Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725); Comment Request; Extension, 703-705 [2019-00452]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 21 / Thursday, January 31, 2019 / Notices decisional record of the proceeding, unless the communication was with a cooperating agency as described by 40 CFR 1501.6, made under 18 CFR 385.2201(e)(1)(v). The following is a list of off-therecord communications recently received by the Secretary of the Commission. The communications listed are grouped by docket numbers in ascending order. These filings are available for electronic review at the Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the Commission’s website at https:// www.ferc.gov using the eLibrary link. Docket No. Enter the docket number, excluding the last three digits, in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ ferc.gov or toll free at (866) 208–3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 502–8659. File date Prohibited: 1. CP15–554–000, CP15–554–001 ..................................... 2. CP15–554–000 ................................................................ Exempt: 1. CP16–454–000, CP16–455–000 ..................................... 2. CP17–21–000, CP18–7–000 ........................................... 3. CP18–186–000 ................................................................ 4. CP18–46–000 .................................................................. 5. CP18–186–000 ................................................................ 703 Presenter or requester 12–7–2018 12–14–2018 Dominion Dental. FERC Staff.1 12–11–2018 12–12–2018 12–12–2018 12–13–2018 U.S. Congressman Pete Olson. FERC Staff.2 FERC Staff.3 U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, Pennsylvania State Representative Craig Staats. FERC Staff.4 12–17–2018 1 Memo forwarding email dated December 7, 2018 from Shawn Smeallie. summary for call on November 28, 2018 with PAPL and Merjent. Call memo for call on December 11, 2018 with Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC. 4 Memo for email on December 17, 2018 with Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC. 2 Call 3 Conference Dated: December 26, 2018. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2019–00462 Filed 1–30–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. IC18–19–000] Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC–725); Comment Request; Extension Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE. ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments. AGENCY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved information collection FERC– 725 (Certification of Electric Reliability Organization; Procedures for Electric Reliability Standards) and submitting the information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. Any interested person may file comments directly with OMB and should address a copy of those comments to the Commission as explained below. On September 27, 2018, the Commission published a Notice in the Federal Register in Docket No. IC18–19–000 requesting public comments. The Commission received amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:24 Jan 30, 2019 Jkt 247001 one public comment which is addressed here and in the related submittal to OMB. DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due March 4, 2019. ADDRESSES: Comments filed with OMB, identified by OMB Control No. 1902– 0225, should be sent via email to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs: oira_submission@omb.gov. Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Desk Officer. A copy of the comments should also be sent to the Commission, in Docket No. IC18–19–000, by either of the following methods: • eFiling at Commission’s Website: 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. 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. PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: FERC–725, Certification of Electric Reliability Organization; Procedures for Electric Reliability Standards. OMB Control No.: 1902–0225. Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC–725 information collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Abstract: The FERC–725 contains the following information collection elements: Self Assessment and ERO (Electric Reliability Organization) Application: The Commission requires the ERO to submit to FERC a performance assessment report every five years. The next assessment is due in 2019. Each Regional Entity submits a performance assessment report to the ERO. Submitting an application to become the ERO is also part of this collection.1 Reliability Assessments: 18 CFR 39.11 requires the ERO to assess the reliability and adequacy of the Bulk-Power System in North America. Subsequently, the ERO must report to the Commission on its findings. Regional entities perform similar assessments within individual regions. Currently the ERO submits to FERC three assessments each year: Long term, winter, and summer. In addition, the North American Electric Reliability 1 The Commission does not expect any new ERO applications to be submitted in the next five years and is not including any burden for this requirement in the burden estimate. FERC still seeks to renew the regulations pertaining to a new ERO application under this renewal but is expecting the burden to be zero for the foreseeable future. 18 CFR 39.3 contains the regulation pertaining to ERO applications. E:\FR\FM\31JAN1.SGM 31JAN1 704 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 21 / Thursday, January 31, 2019 / Notices Corporation (NERC, the Commissionapproved ERO) also submits various other assessments as needed. Reliability Standards Development: Under section 215 of the FPA, the ERO is charged with developing Reliability Standards. Regional Entities may also develop regional specific standards. Reliability Compliance: Reliability Standards are mandatory and enforceable upon approval by the Commission. In addition to the specific information collection requirements contained in each standard (cleared under other information collections), there are general compliance, monitoring and enforcement information collection requirements imposed on applicable entities. Audits, spot checks, self-certifications, exception data submittals, violation reporting, and mitigation plan confirmation are included in this area. Stakeholder Survey: The ERO uses a stakeholder survey to solicit feedback from registered entities 2 in preparation for its three year and five year selfperformance assessment. The Commission assumes that the ERO will perform another survey prior to the 2019 self-assessment. Other Reporting: This category refers to all other reporting requirements imposed on the ERO or regional entities in order to comply with the Commission’s regulations. For example, FERC may require NERC to submit a special reliability assessment. This category captures these types of onetime filings required of NERC or the Regions. The Commission implements its responsibilities through 18 CFR part 39. Type of Respondent: Electric Reliability Organization, Regional entities, and registered entities. Summary and Response to Public Comment: In response to the Notice of Information Collection and Request for Comments published in the Federal Register on September 21, 2018, the Commission received one comment from Utility Services, Inc. The comment sought clarification on certain compliance provisions contained in the Rules of Procedure of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), which are approved by the Commission. The comment maintained that, depending on the Commission’s answer, the information collection burden on applicable entities associated with the application of the NERC Rules of Procedure could be affected. The Commission finds this proceeding is not the proper forum to request clarification regarding the scope and application of the NERC Rules of Procedure. Such requests may be directed to NERC or, more formally, through a petition to the Commission proposing changes to the NERC Rules of Procedure. Such a request, if filed with the Commission, would be addressed after notice and opportunity for comment and the development of a record. By contrast, while the comment states that the request for clarification is motivated by uncertainty among applicable entities (i.e., the commenter’s unnamed clients), that assertion is unsubstantiated. In addition, the provisions in the NERC Rules of Procedure referenced by the commenter were approved by the Commission in response to a petition filed by NERC, to which no comments were received. Estimate of Annual Burden: 3 The Commission estimates the total annual burden and cost 4 for this information collection in the table below. For hourly cost (for wages and benefits), we estimate that 70% of the time is spent by Electrical Engineers (code 17–2071, at $66.90/hr.), 20% of the time is spent by Legal (code 23–0000, at $143.68/hr.), and 10% by Office and Administrative Support (code 43–0000, at $41.34/hr.). Therefore, we use the weighted hourly cost (for wages and benefits) of $79.70 {or [(0.70) * ($66.90/hr.)] + [(0.20) * $143.68/hr.] + [(0.10) * $41.34/hr.]}. FERC–725—CERTIFICATION OF ELECTRIC RELIABILITY ORGANIZATION; PROCEDURES FOR ELECTRIC RELIABILITY STANDARDS Type of respondent amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 Electric Reliability Organization (ERO). Type of reporting requirement Number of respondents Annual number of responses per respondent Total number of responses Average burden hours & cost ($) per response (rounded) Estimated total annual burden hrs. & cost ($) (rounded) (A) (B) 5 (A) × (B) = (C) (D) (C) × (D) Self-Assessment .......... ........................ .2 .2 4,160 hrs.; $331,552 ............ 832 hrs.; $66,310. Reliability Assessments Reliability Compliance .. Standards Development Other Reporting ............ ........................ ........................ ........................ 1 5.5 2 1 1 5.5 2 1 1 15,600 hrs.; $1,243,320 ....... 20,280 hrs.; $1,616,316 ....... 21,840 hrs.; $1,740,648 ....... 2,080 hrs.; $165,776 ............ 85,800 hrs.; $6,838,260. 40,560 hrs.; $3,232,632. 21,840 hrs.; $1,740,648. 2,080 hrs.; $165,776. ERO, Sub-Total ...... Regional Entities ........... ....................................... Self-Assessment .......... Reliability Assessments Reliability Compliance .. Standards Development Other Reporting ............ ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................ 7 ........................ .2 1 1 1 1 ........................ 1.4 7 7 7 7 .............................................. 4,160 hrs.; $331,552 ............ 15,600 hrs.; $1,243,320 ....... 37,440 hrs.; $2,983,968 ....... 2,340 hrs.; $186,498 ............ 1,040 hrs.; $82,888 .............. 151,112 hrs.; $12,043,626. 5,824 hrs.; $464,173. 109,200 hrs.; $8,703,240. 262,080 hrs.; $20,887,776. 16,380 hrs.; $1,305,486. 7,280 hrs.; $580,216. Regional Entities, Sub-Total. Registered Entities ........ ....................................... ........................ ........................ ........................ .............................................. 400,764 hrs.; $31,940,891. Stakeholder Survey ...... Reliability Compliance .. ........................ * 1,409 .2 1 281.8 1,409 8 hrs.; $637.60 ..................... 400 hrs.; $31,880 ................. 2,254 hrs.; $179,676. 563,600 hrs.; $44,918,920. 2 A ‘‘registered entity’’ is an entity that is registered with the ERO. All Bulk-Power System owners, operators and users are required to register with the ERO. Registration is the basis for determining the Reliability Standards with which an entity must comply. See https://www.nerc.com/ page.php?cid=3%7C25 for more details. 3 ‘‘Burden’’ is the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:21 Jan 30, 2019 Jkt 247001 maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. For further explanation of what is included in the information collection burden, refer to Title 5 Code of Federal Regulations 1320.3. 4 Costs (for wages and benefits) are based on wage figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for May 2017 (at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/ PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 naics2_22.htm) and benefits information (at https:// www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm). 5 In instances where the number of responses per respondent is ‘‘1,’’ the Commission Staff thinks that the actual number of responses varies and cannot be estimated accurately. E:\FR\FM\31JAN1.SGM 31JAN1 705 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 21 / Thursday, January 31, 2019 / Notices FERC–725—CERTIFICATION OF ELECTRIC RELIABILITY ORGANIZATION; PROCEDURES FOR ELECTRIC RELIABILITY STANDARDS—Continued Type of reporting requirement Type of respondent Number of respondents Annual number of responses per respondent Total number of responses Average burden hours & cost ($) per response (rounded) Estimated total annual burden hrs. & cost ($) (rounded) (A) (B) 5 (A) × (B) = (C) (D) (C) × (D) Registered Entities, Sub-Total. ....................................... ........................ ........................ ........................ .............................................. 565,854 hrs.; $45,098,596. Total Burden Hrs. and Cost. ....................................... ........................ ........................ ........................ .............................................. 1,117,730 hrs.; $89,083,113. * Estimated. As indicated in the table, there was a decrease from eight to seven in the number of Regional Entities because the Southwest Power Pool dissolved in 2018. Other changes from previous estimates are based on new data in the proposed NERC 2019 Business Plan and Budget to reflect changes in the number of FTEs (full-time equivalent employees) working in applicable areas. Reviewing the NERC Compliance database, we determined the number of unique U.S. entities is 1,409 (compared to the previous value of 1,446). Lastly, in several instances, the amount of time an FTE devotes to a given function may have been increased or decreased. 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: January 9, 2019. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2019–00452 Filed 1–30–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Combined Notice of Filings #1 Take notice that the Commission received the following electric corporate filings: Docket Numbers: EC19–48–000. VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:21 Jan 30, 2019 Jkt 247001 Applicants: American Electric Power Service Corporation, AEP Ohio Transmission Company, Inc. Description: Joint Application for Authorization Under Section 203 of the Federal Power Act of American Electric Power Service Corporation, on behalf of affiliate AEP Ohio Transmission Company, Inc. Filed Date: 1/23/19. Accession Number: 20190123–5081. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/13/19. Docket Numbers: EC19–49–000. Applicants: Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company. Description: Application for Authorization Under Section 203 of the Federal Power Act, et al. of Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company. Filed Date: 1/23/19. Accession Number: 20190123–5082. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/13/19. Take notice that the Commission received the following exempt wholesale generator filings: Docket Numbers: EG19–50–000. Applicants: Innolith Snook LLC. Description: Notice of SelfCertification of Exempt Wholesale Generator Status of Innolith Snook LLC. Filed Date: 1/23/19. Accession Number: 20190123–5070. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/13/19. Take notice that the Commission received the following electric rate filings: Docket Numbers: ER10–3307–000. Applicants: NRG Energy Center Dover LLC. Description: Report Filing: Refund Report to be effective N/A. Filed Date: 1/23/19. Accession Number: 20190123–5017. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/13/19. Docket Numbers: ER17–706–006. Applicants: GridLiance West LLC. Description: Compliance filing: GLW 206 Compliance Filing [EL18–158] to be effective 6/27/2018. Filed Date: 1/22/19. Accession Number: 20190122–5209. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/12/19. PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Docket Numbers: ER19–537–001; ER14–608–002; ER16–1644–002; ER17– 1214–001. Applicants: MRP San Joaquin Energy, LLC, High Desert Power Project, LLC, MRP Generation Holdings, LLC, Coso Geothermal Power Holdings, LLC. Description: Supplement to December 13, 2018 Notice of Change in Status of MRP San Joaquin Energy, LLC, et. al. Filed Date: 1/22/19. Accession Number: 20190122–5301. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/12/19. Docket Numbers: ER19–840–000. Applicants: PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: Second Revised ISA, SA No. 2136; Queue No. AC1–038/AC2–172 to be effective 12/22/2018. Filed Date: 1/22/19. Accession Number: 20190122–5202. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/12/19. Docket Numbers: ER19–841–000. Applicants: Energy Center Dover LLC. Description: Baseline eTariff Filing: Baseline MBR Tariff Refiling, Request for Administrative Cancellation & Waivers to be effective 1/23/2019. Filed Date: 1/22/19. Accession Number: 20190122–5203. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/12/19. Docket Numbers: ER19–842–000. Applicants: Energy Center Paxton LLC. Description: Baseline eTariff Filing: Baseline MBR Tariff Refiling, Request for Administrative Cancellation & Waivers to be effective 1/23/2019. Filed Date: 1/22/19. Accession Number: 20190122–5204. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/12/19. Docket Numbers: ER19–843–000. Applicants: Solar Blythe LLC. Description: Baseline eTariff Filing: Baseline MBR Tariff Refiling, Request for Administrative Cancellation & Waivers to be effective 1/23/2019. Filed Date: 1/22/19. Accession Number: 20190122–5205. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/12/19. Docket Numbers: ER19–844–000. E:\FR\FM\31JAN1.SGM 31JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 21 (Thursday, January 31, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 703-705]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-00452]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC18-19-000]

Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725); Comment
Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or
FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved
information collection FERC-725 (Certification of Electric Reliability
Organization; Procedures for Electric Reliability Standards) and
submitting the information collection to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for review. Any interested person may file comments
directly with OMB and should address a copy of those comments to the
Commission as explained below. On September 27, 2018, the Commission
published a Notice in the Federal Register in Docket No. IC18-19-000
requesting public comments. The Commission received one public comment
which is addressed here and in the related submittal to OMB.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due March 4, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Comments filed with OMB, identified by OMB Control No. 1902-
0225, should be sent via email to the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs: oira_submission@omb.gov. Attention: Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission Desk Officer.
A copy of the comments should also be sent to the Commission, in
Docket No. IC18-19-000, by either of the following methods:
eFiling at Commission's Website: 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.
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:
Title: FERC-725, Certification of Electric Reliability
Organization; Procedures for Electric Reliability Standards.
OMB Control No.: 1902-0225.
Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-725 information
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
Abstract: The FERC-725 contains the following information
collection elements:
Self Assessment and ERO (Electric Reliability Organization)
Application: The Commission requires the ERO to submit to FERC a
performance assessment report every five years. The next assessment is
due in 2019. Each Regional Entity submits a performance assessment
report to the ERO.
Submitting an application to become the ERO is also part of this
collection.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\1\ The Commission does not expect any new ERO applications to
be submitted in the next five years and is not including any burden
for this requirement in the burden estimate. FERC still seeks to
renew the regulations pertaining to a new ERO application under this
renewal but is expecting the burden to be zero for the foreseeable
future. 18 CFR 39.3 contains the regulation pertaining to ERO
applications.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reliability Assessments: 18 CFR 39.11 requires the ERO to assess
the reliability and adequacy of the Bulk-Power System in North America.
Subsequently, the ERO must report to the Commission on its findings.
Regional entities perform similar assessments within individual
regions. Currently the ERO submits to FERC three assessments each year:
Long term, winter, and summer. In addition, the North American Electric
Reliability

[[Page 704]]

Corporation (NERC, the Commission-approved ERO) also submits various
other assessments as needed.
Reliability Standards Development: Under section 215 of the FPA,
the ERO is charged with developing Reliability Standards. Regional
Entities may also develop regional specific standards.
Reliability Compliance: Reliability Standards are mandatory and
enforceable upon approval by the Commission. In addition to the
specific information collection requirements contained in each standard
(cleared under other information collections), there are general
compliance, monitoring and enforcement information collection
requirements imposed on applicable entities. Audits, spot checks, self-
certifications, exception data submittals, violation reporting, and
mitigation plan confirmation are included in this area.
Stakeholder Survey: The ERO uses a stakeholder survey to solicit
feedback from registered entities \2\ in preparation for its three year
and five year self-performance assessment. The Commission assumes that
the ERO will perform another survey prior to the 2019 self-assessment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\2\ A ``registered entity'' is an entity that is registered with
the ERO. All Bulk-Power System owners, operators and users are
required to register with the ERO. Registration is the basis for
determining the Reliability Standards with which an entity must
comply. See https://www.nerc.com/page.php?cid=3%7C25 for more
details.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other Reporting: This category refers to all other reporting
requirements imposed on the ERO or regional entities in order to comply
with the Commission's regulations. For example, FERC may require NERC
to submit a special reliability assessment. This category captures
these types of one-time filings required of NERC or the Regions.
The Commission implements its responsibilities through 18 CFR part
39.
Type of Respondent: Electric Reliability Organization, Regional
entities, and registered entities.
Summary and Response to Public Comment: In response to the Notice
of Information Collection and Request for Comments published in the
Federal Register on September 21, 2018, the Commission received one
comment from Utility Services, Inc. The comment sought clarification on
certain compliance provisions contained in the Rules of Procedure of
the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), which are
approved by the Commission. The comment maintained that, depending on
the Commission's answer, the information collection burden on
applicable entities associated with the application of the NERC Rules
of Procedure could be affected.
The Commission finds this proceeding is not the proper forum to
request clarification regarding the scope and application of the NERC
Rules of Procedure. Such requests may be directed to NERC or, more
formally, through a petition to the Commission proposing changes to the
NERC Rules of Procedure. Such a request, if filed with the Commission,
would be addressed after notice and opportunity for comment and the
development of a record. By contrast, while the comment states that the
request for clarification is motivated by uncertainty among applicable
entities (i.e., the commenter's unnamed clients), that assertion is
unsubstantiated. In addition, the provisions in the NERC Rules of
Procedure referenced by the commenter were approved by the Commission
in response to a petition filed by NERC, to which no comments were
received.
Estimate of Annual Burden: \3\ The Commission estimates the total
annual burden and cost \4\ for this information collection in the table
below. For hourly cost (for wages and benefits), we estimate that 70%
of the time is spent by Electrical Engineers (code 17-2071, at $66.90/
hr.), 20% of the time is spent by Legal (code 23-0000, at $143.68/hr.),
and 10% by Office and Administrative Support (code 43-0000, at $41.34/
hr.). Therefore, we use the weighted hourly cost (for wages and
benefits) of $79.70 {or [(0.70) * ($66.90/hr.)] + [(0.20) * $143.68/
hr.] + [(0.10) * $41.34/hr.]{time} .
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\3\ ``Burden'' is 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, refer to Title 5 Code of Federal Regulations 1320.3.
\4\ Costs (for wages and benefits) are based on wage figures
from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for May 2017 (at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm) and benefits information (at
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm).
\5\ In instances where the number of responses per respondent is
``1,'' the Commission Staff thinks that the actual number of
responses varies and cannot be estimated accurately.

FERC-725--Certification of Electric Reliability Organization; Procedures for Electric Reliability Standards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual number Average burden hours Estimated total
Type of respondent Type of reporting Number of of responses Total number & cost ($) per annual burden hrs. &
requirement respondents per respondent of responses response (rounded) cost ($) (rounded)
..................... (A) (B) \5\ (A) x (B) = (D).................. (C) x (D)
(C)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electric Reliability Organization Self-Assessment...... .............. .2 .2 4,160 hrs.; $331,552. 832 hrs.; $66,310.
(ERO).
Reliability .............. 5.5 5.5 15,600 hrs.; 85,800 hrs.;
Assessments. $1,243,320. $6,838,260.
Reliability .............. 2 2 20,280 hrs.; 40,560 hrs.;
Compliance. $1,616,316. $3,232,632.
Standards Development .............. 1 1 21,840 hrs.; 21,840 hrs.;
$1,740,648. $1,740,648.
Other Reporting...... 1 1 1 2,080 hrs.; $165,776. 2,080 hrs.; $165,776.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ERO, Sub-Total................. ..................... .............. .............. .............. ..................... 151,112 hrs.;
$12,043,626.
Regional Entities.................. Self-Assessment...... .............. .2 1.4 4,160 hrs.; $331,552. 5,824 hrs.; $464,173.
Reliability .............. 1 7 15,600 hrs.; 109,200 hrs.;
Assessments. $1,243,320. $8,703,240.
Reliability .............. 1 7 37,440 hrs.; 262,080 hrs.;
Compliance. $2,983,968. $20,887,776.
Standards Development .............. 1 7 2,340 hrs.; $186,498. 16,380 hrs.;
$1,305,486.
Other Reporting...... 7 1 7 1,040 hrs.; $82,888.. 7,280 hrs.; $580,216.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regional Entities, Sub-Total... ..................... .............. .............. .............. ..................... 400,764 hrs.;
$31,940,891.
Registered Entities................ Stakeholder Survey... .............. .2 281.8 8 hrs.; $637.60...... 2,254 hrs.; $179,676.
Reliability * 1,409 1 1,409 400 hrs.; $31,880.... 563,600 hrs.;
Compliance. $44,918,920.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 705]]

Registered Entities, Sub-Total. ..................... .............. .............. .............. ..................... 565,854 hrs.;
$45,098,596.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Burden Hrs. and Cost..... ..................... .............. .............. .............. ..................... 1,117,730 hrs.;
$89,083,113.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Estimated.

As indicated in the table, there was a decrease from eight to seven
in the number of Regional Entities because the Southwest Power Pool
dissolved in 2018. Other changes from previous estimates are based on
new data in the proposed NERC 2019 Business Plan and Budget to reflect
changes in the number of FTEs (full-time equivalent employees) working
in applicable areas. Reviewing the NERC Compliance database, we
determined the number of unique U.S. entities is 1,409 (compared to the
previous value of 1,446). Lastly, in several instances, the amount of
time an FTE devotes to a given function may have been increased or
decreased.
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: January 9, 2019.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-00452 Filed 1-30-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

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