elements.26
10. NERC states that, upon such
notification, Requirement R2 obligates
the generator owners and transmission
owners to determine whether the relays
applied to the identified bulk electric
system elements meet the two criteria
outlined in Attachment B to proposed
Reliability Standard PRC–026–1. NERC
notes that Requirement R2 requires a
generator owner or transmission owner
to conduct the same analysis where the
entity becomes aware of a bulk electric
system element that tripped in response
to a stable or unstable power swing due
to the operations of its protective
relay(s), even if the element was not
previously identified by the planning
coordinator.27 NERC concludes that,
based on the ‘‘expected infrequency of
Elements tripping in response to a stable
power swing,’’ the evaluation of
elements identified under Requirement
R1 combined with the evaluation of
elements identified following a known
power swing trip ‘‘meet[s] the reliability
purpose of the proposed Reliability
Standard and directive in an efficient
manner without significant burden to
applicable entities.’’ 28
11. NERC explains that Requirement
R3 requires an applicable generator
owner or transmission owner to develop
23 Id.
at 31.
id. at 35–38.
25 Proposed Reliability Standard PRC–026–1
(Application Guidelines) at 15.
26 Id. at 32–33.
27 NERC Petition at 38. NERC explains that the
phrase ‘‘becoming aware’’ is used in Requirement
R2 to ‘‘not overburden entities by requiring a
determination of whether a power swing was
present for every Element trip’’ due to relay
operation. Id.
28 Id. at 38–39.
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a corrective action plan for any
protective system that does not meet the
Attachment B criteria. Under the
corrective action plan, a generator
owner or transmission owner is required
to modify the relevant protection system
to meet the Attachment B criteria.
Requirement R4 obligates a generator
owner or transmission owner to
implement a corrective action plan
developed under Requirement R3 and to
update the plan when either the content
of the plan or associated timetables
change until the plan has been fully
executed.
12. NERC proposes an
implementation plan for PRC–026–1
under which Requirement R1 is to
become effective 12 months after
Commission approval, and
Requirements R2, R3, and R4 become
effective 36 months after Commission
approval.
II. Discussion
13. Pursuant to section 215(d)(2) of
the FPA, we propose to approve
Reliability Standard PRC–026–1 as just,
reasonable, not unduly discriminatory
or preferential, and in the public
interest. We also propose to approve
NERC’s proposed implementation plan,
and the proposed violation risk factors
and violation severity levels. Generally,
the proposed Reliability Standard
appears to adequately address the
Commission’s directive from Order No.
733 by helping to prevent the
unnecessary tripping of bulk electric
system elements in response to stable
power swings. We propose to accept
NERC’s approach as an equally effective
and efficient method to achieve the
reliability goal underlying the
Commission’s Order No. 733 directive.
14. However, we are concerned that
NERC’s proposed exclusion of load
responsive relays with a time delay of
15 cycles or greater as proposed in
Attachment A could result in a gap in
reliability. As mentioned above,
pursuant to Attachment A, the
Reliability Standard applies to ‘‘any
protective functions which could trip
instantaneously or with a time delay of
less than 15 cycles on load current (i.e.,
‘‘load-responsive’’). . . .’’ NERC
provides technical rationale for the less
than 15 cycle threshold, explaining that
load-responsive relays set to trip
instantaneously or with a ‘‘slight time
delay’’ are most susceptible to power
swings.29 Nevertheless, while NERC
states that its proposal meets the
Commission’s directive in an efficient
manner without significant burden to
applicable entities, NERC has not
provided any information on the burden
of including relays with a time delay of
15 cycles or greater under proposed
Reliability Standard PRC–026–1. We
believe that the lack of this information
is significant in light of the fact that an
entity would not be required under the
proposed Reliability Standard to
investigate an element identified by a
Planning Coordinator as potentially
susceptible to power swings or
investigate an element following a
known power swing trip if the relay(s)
involved have a time delay of 15 cycles
or greater.
15. Therefore, we seek comment on
the potential burden of modifying the
applicability of proposed Reliability
Standard PRC–026–1 to include relays
with a time delay of 15 cycles or greater
in instances where either (1) an element
has been identified by a Planning
Coordinator as potentially susceptible to
power swings or (2) an entity becomes
aware of a bulk electric system element
that tripped in response to a stable or
unstable power swing due to the
operation of its protective relay(s), even
if the element was not previously
identified by the planning coordinator.
Depending on the response, the
Commission may direct that NERC
develop modifications to the proposed
Reliability Standard.
III. Information Collection Statement
16. The collection of information
contained in this Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking is subject to review by the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) regulations under section
3507(d) of the Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995 (PRA).30 OMB’s regulations
require approval of certain
informational collection requirements
imposed by agency rules.31
17. Upon approval of a collection(s) of
information, OMB will assign an OMB
control number and an expiration date.
Respondents subject to the filing
requirements of a rule will not be
penalized for failing to respond to these
collections of information unless the
collections of information display a
valid OMB control number.
18. We solicit comments on the need
for this information, whether the
information will have practical utility,
the accuracy of the burden estimates,
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be collected
or retained, and any suggested methods
for minimizing respondents’ burden,
including the use of automated
information techniques. Specifically,
the Commission asks that any revised
30 44
29 See
PO 00000
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U.S.C. 3507(d) (2012).
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burden or cost estimates submitted by
commenters be supported by sufficient
detail to understand how the estimates
are generated.
Public Reporting Burden: The
Commission proposes to approve
Reliability Standard PRC–026–1.
Proposed Reliability Standard PRC–
026–1 will impose new requirements for
the notification of particular bulk
electric system elements from planning
coordinator to generator owners and
transmissions owners based on given
criteria. Generator owners and
transmissions owner will evaluate those
bulk electric system elements and loadresponsive protective relay(s) according
to Attachment B criteria and, if a load-
responsive protective relay does not
meet the Attachment B criteria, the
generator owner/transmission owner
must develop a corrective action plan.
Our estimate below regarding the
number of respondents is based on the
NERC Compliance Registry as of June
26, 2015. According to the NERC
Compliance Registry, NERC has
registered 318 transmission owners, 884
generator owners, and 68 planning
coordinators. However, under NERC’s
compliance registration program,
entities may be registered for multiple
functions, so these numbers incorporate
some double counting. The total number
of unique entities that may be identified
as a notification provider (e.g.
applicable entity) in accordance with
proposed Reliability Standard PRC–
026–1 will be approximately 1,074
entities registered in the United States
as a transmission owner and/or
generator owner. The total number of
unique entities that may be identified as
evidence retention entities (e.g.
applicable entity) in accordance with
proposed Reliability Standard PRC–
026–1 will be approximately 1,092
entities registered in the United States
as a transmission owner, generator
owner and/or planning coordinator. The
Commission estimates the annual
reporting burden and cost as follows:
RM15–8–000
[Mandatory reliability standards: reliability standard PRC–026–1]
Number of
respondents
Annual
number of
responses per
respondent
Total number
of responses
Average
burden & cost
per response
Total annual
burden hours
& total annual
cost
Cost per
respondent
($)
(1)
(2)
(1)*(2)=(3)
(4)
(3)*(4)=(5)
(5)÷(1)
Notifications to GO/TO per Requirement
R1 .........................................................
1,074
1
1,074
8
32 $485.28
Evidence Retention GO/TO/PC ...............
1,092
1
1,092
12
33 $450.00
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Total ..................................................
........................
........................
2,166
........................
Title: FERC–725G3, Mandatory
Reliability Standards: Reliability
Standard PRC–026–1.
Action: Proposed Collection of
Information.
OMB Control No: To Be Determined.
Respondents: Business or other forprofit and not-for-profit institutions.
Frequency of Responses: One time
and on-going.
Necessity of the Information: The
proposed Reliability Standard PRC–
026–1, if adopted, would implement the
Congressional mandate of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 to develop
mandatory and enforceable Reliability
Standards to better ensure the reliability
of the nation’s Bulk-Power System.
Specifically, the proposal would
address undesirable relay operation due
to power swings.
19. Internal review: The Commission
has reviewed the requirements
pertaining to the proposed Reliability
Standard PRC–026–1 and made a
determination that the proposed
requirements of this standard are
necessary to implement section 215 of
the FPA. These requirements conform to
the Commission’s plan for efficient
information collection, communication
and management within the energy
industry. The Commission has assured
itself, by means of its internal review,
that there is specific, objective support
for the burden estimates associated with
the information requirements.
20. Interested persons may obtain
information on the reporting
requirements by contacting the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, Office
of the Executive Director, 888 First
Street NE., Washington, DC 20426
[Attention: Ellen Brown, email:
DataClearance@ferc.gov, phone: (202)
502–8663, fax: (202) 273–0873].
21. Comments concerning the
information collections proposed in this
NOPR and the associated burden
32 The estimates for cost per response are derived
using the following formula:
Average Burden Hours per Response * $60.66 per
Hour = Average Cost per Response. The hourly
average of $60.66 assumes equal time is spent by
the manager, electrical engineer, and information
and record clerk. The average hourly cost (salary
plus benefits) is: $37.50 for information and record
clerks (occupation code 43–4199), $78.04 for a
manager (occupation code 11–0000), and $66.45 for
an electrical engineer (occupation code 17–2071).
(The figures are taken from the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, May 2014 figures at https://www.bls.gov/
oes/current/naics2_22.htm).
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8,592
$521,191
13,104
$491,400
$845.28
21,696
$1,012,591
........................
$450.00
estimates, should be sent to the
Commission in this docket and may also
be sent to the Office of Management and
Budget, Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs [Attention: Desk
Officer for the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission]. For security
reasons, comments should be sent by
email to OMB at the following email
address: oira_submission@omb.eop.gov.
Please reference the docket number of
this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(Docket No. RM15–8–000) in your
submission.
IV. Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis
22. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of
1980 (RFA) 34 generally requires a
description and analysis of this NOPR
that will have significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small
entities. Proposed Reliability Standard
PRC–026–1 sets forth requirements that
prevent the unnecessary tripping of bulk
33 The average hourly cost (salary plus benefits)
is $37.50. The BLS wage category code is 34–4199.
This figure is also taken from the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, May 2014 figures at https://www.bls.gov/
oes/current/naics2_22.htm.
34 5 U.S.C. 601–12.
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electric system elements in response to
stable power swings. As shown in the
information collection section, an
estimated 1,092 entities are expected to
evaluate bulk electric system elements
and load-responsive protective relay(s)
according to Attachment B criteria of
proposed PRC–026–1. Comparison of
the applicable entities with the
Commission’s small business data
indicates that approximately 661 are
small entities 35 or 60.53 percent of the
respondents affected by proposed
Reliability Standard PRC–026–1.
23. As discussed above, proposed
Reliability Standard PRC–026–1 will
serve to enhance reliability by imposing
mandatory requirements governing
generator relay loadability, thereby
reducing the likelihood of premature or
unnecessary tripping of generators
during system disturbances. The
Commission estimates that each of the
small entities to whom the proposed
Reliability Standard PRC–026–1 applies
will incur paperwork and record
retention costs of $935.28 per entity
(annual ongoing).
24. The Commission does not
consider the estimated costs per small
entity to have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small
entities. Accordingly, the Commission
certifies that proposed Reliability
Standard PRC–026–1 will not have a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
The Commission seeks comment on this
certification.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
V. Environmental Analysis
25. The Commission is required to
prepare an Environmental Assessment
or an Environmental Impact Statement
for any action that may have a
significant adverse effect on the human
environment.36 The Commission has
categorically excluded certain actions
from this requirement as not having a
significant effect on the human
environment. Included in the exclusion
are rules that are clarifying, corrective,
or procedural or that do not
substantially change the effect of the
regulations being amended.37 The
35 The Small Business Administration sets the
threshold for what constitutes a small business.
Public utilities may fall under one of several
different categories, each with a size threshold
based on the company’s number of employees,
including affiliates, the parent company, and
subsidiaries. For the analysis in this NOPR, we
apply a 500 employee threshold for each affected
entity. Each entity is classified as Electric Bulk
Power Transmission and Control (NAICS code
221121).
36 Regulations Implementing the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Order No. 486,
FERC Stats. & Regs., Regulations Preambles 1986–
1990 ¶ 30,783 (1987).
37 18 CFR 380.4(a)(2)(ii) (2015).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:29 Sep 23, 2015
Jkt 235001
actions proposed herein fall within this
categorical exclusion in the
Commission’s regulations.
VI. Comment Procedures
26. The Commission invites interested
persons to submit comments on the
matters and issues proposed in this
notice to be adopted, including any
related matters or alternative proposals
that commenters may wish to discuss.
Comments are due November 23, 2015.
Comments must refer to Docket No.
RM15–8–000, and must include the
commenter’s name, the organization
they represent, if applicable, and
address.
27. The Commission encourages
comments to be filed electronically via
the eFiling link on the Commission’s
Web site at https://www.ferc.gov. The
Commission accepts most standard
word processing formats. Documents
created electronically using word
processing software should be filed in
native applications or print-to-PDF
format and not in a scanned format.
Commenters filing electronically do not
need to make a paper filing.
28. Commenters that are not able to
file comments electronically must send
an original of their comments to:
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
Secretary of the Commission, 888 First
Street NE., Washington, DC 20426.
29. All comments will be placed in
the Commission’s public files and may
be viewed, printed, or downloaded
remotely as described in the Document
Availability section below. Commenters
on this proposal are not required to
serve copies of their comments on other
commenters.
VII. Document Availability
30. In addition to publishing the full
text of this document in the Federal
Register, the Commission provides all
interested persons an opportunity to
view and/or print the contents of this
document via the Internet through the
Commission’s Home Page (https://
www.ferc.gov) and in the Commission’s
Public Reference Room during normal
business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Eastern time) at 888 First Street NE.,
Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426.
31. From the Commission’s Home
Page on the Internet, this information is
available on eLibrary. The full text of
this document is available on eLibrary
in PDF and Microsoft Word format for
viewing, printing, and/or downloading.
To access this document in eLibrary,
type the docket number of this
document, excluding the last three
digits, in the docket number field.
32. User assistance is available for
eLibrary and the Commission’s Web site
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
57553
during normal business hours from the
Commission’s Online Support at 202–
502–6652 (toll free at 1–866–208–3676)
or email at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov,
or the Public Reference Room at (202)
502–8371, TTY (202) 502–8659. Email
the Public Reference Room at
public.referenceroom@ferc.gov.
By direction of the Commission.
Issued: September 17, 2015.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015–24279 Filed 9–23–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
COMMISSION
19 CFR Parts 201 and 210
Rules of General Application,
Adjudication and Enforcement
International Trade
Commission.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
AGENCY:
The United States
International Trade Commission
(‘‘Commission’’) proposes to amend its
Rules of Practice and Procedure
concerning rules of general application,
adjudication, and enforcement. The
amendments are necessary to make
certain technical corrections, to clarify
certain provisions, to harmonize
different parts of the Commission’s
rules, and to address concerns that have
arisen in Commission practice. The
intended effect of the proposed
amendments is to facilitate compliance
with the Commission’s Rules and
improve the administration of agency
proceedings.
SUMMARY:
To be assured of consideration,
written comments must be received by
5:15 p.m. November 23, 2015.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by docket number MISC–045,
by any of the following methods:
—Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
—Agency Web site: https://
www.usitc.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments
on the Web site at https://
www.usitc.gov/secretary/edis.htm.
—Email: megan.valentine@usitc.gov.
Include docket number MISC–045 in
the subject line of the message.
—Mail: For paper submission. U.S.
International Trade Commission, 500
E Street SW., Room 112, Washington,
DC 20436.
—Hand Delivery/Courier: U.S.
International Trade Commission, 500
DATES:
E:\FR\FM\24SEP1.SGM
24SEP1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 185 (Thursday, September 24, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57549-57553]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24279]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
18 CFR Part 40
[Docket No. RM15-8-000]
Relay Performance During Stable Power Swings Reliability Standard
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission proposes to approve
Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 (Relay Performance During Stable Power
Swings), submitted by the North American Electric Reliability
Corporation. The proposed Reliability Standard is designed to ensure
that applicable entities use protective relay systems that can
differentiate between faults and stable power swings. In addition, the
Commission requests comment regarding the potential burden of modifying
the applicability of proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 to include
relays with a time delay of 15 cycles or greater in instances where
either (1) an element has been identified by a Planning Coordinator as
potentially susceptible to power swings or (2) an entity becomes aware
of a bulk electric system element that tripped in response to a stable
or unstable power swing due to the operation of its protective
relay(s), even if the element was not previously identified by the
planning coordinator.
DATES: Comments are due November 23, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Comments, identified by docket number, may be filed in the
following ways:
Electronic Filing through https://www.ferc.gov. Documents
created electronically using word processing software should be filed
in native applications or print-to-PDF format and not in a scanned
format.
Mail/Hand Delivery: Those unable to file electronically
may mail or hand-deliver comments to: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20426.
Instructions: For detailed instructions on submitting comments and
additional information on the rulemaking process, see the Comment
Procedures Section of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kenneth Hubona (Technical Information), Office of Electric Reliability,
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington,
DC 20426, (301) 665-1608, kenneth.hubona@ferc.gov.
Kevin Ryan (Legal Information), Office of the General Counsel, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC
20426, (202) 502-6840, kevin.ryan@ferc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Pursuant to section 215 of the Federal Power Act (FPA),\1\ the
Commission proposes to approve Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 (Relay
Performance During Stable Power Swings), submitted by the North
American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Commission-
approved Electric Reliability Organization (ERO). The proposed
Reliability Standard applies to planning coordinators, as well as
generator owners and transmission owners that apply certain load-
responsive protective relays in specific, identified circumstances, and
is designed to ensure the use of protective relay systems that can
differentiate between faults and stable power swings. In addition, the
Commission proposes to approve NERC's proposed implementation plan, and
the assigned violation risk factors and violation severity levels.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 16 U.S.C. 824o (2012).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Consistent with directives issued in Order No. 733,\2\ the
Commission proposes to find that the proposed Reliability Standard
addresses undesirable relay operation due to power swings,\3\ and
provides an equally effective and efficient alternative to the Order
No. 733 directive requiring the use of protective relay systems that
can differentiate between faults and stable power swings and, when
necessary, retirement of protective relay systems that cannot meet this
requirement.\4\ Further, as discussed below, the Commission seeks
comment regarding the potential burden of modifying the applicability
of proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 to include relays with a
time delay of 15 cycles or greater in instances where either (1) an
element has been identified by a Planning Coordinator as potentially
susceptible to power swings or (2) an entity becomes aware of a bulk
electric system element that tripped in response to a stable or
[[Page 57550]]
unstable power swing due to the operation of its protective relay(s),
even if the element was not previously identified by the planning
coordinator. Depending on the response, the Commission may direct that
NERC develop modifications to the proposed Reliability Standard.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ Transmission Relay Loadability Reliability Standard, Order
No. 733, 130 FERC ] 61,221 (2010), order on reh'g and clarification,
Order No. 733-A, 134 FERC ] 61,127, order on reh'g and
clarification, Order No. 733-B, 136 FERC ] 61,185 (2011).
\3\ Order No. 733, 130 FERC ] 61,221 at P 153.
\4\ Id. P 150.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Background
A. Mandatory Reliability Standards and Order No. 733 Directives
3. Section 215 of the FPA requires a Commission-certified ERO to
develop mandatory and enforceable Reliability Standards, subject to
Commission review and approval.\5\ Pursuant to section 215 of the FPA,
the Commission established a process to select and certify an ERO,\6\
and subsequently certified NERC.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ 16 U.S.C. 824(d) and (e).
\6\ Rules Concerning Certification of the Electric Reliability
Organization; and Procedures for the Establishment, Approval, and
Enforcement of Electric Reliability Standards, Order No. 672, FERC
Stats. & Regs. ] 31,204, order on reh'g, Order No. 672-A, FERC
Stats. & Regs. ] 31,212 (2006).
\7\ North American Electric Reliability Corp., 116 FERC ]
61,062, order on reh'g and compliance, 117 FERC ] 61,126 (2006),
aff'd sub nom. Alcoa, Inc. v. FERC, 564 F.3d 1342 (D.C. Cir. 2009).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. On March 18, 2010, in Order No. 733, the Commission approved
Reliability Standard PRC-023-1 (Transmission Relay Loadability) and
directed NERC to develop a new Reliability Standard that requires the
use of protective relay systems that can differentiate between faults
and stable power swings and, when necessary, retirement of protective
relay systems that cannot meet this requirement.\8\ In Order No. 733,
the Commission cited the findings of both NERC and the U.S.-Canada
Power System Outage Task Force on the causes of the 2003 Northeast
Blackout, explaining that the cascade during this event was accelerated
by zone 2 and zone 3 relays that continued to operate because these
devices could not distinguish between a dynamic, but stable, power
swing and an actual fault.\9\ The Commission recognized that addressing
stable power swings is a complex issue which impacted the 2003
Blackout, and yet there was no Reliability Standard that addresses the
issue; therefore, the Commission directed NERC to develop a Reliability
Standard to address undesirable relay operation due to stable power
swings.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ Order No. 733, 130 FERC ] 61,221 at P 150.
\9\ Id. PP 3-4, 130 (citing U.S.-Canada Power System Outage Task
Force, Final Report on the August 14, 2003 Blackout in the United
States and Canada: Causes and Recommendations, at 80 (2004); and
August 14, 2003 Blackout: NERC Actions to Prevent and Mitigate the
Impacts of Future Cascading Blackouts, at 13 (2004)).
\10\ Id. P 153.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. On February 17, 2011, in Order No. 733-A, the Commission denied
rehearing of Order No. 733 and clarified that ``[w]e continue to
believe that not addressing stable power swings constitutes a gap in
the current Reliability Standards and must be addressed.'' \11\
Therefore, the Commission affirmed the directive that NERC develop a
Reliability Standard addressing stable power swings.\12\ The Commission
also clarified that it did not require a Reliability Standard
containing an absolute obligation to prevent protection relays from
operating unnecessarily during stable power swings or an across-the-
board elimination of all zone 3 relays, but only the development of a
standard that addresses protection systems that are vulnerable to
stable power swings (resulting from Category B and Category C
contingencies from the NERC Planning Standards in place at that time)
that will result in inappropriate tripping.\13\ In Order No. 733-B, the
Commission denied further clarification regarding the issue.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\11\ Order No. 733-A, 134 FERC ] 61,127 at P 104.
\12\ Id.
\13\ Id. P 107.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
B. NERC Petition and Proposed Standard PRC-026-1
6. On December 31, 2014, NERC submitted a petition seeking approval
of proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1, as well as the associated
implementation plan, and violation risk factors and violation severity
levels.\14\ NERC avers that proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1
satisfies the Order No. 733 directive to develop a new standard that
requires the use of protective relay systems that can differentiate
between faults and stable power swings. According to NERC, the proposed
Reliability Standard sets forth requirements that prevent the
unnecessary tripping of bulk electric system elements in response to
stable power swings.\15\ NERC further explains that the identification
of bulk electric system elements with protection systems at-risk of
operating as a result of a stable or unstable power swing and
subsequent review by the applicable generator owner or transmission
owner ``provides assurance that relays will continue to be secure for
stable power swings if any changes in system impedance occur.'' \16\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\14\ Proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 is available on the
Commission's eLibrary document retrieval system in Docket No. RM15-
8-000 and on the NERC Web site, www.nerc.com.
\15\ See NERC Petition at 4.
\16\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. According to NERC, the proposed Reliability Standard is
``directly responsive'' to the Order No. 733 directive that NERC
develop a standard addressing undesirable relay operation due to stable
power swings.\17\ NERC explains, however, that the proposed Reliability
Standard ``includes an alternative to the Commission's approach to
require `the use of protective relay systems that can differentiate
between faults and stable power swings and, when necessary, phases out
protective relay systems that cannot meet this requirement.' '' \18\
NERC notes that in Order No. 733-A, the Commission clarified that it
had not intended ``to prohibit NERC from exercising its technical
expertise to develop a solution to an identified reliability concern
that is equally effective and efficient as the one proposed in Order
No. 733.'' \19\ In support of its alternative solution, NERC states
that ``it is generally preferable to emphasize dependability over
security when it is not possible to ensure both for all possible system
conditions'' and avers that ``[p]rohibiting use of certain types of
relays, such as those protective relay systems that cannot
differentiate between faults and stable power swings, may have
unintended negative outcomes for Bulk-Power System reliability.'' \20\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\17\ Id. at 23 (citing Order No. 733, 130 FERC ] 61,221 at P
153).
\18\ Id. (quoting Order No. 733, 130 FERC ] 61,221 at P 162).
\19\ Id. at 11 (citing Order No. 733-A, 134 FERC ] 61,127 at P
11).
\20\ Id. at 24.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. Proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 has four requirements
and two attachments. NERC explains that Attachment A ``provides clarity
on which load-responsive protective relay functions are applicable''
under the standard.\21\ Specifically, Attachment A provides that
proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 applies to:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\21\ Id. at 31.
any protective functions which could trip instantaneously or with a
time delay of less than 15 cycles on load current (i.e., ``load-
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
responsive'') . . . .
According to NERC, the 15 cycle time delay ``is representative of
an expected power swing having a slow slip rate of 0.67 Hertz (Hz) and
is the average time that a stable power swing with that slip rate would
enter the relays' characteristic, reverse direction, and then exit the
characteristic before the time delay expired.'' \22\ NERC states that
[[Page 57551]]
the proposed standard does not apply to ``functions that are either
immune to power swings, block power swings, or prevent non-immune
protection function operation due to supervision of the function.''
\23\ Attachment B contains the criteria for the evaluation of load-
responsive protective relays that are within the scope of proposed
Reliability Standard PRC-026-1.\24\ According to NERC, Attachment B
``will reduce the need for simulation by comparing the load-responsive
protective relay to specific criteria'' set forth in Attachment B.\25\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\22\ Id. at 30.
\23\ Id. at 31.
\24\ See id. at 35-38.
\25\ Proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 (Application
Guidelines) at 15.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. According to NERC, Requirement R1 of the proposed Reliability
Standard requires the planning coordinator to identify bulk electric
system elements that meet one or more of four criteria and subsequently
notify, at least once each calendar year, the respective generator
owners and transmission owners of the identified at-risk elements.\26\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\26\ Id. at 32-33.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. NERC states that, upon such notification, Requirement R2
obligates the generator owners and transmission owners to determine
whether the relays applied to the identified bulk electric system
elements meet the two criteria outlined in Attachment B to proposed
Reliability Standard PRC-026-1. NERC notes that Requirement R2 requires
a generator owner or transmission owner to conduct the same analysis
where the entity becomes aware of a bulk electric system element that
tripped in response to a stable or unstable power swing due to the
operations of its protective relay(s), even if the element was not
previously identified by the planning coordinator.\27\ NERC concludes
that, based on the ``expected infrequency of Elements tripping in
response to a stable power swing,'' the evaluation of elements
identified under Requirement R1 combined with the evaluation of
elements identified following a known power swing trip ``meet[s] the
reliability purpose of the proposed Reliability Standard and directive
in an efficient manner without significant burden to applicable
entities.'' \28\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\27\ NERC Petition at 38. NERC explains that the phrase
``becoming aware'' is used in Requirement R2 to ``not overburden
entities by requiring a determination of whether a power swing was
present for every Element trip'' due to relay operation. Id.
\28\ Id. at 38-39.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. NERC explains that Requirement R3 requires an applicable
generator owner or transmission owner to develop a corrective action
plan for any protective system that does not meet the Attachment B
criteria. Under the corrective action plan, a generator owner or
transmission owner is required to modify the relevant protection system
to meet the Attachment B criteria. Requirement R4 obligates a generator
owner or transmission owner to implement a corrective action plan
developed under Requirement R3 and to update the plan when either the
content of the plan or associated timetables change until the plan has
been fully executed.
12. NERC proposes an implementation plan for PRC-026-1 under which
Requirement R1 is to become effective 12 months after Commission
approval, and Requirements R2, R3, and R4 become effective 36 months
after Commission approval.
II. Discussion
13. Pursuant to section 215(d)(2) of the FPA, we propose to approve
Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 as just, reasonable, not unduly
discriminatory or preferential, and in the public interest. We also
propose to approve NERC's proposed implementation plan, and the
proposed violation risk factors and violation severity levels.
Generally, the proposed Reliability Standard appears to adequately
address the Commission's directive from Order No. 733 by helping to
prevent the unnecessary tripping of bulk electric system elements in
response to stable power swings. We propose to accept NERC's approach
as an equally effective and efficient method to achieve the reliability
goal underlying the Commission's Order No. 733 directive.
14. However, we are concerned that NERC's proposed exclusion of
load responsive relays with a time delay of 15 cycles or greater as
proposed in Attachment A could result in a gap in reliability. As
mentioned above, pursuant to Attachment A, the Reliability Standard
applies to ``any protective functions which could trip instantaneously
or with a time delay of less than 15 cycles on load current (i.e.,
``load-responsive''). . . .'' NERC provides technical rationale for the
less than 15 cycle threshold, explaining that load-responsive relays
set to trip instantaneously or with a ``slight time delay'' are most
susceptible to power swings.\29\ Nevertheless, while NERC states that
its proposal meets the Commission's directive in an efficient manner
without significant burden to applicable entities, NERC has not
provided any information on the burden of including relays with a time
delay of 15 cycles or greater under proposed Reliability Standard PRC-
026-1. We believe that the lack of this information is significant in
light of the fact that an entity would not be required under the
proposed Reliability Standard to investigate an element identified by a
Planning Coordinator as potentially susceptible to power swings or
investigate an element following a known power swing trip if the
relay(s) involved have a time delay of 15 cycles or greater.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\29\ See NERC Petition at 29-30.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
15. Therefore, we seek comment on the potential burden of modifying
the applicability of proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 to include
relays with a time delay of 15 cycles or greater in instances where
either (1) an element has been identified by a Planning Coordinator as
potentially susceptible to power swings or (2) an entity becomes aware
of a bulk electric system element that tripped in response to a stable
or unstable power swing due to the operation of its protective
relay(s), even if the element was not previously identified by the
planning coordinator. Depending on the response, the Commission may
direct that NERC develop modifications to the proposed Reliability
Standard.
III. Information Collection Statement
16. The collection of information contained in this Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking is subject to review by the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) regulations under section 3507(d) of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).\30\ OMB's regulations require approval of
certain informational collection requirements imposed by agency
rules.\31\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\30\ 44 U.S.C. 3507(d) (2012).
\31\ 5 CFR 1320.11.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
17. Upon approval of a collection(s) of information, OMB will
assign an OMB control number and an expiration date. Respondents
subject to the filing requirements of a rule will not be penalized for
failing to respond to these collections of information unless the
collections of information display a valid OMB control number.
18. We solicit comments on the need for this information, whether
the information will have practical utility, the accuracy of the burden
estimates, ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected or retained, and any suggested methods for
minimizing respondents' burden, including the use of automated
information techniques. Specifically, the Commission asks that any
revised
[[Page 57552]]
burden or cost estimates submitted by commenters be supported by
sufficient detail to understand how the estimates are generated.
Public Reporting Burden: The Commission proposes to approve
Reliability Standard PRC-026-1. Proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1
will impose new requirements for the notification of particular bulk
electric system elements from planning coordinator to generator owners
and transmissions owners based on given criteria. Generator owners and
transmissions owner will evaluate those bulk electric system elements
and load-responsive protective relay(s) according to Attachment B
criteria and, if a load-responsive protective relay does not meet the
Attachment B criteria, the generator owner/transmission owner must
develop a corrective action plan. Our estimate below regarding the
number of respondents is based on the NERC Compliance Registry as of
June 26, 2015. According to the NERC Compliance Registry, NERC has
registered 318 transmission owners, 884 generator owners, and 68
planning coordinators. However, under NERC's compliance registration
program, entities may be registered for multiple functions, so these
numbers incorporate some double counting. The total number of unique
entities that may be identified as a notification provider (e.g.
applicable entity) in accordance with proposed Reliability Standard
PRC-026-1 will be approximately 1,074 entities registered in the United
States as a transmission owner and/or generator owner. The total number
of unique entities that may be identified as evidence retention
entities (e.g. applicable entity) in accordance with proposed
Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 will be approximately 1,092 entities
registered in the United States as a transmission owner, generator
owner and/or planning coordinator. The Commission estimates the annual
reporting burden and cost as follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\32\ The estimates for cost per response are derived using the
following formula:
Average Burden Hours per Response * $60.66 per Hour = Average
Cost per Response. The hourly average of $60.66 assumes equal time
is spent by the manager, electrical engineer, and information and
record clerk. The average hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is:
$37.50 for information and record clerks (occupation code 43-4199),
$78.04 for a manager (occupation code 11-0000), and $66.45 for an
electrical engineer (occupation code 17-2071). (The figures are
taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2014 figures at
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm).
\33\ The average hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is $37.50.
The BLS wage category code is 34-4199. This figure is also taken
from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2014 figures at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm.
RM15-8-000
[Mandatory reliability standards: reliability standard PRC-026-1]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total annual
Number of Annual number Total number Average burden burden hours & Cost per
respondents of responses of responses & cost per total annual respondent ($)
per respondent response cost
(1) (2) (1)*(2)=(3) (4) (3)*(4)=(5) (5)/(1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notifications to GO/TO per Requirement R1............... 1,074 1 1,074 8 8,592 $845.28
\32\ $485.28 $521,191
Evidence Retention GO/TO/PC............................. 1,092 1 1,092 12 13,104 $450.00
\33\ $450.00 $491,400
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................................... .............. .............. 2,166 .............. 21,696 ..............
$1,012,591
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: FERC-725G3, Mandatory Reliability Standards: Reliability
Standard PRC-026-1.
Action: Proposed Collection of Information.
OMB Control No: To Be Determined.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit and not-for-profit
institutions.
Frequency of Responses: One time and on-going.
Necessity of the Information: The proposed Reliability Standard
PRC-026-1, if adopted, would implement the Congressional mandate of the
Energy Policy Act of 2005 to develop mandatory and enforceable
Reliability Standards to better ensure the reliability of the nation's
Bulk-Power System. Specifically, the proposal would address undesirable
relay operation due to power swings.
19. Internal review: The Commission has reviewed the requirements
pertaining to the proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 and made a
determination that the proposed requirements of this standard are
necessary to implement section 215 of the FPA. These requirements
conform to the Commission's plan for efficient information collection,
communication and management within the energy industry. The Commission
has assured itself, by means of its internal review, that there is
specific, objective support for the burden estimates associated with
the information requirements.
20. Interested persons may obtain information on the reporting
requirements by contacting the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
Office of the Executive Director, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC
20426 [Attention: Ellen Brown, email: DataClearance@ferc.gov, phone:
(202) 502-8663, fax: (202) 273-0873].
21. Comments concerning the information collections proposed in
this NOPR and the associated burden estimates, should be sent to the
Commission in this docket and may also be sent to the Office of
Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
[Attention: Desk Officer for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission].
For security reasons, comments should be sent by email to OMB at the
following email address: oira_submission@omb.eop.gov. Please reference
the docket number of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Docket No.
RM15-8-000) in your submission.
IV. Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis
22. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA) \34\ generally
requires a description and analysis of this NOPR that will have
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
Proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 sets forth requirements that
prevent the unnecessary tripping of bulk
[[Page 57553]]
electric system elements in response to stable power swings. As shown
in the information collection section, an estimated 1,092 entities are
expected to evaluate bulk electric system elements and load-responsive
protective relay(s) according to Attachment B criteria of proposed PRC-
026-1. Comparison of the applicable entities with the Commission's
small business data indicates that approximately 661 are small entities
\35\ or 60.53 percent of the respondents affected by proposed
Reliability Standard PRC-026-1.
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\34\ 5 U.S.C. 601-12.
\35\ The Small Business Administration sets the threshold for
what constitutes a small business. Public utilities may fall under
one of several different categories, each with a size threshold
based on the company's number of employees, including affiliates,
the parent company, and subsidiaries. For the analysis in this NOPR,
we apply a 500 employee threshold for each affected entity. Each
entity is classified as Electric Bulk Power Transmission and Control
(NAICS code 221121).
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23. As discussed above, proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1
will serve to enhance reliability by imposing mandatory requirements
governing generator relay loadability, thereby reducing the likelihood
of premature or unnecessary tripping of generators during system
disturbances. The Commission estimates that each of the small entities
to whom the proposed Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 applies will incur
paperwork and record retention costs of $935.28 per entity (annual
ongoing).
24. The Commission does not consider the estimated costs per small
entity to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of
small entities. Accordingly, the Commission certifies that proposed
Reliability Standard PRC-026-1 will not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities. The Commission seeks
comment on this certification.
V. Environmental Analysis
25. The Commission is required to prepare an Environmental
Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement for any action that may
have a significant adverse effect on the human environment.\36\ The
Commission has categorically excluded certain actions from this
requirement as not having a significant effect on the human
environment. Included in the exclusion are rules that are clarifying,
corrective, or procedural or that do not substantially change the
effect of the regulations being amended.\37\ The actions proposed
herein fall within this categorical exclusion in the Commission's
regulations.
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\36\ Regulations Implementing the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969, Order No. 486, FERC Stats. & Regs., Regulations
Preambles 1986-1990 ] 30,783 (1987).
\37\ 18 CFR 380.4(a)(2)(ii) (2015).
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VI. Comment Procedures
26. The Commission invites interested persons to submit comments on
the matters and issues proposed in this notice to be adopted, including
any related matters or alternative proposals that commenters may wish
to discuss. Comments are due November 23, 2015. Comments must refer to
Docket No. RM15-8-000, and must include the commenter's name, the
organization they represent, if applicable, and address.
27. The Commission encourages comments to be filed electronically
via the eFiling link on the Commission's Web site at https://www.ferc.gov. The Commission accepts most standard word processing
formats. Documents created electronically using word processing
software should be filed in native applications or print-to-PDF format
and not in a scanned format. Commenters filing electronically do not
need to make a paper filing.
28. Commenters that are not able to file comments electronically
must send an original of their comments to: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20426.
29. All comments will be placed in the Commission's public files
and may be viewed, printed, or downloaded remotely as described in the
Document Availability section below. Commenters on this proposal are
not required to serve copies of their comments on other commenters.
VII. Document Availability
30. In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the
Federal Register, the Commission provides all interested persons an
opportunity to view and/or print the contents of this document via the
Internet through the Commission's Home Page (https://www.ferc.gov) and
in the Commission's Public Reference Room during normal business hours
(8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time) at 888 First Street NE., Room 2A,
Washington, DC 20426.
31. From the Commission's Home Page on the Internet, this
information is available on eLibrary. The full text of this document is
available on eLibrary in PDF and Microsoft Word format for viewing,
printing, and/or downloading. To access this document in eLibrary, type
the docket number of this document, excluding the last three digits, in
the docket number field.
32. User assistance is available for eLibrary and the Commission's
Web site during normal business hours from the Commission's Online
Support at 202-502-6652 (toll free at 1-866-208-3676) or email at
ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or the Public Reference Room at (202) 502-
8371, TTY (202) 502-8659. Email the Public Reference Room at
public.referenceroom@ferc.gov.
By direction of the Commission.
Issued: September 17, 2015.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-24279 Filed 9-23-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
