Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-538, FERC-740, FERC-729, FERC-715, FERC-592, FERC-60, FERC-61, and FERC-555A); Consolidated Comment Request; Extension, 68312-68317 [2015-28086]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 213 / Wednesday, November 4, 2015 / Notices
292.309–292.313 are the implementing
regulations, and provide procedures for:
• An electric utility to file an
application for the termination of its
obligation to purchase energy and
capacity from, or sell to, a QF; 2 and
• An affected entity or person to
subsequently apply to the Commission
for an order reinstating the electric
utility’s obligation to purchase energy
and capacity from, or sell to, a QF.3
Type of Respondents: Electric
utilities, principally.
Estimate of Annual Burden: 4 The
Commission estimates the total Public
Reporting Burden for this information
collection as:
FERC–912—COGENERATION AND SMALL POWER PRODUCTION, PURPA SECTION 210(m) REGULATIONS FOR
TERMINATION OR REINSTATEMENT OF OBLIGATION TO PURCHASE OR SELL
Number of
respondents
Annual
number of
responses per
respondent
Total number
of responses
Average
burden & cost
per response 5
Total annual
burden hours
& total annual
cost
Cost per
respondent ($)
(1)
(2)
(1)*(2)=(3)
(4)
(3)*(4)=(5)
(5)÷(1)
Termination of obligation to purchase .....
5
1
5
Reinstatement of obligations to purchase
0
0
0
Termination of obligation to sell ...............
0
0
0
Reinstatement of obligation to sell ..........
0
0
0
Total ..................................................
........................
........................
........................
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Comments: Comments are invited on:
(1) Whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
Commission, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate
of the burden and cost of the collection
of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(3) ways to enhance the quality, utility
and clarity of the information collection;
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of
the collection of information on those
who are to respond, including the use
of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Dated: October 29, 2015.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015–28092 Filed 11–3–15; 8:45 am]
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
2 Contained
within 18 CFR 292.310 and 292.312.
within 18 CFR 292.311 and 292.313.
4 The Commission defines burden as the total
time, effort, or financial resources expended by
persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or
provide information to or for a Federal agency. For
further explanation of what is included in the
information collection burden, reference 5 Code of
Federal Regulations 1320.3.
3 Contained
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Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. IC16–2–000]
Commission Information Collection
Activities (FERC–538, FERC–740,
FERC–729, FERC–715, FERC–592,
FERC–60, FERC–61, and FERC–555A);
Consolidated Comment Request;
Extension
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of information
collections and request for comments.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A), the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (Commission or
FERC) is soliciting public comment on
the requirements and burden 1 of the
information collections described
below.
DATES: Comments on the collections of
information are due January 4, 2016.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
(identified by Docket No. IC16–2–000)
by either of the following methods:
SUMMARY:
5 The estimates for cost per response are derived
using the following formula: Average Burden Hours
per Response * $72.00 per Hour = Average Cost per
Response. The hourly cost figure comes from the
FERC Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) average salary
plus benefits ($149,489/year). The Commission
believes the FERC FTE average salary plus benefits
to be representative of wages for industry
respondents.
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12
$864
0
$0
0
$0
0
$0
60
$4,320
0
$0
0
$0
0
$0
$864
........................
60
$4,320
864
0
0
0
• eFiling at Commission’s Web site:
https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
efiling.asp.
• Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier:
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
Secretary of the Commission, 888 First
Street NE., Washington, DC 20426.
Please reference the specific
collection number and/or title in your
comments.
Instructions: All submissions must be
formatted and filed in accordance with
submission guidelines at: https://
www.ferc.gov/help/submissionguide.asp. For user assistance contact
FERC Online Support by email at
ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or by phone
at: (866) 208–3676 (toll-free), or (202)
502–8659 for TTY.
Docket: Users interested in receiving
automatic notification of activity in this
docket or in viewing/downloading
comments and issuances in this docket
may do so at https://www.ferc.gov/docsfiling/docs-filing.asp.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ellen Brown may be reached by email
at DataClearance@FERC.gov, telephone
at (202) 502–8663, and fax at (202) 273–
0873.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1 The Commission defines burden as the total
time, effort, or financial resources expended by
persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or
provide information to or for a Federal agency. For
further explanation of what is included in the
information collection burden, reference 5 Code of
Federal Regulations 1320.3.
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 213 / Wednesday, November 4, 2015 / Notices
Type of Request: Three-year extension
of the information collection
requirements for all collections
described below with no changes to the
current reporting requirements. Please
note that each collection is distinct from
the next.
Comments: Comments are invited on:
(1) Whether the collections of
information are necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
Commission, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) the accuracy of the agency’s
estimates of the burden and cost of the
collections of information, including the
validity of the methodology and
assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance
the quality, utility and clarity of the
information collections; and (4) ways to
minimize the burden of the collections
of information on those who are to
respond, including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
FERC–538, Gas Pipelines Certificates:
Sections 7(a) Mandatory Initial Service
OMB Control No.: 1902–0061.
Abstract: Under sections 7(a), 10(a)
and 16 of Natural Gas Act (NGA),2 upon
application by a person or municipality
authorized to engage in the local
distribution of natural gas, the
Commission may order a natural gas
company to extend or improve its
68313
transportation facilities, and sell natural
gas to the municipality or person and,
for such purpose, to extend its
transportation facilities to communities
immediately adjacent to such facilities
or to territories served by the natural gas
pipeline company. The Commission
uses the application data in order to be
fully informed concerning the applicant,
and the service the applicant is
requesting.
Type of Respondent: Persons or
municipalities authorized to engage in
the local distribution of natural gas.
Estimate of Annual Burden: The
Commission estimates the annual public
reporting burden for the information
collection as:
FERC–538—GAS PIPELINE CERTIFICATES: SECTION 7(a) MANDATORY INITIAL SERVICE
Number of
respondents
Annual
number of
responses per
respondent
Total number
of responses
Average
burden & cost
per response 3
Total annual
burden hours
& total annual
cost
Cost per
respondent
($)
(1)
(2)
(1)*(2)=(3)
(4)
(3)*(4)=(5)
(5)÷(1)
Gas Pipeline Certificates .........................
1
FERC–740, Availability of e-Tag
Information to Commission Staff
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
OMB Control No.: 1902–0254.
Abstract: In Order 771,4 the FERC–
740 information collection (providing
Commission staff access to e-Tag data)
was implemented to provide the
Commission, Market Monitoring Units
(MMUs), Regional Transmission
Organizations (RTOs), and Independent
System Operators (ISOs) with
information that allows them to perform
market surveillance and analysis more
effectively. The e-Tag information is
necessary to understand the use of the
interconnected electricity grid,
particularly transactions occurring at
interchanges. Due to the nature of the
electricity grid, an individual
transaction’s impact on an interchange
cannot be assessed adequately in all
cases without information from all
connected systems, which is included
in the e-Tags. The details of the physical
path of a transaction included in the eTags helps the Commission to monitor,
in particular, interchange transactions
effectively, detect and prevent price
2 15
U.S.C. 717f–w.
estimates for cost per response are derived
using the following formula: Average Burden Hours
per Response * $72.00 per Hour = Average Cost per
Response. The hourly cost figure comes from the
FERC average salary of $149,489/year.
4 Order 771 was issued in Docket No. RM11–12
(77 FR 76367, 12/28/2012).
5 A Purchasing-Selling Entity is the entity that
purchases or sells, and takes title to, energy,
3 The
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1
1
240
$17,280
240
$17,280
$17,280
manipulation over interchanges, and
ensure the efficient and orderly use of
the transmission grid. For example, the
e-Tag data allows the Commission to
identify transmission reservations as
they go from one market to another and
link the market participants involved in
that transaction.
Order No. 771 provided the
Commission access to e-Tags by
requiring that Purchasing-Selling
Entities 5 (PSEs) and Balancing
Authorities (BAs), list the Commission
on the ‘‘CC’’ list of e-Tags so that the
Commission can receive a copy of the eTags. The Commission accesses the eTags by contracting with a commercial
vendor, OATI. In early 2014, the North
American Energy Standards Board
(NAESB) incorporated the requirement
that the Commission be added to the
‘‘CC’’ list on e-Tags as part of the tagging
process.6 Even before NAESB added the
FERC requirement to the tagging
standards, the rules behind the ‘‘CC’’ list
requirement had already been
programmed into the industry standard
tagging software so as to make the
inclusion of FERC in the ‘‘CC’’ list
automatic. The Commission expects that
PSEs and BAs will continue to use
existing, automated procedures to create
and validate the e-Tags in a way that
provides the Commission with access to
them. In the rare event that a new BA
would need to alert e-Tag administrators
that certain tags it generates qualify for
exemption under the Commission’s
regulations (e.g., transmissions from a
new Canadian BA into another
Canadian BA), this administrative
function would be expected to require
less than an hour of effort total from
both the BA and an e-Tag administrator
to include the BA on the exemption list.
New exempt BAs occur less frequently
than every year, but for the purpose of
estimation we will conservatively
assume one appears each year creating
an additional burden associated with
the Commission’s FERC–740
requirement of $60.59.7
Type of Respondent: PurchasingSelling Entities and Balancing
Authorities.
capacity, and Interconnected Operations Services.
Purchasing-Selling Entities may be affiliated or
unaffiliated merchants and may or may not own
generating facilities. Purchasing-Selling Entities are
typically E-Tag Authors.
6 NAESB Electronic Tagging Functional
Specifications, Version 1.8.2.
7 The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits)
provided in this section is based on the figures for
May 2014 posted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
for the Utilities sector (available at https://
www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm#13-0000)
assuming:
• 15 minutes legal (code 23–0000), $129.87
hourly
• 45 minutes information and record clerk (code
43–4199), $37.50 hourly.
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 213 / Wednesday, November 4, 2015 / Notices
Estimate of Annual Burden: The
Commission estimates the annual public
reporting burden (rounded) for the
information collection as:
FERC–740—AVAILABILITY OF e-TAG INFORMATION TO COMMISSION STAFF
Number of
respondents
Annual
number of
responses per
respondent
Total number
of responses
Average
burden hours
& cost per
response
Total annual
burden hours
& total annual
cost
Cost per
respondent
($)
(1)
FERC–740
(2)
(1)*(2)=(3)
(4)
(3)*(4)=(5)
(5)÷(1)
Purchasing-Selling Entities (e-Tag Authors) ....................................................
Balancing Authorities ...............................
New Balancing Authority [as noted
above] ...................................................
369
101
4,404
16,092
1,625,326
1,625,326
0
0
0
0
$0
0
1
1
1
1 hr.; $60.59
1 hr.; $60.59
60.59
Total ..................................................
470
........................
........................
........................
1 hr.; $60.59
60.59
FERC–729, Electric Transmission
Facilities
OMB Control No.: 1902–0238.
Abstract: This information collection
implements the Commission’s mandates
under EPAct 2005 section 1221 which
authorizes the Commission to issue
permits under FPA section 216(b) for
electric transmission facilities and the
Commission’s delegated responsibility
to coordinate all other federal
authorizations under FPA section
216(h). The related FERC regulations
seek to develop a timely review process
for siting of proposed electric
transmission facilities. The regulations
provide for (among other things) an
extensive pre-application process that
will facilitate maximum participation
from all interested entities and
individuals to provide them with a
reasonable opportunity to present their
views and recommendations, with
respect to the need for and impact of the
facilities, early in the planning stages of
the proposed facilities as required under
FPA section 216(d).
Additionally, FERC has the authority
to issue a permit to construct electric
transmission facilities if a state has
withheld approval for more than a year
or has conditioned its approval in such
a manner that it will not significantly
reduce transmission congestion or is not
economically feasible.8 FERC envisions
that, under certain circumstances, the
Commission’s review of the proposed
facilities may take place after one year
of the state’s review. Under section
50.6(e)(3) the Commission will not
accept applications until one year after
the state’s review and then from
applicants who can demonstrate that a
state may withhold or condition
approval of proposed facilities to such
an extent that the facilities will not be
constructed.9 In cases where FERC’s
jurisdiction rests on FPA section
216(b)(1)(C),10 the pre-filing process
should not commence until one year
after the relevant State applications
have been filed. This will give states one
full year to process an application
without any intervening Federal
proceedings, including both the prefiling and application processes. Once
that year is complete, an applicant may
seek to commence FERC’s pre-filing
process. Thereafter, once the pre-filing
process is complete, the applicant may
submit its application for a construction
permit.
Type of Respondent: Electric
transmission facilities.
Estimate of Annual Burden: The
Commission estimates the annual public
reporting burden for the information
collection as:
FERC–729—ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION FACILITIES
Number of
respondents
Annual
number of
responses per
respondent
Total number
of responses
Average
burden & cost
per
response 11
Total annual
burden hours
& total annual
cost
Cost per
respondent
($)
(1)
(2)
(1)*(2)=(3)
(4)
(3)*(4)=(5)
(5)÷(1)
Electric Transmission Facilities ................
1
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
FERC–715, Annual Transmission
Planning and Evaluation Report
OMB Control No.: 1902–0171
Abstract: Acting under FPA section
213,12 FERC requires each transmitting
8 FPA
section 216(b)(1)(C).
the Commission will not issue a
permit authorizing construction of the proposed
facilities until, among other things, it finds that the
state has, in fact, withheld approval for more than
a year or had so conditioned its approval.
9 However,
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1
9,600
$691,200
9,600
$691,200
$691,200
utility that operates integrated
transmission system facilities rated
above 100 kilovolts (kV) to submit
annually:
• Contact information for the FERC–
715;
• Base case power flow data (if it does
not participate in the development and
use of regional power flow data);
• Transmission system maps and
diagrams used by the respondent for
transmission planning;
10 In all other instances (i.e. where the state does
not have jurisdiction to act or otherwise to consider
interstate benefits, or the applicant does not qualify
to apply for a permit with the State because it does
not serve end use customers in the State), the prefiling process may be commenced at any time.
11 The estimates for cost per response are derived
using the following formula: Average Burden Hours
per Response * $72.00 per Hour = Average Cost per
Response. The hourly cost figure comes from the
FERC average salary of $149,489/year.
12 16 U.S.C. 824l.
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 213 / Wednesday, November 4, 2015 / Notices
• A detailed description of the
transmission planning reliability criteria
used to evaluate system performance for
time frames and planning horizons used
in regional and corporate planning;
• A detailed description of the
respondent’s transmission planning
assessment practices (including, but not
limited to, how reliability criteria are
applied and the steps taken in
performing transmission planning
studies); and
• A detailed evaluation of the
respondent’s anticipated system
performance as measured against its
stated reliability criteria using its stated
assessment practices.
The FERC–715 enables the
Commission to use the information as
part of their regulatory oversight
functions which includes:
• The review of rates and charges;
• The disposition of jurisdictional
facilities;
• The consolidation and mergers;
• The adequacy of supply and;
• Reliability of nation’s transmission
grid
The FERC–715 enables the
Commission to facilitate and resolve
transmission disputes. Additionally, the
Office of Electric Reliability (OER) uses
the FERC–715 data to help protect and
improve the reliability and security of
the nation’s bulk power system. OER
oversees the development and review of
mandatory reliability and security
standards and ensures compliance with
68315
the approved standards by the users,
owners, and operators of the bulk power
system. OER also monitors and
addresses issues concerning the nation’s
bulk power system including
assessments of resource adequacy and
reliability.
Without the FERC–715 data, the
Commission would be unable to
evaluate planned projects or requests
related to transmission.
Type of Respondent: Integrated
transmission system facilities rated at or
above 100 kilovolts (kV).
Estimate of Annual Burden: The
Commission estimates the annual public
reporting burden for the information
collection as:
FERC–715—ANNUAL TRANSMISSION PLANNING AND EVALUATION REPORT
Number of
respondents
Annual
number of
responses per
respondent
Total number
of responses
Average
burden & cost
per
response 13
Total annual
burden hours
& total annual
cost
Cost per
respondent
($)
(1)
(2)
(1)*(2)=3
(4)
(3)*(4)=(5)
(5)÷(1)
Annual Transmission Planning and Evaluation Report ........................................
115
1
115
160
$11,520
18,400
$ 1,324,800
$11,520
Total ..................................................
........................
........................
115
........................
18,400
$ 1,324,800
$11,520
FERC–592: Standards of Conduct for
Transmission Provider and Marketing
Affiliates of Interstate Pipelines
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
OMB Control No.: 1902–0157
Type of Request: Three-year extension
of the FERC–592 information collection
requirements with no changes to the
current reporting requirements.
Abstract: The Commission uses the
information maintained and posted by
the respondents to monitor the
pipeline’s transportation, sales, and
storage activities for its marketing
affiliate to deter undue discrimination
by pipeline companies in favor of their
marketing affiliates. Non-affiliated
shippers and other entities (e.g. state
commissions) also use information to
determine whether they have been
harmed by affiliate preference and to
13 The estimates for cost per response are derived
using the following formula: Average Burden Hours
per Response * $72 per Hour = Average Cost per
Response. The hourly cost figure comes from the
FERC average salary of $149,489. Subject matter
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18 CFR 250.16, and the FERC–592 log/
format
This form (log/format) provides the
electronic formats for maintaining
information on discounted
transportation transactions and capacity
allocation to support monitoring of
activities of interstate pipeline
marketing affiliates. Commission staff
considers discounts given to shippers in
litigated rate cases.
Without this information collection:
• The Commission would be unable
to effectively monitor whether pipelines
are giving discriminatory preference to
their marketing affiliates; and
• non-affiliated shippers and state
commissions and others would be
unable to determine if they have been
harmed by affiliate preference or
prepare evidence for proceedings
following the filing of a complaint.
Type of Respondents: Natural gas
pipelines.
Estimate of Annual Burden: 14 The
Commission estimates the annual public
reporting burden for the information
collection as:
experts found that industry employment costs
closely resemble FERC’s regarding the FERC–715
information collection.
14 The Commission defines burden as the total
time, effort, or financial resources expended by
persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or
provide information to or for a Federal agency. For
further explanation of what is included in the
information collection burden, reference 5 Code of
Federal Regulations 1320.3.
prepare evidence for proceedings
following the filing of a complaint.
18 CFR Part 358 (Standards of Conduct)
Respondents maintain and provide
the information required by part 358 on
their internet Web sites. When the
Commission requires a pipeline to post
information on its Web site following a
disclosure of non-public information to
its marketing affiliate, non-affiliated
shippers obtain comparable access to
the non-public transportation
information, which allows them to
compete with marketing affiliates on a
more equal basis.
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 213 / Wednesday, November 4, 2015 / Notices
FERC–592—STANDARDS FOR CONDUCT FOR TRANSMISSION PROVIDERS MARKETING AFFILIATES OF INTERSTATE
PIPELINES
Number of
respondents
Annual
number of
responses per
respondent
Total number
of responses
Average
burden & cost
per
response 15
Total annual
burden hours
& total annual
cost
Cost per
respondent
($)
(1)
(2)
(1)*(2)=(3)
(4)
(3)*(4)=(5)
(5)÷(1)
FERC 592 16 ............................................
85
FERC–60 (Annual Report of Centralized
Service Companies), FERC–61
(Narrative Description of Service
Company Functions), and FERC–555A
(Preservation of Records Companies
and Service Companies Subject to
PUHCA)
OMB Control No.: 1902–0215.
Abstract: On August 8, 2005, the
Energy Policy Act of 2005, was signed
into law, repealing the Public Utility
Holding Company Act of 1935 (PUHCA
1935) and enacting the Public Utility
Holding Company Act of 2005 (PUHCA
2005). Section 1264 17 and section
1275 18 of PUHCA 2005 supplemented
FERC’s existing ratemaking authority
under the Federal Power Act (FPA) to
protect customers against improper
cross-subsidization or encumbrances of
public utility assets, and similarly,
FERC’s ratemaking authority under the
Natural Gas Act (NGA). These
provisions of PUHCA 2005
supplemented the FERC’s broad
authority under FPA section 301 and
NGA section 8 to obtain the books and
records of regulated companies and any
person that controls or is under the
influence of such companies if relevant
to jurisdictional activities.
FERC Form 60
Form No. 60 is an annual reporting
requirement under 18 CFR 366.23 for
centralized service companies. The
1
85
report’s function is to collect financial
information (including balance sheet,
assets, liabilities, billing and charges for
associated and non-associated
companies) from centralized service
companies subject to the jurisdiction of
the FERC. Unless Commission rule
exempts or grants a waiver pursuant to
18 CFR 366.3 and 366.4 to the holding
company system, every centralized
service company in a holding company
system must prepare and file
electronically with the FERC the Form
No. 60, pursuant to the General
Instructions in the form.
FERC–61
FERC–61 is a filing requirement for
service companies in holding company
systems (including special purpose
companies) that are currently exempt or
granted a waiver of FERC’s regulations
and would not have to file FERC Form
60. Instead, those service companies are
required to file, on an annual basis, a
narrative description of the service
company’s functions during the prior
calendar year (FERC–61). In complying,
a holding company may make a single
filing on behalf of all of its service
company subsidiaries.
FERC–555A
FERC prescribed a mandated
preservation of records requirements for
holding companies and service
companies (unless otherwise exempted
by FERC). This requires them to
116.62
$8,396
9,913
$713,736
$8,396
maintain and make available to FERC,
their books and records. The
preservation of records requirement
provides for uniform records retention
by holding companies and centralized
service companies subject to PUHCA
2005.
Data from the FERC Form 60, FERC–
61, and FERC–555A provide a level of
transparency that: (1) Helps protect
ratepayers from pass-through of
improper service company costs, (2)
enables FERC to review and determine
cost allocations (among holding
company members) for certain nonpower goods and services, (3) aids FERC
in meeting its oversight and market
monitoring obligations, and (4) benefits
the public, both as ratepayers and
investors. In addition, the FERC’s audit
staff used these records during
compliance reviews and special
analyses.
If data from the FERC Form 60, FERC–
61, and FERC–555A were not available,
FERC would not be able to meet its
statutory responsibilities, under EPAct
1992, EPAct of 2005, and PUHCA 2005,
and FERC would not have all of the
regulatory mechanisms necessary to
ensure customer protection.
Type of Respondent: Electric
transmission facilities
Estimate of Annual Burden: The
Commission estimates the annual public
reporting burden for the information
collection as:
FERC–60 (ANNUAL REPORT OF CENTRALIZED SERVICE COMPANIES), FERC–61 (NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF SERVICE
COMPANY FUNCTIONS), & FERC–555A (PRESERVATION OF RECORDS COMPANIES AND SERVICE COMPANIES SUBJECT TO PUHCA)
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Number of
respondents
Annual
number of
responses per
respondent
Total number
of responses
Average
burden & cost
per response
Total annual
burden hours
& total annual
cost
Cost per
respondent
($)
(1)
(2)
(1)*(2)=(3)
(4)
(3)*(4)=(5)
(5)÷(1)
FERC–60 19 ..............................................
39
15 The estimates for cost per response are derived
using the FERC average salary of $149,489/year (or
$72.00/hour). Commission staff finds that the work
done for this information collection is typically
done by wage categories similar to those at FERC.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:00 Nov 03, 2015
Jkt 238001
1
39
16 The requirements for this collection are
contained in 18 CFR part 358 and 18 CFR part
250.16.
17 Federal Books and Records Access Provision.
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
75
$4,280
18 Non-Power
E:\FR\FM\04NON1.SGM
2,925
$166,929
$4,280
Goods and Services Provision.
04NON1
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 213 / Wednesday, November 4, 2015 / Notices
68317
FERC–60 (ANNUAL REPORT OF CENTRALIZED SERVICE COMPANIES), FERC–61 (NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF SERVICE
COMPANY FUNCTIONS), & FERC–555A (PRESERVATION OF RECORDS COMPANIES AND SERVICE COMPANIES SUBJECT TO PUHCA)—Continued
Number of
respondents
Annual
number of
responses per
respondent
Total number
of responses
Average
burden & cost
per response
Total annual
burden hours
& total annual
cost
Cost per
respondent
($)
(1)
(2)
(1)*(2)=(3)
(4)
(3)*(4)=(5)
(5)÷(1)
FERC–61 20 ..............................................
100
1
100
FERC–555A 21 .........................................
100
1
Total ..................................................
........................
........................
The total estimated annual cost
burden to respondents is $3,516,262
[$166,725 (FERC Form 60) + $1,537.00
(FERC–61) + $3,348,000 (FERC–555A) =
$3,516,600].
FERC Form 60: 2,925 hours * $57.07/
hour = $166,929.00.
FERC–61: 50 hours * $37.50/hour =
$1,875.
FERC–555A: 22
• Labor costs for paper storage: 108,000
hours * $31.00/hours = $3,348,000
• Record Retention/storage cost for
paper storage (using an estimate of
6,000 ft3): $38,763.75
• Electronic record retention/storage
cost: $2,335,500 [108,000 hours ÷ 2 =
54,000 * $28.00/hour 23 = $1,512,000;
electronic record storage cost: 54,000
hours * $15.25/year 24 = $823,500;
total electronic record storage:
$2,335,500].
Dated: October 28, 2015.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015–28086 Filed 11–3–15; 8:45 am]
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
19 For the FERC–60 the $57.00 (rounded from
$57.07) hourly cost figure comes from the average
cost of an management analyst (Occupation Code
13–1111) and an accountant (Occupation Code 13–
2011) as posted on the Bureau of Labor Statistics
(BLS) Web site (https://www/bls.gov/oes/current/
naics2_22.htm).
20 For the FERC–61 the $37.50 hourly cost figure
comes from the cost of a records clerk (Occupation
Code 43–4199) as posted on the BLS Web site
(https://www/bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm).
21 For the FERC–555 the $31.00 hourly cost figure
(rounded from $30.71) comes from the cost of a file
clerk (Occupation Code 43–4071) as posted on the
BLS Web site (https://www/bls.gov/oes/current/
naics2_22.htm).
22 Internal
analysis assumes 50% electronic and
50% paper storage.
23 The Commission bases the $28/hour figure on
a FERC staff study that included estimating public
utility recordkeeping costs.
24 Per entity; the Commission bases this figure on
the estimated cost to service and to store 1 GB of
data (based on the aggregated cost of an IBM
advanced data protection server).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:00 Nov 03, 2015
Jkt 238001
100
0.5
$18.75
1,080
$33,480
50
$1,875
108,000
$3,348,000
33,480
........................
1155.50
$37,779
110,975
$3,516,804
37,779
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. RM15–14–000]
Revised Critical Infrastructure
Protection; Reliability Standards;
Notice of Techinical Conference
Take notice that the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (Commission)
will hold a Commission staff-led
technical conference on Critical
Infrastructure Protection Supply Chain
Risk Management issues identified in
the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(NOPR) in the above-captioned docket
on January 28, 2016. The conference
will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at
approximately 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time).
The conference will be held at the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
888 First Street NE., Washington, DC
20426.
The technical conference shall
facilitate a structured dialogue on
supply chain risk management issues
identified by the Commission in the
Revised Critical Infrastructure
Protection (CIP) Standards NOPR.
Technical Conference panelists may be
asked to address: (1) The NOPR
proposal to direct that NERC develop a
Reliability Standard to address supply
chain risk management; (2) the
anticipated features of, and
requirements that should be included
in, such a standard; and (3) a reasonable
timeframe for development of a
standard. The technical conference will
be led by Commission staff, with
prepared remarks to be presented by
invited panelists, which must be
submitted to the Commission in
advance of the conference. A
subsequent notice providing an agenda
and details on the topics for discussion
will be issued in advance of the
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
18.75
conference. Commissioners may attend
and participate.
There is no fee for attendance.
However, members of the public are
encouraged to preregister online at:
https://www.ferc.gov/whats-new/
registration/01-28-16-form.asp.
Those wishing to participate in panel
discussions should submit nominations
no later than close of business on
November 20, 2015 online at: https://
www.ferc.gov/whats-new/registration/
01-28-16-speaker-form.asp.
There will be no webcast of this
event. However, it will be transcribed.
Transcripts of the conference will be
immediately available for a fee from
Ace-Federal Reporters, Inc. (202–347–
3700).
Commission conferences are
accessible under section 508 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For
accessibility accommodations please
send an email to accessibility@ferc.gov
or call toll free (866) 208–3372 (voice)
or (202) 502–8659 (TTY), or send a fax
to (202) 208–2106 with the requested
accommodations.
For more information about the
technical conference, please contact:
Sarah McKinley, Office of External
Affairs, 202–502–8368, sarah.mckinley@
ferc.gov.
Dated: October 28, 2015.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015–28091 Filed 11–3–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
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04NON1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 213 (Wednesday, November 4, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68312-68317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-28086]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC16-2-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-538, FERC-740,
FERC-729, FERC-715, FERC-592, FERC-60, FERC-61, and FERC-555A);
Consolidated Comment Request; Extension
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of information collections and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A), the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the
requirements and burden \1\ of the information collections described
below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Commission defines burden as the total time, effort, or
financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain,
retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal
agency. For further explanation of what is included in the
information collection burden, reference 5 Code of Federal
Regulations 1320.3.
DATES: Comments on the collections of information are due January 4,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments (identified by Docket No. IC16-2-
000) by either of the following methods:
eFiling at Commission's Web site: https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp.
Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20426.
Please reference the specific collection number and/or title in
your comments.
Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in
accordance with submission guidelines at: https://www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp. For user assistance contact FERC Online Support
by email at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or by phone at: (866) 208-3676
(toll-free), or (202) 502-8659 for TTY.
Docket: Users interested in receiving automatic notification of
activity in this docket or in viewing/downloading comments and
issuances in this docket may do so at https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/docs-filing.asp.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at
DataClearance@FERC.gov, telephone at (202) 502-8663, and fax at (202)
273-0873.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 68313]]
Type of Request: Three-year extension of the information collection
requirements for all collections described below with no changes to the
current reporting requirements. Please note that each collection is
distinct from the next.
Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the collections of
information are necessary for the proper performance of the functions
of the Commission, including whether the information will have
practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the
burden and cost of the collections of information, including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance
the quality, utility and clarity of the information collections; and
(4) ways to minimize the burden of the collections of information on
those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology.
FERC-538, Gas Pipelines Certificates: Sections 7(a) Mandatory Initial
Service
OMB Control No.: 1902-0061.
Abstract: Under sections 7(a), 10(a) and 16 of Natural Gas Act
(NGA),\2\ upon application by a person or municipality authorized to
engage in the local distribution of natural gas, the Commission may
order a natural gas company to extend or improve its transportation
facilities, and sell natural gas to the municipality or person and, for
such purpose, to extend its transportation facilities to communities
immediately adjacent to such facilities or to territories served by the
natural gas pipeline company. The Commission uses the application data
in order to be fully informed concerning the applicant, and the service
the applicant is requesting.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ 15 U.S.C. 717f-w.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type of Respondent: Persons or municipalities authorized to engage
in the local distribution of natural gas.
Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the annual
public reporting burden for the information collection as:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The estimates for cost per response are derived using the
following formula: Average Burden Hours per Response * $72.00 per
Hour = Average Cost per Response. The hourly cost figure comes from
the FERC average salary of $149,489/year.
FERC-538--Gas Pipeline Certificates: Section 7(a) Mandatory Initial Service
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual number Average Total annual
Number of of responses Total number burden & cost burden hours & Cost per
respondents per of responses per response total annual respondent
respondent \3\ cost ($)
(1) (2) (1)*(2)=(3) (4) (3)*(4)=(5) (5)/(1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gas Pipeline Certificates............................... 1 1 1 240 240 $17,280
$17,280 $17,280
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FERC-740, Availability of e-Tag Information to Commission Staff
OMB Control No.: 1902-0254.
Abstract: In Order 771,\4\ the FERC-740 information collection
(providing Commission staff access to e-Tag data) was implemented to
provide the Commission, Market Monitoring Units (MMUs), Regional
Transmission Organizations (RTOs), and Independent System Operators
(ISOs) with information that allows them to perform market surveillance
and analysis more effectively. The e-Tag information is necessary to
understand the use of the interconnected electricity grid, particularly
transactions occurring at interchanges. Due to the nature of the
electricity grid, an individual transaction's impact on an interchange
cannot be assessed adequately in all cases without information from all
connected systems, which is included in the e-Tags. The details of the
physical path of a transaction included in the e-Tags helps the
Commission to monitor, in particular, interchange transactions
effectively, detect and prevent price manipulation over interchanges,
and ensure the efficient and orderly use of the transmission grid. For
example, the e-Tag data allows the Commission to identify transmission
reservations as they go from one market to another and link the market
participants involved in that transaction.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ Order 771 was issued in Docket No. RM11-12 (77 FR 76367, 12/
28/2012).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Order No. 771 provided the Commission access to e-Tags by requiring
that Purchasing-Selling Entities \5\ (PSEs) and Balancing Authorities
(BAs), list the Commission on the ``CC'' list of e-Tags so that the
Commission can receive a copy of the e-Tags. The Commission accesses
the e-Tags by contracting with a commercial vendor, OATI. In early
2014, the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB) incorporated
the requirement that the Commission be added to the ``CC'' list on e-
Tags as part of the tagging process.\6\ Even before NAESB added the
FERC requirement to the tagging standards, the rules behind the ``CC''
list requirement had already been programmed into the industry standard
tagging software so as to make the inclusion of FERC in the ``CC'' list
automatic. The Commission expects that PSEs and BAs will continue to
use existing, automated procedures to create and validate the e-Tags in
a way that provides the Commission with access to them. In the rare
event that a new BA would need to alert e-Tag administrators that
certain tags it generates qualify for exemption under the Commission's
regulations (e.g., transmissions from a new Canadian BA into another
Canadian BA), this administrative function would be expected to require
less than an hour of effort total from both the BA and an e-Tag
administrator to include the BA on the exemption list. New exempt BAs
occur less frequently than every year, but for the purpose of
estimation we will conservatively assume one appears each year creating
an additional burden associated with the Commission's FERC-740
requirement of $60.59.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ A Purchasing-Selling Entity is the entity that purchases or
sells, and takes title to, energy, capacity, and Interconnected
Operations Services. Purchasing-Selling Entities may be affiliated
or unaffiliated merchants and may or may not own generating
facilities. Purchasing-Selling Entities are typically E-Tag Authors.
\6\ NAESB Electronic Tagging Functional Specifications, Version
1.8.2.
\7\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) provided in
this section is based on the figures for May 2014 posted by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics for the Utilities sector (available at
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm#13-0000) assuming:
15 minutes legal (code 23-0000), $129.87 hourly
45 minutes information and record clerk (code 43-4199),
$37.50 hourly.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type of Respondent: Purchasing-Selling Entities and Balancing
Authorities.
[[Page 68314]]
Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the annual
public reporting burden (rounded) for the information collection as:
FERC-740--Availability of e-Tag Information to Commission Staff
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual number Average Total annual
Number of of responses Total number burden hours burden hours & Cost per
FERC-740 respondents per of responses & cost per total annual respondent
respondent response cost ($)
(1) (2) (1)*(2)=(3) (4) (3)*(4)=(5) (5)/(1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purchasing-Selling Entities (e-Tag Authors)............. 369 4,404 1,625,326 0 0 $0
Balancing Authorities................................... 101 16,092 1,625,326 0 0 0
New Balancing Authority [as noted above]................ 1 1 1 1 hr.; $60.59 1 hr.; $60.59 60.59
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................................... 470 .............. .............. .............. 1 hr.; $60.59 60.59
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FERC-729, Electric Transmission Facilities
OMB Control No.: 1902-0238.
Abstract: This information collection implements the Commission's
mandates under EPAct 2005 section 1221 which authorizes the Commission
to issue permits under FPA section 216(b) for electric transmission
facilities and the Commission's delegated responsibility to coordinate
all other federal authorizations under FPA section 216(h). The related
FERC regulations seek to develop a timely review process for siting of
proposed electric transmission facilities. The regulations provide for
(among other things) an extensive pre-application process that will
facilitate maximum participation from all interested entities and
individuals to provide them with a reasonable opportunity to present
their views and recommendations, with respect to the need for and
impact of the facilities, early in the planning stages of the proposed
facilities as required under FPA section 216(d).
Additionally, FERC has the authority to issue a permit to construct
electric transmission facilities if a state has withheld approval for
more than a year or has conditioned its approval in such a manner that
it will not significantly reduce transmission congestion or is not
economically feasible.\8\ FERC envisions that, under certain
circumstances, the Commission's review of the proposed facilities may
take place after one year of the state's review. Under section
50.6(e)(3) the Commission will not accept applications until one year
after the state's review and then from applicants who can demonstrate
that a state may withhold or condition approval of proposed facilities
to such an extent that the facilities will not be constructed.\9\ In
cases where FERC's jurisdiction rests on FPA section 216(b)(1)(C),\10\
the pre-filing process should not commence until one year after the
relevant State applications have been filed. This will give states one
full year to process an application without any intervening Federal
proceedings, including both the pre-filing and application processes.
Once that year is complete, an applicant may seek to commence FERC's
pre-filing process. Thereafter, once the pre-filing process is
complete, the applicant may submit its application for a construction
permit.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ FPA section 216(b)(1)(C).
\9\ However, the Commission will not issue a permit authorizing
construction of the proposed facilities until, among other things,
it finds that the state has, in fact, withheld approval for more
than a year or had so conditioned its approval.
\10\ In all other instances (i.e. where the state does not have
jurisdiction to act or otherwise to consider interstate benefits, or
the applicant does not qualify to apply for a permit with the State
because it does not serve end use customers in the State), the pre-
filing process may be commenced at any time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type of Respondent: Electric transmission facilities.
Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the annual
public reporting burden for the information collection as:
FERC-729--Electric Transmission Facilities
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual number Average Total annual
Number of of responses Total number burden & cost burden hours & Cost per
respondents per of responses per response total annual respondent
respondent \11\ cost ($)
(1) (2) (1)*(2)=(3) (4) (3)*(4)=(5) (5)/(1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electric Transmission Facilities........................ 1 1 1 9,600 9,600 $691,200
$691,200 $691,200
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\11\ The estimates for cost per response are derived using the
following formula: Average Burden Hours per Response * $72.00 per
Hour = Average Cost per Response. The hourly cost figure comes from
the FERC average salary of $149,489/year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
FERC-715, Annual Transmission Planning and Evaluation Report
OMB Control No.: 1902-0171
Abstract: Acting under FPA section 213,\12\ FERC requires each
transmitting utility that operates integrated transmission system
facilities rated above 100 kilovolts (kV) to submit annually:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\12\ 16 U.S.C. 824l.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact information for the FERC-715;
Base case power flow data (if it does not participate in
the development and use of regional power flow data);
Transmission system maps and diagrams used by the
respondent for transmission planning;
[[Page 68315]]
A detailed description of the transmission planning
reliability criteria used to evaluate system performance for time
frames and planning horizons used in regional and corporate planning;
A detailed description of the respondent's transmission
planning assessment practices (including, but not limited to, how
reliability criteria are applied and the steps taken in performing
transmission planning studies); and
A detailed evaluation of the respondent's anticipated
system performance as measured against its stated reliability criteria
using its stated assessment practices.
The FERC-715 enables the Commission to use the information as part
of their regulatory oversight functions which includes:
The review of rates and charges;
The disposition of jurisdictional facilities;
The consolidation and mergers;
The adequacy of supply and;
Reliability of nation's transmission grid
The FERC-715 enables the Commission to facilitate and resolve
transmission disputes. Additionally, the Office of Electric Reliability
(OER) uses the FERC-715 data to help protect and improve the
reliability and security of the nation's bulk power system. OER
oversees the development and review of mandatory reliability and
security standards and ensures compliance with the approved standards
by the users, owners, and operators of the bulk power system. OER also
monitors and addresses issues concerning the nation's bulk power system
including assessments of resource adequacy and reliability.
Without the FERC-715 data, the Commission would be unable to
evaluate planned projects or requests related to transmission.
Type of Respondent: Integrated transmission system facilities rated
at or above 100 kilovolts (kV).
Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the annual
public reporting burden for the information collection as:
FERC-715--Annual Transmission Planning and Evaluation Report
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual number Total annual
Number of of responses Total number Average burden burden hours & Cost per
respondents per of responses & cost per total annual respondent
respondent response \13\ cost ($)
(1) (2) (1)*(2)=3 (4) (3)*(4)=(5) (5)/(1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual Transmission Planning and Evaluation Report...... 115 1 115 160 18,400 $11,520
$11,520 $ 1,324,800
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................................... .............. .............. 115 .............. 18,400 $11,520
$ 1,324,800
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ The estimates for cost per response are derived using the
following formula: Average Burden Hours per Response * $72 per Hour
= Average Cost per Response. The hourly cost figure comes from the
FERC average salary of $149,489. Subject matter experts found that
industry employment costs closely resemble FERC's regarding the
FERC-715 information collection.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
FERC-592: Standards of Conduct for Transmission Provider and Marketing
Affiliates of Interstate Pipelines
OMB Control No.: 1902-0157
Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-592 information
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting
requirements.
Abstract: The Commission uses the information maintained and posted
by the respondents to monitor the pipeline's transportation, sales, and
storage activities for its marketing affiliate to deter undue
discrimination by pipeline companies in favor of their marketing
affiliates. Non-affiliated shippers and other entities (e.g. state
commissions) also use information to determine whether they have been
harmed by affiliate preference and to prepare evidence for proceedings
following the filing of a complaint.
18 CFR Part 358 (Standards of Conduct)
Respondents maintain and provide the information required by part
358 on their internet Web sites. When the Commission requires a
pipeline to post information on its Web site following a disclosure of
non-public information to its marketing affiliate, non-affiliated
shippers obtain comparable access to the non-public transportation
information, which allows them to compete with marketing affiliates on
a more equal basis.
18 CFR 250.16, and the FERC-592 log/format
This form (log/format) provides the electronic formats for
maintaining information on discounted transportation transactions and
capacity allocation to support monitoring of activities of interstate
pipeline marketing affiliates. Commission staff considers discounts
given to shippers in litigated rate cases.
Without this information collection:
The Commission would be unable to effectively monitor
whether pipelines are giving discriminatory preference to their
marketing affiliates; and
non-affiliated shippers and state commissions and others
would be unable to determine if they have been harmed by affiliate
preference or prepare evidence for proceedings following the filing of
a complaint.
Type of Respondents: Natural gas pipelines.
Estimate of Annual Burden: \14\ The Commission estimates the annual
public reporting burden for the information collection as:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\14\ The Commission defines burden as the total time, effort, or
financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain,
retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal
agency. For further explanation of what is included in the
information collection burden, reference 5 Code of Federal
Regulations 1320.3.
[[Page 68316]]
FERC-592--Standards for Conduct for Transmission Providers Marketing Affiliates of Interstate Pipelines
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual number Average Total annual
Number of of responses Total number burden & cost burden hours & Cost per
respondents per of responses per response total annual respondent
respondent \15\ cost ($)
(1) (2) (1)*(2)=(3) (4) (3)*(4)=(5) (5)/(1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FERC 592 \16\........................................... 85 1 85 116.62 9,913 $8,396
$8,396 $713,736
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\15\ The estimates for cost per response are derived using the
FERC average salary of $149,489/year (or $72.00/hour). Commission
staff finds that the work done for this information collection is
typically done by wage categories similar to those at FERC.
\16\ The requirements for this collection are contained in 18
CFR part 358 and 18 CFR part 250.16.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
FERC-60 (Annual Report of Centralized Service Companies), FERC-61
(Narrative Description of Service Company Functions), and FERC-555A
(Preservation of Records Companies and Service Companies Subject to
PUHCA)
OMB Control No.: 1902-0215.
Abstract: On August 8, 2005, the Energy Policy Act of 2005, was
signed into law, repealing the Public Utility Holding Company Act of
1935 (PUHCA 1935) and enacting the Public Utility Holding Company Act
of 2005 (PUHCA 2005). Section 1264 \17\ and section 1275 \18\ of PUHCA
2005 supplemented FERC's existing ratemaking authority under the
Federal Power Act (FPA) to protect customers against improper cross-
subsidization or encumbrances of public utility assets, and similarly,
FERC's ratemaking authority under the Natural Gas Act (NGA). These
provisions of PUHCA 2005 supplemented the FERC's broad authority under
FPA section 301 and NGA section 8 to obtain the books and records of
regulated companies and any person that controls or is under the
influence of such companies if relevant to jurisdictional activities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\17\ Federal Books and Records Access Provision.
\18\ Non-Power Goods and Services Provision.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
FERC Form 60
Form No. 60 is an annual reporting requirement under 18 CFR 366.23
for centralized service companies. The report's function is to collect
financial information (including balance sheet, assets, liabilities,
billing and charges for associated and non-associated companies) from
centralized service companies subject to the jurisdiction of the FERC.
Unless Commission rule exempts or grants a waiver pursuant to 18 CFR
366.3 and 366.4 to the holding company system, every centralized
service company in a holding company system must prepare and file
electronically with the FERC the Form No. 60, pursuant to the General
Instructions in the form.
FERC-61
FERC-61 is a filing requirement for service companies in holding
company systems (including special purpose companies) that are
currently exempt or granted a waiver of FERC's regulations and would
not have to file FERC Form 60. Instead, those service companies are
required to file, on an annual basis, a narrative description of the
service company's functions during the prior calendar year (FERC-61).
In complying, a holding company may make a single filing on behalf of
all of its service company subsidiaries.
FERC-555A
FERC prescribed a mandated preservation of records requirements for
holding companies and service companies (unless otherwise exempted by
FERC). This requires them to maintain and make available to FERC, their
books and records. The preservation of records requirement provides for
uniform records retention by holding companies and centralized service
companies subject to PUHCA 2005.
Data from the FERC Form 60, FERC-61, and FERC-555A provide a level
of transparency that: (1) Helps protect ratepayers from pass-through of
improper service company costs, (2) enables FERC to review and
determine cost allocations (among holding company members) for certain
non-power goods and services, (3) aids FERC in meeting its oversight
and market monitoring obligations, and (4) benefits the public, both as
ratepayers and investors. In addition, the FERC's audit staff used
these records during compliance reviews and special analyses.
If data from the FERC Form 60, FERC-61, and FERC-555A were not
available, FERC would not be able to meet its statutory
responsibilities, under EPAct 1992, EPAct of 2005, and PUHCA 2005, and
FERC would not have all of the regulatory mechanisms necessary to
ensure customer protection.
Type of Respondent: Electric transmission facilities
Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the annual
public reporting burden for the information collection as:
FERC-60 (Annual Report of Centralized Service Companies), FERC-61 (Narrative Description of Service Company Functions), & FERC-555A (Preservation of
Records Companies and Service Companies Subject to PUHCA)
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Annual number Total annual
Number of of responses Total number Average burden hours & Cost per
respondents per of responses burden & cost total annual respondent
respondent per response cost ($)
(1) (2) (1)*(2)=(3) (4) (3)*(4)=(5) (5)/(1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FERC-60 \19\............................................ 39 1 39 75 2,925 $4,280
$4,280 $166,929
[[Page 68317]]
FERC-61 \20\............................................ 100 1 100 0.5 50 18.75
$18.75 $1,875
FERC-555A \21\.......................................... 100 1 100 1,080 108,000 33,480
$33,480 $3,348,000
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Total............................................... .............. .............. .............. 1155.50 110,975 37,779
$37,779 $3,516,804
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\19\ For the FERC-60 the $57.00 (rounded from $57.07) hourly
cost figure comes from the average cost of an management analyst
(Occupation Code 13-1111) and an accountant (Occupation Code 13-
2011) as posted on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Web site
(https://www/bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm).
\20\ For the FERC-61 the $37.50 hourly cost figure comes from
the cost of a records clerk (Occupation Code 43-4199) as posted on
the BLS Web site (https://www/bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm).
\21\ For the FERC-555 the $31.00 hourly cost figure (rounded
from $30.71) comes from the cost of a file clerk (Occupation Code
43-4071) as posted on the BLS Web site (https://www/bls.gov/oes/
current/naics2_22.htm).
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The total estimated annual cost burden to respondents is $3,516,262
[$166,725 (FERC Form 60) + $1,537.00 (FERC-61) + $3,348,000 (FERC-555A)
= $3,516,600].
FERC Form 60: 2,925 hours * $57.07/hour = $166,929.00.
FERC-61: 50 hours * $37.50/hour = $1,875.
FERC-555A: \22\
\22\ Internal analysis assumes 50% electronic and 50% paper
storage.
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Labor costs for paper storage: 108,000 hours * $31.00/hours =
$3,348,000
Record Retention/storage cost for paper storage (using an
estimate of 6,000 ft\3\): $38,763.75
Electronic record retention/storage cost: $2,335,500 [108,000
hours / 2 = 54,000 * $28.00/hour \23\ = $1,512,000; electronic record
storage cost: 54,000 hours * $15.25/year \24\ = $823,500; total
electronic record storage: $2,335,500].
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\23\ The Commission bases the $28/hour figure on a FERC staff
study that included estimating public utility recordkeeping costs.
\24\ Per entity; the Commission bases this figure on the
estimated cost to service and to store 1 GB of data (based on the
aggregated cost of an IBM advanced data protection server).
Dated: October 28, 2015.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-28086 Filed 11-3-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
