[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 118 (Monday, June 21, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35001-35003]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-14956]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC10-725E-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-FERC-725E);
Comment Request; Extension
June 15, 2010.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Energy.
[[Page 35002]]
ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection and request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A)
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A) (2006),
(Pub. L. No. 104-13), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the proposed
information collection described below.
DATES: Comments in consideration of the collection of information are
due 60 days after publication of this Notice in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be filed either electronically (eFiled) or in
paper format, and should refer to Docket No. IC10-725E-000. Documents
must be prepared in an acceptable filing format and in compliance with
Commission submission guidelines at http://www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp. eFiling instructions are available at: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. First time users must follow
eRegister instructions at: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/eregistration.asp, to establish a user name and password before
eFiling. The Commission will send an automatic acknowledgement to the
sender's e-mail address upon receipt of eFiled comments. Commenters
making an eFiling should not make a paper filing. Commenters that are
not able to file electronically must send an original and two (2) paper
copies of their comments to: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC
20426.
Users interested in receiving automatic notification of activity in
this docket may do so through eSubscription at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp. In addition, all comments and FERC
issuances may be viewed, printed or downloaded remotely through FERC's
eLibrary at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp, by searching
on Docket No. IC10-725E-000. For user assistance, contact FERC Online
Support by e-mail at [email protected], or by phone at: (866)
208-3676 (toll-free) or (202) 502-8659 for TTY.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Miller may be reached by e-
mail at [email protected], telephone at (202) 502-8415, and fax at
(202) 273-0873.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected by the FERC-725E
(OMB Control No. 1902-0246) is required to implement the statutory
provisions of section 215 of the Federal Power Act (FPA) (16 U.S.C.
824o). Section 215 of the FPA buttresses the Commission's efforts to
strengthen the reliability of the interstate grid through the grant of
new authority by providing for a system of mandatory Reliability
Standards developed by the Electric Reliability Organization.
Reliability Standards that the ERO proposes to the Commission may
include Reliability Standards that are proposed to the ERO by a
Regional Entity.\1\ A Regional Entity is an entity that has been
approved by the Commission to enforce Reliability Standards under
delegated authority from the ERO.\2\ On June 8, 2008 in an adjudicatory
order, the Commission approved eight regional Reliability Standards
submitted by the ERO that were proposed by the Western Electricity
Coordinating Council (WECC).\3\
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\1\ 16 U.S.C. 824o(e)(4).
\2\ 16 U.S.C. 824o(a)(7) and (e)(4).
\3\ 72 FR 33462, June 18, 2007.
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WECC is responsible for coordinating and promoting electric system
reliability. In addition to promoting a reliable electric power system
in the Western Interconnection, WECC supports efficient competitive
power markets, ensures open and non-discriminatory transmission access
among members, and provides a forum for resolving transmission access
disputes plus the coordination of operating and planning activities of
its members. WECC and the eight other regional reliability councils
were formed due to national concern regarding the reliability of the
interconnected bulk power systems, the ability to operate these systems
without widespread failures in electric service and the need to foster
the preservation of reliability through a formal organization. The
eight regional Reliability Standards are translations of existing
reliability criteria and are now binding on the applicable subset of
users, owners and operators of the Bulk Power System in the United
States portion of the Western Interconnection. The Commission's
reporting requirements are found in 18 CFR Part 40.
The eight proposed Reliability Standards do not require responsible
entities to file information with the Commission. However, the
standards do require responsible entities to file periodic reports with
WECC and to develop and maintain certain information for a specified
period of time, subject to inspection by WECC. WECC-BAL-STD-002-0
requires balancing authorities and reserve sharing groups to submit to
WECC quarterly reports on operating reserves as well as reports after
any instance of non-compliance. WECC-IRO-STD-006-0 requires
transmission operators, balancing authorities and load-serving entities
to document and report to WECC actions taken in response to direction
to mitigate unscheduled flow. The standard also requires transmission
operators to document required actions that are and are not taken by
responsible entities. WECC-PRC-STD-001-1 requires certain transmission
operators to submit to WECC annual certifications of protective
equipment. WECC-PRC-STD-003-1 requires certain transmission operators
to report to WECC any misoperation of relays and remedial action
schemes. WECC-PRC-STD-005-1 requires certain transmission operators to
maintain, in stated form, maintenance and inspection records pertaining
to their transmission facilities. The standard also requires operators
to certify to WECC that the operator is maintaining the required
records. WECC-TOP-STD-007-0 requires certain transmission operators to
submit to WECC quarterly reports on transfer capability data and
compliance as well as reports after an instance of non-compliance.
WECC-VAR-STD-002a-1 and WECC-VAR-STD-002b-1 require certain generators
to submit quarterly reports to WECC on automatic voltage control and
power system stabilizers. All of the foregoing regional Reliability
Standards require the reporting entity to retain relevant data in
electronic form for one year or for a longer period if the data is
relevant to a dispute or potential penalty, except that WECC-PRC-STD-
005-1 requires retention of maintenance and inspection records for five
years and retention of other data for four years.
The Commission uses the data to participate in North American
Electric Reliability Council's (NERC's) Reliability readiness reviews
of balancing authorities, transmission operators and reliability
coordinators in North America to determine their readiness to maintain
safe and reliable operations. In addition, FERC's Office of Electric
Reliability uses the data to engage in studies and other activities to
assess the longer-term and strategic needs and issues related to power
grid reliability.
Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the
FERC-725E reporting requirements, with no changes.
Burden Statement: The estimated annual burden follows.
[[Page 35003]]
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Average number of Average burden
FERC Data collection Number of reponses per hours per Total burden
respondents respondent response hours
(1) (2) (3) (1) x (2) x (3)
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FERC-725E Reporting:
Balancing Authorities........... 32 1 20 640
Generator Operators............. 196 1 10 1960
Load-Serving Entities........... 140 1 10 1490
Transmission Operators/Owners... 83 1-7 each (total of 40 3320
83)
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Record-keeping.................. Balancing Authorities ................ 64
Generator Operators ................ 196
Load-Serving Entities ................ 140
Transmission Owners/Operators ................ 332
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Totals ................ 732
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7,410 Total Annual hours for the Information Collection: 7,410
reporting hours + 732 recordkeeping = 8,142 hours.
The Commission is seeking comments on the costs to comply with
these requirements. It has projected the average annualized cost to be
$918,480 as shown below:
Reporting = 7,410 hours @ $120/hour = $889,200, Recordkeeping = 732
hours @ $40/hour = $29,280
Total Costs = Reporting ($889,200) + Recordkeeping ($29,280) = $918,480
The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial
resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, disclose, or provide
the information including: (1) Reviewing instructions; (2) developing,
acquiring, installing, and utilizing technology and systems for the
purposes of collecting, validating, verifying, processing, maintaining,
disclosing and providing information; (3) adjusting the existing ways
to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements;
(4) training personnel to respond to a collection of information; (5)
searching data sources; (6) completing and reviewing the collection of
information; and (7) transmitting, or otherwise disclosing the
information.
The estimate of cost for respondents is based upon salaries for
professional and clerical support, as well as direct and indirect
overhead costs. Direct costs include all costs directly attributable to
providing this information, such as administrative costs and the cost
for information technology. Indirect or overhead costs are costs
incurred by an organization in support of its mission. These costs
apply to activities which benefit the whole organization rather than
any one particular function or activity.
Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed 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 of the
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality,
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are
to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms
of information technology, e.g. permitting electronic submission of
responses.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-14956 Filed 6-18-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P