Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725A(1B), FERC-725D, FERC-725F, FERC-725G, and FERC-725L); Comment Request; Revision, 66542-66546 [2020-23059]

Download as PDF 66542 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 203 / Tuesday, October 20, 2020 / Notices CONTACT section, at least seven (7) business days prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Written Comments or Statements: Pursuant to 41 CFR 102–3.105(j) and 102–3.140 and section 10(a)(3) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the public or interested organizations may submit written comments or statements to the Board about its mission and/or the topics to be addressed in this Microsoft Office 365 Teams virtual public meeting. Written comments or statements should be submitted to Mrs. Ghostlaw, the committee DFO, via electronic mail, the preferred mode of submission, at the address listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section in the following formats: Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Word. The comment or statement must include the author’s name, title, affiliation, address, and daytime telephone number. Written comments or statements being submitted in response to the agenda set forth in this notice must be received by the committee DFO at least seven (7) business days prior to the meeting so that they may be made available to the Board for its consideration prior to the meeting. Written comments or statements received after this date may not be provided to the Board until its next meeting. Please note that because the Board operates under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, all written comments will be treated as public documents and will be made available for public inspection. Pursuant to 41 CFR 102–3.140d, the committee is not obligated to allow a member of the public to speak or otherwise address the committee during the meeting. However, the committee Designated Federal Official and Chairperson may choose to invite certain submitters to present their comments verbally during the open portion of this meeting or at a future meeting. The Designated Federal Officer, in consultation with the committee Chairperson, may allot a specific amount of time for submitters to present their comments verbally. James W. Satterwhite, Jr., Alternate Federal Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. 2020–23208 Filed 10–19–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5001–03–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:08 Oct 19, 2020 Jkt 253001 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. RD20–4–000] Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC–725A(1B), FERC– 725D, FERC–725F, FERC–725G, and FERC–725L); Comment Request; Revision Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice of information collections 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 revisions to the information collections FERC–725A(1B) (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System), FERC–725D (Facilities Design, Connections and Maintenance Reliability Standards), FERC–725F (Mandatory Reliability Standard for Nuclear Plant Interface Coordination), FERC–725G (Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System: PRC Reliability Standards), and FERC– 725L (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System: MOD Reliability Standards) and submitting the information collections 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. DATES: Comments on the collections of information are due November 19, 2020. ADDRESSES: Send written comments on the information collections to OMB through www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ PRAMain. Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB Control Number(s) in the subject line of your comments. Comments should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ PRAMain. A copy of the comments should also be sent to the Commission, in Docket No. RD20–4–000, by any of the following methods: • eFiling at Commission’s Website: https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ efiling.asp. • U.S. Postal Service Mail: Persons unable to file electronically may mail similar pleadings to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 • Effective 7/1/2020, delivery of filings other than by eFiling or the U.S. Postal Service should be delivered to Health and Human Services, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Instructions: OMB submissions must be formatted and filed in accordance with submission guidelines at www.reginfo.gov/public/ do/PRAMain. Using the search function under the ‘‘Currently Under Review’’ field, select Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; click ‘‘submit,’’ and select ‘‘comment’’ to the right of the subject collection. FERC submissions must be formatted and filed in accordance with submission guidelines at: https://www.ferc.gov. For user assistance, contact FERC Online Support by email at ferconlinesupport@ ferc.gov, or by phone at: (866) 208–3676 (toll-free). 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. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at DataClearance@FERC.gov and telephone at (202) 502–8663. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Titles: FERC–725A(1B) (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System),1 FERC–725D (Facilities Design, Connections and Maintenance Reliability Standards), FERC–725F (Mandatory Reliability Standard for Nuclear Plant Interface Coordination), FERC–725G (Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System: PRC Reliability Standards), and FERC–725L (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System: MOD Reliability Standards). OMB Control Nos.: 1902–0292 (FERC– 725A(1B)); 1902–0247 (FERC–725D); 1902–0249 (FERC–725F); 1902–0252 (FERC–725G); and 1902–0261 (FERC– 725L). Type of Request: Revisions to FERC– 725A(1B), FERC–725D, FERC–725F, FERC–725G, and FERC–725L information collection requirements, as discussed in Docket No. RD20–4–000. Abstract: The Commission published a 60-day Notice requesting public comments on July 24, 2020 (85 FR 1 The 60-day Notice also proposed changes to the FERC–725A (OMB Control No. 1902–0244) and FERC–725Z (OMB Control No. 1902–0276). However other items are pending OMB review under FERC–725A and FERC–725Z, and only one item per OMB Control No. can be pending OMB review at a time. In order to submit the proposed changes in Docket No. RD20–4–000 to OMB timely, we are submitting the proposed changes for FERC– 725A and FERC–725Z to OMB under the placeholder information collection FERC–725A(1B) (OMB Control No. 1902–0292). E:\FR\FM\20OCN1.SGM 20OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 203 / Tuesday, October 20, 2020 / Notices 44875). Comments were due September 22, 2020; no comments were received. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) filed a petition to modify seven Reliability Standards. On February 21, 2020, NERC filed a petition in Docket No. RD20–4–000 2 requesting Commission approval of: • Reliability Standard TOP–003–4 (Operational Reliability Data), • Reliability Standard FAC–002–3 (Facility Interconnection Studies), • Reliability Standard NUC–001–4 (Nuclear Plant Interface Coordination), • Reliability Standard PRC–006–4 (Automatic Underfrequency Load Shedding), • Reliability Standard MOD–031–3 (Demand and Energy Data), • Reliability Standard MOD–033–2 (Steady-State and Dynamic System Model Validation), and • Reliability Standard IRO–010–3 (Reliability Coordinator Data Specification and Collection). NERC is requesting approval of the seven proposed Reliability Standards pursuant to section 215(d)(1) of the Federal Power Act (‘‘FPA’’) 3 and Section 39.5 4 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (‘‘FERC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) regulations. The revisions in the proposed Reliability Standards will align these standards with the previously-approved changes to the NERC registration criteria 5 by removing reference to entities 6 that are no longer registered with NERC. In proposed Reliability Standard PRC– 006–4, NERC adds the UFLS-only Distribution Provider as an applicable entity. In two instances, NERC has proposed changes that will promote consistent use of the term Planning Coordinator across the Reliability Standards.7 The Commission’s request to OMB will reflect the following: • Elimination of the burden associated with the load-serving entity (LSE) function in Requirement R5 of proposed Reliability Standard TOP– 2 The petition and exhibits are posted in the Commission’s eLibrary system in Docket No. RD20– 4–000 (Standards Alignment with Registration Petition). 3 16 U.S.C. 824o (2018). 4 18 CFR 39.5 (2020). 5 Order on Electric Reliability Organization Risk Based Registration Initiative and Requiring Compliance Filing, 150 FERC ¶ 61,213 (2015); Order on Compliance Filing, 153 FERC ¶ 61,024 (2015). 6 NERC’s risk-based registration initiative resulted in the removal of the load-serving entity and purchasing-selling entity from the NERC compliance registry. 7 Standards Alignment with Registration Petition at 7. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:08 Oct 19, 2020 Jkt 253001 003–4.8 The petition states that the currently effective standard is applicable to the transmission operator, balancing authority, generator owner, generator operator, load-serving entity, transmission owner, and distribution provider. As the load-serving entity is no longer a NERC registration category, NERC proposes to remove this entity from the applicability section of proposed Reliability Standard TOP– 003–4 and remove reference to this entity in Requirement R5.9 • Elimination of the burden associated with the load-serving entity (LSE) function in Requirement R3 of proposed Reliability Standard FAC– 002–3.10 The NERC petition states as the load-serving entity is no longer a NERC registration category, NERC proposes to remove this entity from the applicability section of proposed Reliability Standard FAC–002–3 and remove reference to this entity in Requirement R3.11 • Removal of the load-serving entity (LSE) function in the applicability section of proposed Reliability Standard NUC–001–4.12 The NERC petition states as the load-serving entity is no longer a NERC registration category, NERC proposes to remove this entity from the list of applicable transmission entities in the applicability section of proposed Reliability Standard NUC–001–4.13 Removing this function from the list of transmission entities will not change the estimated burden associated with this standard. • Addition of the burden associated with UFLS-only distribution providers to proposed Reliability Standard PRC– 006–4.14 The petition states that the currently effective standard is applicable to planning coordinators, ‘‘UFLS entities’’ (which may include transmission owners and distribution 8 The burden associated with the current version of this standard, TOP–003–3, is included in FERC– 725A. 9 Standards Alignment with Registration Petition at 14. 10 The burden associated with the current version of this standard, FAC–002–2, is included in FERC– 725D. 11 Standards Alignment with Registration Petition at 8. 12 The burden associated with the current version of this standard, NUC–001–3, is included in FERC– 725F. 13 Standards Alignment with Registration Petition at 12. 14 The burden associated with the Commission approved standard, PRC–006–2, is included in FERC–725G. The current version of this standard, PRC–006–3, was adopted by the NERC Board of Trustees on August 10, 2017. Reliability Standard PRC–006–3 was not submitted to the Commission for approval because it is identical to the Commission-approved version, PRC–006–2. The only change was a revision to the regional variance for the Quebec Interconnection and does not impact the requirements for entities in the United States. PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 66543 providers that own, operate, or control UFLS equipment), and transmission owners that own certain elements. In proposed Reliability Standard PRC– 006–4, NERC proposes to add the UFLSonly distribution provider as an applicable UFLS entity.15 • Elimination of the burden associated with the load-serving entity (LSE) function in Requirement R1 of proposed Reliability Standard MOD– 031–3.16 The NERC petition states as the load-serving entity is no longer a NERC registration category, NERC proposes to remove this entity from the applicability section of proposed Reliability Standard MOD–031–3 and remove reference to this entity in Requirement R1, Part 1.1, where it is listed as an ‘‘Applicable Entity’’ for purposes of Requirements R2 and R4.17 Additionally, NERC proposes to strike the term ‘‘Planning Authority’’ from the applicability section of the standard and the explanatory text that follows. The preferred terminology for the responsible entity that coordinates and integrates transmission facilities and service plans, resource plans, and protection systems is ‘‘Planning Coordinator.’’ 18 This is a terminology change and will not result in a change in burden. • Modification of the term ‘‘Planning Authority’’ to ‘‘Planning Coordinator’’ in proposed Reliability Standard MOD– 033–2.19 In the petition, NERC proposes to strike the term ‘‘Planning Authority’’ from the applicability section of the standard and the explanatory text that follows. The proposed change is intended to promote consistent use of ‘‘Planning Coordinator’’ throughout the Reliability Standards.20 This is a terminology change and will not result in a change in burden. • Elimination of the burden associated with the load-serving entity (LSE) function in Requirement R3 of proposed Reliability Standard IRO–010– 3.21 The NERC petition states as the load-serving entity is no longer a NERC registration category, NERC proposes to 15 Standards Alignment with Registration Petition at 13. 16 The burden associated with the current version of this standard, MOD–031–2, is included in FERC– 725L. 17 Standards Alignment with Registration Petition at 10. 18 Standards Alignment with Registration Petition at 10. 19 The burden associated with the current version of this standard, MOD–033–1, is included in FERC– 725L. 20 Standards Alignment with Registration Petition at 11. 21 The burden associated with the current version of this standard, IRO–010–2, is included in FERC– 725Z. E:\FR\FM\20OCN1.SGM 20OCN1 66544 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 203 / Tuesday, October 20, 2020 / Notices remove this entity from the applicability section of proposed Reliability Standard IRO–010–3 and remove reference to this entity in Requirement R3.22 Type of Respondents: Reliability coordinator (RC), balancing authority (BA), transmission owner (TO), transmission operator (TOP), generator owner (GO), generator operator (GOP), distribution provider (DP), UFLS-only distribution provider (UFLS-only DP), planning coordinator (PC), and transmission planner (TP). Estimate of Annual Burden 23: The Commission based its estimates on the NERC compliance registry as of April 10, 2020. According to the registry, there are 12 reliability coordinators, 98 balancing authorities, 314 distribution providers, 63 UFLS-only distribution providers, 973 generator owners, 916 generator operators, 321 transmission owners, 169 transmission operators, 64 planning coordinators, and 196 transmission planners in the United States. NERC registered entities can be registered as multiple functions, and the burden estimates reflect the overlapping of functions per entity respondent. Changes Due to Docket No. RD20–4–000 The changes proposed in Docket No. RD20–4–000 include the removal of load-serving entity from the applicability of five Reliability Standards; addition of UFLS-only distribution provider in one Reliability Standard; and a terminology change of ‘‘planning authority’’ to ‘‘planning coordinator’’ in the applicability of two Reliability Standards. The load-serving entity function was removed from the NERC compliance registry in October 2015 as a result of the risk-based registration order.24 Prior to the removal of the load-serving entity function, the NERC compliance registry in early 2015 included 446 registered load-serving entities, however, many of these entities were also registered as other functions and remained on the registry. NERC deregistered 63 load-serving entities from the compliance registry on October 15, 2015, coinciding with the Commission approval of NERC’s riskbased registration initiative.25 The proposed Reliability Standard NUC–001–4 modification of removing the load-serving entity from its applicability is not a substantive change and does not require a change in burden. This is due to the current burden assumptions based on: (1) The number of nuclear plants in the United States, and (2) applicability including two transmission entities 26 for each nuclear plant. The removal of loadserving entity from the list of possible transmission entities does not change these assumptions. The Commission staff estimates the program changes, due to Docket No. RD20–4–000, for the listed information collections. Because the affected Reliability Standards were implemented at various times since Order No. 693 in March 2007, using the hourly cost estimates in effect at that time, we are being conservative and not showing cost estimates for the changes. Adjustments, Updates, and Clarification of Estimates (Not Due to Docket No. RD20–4–000) In addition to the changes identified in Docket No. RD20–4–000, the Commission is updating the entire burden estimates for six of the Reliability Standards. These adjustments are warranted based on updates to the number of applicable registered entities and to ensure that the burden for each applicable function is quantified with clear granularity. The table also includes adjustments due to normal industry fluctuations (e.g., companies merging or splitting, going into or leaving the industry, or filling more or fewer roles in the NERC registry); the figures are based on the NERC registry as of April 10, 2020. PROPOSED CHANGES TO BURDEN DUE TO DOCKET NO. RD20–4–000 AND ADJUSTMENTS AND CLARIFICATIONS 27 Reliability standard and requirements Number of respondents and type of entity Annual number of responses per respondent Annual number of responses Average burden hrs. per response Total annual burden hours (1) (2) (1) * (2) = (3) (4) (3) * (4) = (5) FERC–725A(1B), OMB Control No. 1902–0292 TOP–003–4 (Operational Reliability Data), R1–R5, & Evidence Retention—adjustment. TOP–003–4 (Operational Reliability Data), R5 & Evidence Retention—program increase 28. IRO–010–3 (Reliability Coordinator Data Specification and Collection), R1–R3, Evidence Retention—adjustment. IRO–010–3 (Reliability Coordinator Data Specification and Collection), R3 & Evidence Retention—adjustment/clarification 29. 22 Standards Alignment with Registration Petition at 9. 23 Burden is defined 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, refer to 5 Code of Federal Regulations 1320.3. 24 Order on Electric Reliability Organization Risk Based Registration Initiative and Requiring Compliance Filing, 150 FERC ¶ 61,213 (2015); Order on Compliance Filing, 153 FERC ¶ 61,024 (2015). 25 NERC posts its list of deregistered entities at the following link. https://www.nerc.com/pa/comp/ Registration%20and%20Certification%20DL/ NCR%20Deregistered%20Entities.xls VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:08 Oct 19, 2020 Jkt 253001 ¥3 (TOP & BA) .................. 1 ¥3 ........................ 230 1,363 (GO, GOP, TO & DP) 1 1,363 .................... 8 +1 (RC) ............................... 1 1 ........................... 36 1,388 (BA, GO, GOP, TOP, TO & DP). 1 1,388 .................... 8 26 The current Reliability Standard NUC–001–3 defines the phrase ‘‘transmission entities’’ as all entities that are responsible for providing services related to nuclear plant interface requirements (NPIRs). Such entities may include one or more of the following: Transmission operators, transmission owners, transmission planners, transmission service providers, balancing authorities, reliability coordinators, planning coordinators, distribution providers, load-serving entities, generator owners, and generator operators. 27 The adjustments, due to normal industry fluctuations, are based on figures in the NERC registry as of April 10, 2020. 28 This is not a program change (increase) due to Docket No. RD20–4–000. Rather, we are correcting an earlier oversight. It appears that the estimated PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 ¥690 10,904 +36 11,104 burden figures for the GO, GOP, TO and DP were inadvertently omitted from the package submitted to and approved by OMB related to the Final Rule (Order No. 817, issued 11/19/2015) in Docket No. RM15–16. The number of respondents is the current figure based on the NERC registry. 29 The original Reliability Standard IRO–010–1a was included in Order No. 748 (Docket No. RM10– 15) under FERC–725A. The burden for 11 RCs for IRO–010–2 (Order No. 817 in Docket No. RM15–16) was covered by FERC–725Z. Some of this burden may still be in FERC–725A (and double counted temporarily). This action is an adjustment and not related to Docket No. RD20–4–000. E:\FR\FM\20OCN1.SGM 20OCN1 66545 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 203 / Tuesday, October 20, 2020 / Notices PROPOSED CHANGES TO BURDEN DUE TO DOCKET NO. RD20–4–000 AND ADJUSTMENTS AND CLARIFICATIONS 27— Continued Reliability standard and requirements Net Sub-Total for FERC–725A(1B) ............................ Number of respondents and type of entity Annual number of responses per respondent Annual number of responses Average burden hrs. per response Total annual burden hours (1) (2) (1) * (2) = (3) (4) (3) * (4) = (5) ............................................. ........................ 2,749 (net increase). ........................ 21,354 (net increase) FERC–725D, OMB Control No. 1902–0247 FAC–002–3 (Facility Interconnection Studies), R1, Study—adjustment. FAC–002–3 (Facility Interconnection Studies), R1, Evidence Retention—adjustment. FAC–002–3 (Facility Interconnection Studies), R2–R5, Coordination—(program decrease & adjustment decrease) 30. FAC–002–3 (Facility Interconnection Studies), R2–R5, Evidence Retention—(program decrease & adjustment decrease) 32. +20 (PC & TP) .................... 1 +20 ....................... 32 640 +20 (PC & TP) .................... 1 +20 ....................... 1 20 ¥93 (TO, GO & DP) 31 ....... 1 ¥93 ...................... 16 ¥93 (TO, GO & DP) ........... 1 ¥93 ...................... 1 hr. Net Sub-Total for FERC–725D .................................. ............................................. ........................ ¥146 (net reduction). ........................ ¥1,488 ¥93 ¥921 (net reduction) FERC–725G, OMB Control No. 1902–0252 PRC–006–4 (Automatic Underfrequency Load Shedding), Reporting Requirement—program decrease 33. PRC–006–4 (Automatic Underfrequency Load Shedding), Evidence Retention—program decrease 33. PRC–006–4 (Automatic Underfrequency Load Shedding), R1–R7, R11–R15, Reporting Requirement—program increase & clarification 34. PRC–006–4 (Automatic Underfrequency Load Shedding), R1–R7, R11–R15, Evidence Retention-program increase & clarification 34. PRC–006–4 (Automatic Underfrequency Load Shedding), R8–R10, Evidence Retention—program increase & clarification 35. Net Sub-Total for FERC–725G .................................. ¥80 (TO & DP) .................. 1 ¥80 ...................... 47 ¥80 (TO & DP) .................. 1 ¥80 ...................... 5 ¥400 64 (PC) ................................ 1 64 ......................... 47 3,008 64 (PC) ................................ 1 64 ......................... 5 320 478 (TO, DP, UFLS-only DP). 1 478 ....................... 5 2,390 ............................................. ........................ 446 (net increase) ........................ ¥3,760 1,558 (net increase) FERC–725L, OMB Control No. 1902–0261 ¥561 (DP, LSE, TP & BA) 1 ¥561 .................... 8 ¥4,488 113 (PC & BA) .................... 1 113 ....................... 8 904 381 (TP, BA & DP) ............. 1 381 ....................... 8 3,048 ¥14 (RC & TOP) 38 ............ 1 ¥14 ...................... 8 ¥112 ¥14 (PC, RC & TOP) 39 ..... 1 ¥14 ...................... 1 ¥14 Net Sub-Total for FERC–725L ................................... ............................................. ........................ ¥95 (net reduction). ........................ ¥662 (net reduction) Net Total Program Changes 40 ................................... ............................................. ........................ ............................... ........................ +8,812 Net Total Adjustments ................................................ ............................................. ........................ ............................... ........................ +12,517 TOTAL NET CHANGES (Including Program Changes and Adjustments) 40. ............................................. ........................ ............................... ........................ +21,329 MOD–031–3 (Demand and Energy Data), Develop summary in accordance w/R1, Subparts 1.5.4 and 1.5.5.— program decrease & adjustment/clarification 36. MOD–031–3 (Demand and Energy Data) Develop data request in accordance w/R1 and R3 & Evidence Retention—adjustment/clarification 37. MOD–031–3 (Demand and Energy Data) Develop and provide data in accordance w/R2 and R4 & Evidence Retention—adjustment/clarification 36. MOD–033–2 (Steady-State Dynamic System Model Validation), R2, Data Submittal [for R2]—adjustment. MOD–033–2 (Steady-State Dynamic System Model Validation), R1–R2, Evidence Retention, adjustment. 30 The reduction of 93 respondents and corresponding burden hours include 63 LSEs that were de-registered (program decrease of 1,008 hrs.) and an adjustment decrease of 30 respondents (480 hrs.) due to normal industry fluctuations. Out of the total decrease of 1,488 hours, the program decrease of 1,008 hours [corresponding VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:08 Oct 19, 2020 Jkt 253001 decrease of 63 responses] is due to Docket No. RD20–4–000. The reduction of 480 hours is due to normal adjustments. 31 Although 1,232 entities are registered as TO, DP, or GO, we expect at the most 123 entities (ten percent) will seek to interconnect and go through the study phase that may require coordination in any given year. PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 32 The reduction of 93 respondents and corresponding burden hours include 63 LSEs that were de-registered (program decrease of 63 hrs., due to Docket No. RD20–4–000) and an adjustment decrease of 30 respondents (30 hrs.) due to normal industry fluctuations. 33 The number of entities is being reduced in order to more clearly identify the applicable entities E:\FR\FM\20OCN1.SGM Continued 20OCN1 66546 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 203 / Tuesday, October 20, 2020 / Notices 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. in subsequent rows in this table. As stated in the NERC Petition, ‘‘[t]he currently effective standard is applicable to Planning Coordinators, ‘‘UFLS entities’’ (which may include Transmission Owners and Distribution Providers that own, operate, or control UFLS equipment), and Transmission Owners that own certain Elements. In proposed Reliability Standard PRC–006–4, NERC proposes to add the UFLS-Only Distribution Provider as an applicable UFLS entity, consistent with the language in Section III(b) of Appendix 5B of the NERC Rules of Procedure (Statement of Compliance Registry Criteria) that the Reliability Standards applicable to UFLS-Only Distribution Providers includes prior effective versions of the PRC–006 standard.’’ The changes are not due to Docket No. RD20–4–000. 34 The increases are not due to Docket No. RD20– 4–000. They are a program increase of 64 PCs (and the corresponding hrs.) in order to correct and clarify the estimates. 35 The program increase is due to adding 63 UFLS-only DPs due to Docket No. RD20–4–000. In addition, 415 TOs and DPs were originally estimated in FERC–725A due to Order No. 693. However, the estimates and descriptions were not clearly spelled out, so we are clarifying them. As a result, there are 315 hours (63 * 5 hours) and the corresponding increase of 63 respondents of program increase due to Docket No. RD20–4–000, and 2,075 hours (415 * 5 hours) of increase due to adjustment. 36 The estimates reflect a program decrease of 63 de-registered LSEs (and corresponding program decrease of 504 hrs.) related to Docket No. RD20– 4–000, and an adjustment/clarification (decrease) of 498 DPs, TPs, and BAs (and corresponding decrease of 3,984 hrs.), not related to Docket No. RD20–4– 000. The updated number of 381 DPs, TPs and BAs is listed in a new row clarifying their applicability with Requirements R2 and R4. Requirement R2 requires applicable entities to develop and provide data pursuant with Requirement R1. 37 The 113 PCs and BAs were originally estimated in FERC–725A due to Order No. 693. However, the estimates and descriptions were not clearly spelled out, so we are clarifying them. [Some of this burden may still be in FERC–725A (and double counted temporarily).] 38 The estimate is changing to 174 (from 188) due to normal industry fluctuation. 39 The estimate is changing to 188 (from 194) due to normal industry fluctuation. 40 The net total program changes due to Docket No. RD20–4–000 result in a decrease of 1,260 hours and decrease of 126 respondents. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:08 Oct 19, 2020 Jkt 253001 Dated: October 13, 2020. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2020–23059 Filed 10–19–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Combined Notice of Filings #1 Take notice that the Commission received the following exempt wholesale generator filings: Docket Numbers: EG21–6–000. Applicants: Harts Mill TE Holdings LLC. Description: Notice of SelfCertification as an Exempt Wholesale Generator of Harts Mill TE Holdings LLC. Filed Date: 10/14/20. Accession Number: 20201014–5006. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 11/4/20. Take notice that the Commission received the following electric rate filings: Docket Numbers: ER20–17–003. Applicants: Tenaska Pennsylvania Partners, LLC. Description: Report Filing: Refund Report—Informational Filing to be effective N/A. Filed Date: 10/14/20. Accession Number: 20201014–5055. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 11/4/20. Docket Numbers: ER20–2453–001. Applicants: Hamilton Patriot LLC. Description: Compliance filing: Amendment to Notice of Succession to be effective 7/18/2020. Filed Date: 10/14/20. Accession Number: 20201014–5064. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 11/4/20. Docket Numbers: ER21–98–000. Applicants: Baltimore Gas and Electric Company, PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: BGE submits Revisions to PJM Tariff, H–2A re: Depreciation filing re: ER20–1929 to be effective 11/1/2020. Filed Date: 10/13/20. Accession Number: 20201013–5346. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 11/3/20. Docket Numbers: ER21–99–000. Applicants: DesertLink, LLC. Description: Compliance filing: Annual TRBAA Filing to be effective 1/1/2021. Filed Date: 10/14/20. Accession Number: 20201014–5034. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 11/4/20. Docket Numbers: ER21–100–000. Applicants: Gulf Power Company. PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: Facility Construction Agreement for Affected System Project to be effective 10/7/2020. Filed Date: 10/14/20. Accession Number: 20201014–5075. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 11/4/20. Docket Numbers: ER21–101–000. Applicants: California Independent System Operator Corporation. Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: 2020–10–14 EIM Entity Agreement—Los Angeles Dept of Water and Power— LADWP to be effective 1/20/2021. Filed Date: 10/14/20. Accession Number: 20201014–5088. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 11/4/20. Docket Numbers: ER21–102–000. Applicants: Southwest Power Pool, Inc. Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: Generator Retirement Process Tariff Revisions to be effective 1/1/2021. Filed Date: 10/14/20. Accession Number: 20201014–5091. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 11/4/20. Docket Numbers: ER21–103–000. Applicants: Horizon Power and Light LLC. Description: Baseline eTariff Filing: Horizon Power and Light, LLC Updated Market-Based Rate Tariff to be effective 12/13/2020. Filed Date: 10/14/20. Accession Number: 20201014–5093. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 11/4/20. Docket Numbers: ER21–104–000. Applicants: Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Southwest Power Pool, Inc. Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: Basin Electric Power Cooperative Formula Rate to be effective 1/1/2020. Filed Date: 10/14/20. Accession Number: 20201014–5109. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 11/4/20. The filings are accessible in the Commission’s eLibrary system (https:// elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/search/ fercgensearch.asp) by querying the docket number. Any person desiring to intervene or protest in any of the above proceedings must file in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission’s Regulations (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the specified comment date. Protests may be considered, but intervention is necessary to become a party to the proceeding. eFiling is encouraged. More detailed information relating to filing requirements, interventions, protests, service, and qualifying facilities filings can be found at: https://www.ferc.gov/ docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For other information, call (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659. E:\FR\FM\20OCN1.SGM 20OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 203 (Tuesday, October 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66542-66546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23059]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. RD20-4-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725A(1B), 
FERC-725D, FERC-725F, FERC-725G, and FERC-725L); Comment Request; 
Revision

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of information collections 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 revisions to the information 
collections FERC-725A(1B) (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the 
Bulk-Power System), FERC-725D (Facilities Design, Connections and 
Maintenance Reliability Standards), FERC-725F (Mandatory Reliability 
Standard for Nuclear Plant Interface Coordination), FERC-725G 
(Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System: PRC Reliability 
Standards), and FERC-725L (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the 
Bulk-Power System: MOD Reliability Standards) and submitting the 
information collections 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.

DATES: Comments on the collections of information are due November 19, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on the information collections to OMB 
through www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Attention: Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB Control 
Number(s) in the subject line of your comments. Comments should be sent 
within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
    A copy of the comments should also be sent to the Commission, in 
Docket No. RD20-4-000, by any of the following methods:
     eFiling at Commission's Website: https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp.
     U.S. Postal Service Mail: Persons unable to file 
electronically may mail similar pleadings to the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
     Effective 7/1/2020, delivery of filings other than by 
eFiling or the U.S. Postal Service should be delivered to Health and 
Human Services, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
    Instructions:
    OMB submissions must be formatted and filed in accordance with 
submission guidelines at www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Using the 
search function under the ``Currently Under Review'' field, select 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; click ``submit,'' and select 
``comment'' to the right of the subject collection.
    FERC submissions must be formatted and filed in accordance with 
submission guidelines at: https://www.ferc.gov. For user assistance, 
contact FERC Online Support by email at [email protected], or 
by phone at: (866) 208-3676 (toll-free).
    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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at 
[email protected] and telephone at (202) 502-8663.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Titles: FERC-725A(1B) (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the 
Bulk-Power System),\1\ FERC-725D (Facilities Design, Connections and 
Maintenance Reliability Standards), FERC-725F (Mandatory Reliability 
Standard for Nuclear Plant Interface Coordination), FERC-725G 
(Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System: PRC Reliability 
Standards), and FERC-725L (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the 
Bulk-Power System: MOD Reliability Standards).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The 60-day Notice also proposed changes to the FERC-725A 
(OMB Control No. 1902-0244) and FERC-725Z (OMB Control No. 1902-
0276). However other items are pending OMB review under FERC-725A 
and FERC-725Z, and only one item per OMB Control No. can be pending 
OMB review at a time. In order to submit the proposed changes in 
Docket No. RD20-4-000 to OMB timely, we are submitting the proposed 
changes for FERC-725A and FERC-725Z to OMB under the placeholder 
information collection FERC-725A(1B) (OMB Control No. 1902-0292).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    OMB Control Nos.: 1902-0292 (FERC-725A(1B)); 1902-0247 (FERC-725D); 
1902-0249 (FERC-725F); 1902-0252 (FERC-725G); and 1902-0261 (FERC-
725L).
    Type of Request: Revisions to FERC-725A(1B), FERC-725D, FERC-725F, 
FERC-725G, and FERC-725L information collection requirements, as 
discussed in Docket No. RD20-4-000.
    Abstract: The Commission published a 60-day Notice requesting 
public comments on July 24, 2020 (85 FR

[[Page 66543]]

44875). Comments were due September 22, 2020; no comments were 
received.
    The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) filed a 
petition to modify seven Reliability Standards.
    On February 21, 2020, NERC filed a petition in Docket No. RD20-4-
000 \2\ requesting Commission approval of:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ The petition and exhibits are posted in the Commission's 
eLibrary system in Docket No. RD20-4-000 (Standards Alignment with 
Registration Petition).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Reliability Standard TOP-003-4 (Operational Reliability 
Data),
     Reliability Standard FAC-002-3 (Facility Interconnection 
Studies),
     Reliability Standard NUC-001-4 (Nuclear Plant Interface 
Coordination),
     Reliability Standard PRC-006-4 (Automatic Underfrequency 
Load Shedding),
     Reliability Standard MOD-031-3 (Demand and Energy Data),
     Reliability Standard MOD-033-2 (Steady-State and Dynamic 
System Model Validation), and
     Reliability Standard IRO-010-3 (Reliability Coordinator 
Data Specification and Collection).
    NERC is requesting approval of the seven proposed Reliability 
Standards pursuant to section 215(d)(1) of the Federal Power Act 
(``FPA'') \3\ and Section 39.5 \4\ of the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission's (``FERC'' or ``Commission'') regulations. The revisions in 
the proposed Reliability Standards will align these standards with the 
previously-approved changes to the NERC registration criteria \5\ by 
removing reference to entities \6\ that are no longer registered with 
NERC. In proposed Reliability Standard PRC-006-4, NERC adds the UFLS-
only Distribution Provider as an applicable entity. In two instances, 
NERC has proposed changes that will promote consistent use of the term 
Planning Coordinator across the Reliability Standards.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ 16 U.S.C. 824o (2018).
    \4\ 18 CFR 39.5 (2020).
    \5\ Order on Electric Reliability Organization Risk Based 
Registration Initiative and Requiring Compliance Filing, 150 FERC ] 
61,213 (2015); Order on Compliance Filing, 153 FERC ] 61,024 (2015).
    \6\ NERC's risk-based registration initiative resulted in the 
removal of the load-serving entity and purchasing-selling entity 
from the NERC compliance registry.
    \7\ Standards Alignment with Registration Petition at 7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission's request to OMB will reflect the following:
     Elimination of the burden associated with the load-serving 
entity (LSE) function in Requirement R5 of proposed Reliability 
Standard TOP-003-4.\8\ The petition states that the currently effective 
standard is applicable to the transmission operator, balancing 
authority, generator owner, generator operator, load-serving entity, 
transmission owner, and distribution provider. As the load-serving 
entity is no longer a NERC registration category, NERC proposes to 
remove this entity from the applicability section of proposed 
Reliability Standard TOP-003-4 and remove reference to this entity in 
Requirement R5.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ The burden associated with the current version of this 
standard, TOP-003-3, is included in FERC-725A.
    \9\ Standards Alignment with Registration Petition at 14.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Elimination of the burden associated with the load-serving 
entity (LSE) function in Requirement R3 of proposed Reliability 
Standard FAC-002-3.\10\ The NERC petition states as the load-serving 
entity is no longer a NERC registration category, NERC proposes to 
remove this entity from the applicability section of proposed 
Reliability Standard FAC-002-3 and remove reference to this entity in 
Requirement R3.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ The burden associated with the current version of this 
standard, FAC-002-2, is included in FERC-725D.
    \11\ Standards Alignment with Registration Petition at 8.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Removal of the load-serving entity (LSE) function in the 
applicability section of proposed Reliability Standard NUC-001-4.\12\ 
The NERC petition states as the load-serving entity is no longer a NERC 
registration category, NERC proposes to remove this entity from the 
list of applicable transmission entities in the applicability section 
of proposed Reliability Standard NUC-001-4.\13\ Removing this function 
from the list of transmission entities will not change the estimated 
burden associated with this standard.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ The burden associated with the current version of this 
standard, NUC-001-3, is included in FERC-725F.
    \13\ Standards Alignment with Registration Petition at 12.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Addition of the burden associated with UFLS-only 
distribution providers to proposed Reliability Standard PRC-006-4.\14\ 
The petition states that the currently effective standard is applicable 
to planning coordinators, ``UFLS entities'' (which may include 
transmission owners and distribution providers that own, operate, or 
control UFLS equipment), and transmission owners that own certain 
elements. In proposed Reliability Standard PRC-006-4, NERC proposes to 
add the UFLS-only distribution provider as an applicable UFLS 
entity.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ The burden associated with the Commission approved 
standard, PRC-006-2, is included in FERC-725G. The current version 
of this standard, PRC-006-3, was adopted by the NERC Board of 
Trustees on August 10, 2017. Reliability Standard PRC-006-3 was not 
submitted to the Commission for approval because it is identical to 
the Commission-approved version, PRC-006-2. The only change was a 
revision to the regional variance for the Quebec Interconnection and 
does not impact the requirements for entities in the United States.
    \15\ Standards Alignment with Registration Petition at 13.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Elimination of the burden associated with the load-serving 
entity (LSE) function in Requirement R1 of proposed Reliability 
Standard MOD-031-3.\16\ The NERC petition states as the load-serving 
entity is no longer a NERC registration category, NERC proposes to 
remove this entity from the applicability section of proposed 
Reliability Standard MOD-031-3 and remove reference to this entity in 
Requirement R1, Part 1.1, where it is listed as an ``Applicable 
Entity'' for purposes of Requirements R2 and R4.\17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ The burden associated with the current version of this 
standard, MOD-031-2, is included in FERC-725L.
    \17\ Standards Alignment with Registration Petition at 10.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additionally, NERC proposes to strike the term ``Planning 
Authority'' from the applicability section of the standard and the 
explanatory text that follows. The preferred terminology for the 
responsible entity that coordinates and integrates transmission 
facilities and service plans, resource plans, and protection systems is 
``Planning Coordinator.'' \18\ This is a terminology change and will 
not result in a change in burden.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ Standards Alignment with Registration Petition at 10.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Modification of the term ``Planning Authority'' to 
``Planning Coordinator'' in proposed Reliability Standard MOD-033-
2.\19\ In the petition, NERC proposes to strike the term ``Planning 
Authority'' from the applicability section of the standard and the 
explanatory text that follows. The proposed change is intended to 
promote consistent use of ``Planning Coordinator'' throughout the 
Reliability Standards.\20\ This is a terminology change and will not 
result in a change in burden.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ The burden associated with the current version of this 
standard, MOD-033-1, is included in FERC-725L.
    \20\ Standards Alignment with Registration Petition at 11.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Elimination of the burden associated with the load-serving 
entity (LSE) function in Requirement R3 of proposed Reliability 
Standard IRO-010-3.\21\ The NERC petition states as the load-serving 
entity is no longer a NERC registration category, NERC proposes to

[[Page 66544]]

remove this entity from the applicability section of proposed 
Reliability Standard IRO-010-3 and remove reference to this entity in 
Requirement R3.\22\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ The burden associated with the current version of this 
standard, IRO-010-2, is included in FERC-725Z.
    \22\ Standards Alignment with Registration Petition at 9.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Type of Respondents: Reliability coordinator (RC), balancing 
authority (BA), transmission owner (TO), transmission operator (TOP), 
generator owner (GO), generator operator (GOP), distribution provider 
(DP), UFLS-only distribution provider (UFLS-only DP), planning 
coordinator (PC), and transmission planner (TP).
    Estimate of Annual Burden \23\: The Commission based its estimates 
on the NERC compliance registry as of April 10, 2020. According to the 
registry, there are 12 reliability coordinators, 98 balancing 
authorities, 314 distribution providers, 63 UFLS-only distribution 
providers, 973 generator owners, 916 generator operators, 321 
transmission owners, 169 transmission operators, 64 planning 
coordinators, and 196 transmission planners in the United States. NERC 
registered entities can be registered as multiple functions, and the 
burden estimates reflect the overlapping of functions per entity 
respondent.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ Burden is defined 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, refer to 5 Code of Federal Regulations 1320.3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Changes Due to Docket No. RD20-4-000

    The changes proposed in Docket No. RD20-4-000 include the removal 
of load-serving entity from the applicability of five Reliability 
Standards; addition of UFLS-only distribution provider in one 
Reliability Standard; and a terminology change of ``planning 
authority'' to ``planning coordinator'' in the applicability of two 
Reliability Standards. The load-serving entity function was removed 
from the NERC compliance registry in October 2015 as a result of the 
risk-based registration order.\24\ Prior to the removal of the load-
serving entity function, the NERC compliance registry in early 2015 
included 446 registered load-serving entities, however, many of these 
entities were also registered as other functions and remained on the 
registry. NERC deregistered 63 load-serving entities from the 
compliance registry on October 15, 2015, coinciding with the Commission 
approval of NERC's risk-based registration initiative.\25\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ Order on Electric Reliability Organization Risk Based 
Registration Initiative and Requiring Compliance Filing, 150 FERC ] 
61,213 (2015); Order on Compliance Filing, 153 FERC ] 61,024 (2015).
    \25\ NERC posts its list of deregistered entities at the 
following link. https://www.nerc.com/pa/comp/Registration%20and%20Certification%20DL/NCR%20Deregistered%20Entities.xls
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The proposed Reliability Standard NUC-001-4 modification of 
removing the load-serving entity from its applicability is not a 
substantive change and does not require a change in burden. This is due 
to the current burden assumptions based on: (1) The number of nuclear 
plants in the United States, and (2) applicability including two 
transmission entities \26\ for each nuclear plant. The removal of load-
serving entity from the list of possible transmission entities does not 
change these assumptions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ The current Reliability Standard NUC-001-3 defines the 
phrase ``transmission entities'' as all entities that are 
responsible for providing services related to nuclear plant 
interface requirements (NPIRs). Such entities may include one or 
more of the following: Transmission operators, transmission owners, 
transmission planners, transmission service providers, balancing 
authorities, reliability coordinators, planning coordinators, 
distribution providers, load-serving entities, generator owners, and 
generator operators.
    \27\ The adjustments, due to normal industry fluctuations, are 
based on figures in the NERC registry as of April 10, 2020.
    \28\ This is not a program change (increase) due to Docket No. 
RD20-4-000. Rather, we are correcting an earlier oversight. It 
appears that the estimated burden figures for the GO, GOP, TO and DP 
were inadvertently omitted from the package submitted to and 
approved by OMB related to the Final Rule (Order No. 817, issued 11/
19/2015) in Docket No. RM15-16. The number of respondents is the 
current figure based on the NERC registry.
    \29\ The original Reliability Standard IRO-010-1a was included 
in Order No. 748 (Docket No. RM10-15) under FERC-725A. The burden 
for 11 RCs for IRO-010-2 (Order No. 817 in Docket No. RM15-16) was 
covered by FERC-725Z. Some of this burden may still be in FERC-725A 
(and double counted temporarily). This action is an adjustment and 
not related to Docket No. RD20-4-000.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission staff estimates the program changes, due to Docket 
No. RD20-4-000, for the listed information collections. Because the 
affected Reliability Standards were implemented at various times since 
Order No. 693 in March 2007, using the hourly cost estimates in effect 
at that time, we are being conservative and not showing cost estimates 
for the changes.

Adjustments, Updates, and Clarification of Estimates (Not Due to Docket 
No. RD20-4-000)

    In addition to the changes identified in Docket No. RD20-4-000, the 
Commission is updating the entire burden estimates for six of the 
Reliability Standards. These adjustments are warranted based on updates 
to the number of applicable registered entities and to ensure that the 
burden for each applicable function is quantified with clear 
granularity.
    The table also includes adjustments due to normal industry 
fluctuations (e.g., companies merging or splitting, going into or 
leaving the industry, or filling more or fewer roles in the NERC 
registry); the figures are based on the NERC registry as of April 10, 
2020.

                             Proposed Changes to Burden Due to Docket No. RD20-4-000 and Adjustments and Clarifications \27\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Annual number                                Average burden
      Reliability standard and         Number of respondents    of responses    Annual number of responses      hrs. per      Total annual burden hours
            requirements                 and type of entity    per respondent                                   response
                                      (1)....................             (2)  (1) * (2) = (3).............             (4)  (3) * (4) = (5)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        FERC-725A(1B), OMB Control No. 1902-0292
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOP-003-4 (Operational Reliability    -3 (TOP & BA)..........               1  -3..........................             230  -690
 Data), R1-R5, & Evidence Retention--
 adjustment.
TOP-003-4 (Operational Reliability    1,363 (GO, GOP, TO &                  1  1,363.......................               8  10,904
 Data), R5 & Evidence Retention--      DP).
 program increase \28\.
IRO-010-3 (Reliability Coordinator    +1 (RC)................               1  1...........................              36  +36
 Data Specification and Collection),
 R1-R3, Evidence Retention--
 adjustment.
IRO-010-3 (Reliability Coordinator    1,388 (BA, GO, GOP,                   1  1,388.......................               8  11,104
 Data Specification and Collection),   TOP, TO & DP).
 R3 & Evidence Retention--adjustment/
 clarification \29\.
                                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 66545]]

 
    Net Sub-Total for FERC-725A(1B).  .......................  ..............  2,749 (net increase)........  ..............  21,354 (net increase)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          FERC-725D, OMB Control No. 1902-0247
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FAC-002-3 (Facility Interconnection   +20 (PC & TP)..........               1  +20.........................              32  640
 Studies), R1, Study--adjustment.
FAC-002-3 (Facility Interconnection   +20 (PC & TP)..........               1  +20.........................               1  20
 Studies), R1, Evidence Retention--
 adjustment.
FAC-002-3 (Facility Interconnection   -93 (TO, GO & DP) \31\.               1  -93.........................              16  -1,488
 Studies), R2-R5, Coordination--
 (program decrease & adjustment
 decrease) \30\.
FAC-002-3 (Facility Interconnection   -93 (TO, GO & DP)......               1  -93.........................           1 hr.  -93
 Studies), R2-R5, Evidence
 Retention--(program decrease &
 adjustment decrease) \32\.
                                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net Sub-Total for FERC-725D.....  .......................  ..............  -146 (net reduction)........  ..............  -921 (net reduction)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          FERC-725G, OMB Control No. 1902-0252
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRC-006-4 (Automatic Underfrequency   -80 (TO & DP)..........               1  -80.........................              47  -3,760
 Load Shedding), Reporting
 Requirement--program decrease \33\.
PRC-006-4 (Automatic Underfrequency   -80 (TO & DP)..........               1  -80.........................               5  -400
 Load Shedding), Evidence Retention--
 program decrease \33\.
PRC-006-4 (Automatic Underfrequency   64 (PC)................               1  64..........................              47  3,008
 Load Shedding), R1-R7, R11-R15,
 Reporting Requirement--program
 increase & clarification \34\.
PRC-006-4 (Automatic Underfrequency   64 (PC)................               1  64..........................               5  320
 Load Shedding), R1-R7, R11-R15,
 Evidence Retention-program increase
 & clarification \34\.
PRC-006-4 (Automatic Underfrequency   478 (TO, DP, UFLS-only                1  478.........................               5  2,390
 Load Shedding), R8-R10, Evidence      DP).
 Retention--program increase &
 clarification \35\.
                                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net Sub-Total for FERC-725G.....  .......................  ..............  446 (net increase)..........  ..............  1,558 (net increase)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          FERC-725L, OMB Control No. 1902-0261
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MOD-031-3 (Demand and Energy Data),   -561 (DP, LSE, TP & BA)               1  -561........................               8  -4,488
 Develop summary in accordance w/R1,
 Subparts 1.5.4 and 1.5.5.--program
 decrease & adjustment/clarification
 \36\.
MOD-031-3 (Demand and Energy Data)    113 (PC & BA)..........               1  113.........................               8  904
 Develop data request in accordance
 w/R1 and R3 & Evidence Retention--
 adjustment/clarification \37\.
MOD-031-3 (Demand and Energy Data)    381 (TP, BA & DP)......               1  381.........................               8  3,048
 Develop and provide data in
 accordance w/R2 and R4 & Evidence
 Retention--adjustment/clarification
 \36\.
MOD-033-2 (Steady-State Dynamic       -14 (RC & TOP) \38\....               1  -14.........................               8  -112
 System Model Validation), R2, Data
 Submittal [for R2]--adjustment.
MOD-033-2 (Steady-State Dynamic       -14 (PC, RC & TOP) \39\               1  -14.........................               1  -14
 System Model Validation), R1-R2,
 Evidence Retention, adjustment.
                                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net Sub-Total for FERC-725L.....  .......................  ..............  -95 (net reduction).........  ..............  -662 (net reduction)
                                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net Total Program Changes \40\..  .......................  ..............  ............................  ..............  +8,812
                                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net Total Adjustments...........  .......................  ..............  ............................  ..............  +12,517
                                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        TOTAL NET CHANGES (Including  .......................  ..............  ............................  ..............  +21,329
         Program Changes and
         Adjustments) \40\.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    \30\ The reduction of 93 respondents and corresponding burden 
hours include 63 LSEs that were de-registered (program decrease of 
1,008 hrs.) and an adjustment decrease of 30 respondents (480 hrs.) 
due to normal industry fluctuations.
    Out of the total decrease of 1,488 hours, the program decrease 
of 1,008 hours [corresponding decrease of 63 responses] is due to 
Docket No. RD20-4-000. The reduction of 480 hours is due to normal 
adjustments.
    \31\ Although 1,232 entities are registered as TO, DP, or GO, we 
expect at the most 123 entities (ten percent) will seek to 
interconnect and go through the study phase that may require 
coordination in any given year.
    \32\ The reduction of 93 respondents and corresponding burden 
hours include 63 LSEs that were de-registered (program decrease of 
63 hrs., due to Docket No. RD20-4-000) and an adjustment decrease of 
30 respondents (30 hrs.) due to normal industry fluctuations.
    \33\ The number of entities is being reduced in order to more 
clearly identify the applicable entities in subsequent rows in this 
table. As stated in the NERC Petition, ``[t]he currently effective 
standard is applicable to Planning Coordinators, ``UFLS entities'' 
(which may include Transmission Owners and Distribution Providers 
that own, operate, or control UFLS equipment), and Transmission 
Owners that own certain Elements. In proposed Reliability Standard 
PRC-006-4, NERC proposes to add the UFLS-Only Distribution Provider 
as an applicable UFLS entity, consistent with the language in 
Section III(b) of Appendix 5B of the NERC Rules of Procedure 
(Statement of Compliance Registry Criteria) that the Reliability 
Standards applicable to UFLS-Only Distribution Providers includes 
prior effective versions of the PRC-006 standard.'' The changes are 
not due to Docket No. RD20-4-000.
    \34\ The increases are not due to Docket No. RD20-4-000. They 
are a program increase of 64 PCs (and the corresponding hrs.) in 
order to correct and clarify the estimates.
    \35\ The program increase is due to adding 63 UFLS-only DPs due 
to Docket No. RD20-4-000. In addition, 415 TOs and DPs were 
originally estimated in FERC-725A due to Order No. 693. However, the 
estimates and descriptions were not clearly spelled out, so we are 
clarifying them. As a result, there are 315 hours (63 * 5 hours) and 
the corresponding increase of 63 respondents of program increase due 
to Docket No. RD20-4-000, and 2,075 hours (415 * 5 hours) of 
increase due to adjustment.
    \36\ The estimates reflect a program decrease of 63 de-
registered LSEs (and corresponding program decrease of 504 hrs.) 
related to Docket No. RD20-4-000, and an adjustment/clarification 
(decrease) of 498 DPs, TPs, and BAs (and corresponding decrease of 
3,984 hrs.), not related to Docket No. RD20-4-000. The updated 
number of 381 DPs, TPs and BAs is listed in a new row clarifying 
their applicability with Requirements R2 and R4. Requirement R2 
requires applicable entities to develop and provide data pursuant 
with Requirement R1.
    \37\ The 113 PCs and BAs were originally estimated in FERC-725A 
due to Order No. 693. However, the estimates and descriptions were 
not clearly spelled out, so we are clarifying them. [Some of this 
burden may still be in FERC-725A (and double counted temporarily).]
    \38\ The estimate is changing to 174 (from 188) due to normal 
industry fluctuation.
    \39\ The estimate is changing to 188 (from 194) due to normal 
industry fluctuation.
    \40\ The net total program changes due to Docket No. RD20-4-000 
result in a decrease of 1,260 hours and decrease of 126 respondents.

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

[[Page 66546]]

    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.

    Dated: October 13, 2020.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-23059 Filed 10-19-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.