Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725l); Comment Request; Extension
| Published date | 08 April 2021 |
| Citation | 86 FR 18279 |
| Record Number | 2021-07226 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | Energy Department,Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |
Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 66 (Thursday, April 8, 2021)
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 66 (Thursday, April 8, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18279-18283]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-07226]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC21-13-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725l); Comment
Request; Extension
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
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 the currently approved
information collection, FERC 725L (Mandatory Reliability Standards for
the Bulk-Power System: MOD Reliability Standards).
DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due June 7, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit copies of your comments (identified by Docket
No. IC21-13-000) by one of the following methods:
Electronic filing through http://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
[[Page 18280]]
Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
[cir] Hand (Including Courier) Delivery: Deliver to: Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852.
Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in
accordance with submission guidelines at: http://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 http://www.ferc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by email
at [email protected], telephone at (202) 502-8663.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: FERC-725L, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-
Power System: MOD Reliability Standards.
OMB Control No.: 1902-0261.
Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-725L information
collection requirements with no changes to the reporting requirements.
Abstract: MOD Reliability Standards ensure that generators remain
in operation during specified voltage and frequency excursions,
properly coordinate protective relays and generator voltage regulator
controls, and ensure that generator models accurately reflect the
generator's capabilities and equipment performance.
On May 30, 2013, the North American Electric Reliability
Corporation (NERC) filed a petition explaining that the reliability of
the Bulk-Power System benefits from ``good quality simulation models of
power system equipment,'' \2\ and that ``model validation ensures the
proper performance of the control systems and validates the computer
models used for stability analysis.'' NERC further stated that the
Reliability Standards will enhance reliability because the tests
performed to obtain model data may reveal latent defects that could
cause ``inappropriate unit response during system disturbances.'' \2\
Subsequently, on March 20, 2014,\1\ the Commission approved Reliability
Standards MOD-025-2, MOD-026-1, and MOD-027-1. These Standards were
intended to address generator verifications needed to support Bulk-
Power System reliability that would also ensure that accurate data is
verified and made available for planning simulations.\2\
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\1\ Final Rule in Docket No. RM13-16-000.
\2\ NERC Petition for Approval of Five Proposed Reliability
Standards MOD-025-2, MOD-026-1, MOD-027-1, PRC-019-1, and PRC-024-1
submitted to FERC on 5/30/2013.
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On May 1, 2014,\3\ the Commission approved Reliability Standards
MOD-032-1 and MOD-033-2. These Standards were to address ``system-level
modeling data and validation requirements necessary for developing
planning models and the Interconnection-wide cases that are integral to
analyzing the reliability of the Bulk-Power System''.
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\3\ Order in Docket No. RD14-5-000.
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MOD-025-2, MOD-026-1, MOD-027-1, MOD-031-3, MOD-032-1 and MOD-033-2
are all currently approved within the FERC-725L information collection.
The reporting requirements associated with each standard will not
change as a result of this extension request.
Type of Respondents: NERC-registered entities including generator
owners, transmission planners, planning authorities, balancing
authorities, resource planners, transmission service providers,
reliability coordinators, and transmission operators.\4\
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\4\ In subsequent portions of this notice, the following
acronyms will be used: PA = Planning Authority, GO = Generator
Owner, TP = Transmission Planner, BA = Balancing Authority, RP =
Resource Planner, TSP = Transmission Service Provider, RC =
Reliability Coordinator, TOP = Transmission Operator.
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Estimate of Annual Burden: \5\ The Commission estimates the annual
public reporting burden \6\ and cost for the information collection as:
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\5\ ``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, reference 5 Code of Federal
Regulations 1320.3.
\6\ Each of the five MOD standards in the FERC-725L information
collection previously contained ``one-time'' components to their
respondent burden. These one-time burden categories consisted
primarily of activities related to establishing industry practices
and developing data validation procedures tailored toward these
reliability standards and their reporting requirements. None of the
one-time burdens apply any longer, so they are being removed from
the FERC-725L information collection.
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RD20-4
Elimination of the burden associated with the load-serving
entity (LSE) function in Requirement R1 of proposed Reliability
Standard MOD-031-3.\7\ 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.\8\ 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.'' \9\
This is a terminology change and will not result in a change in burden.
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\7\ The burden associated with the current version of this
standard, MOD-031-2, is included in FERC-725L.
\8\ Standards Alignment with Registration Petition at 10.
\9\ Standards Alignment with Registration Petition at 10.
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Modification of the term ``Planning Authority'' to
``Planning Coordinator'' in proposed Reliability Standard MOD-033-
2.\10\ 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.\11\ This is a terminology change and will not
result in a change in burden.
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\10\ The burden associated with the current version of this
standard, MOD-033-1, is included in FERC-725L.
\11\ Standards Alignment with Registration Petition at 11.
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Reliability Standard MOD-031-3 (Demand and Energy Data).
Reliability Standard MOD-033-2 (Steady-State and Dynamic
System Model Validation).
[[Page 18281]]
Proposed Changes to Burden Due to Docket No. RD20-4-000 Adjustments and Clarifications \1\
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Annual number of Average burden
Reliability standard & requirements Number of respondents & responses per Annual number of hrs. per Total annual burden
type of entity respondent responses response hours
(1)..................... (2) (1) * (2) = (3)......... (4) (3) * (4) = (5)
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RD20-4 Net Changes to FERC-725L, OMB Control No. 1902-0261
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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
\12\.
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 \13\.
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
\12\.
MOD-033-2 (Steady-State Dynamic System -14 (RC & TOP) \14\..... 1 -14..................... 8 -112
Model Validation) R2 Data Submittal
[for R2]--adjustment.
MOD-033-2 (Steady-State Dynamic System -14 (PC, RC & TOP) \15\. 1 -14..................... 1 -14
Model Validation), R1-R2, Evidence
Retention, adjustment.
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Net Changes for FERC-725L due to ........................ ................ -95 (net reduction)..... ................ -662 (net reduction).
RD20-4.
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\1\ The adjustments, due to normal industry fluctuations, are based on figures in the NERC registry as of April 10, 2020.
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\12\ 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.
\13\ 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).]
\14\ The estimate is changing to 174 (from 188) due to normal
industry fluctuation.
\15\ The estimate is changing to 188 (from 194) due to normal
industry fluctuation.
MOD-025-2 (Verification and Data Reporting of Generator Real and Reactive Power Capability and Synchronous Condenser Reactive Power Capability)
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Annual number
Number of of responses Total number Average burden & cost Total annual burden Cost per
respondents \16\ per of responses per response hours & total annual respondent ($)
respondent cost
(1).................. (2) (1) * (2) = (4).................. (3) * (4) = (5)...... (5) / (1)
(3)
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Attachment 2....................... 1003 (GO)............ 1 1003 6 hrs.; $502.02 \17\. 6,018 hrs.; 502.02
$503,526.06.
Evidence Retention................. 1003 (GO)............ 1 1003 1 hr.; $34.79 \18\... 1003 hrs.; $34,894.07 34.79
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Total.......................... ..................... .............. .............. ..................... 7,021 hrs.;
$538,420.07.
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\16\ The number of respondents for MOD-025-2/MOD-026-1/MOD-027-
1/MOD-31-3/MOD-032-/MOD-033-2 are from the NERC compliance registry
February 5, 2021.
\17\ This wage figure uses the average hourly wage (plus
benefits) for electrical engineers (Occupation Code: 17-2071,
$70.19/hour) and managers (Occupation Code: 11-0000, $97.15/hour)
obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm). The average used the
following calculation: [$70.19/hour + $97.15/hour] / 2 = $83.67/
hour.
\18\ The estimate uses the hourly average wage (plus benefits)
for file clerks obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
$34.79/hour (BLS Occupation Code: 43-4071).
MOD-026-1 (Verification of Models and Data for Generator Excitation Control System or Plant Volt/Variance Control Functions)
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Annual number
Number of of responses Total number Average burden & cost Total annual burden Cost per
respondents per of responses per response hours & total annual respondent ($)
respondent cost
(1).................. (2) (1) * (2) = (4).................. (3) * (4) = (5)...... (5) / (1)
(3)
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Instructions for obtaining 201 (TP)............. 1 201 8 hrs.; $669.36 \17\. 1,608 hrs.; 669.36
excitation control system or plant $134,541.36.
voltage/variance control function
model.
[[Page 18282]]
Documentation on generator 501 (GO) \i\......... 1 501 8 hrs.; $669.36 \17\. 4,008 hrs.; 669.36
verification. $335,349.36.
Evidence Retention................. 668 (GO and TOP)..... 1 668 1 hr.; $34.79 \18\... 668 hrs.; $23,239.72. 34.79
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Total.......................... ..................... .............. .............. ..................... 6,284 hrs.;
$493,130.44.
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MOD-027-1 (Verification of Models and Data for Turbine/Governor and Load Control or Active Power/Frequency Control Functions)
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Annual number
Number of of responses Total number Average burden & cost Total annual burden Cost per
respondents per of responses per response hours & total annual respondent ($)
respondent cost
(1).................. (2) (1) * (2) = (4).................. (3) * (4) = (5)...... (5) / (1)
(3)
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Instructions for obtaining 201 (TP)............. 1 201 8 hrs.; $669.36 \17\. 1,608 hrs.; 669.36
excitation control system or plant $134,541.36.
voltage/variance control function
model.
Documentation on generator 501 (GO) \19\........ 1 501 8 hrs.; $669.36 \17\. 4,008 hrs.; 669.36
verification. $335,349.36.
Evidence Retention................. 668 (GO and TP)...... 1 668 1 hr.; $34.79 \18\... 668 hrs.; $23,239.72. 34.79
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Total.......................... ..................... .............. .............. ..................... 6,284 hrs.;
$493,130.44.
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\19\ It is estimated that the applicable numbers of generator
owner respondents used to calculate the public reporting burden for
these standards MOD-026-1, MOD-027-1, MOD-032-1 and MOD-033-1 is
half of total numbers of GO (501=1003/2) due to the higher
applicability threshold for those Reliability Standards.
MOD-031-3 (formerly MOD-031-2) (Demand and Energy Data), included in FERC-725L
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Annual number
Number and type of of responses Total number Avg. burden & cost Total annual burden Cost per
Reliability standard MOD-031-3 respondents per of responses per response \20\ hours & total annual respondent
respondent cost
(1).................. (2) (1) * (2) = (4).................. (3) * (4) = (5)...... (5) / (1)
(3)
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(On-going) Develop summary in 616 (DP, TP and/or 1 616 8 hrs.; $561.52...... 4,928 hrs.; 561.52
accordance with Requirement R1, BA). $345,896.32.
Subparts 1.5.4 and 1.5.5.
MOD-031-3 Net Changes in RD20-4 (in ..................... .............. -67 ..................... -536 hrs.; $37,621.84
the first table above).
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New Total for MOD-031-3 for ..................... .............. 549 ..................... 4,392 hrs.;
Renewal. $308,274.48.
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\20\ The estimate uses the average hourly wage (plus benefits)
of $70.19/hour for electrical engineers (Occupation Code: 17-2071)
from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
MOD-032-1 (Verification of Models and Data for Turbine/Governor and Load Control or Active Power/Frequency Control Functions)
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Annual number
Number of of responses Total number Average burden & cost Total annual burden Cost per
respondents per of responses per response hours & total annual respondent ($)
respondent cost
(1).................. (2) (1) * (2) = (4).................. (3) * (4) = (5)...... (5) / (1)
(3)
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Data Submittal..................... 1,418 (BA, GO, PA/PC, 1 1,418 8 hrs.; $561.52 \20\. 11,344 hrs.; 561.52
RP, TO, TP, and TSP). $796,235.36.
[[Page 18283]]
Evidence Retention................. 1,418 (BA, GO, PA/PC, 1 1,418 1 hr.; $34.79 \18\... 1,418 hrs.; 34.79
RP, TO, TP, and TSP). $49,332.22.
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Total.......................... ..................... .............. .............. ..................... 12,762 hrs.;
$998,484.70.
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MOD-033-2 (formerly MOD-033-1) (Steady-State and Dynamics System Model Validation)
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Annual number
Number of of responses Total number Average burden & cost Total annual burden Cost per
respondents per of responses per response hours & total annual respondent ($)
respondent cost
(1).................. (2) (1) * (2) = (4).................. (3) * (4) = (5)...... (5) / (1)
(3)
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Data Submittal..................... 178 (RC and TOP)..... 1 178 8 hrs.; $669.36...... 1,424 hrs.; 669.36
$119,146.08.
Evidence Retention................. 243 (PA/PC, RC, and 1 243 1 hr.; $34.79 \18\... 243 hrs.; $8,453.97.. 34.79
TOP).
MOD-033-2 Net Changes in RD20-4 (in ..................... .............. -28 ..................... -126.................
the first table above).
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New Total for MOD-033-2 Renewal ..................... .............. 393 ..................... 1,541 hrs.;
$128,935.47.
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The total annual estimated burden and cost for the FERC-725L
information collection is 38,724 hours and $2,960,375.60 respectively.
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.
Dated: April 4, 2021.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-07226 Filed 4-7-21; 8:45 am]
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