Commission Information Collection Activities Comment Request; Extension
| Published date | 02 April 2024 |
| Record Number | 2024-06869 |
| Citation | 89 FR 22702 |
| Court | Energy Department,Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |
| Section | Notices |
Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 64 (Tuesday, April 2, 2024)
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22702-22704]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06869]
[[Page 22702]]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. RD23-6-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities Comment Request;
Extension
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments.
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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 proposed revisions of the
currently approved information collection, FERC-725A (Mandatory
Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System) and FERC-725Z
(Mandatory Reliability Standards: IRO Reliability Standards) as it
affects information collection requirements associated with proposed on
Reliability Standards IRO-010-5 and TOP-003-6.1. The 60-day notice
comment period ended on February 12, 2024, with one comment received.
DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due May 2, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC-725A and 725Z to OMB through
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB Control Numbers 725A
(1902-0244) and 725Z (1902-0276) 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.
Please submit copies of your comments to the Commission. You may
submit copies of your comments (identified by Docket No. RD23-6-000) by
one of the following methods: Electronic filing through https://www.ferc.gov, is preferred.
Electronic Filing: Documents must be filed in acceptable
native applications and print-to-PDF, but not in scanned or picture
format.
For those unable to file electronically, comments may be
filed by USPS mail or by hand (including courier) delivery.
[cir] Mail via U.S. Postal Service Only: Addressed to: Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First
Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
[cir] Hand (Including Courier) Delivery: Deliver to: Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 12225 Wilkins
Avenue, Rockville, MD 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/ferc-online/overview.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean Sonneman may be reached by email
at [email protected], telephone at (202) 502-6362.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: FERC-725A (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-
Power System) and FERC-725Z (Mandatory Reliability Standards: IRO
Reliability Standards) as it affects information collection
requirements associated with proposed on Reliability Standards IRO-010-
5 and TOP-003-6.1.
OMB Control No.: FERC-725A (1902-0244) FERC-725Z (1902-0276).
Type of Request: Approval of FERC-725A and FERC-725Z information
collection requirements associated with proposed on Reliability
Standards IRO-010-5 and TOP-003-6.1.
Abstract: This Notice pertains to the FERC-725A and FERC-725Z
information collection requirements. On September 21, 2023, the North
American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) filed a petition (NERC
Petition) seeking approval of proposed Reliability Standards IRO-010-5
(Reliability Coordinator Data and Information Specification and
Collection), and TOP-003-6.1 (Transmission Operator and Balancing
Authority Data and Information Specification and Collection), the
associated Violation Risk Factors and Violation Severity Levels, and
the proposed implementation plan including the retirement of the
currently-effective Reliability Standards IRO-010-4 and TOP-003-5.
NERC states in its petition that it revised both standards so that
the language is parallel in form and function and uses similar
vernacular in describing the underlying requirements. The proposed
revisions allow applicable entities to use available technologies,
integrate new technologies, and define expectations for data and
information exchange.\1\ The modifications to these two standards
originated through the second phase of NERC's Standards Efficiency
Review (SER) to consolidate information/data exchange requirements.\2\
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\1\ NERC Petition at 13.
\2\ See NERC, SER Phase 2 Recommendations Working Document,
(Aug. 2021), https://www.nerc.com/pa/Stand/Standards%20Efficiency%20Review%20DL/SER_Phase_2_Recommendations_Working_Document_08062021.xlsx.
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NERC's petition was noticed on September 26, 2023, with
interventions, comments, and protests due on or before October 26,
2023.
NERC's uncontested filing is hereby approved pursuant to the
relevant authority delegated to the Director, Office of Electric
Reliability under 18 CFR 375.303(a)(2)(i) (2023).
The following tables were modified to use annualized totals due to
the comments received.
Revised TOP-003-6.1, 725A in table below:
[[Page 22703]]
TOP-003-6.1--Transmission Operator and Balancing Authority Data and Information Specification and Collection Annual
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Number of Annual number
Type of entity respondents of responses Annual number of Average burden hrs. & cost Total annual burden hours &
\3\ per respondent responses per response cost
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (3) (4) \4\..................... (3) * (4) = (5)
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FERC-725A, OMB Control No. 1902-0244
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TOP...................................... 166 1 166 80 hrs.; $5,429.60.......... 13,280 hrs.; $901,313.60.
BA....................................... 98 1 98 80 hrs.; $5,429.60.......... 7,840 hrs.; $532,100.80.
TO....................................... 323 1 323 8 hrs.; $542.96............. 2,584 hrs.; $175,376.08.
GOP...................................... 1,002 1 1,002 8 hrs.; $542.96............. 8,016 hrs.; $544,045.92.
GO....................................... 1,164 1 1,164 8 hrs.; $542.96............. 9,312 hrs.; $632,005.44.
DP....................................... 301 1 301 8 hrs.; $542.96............. 2,408 hrs.; $163,430.96.
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FERC-725A for TOP-003-6.1 Total .............. .............. ................. ............................ 43,440 hrs.; $2,948,272.80.
Annual.
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Revised IRO-010-5, 725Z table:
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\3\ Values represent unique U.S. entities as based on the NERC
compliance registry information as of September 22, 2023.
\4\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is a
combination based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of
2023, for 75% of the average of an Electrical Engineer (17-2071)
$77.29/hr., 77.29 x .75 = 57.9675 ($57.97-rounded) ($57.97/hour) and
25% of an Information and Record Clerk (43-4199) $39.58/hr., $39.58
x .25% = 9.895 ($9.90 rounded) ($9.90/hour), for a total ($57.97 +
$9.90 = $67.87/hour).
IRO-010-5--Reliability Coordinator Data and Information Specification and Collection Annual
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Number of Annual number
Type of entity respondents of responses Annual number of Average burden & cost per Total annual burden hours &
\5\ per respondent responses response total annual cost
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (3) (4) \6\..................... (3) * (4) = (5)
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FERC-725Z, OMB Control No. 1902-0276
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RC....................................... 12 1 12 80 hrs.; $5,429.60.......... 960 hrs.; $65,155.20.
BA....................................... 98 1 98 8 hrs.; $542.96............. 784 hrs.; $53,210.08.
GO....................................... 1,164 1 1,164 8 hrs.; $542.96............. 9,312 hrs.; $632,005.44.
GOP...................................... 1,002 1 1,002 8 hrs.; $542.96............. 8,016 hrs.; $544,045.92.
TOP...................................... 166 1 166 8 hrs.; $542.96............. 1,328 hrs.; $90,131.36.
TO....................................... 323 1 323 8 hrs.; $542.96............. 2,584 hrs.; $175,376.08.
DP....................................... 301 1 301 8 hrs.; $542.96............. 2,408 hrs.; $163,430.96.
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FERC-725Z for IRO-010-5 Annual....... .............. .............. ................. ............................ 25,392 hrs.; $1,723,355.04.
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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.
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\5\ Values represent unique US entities as based on the NERC
compliance registry information as of September 22, 2023.
\6\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is a
combination based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of
2022, for 75% of the average of an Electrical Engineer (17-2071)
$77.29/hr., 77.29 x .75 = 57.9675 ($57.97-rounded) ($57.97/hour) and
25% of an Information and Record Clerk (43-4199) $39.58/hr., $39.58
x .25% = 9.895 ($9.90 rounded) ($9.90/hour), for a total ($57.97 +
$9.90 = $67.87/hour).
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The one comment received offers that the estimates appear to
capture burden estimates and costs of initial implementation only
within years one and two and does not capture requirements beyond year
three and forward. Staff reviewed the comment and updated the estimates
to reflect the reporting burden to be an annual burden, instead of just
for years one and two. Tables for 725A (TOP Reliability Standards) and
725Z (IRO Reliability Standards) have been updated to show the change
with the original estimates, followed by the revised table for both
collections.
The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports
meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission
proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners,
environmental justice communities, Tribal members and others, access
publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For
public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is
encouraged to
[[Page 22704]]
contact OPP at (202) 502-6595 or [email protected].
Dated: March 26, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-06869 Filed 4-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
