Information Collection Activity; Comment Request, 12193 [2019-06202]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Rural Utilities Service

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 62 (Monday, April 1, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 12193]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-06202]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information 
collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) will be requested.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 31, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Dickson, Rural Development 
Innovation Center--Regulatory Team, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522, Washington, DC 20250, 
Telephone: 202-690-4492, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
regulation (5 CFR 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) requires that interested members 
of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on 
information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)). This notice identifies an information collection that RUS 
is submitting to OMB for extension.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to: Thomas 
Dickson, Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulatory Team, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522, 
Washington, DC 20250, Telephone: 202-690-4492, email: 
[email protected].
    Title: Wholesale Contracts for the Purchase and Sale of Electric 
Power
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0089.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Most RUS financed electric systems are cooperatives and 
are organized in a two-tiered structure. Retail customers are members 
of the distribution system that provides electricity to their homes and 
business. Distribution cooperatives, in turn, are members of power 
supply cooperatives, also known as generation and transmission 
cooperatives (G&T's) that generate or purchase power and transmit the 
power to the distribution systems.
    For a distribution system, a lien on the borrower's assets 
generally represents adequate security. However, since most G&T 
revenues flow from its distribution members, RUS requires, as a 
condition of a loan or loan guarantee to a G&T the long-term 
requirements wholesale power contract (WPC) to purchase their power 
from the G&T at rates that cover all the G&T's expenses, including debt 
service and margins. RUS considers Form 444 as an example for the G&T's 
to utilize as either their WPC or create their own WPC if it has all 
the same information as the form. The WPC is specialized based on the 
combined requirements of the G&T and its members. The WPC is used by 
RUS G&T borrowers to enter into agreement with their distribution 
members for purchase of power from the G&T. The WPC is prepared and 
executed by the G&T and each member and by RUS and the information 
allows RUS to determine credit quality and credit worthiness to 
determine repayment ability for loans and loan guarantees.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 6 hours per response.
    Respondents: Small business or other for-profit; not-for-profit 
organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 60 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Diane M. 
Berger, Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulatory Team, (715) 
619-3124.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

Bette B. Brand,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-06202 Filed 3-29-19; 8:45 am]
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