Department of Energy November 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On November 20, 2024, the Department of Energy published a notice of open meeting announcing a meeting on December 10, 2024, of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (SEAB). This document makes a location and time correction to that notice. The meeting will now be held from 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. EDT with virtual attendance only.

In this final determination, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) finds that allowing transmission providers to charge transmission customers for a generating facility's provision of reactive power within the standard power factor range is unjust and unreasonable. The Commission, therefore, is revising Schedule 2 of its pro forma open-access transmission tariff (OATT), section 9.6.3 of its pro forma large generator interconnection agreement (LGIA), and section 1.8.2 of its pro forma small generator interconnection agreement (SGIA) to prohibit the inclusion in transmission rates of any charges related to the provision of reactive power within the standard power factor range by generating facilities.

The U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") proposes several clarifications to the test procedures for general service lamps ("GSLs") located in appendix W, appendix BB and appendix DD. Specifically, DOE proposes to clarify that GSLs must not be tested as colored lamps, GSLs that can operate at multiple correlated color temperatures ("CCTs") be tested at one specific CCT, and that lamps with additional components that do not affect light output must be turned off during testing. The proposed clarifications specify that non-integrated lamps be tested with a fluorescent lamp ballast or external driver selected based on compatibility lists and availability; and provide specifications regarding the starting method, ballast factor, number of lamps and references to the relevant industry standards. This rulemaking is limited in scope and is considering clarifications to the current test procedures that are required for certification of compliance with existing applicable GSL energy conservation standards. Further, this rulemaking does not satisfy the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) requirement that, at least once every 7 years, DOE review the test procedures for GSLs. DOE is seeking comment from interested parties on the proposal.

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 a renewal of currently approved information collection, FERC-523 (Application for Authorization for the Issuance of Securities or the Assumption of Liabilities). There were no comments received on the 60-day notice that ended on November 12, 2024.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, intends to extend a previously approved collection, without change, for three years with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The information collection request, Weatherization Assistance Program Sub-Programs, was previously approved on May 26, 2022, under OMB Control No. 1910-5157 and expires on May 31, 2025.

As required by the Privacy Act of 1974 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars A-108 and A-130, the Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) is publishing notice of a modification to an existing Privacy Act System of Records. DOE proposes to amend System of Records DOE-27 Foreign Travel Management System (FTMS). This System of Records Notice (SORN) is being modified to align with new formatting requirements, published by OMB, and to ensure appropriate Privacy Act coverage of business processes and Privacy Act information.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, all agencies are required to publish in the Federal Register a notice of their systems of records. Notice is hereby given that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is publishing a notice of modifications to an existing FERC system of records titled "Commission Investigation Files (FERC-24)" previously titled "Commission Miscellaneous Investigation File."

The formula rates for the Upper Great Plains (UGP) region's Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program (P-SMBP)Eastern Division (ED) firm power service, firm peaking power service, and sale of surplus products have been confirmed, approved, and placed into effect on an interim basis (Provisional Formula Rates). These new formula rates replace the existing formula rates for these services under Rate Schedules P-SED- F14, Firm Power Service; P-SED-FP14, Firm Peaking Power Service; and P- SED-M2, Sale of Surplus Products, which expire on December 31, 2027. The P-SMBPED firm power service composite rate is increasing over a 2-year period with a 7.5 percent increase on January 1, 2025, and an additional 6.2 percent increase on January 1, 2026. There are no changes to the formula rate for sale of surplus products.