Notice2023-24832
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC Form Nos. 2 and 2-A; Comment Request; Extension
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 9, 2023
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Abstract
In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved information collection, FERC Form No. 2 (Annual Report for Major Natural Gas Companies) and FERC Form No. 2-A (Annual Report for Non- Major Natural Gas Companies).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 216 (Thursday, November 9, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 216 (Thursday, November 9, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77297-77298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24832]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC24-1-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC Form Nos. 2
and 2-A; 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 (PRA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission
or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved
information collection, FERC Form No. 2 (Annual Report for Major
Natural Gas Companies) and FERC Form No. 2-A (Annual Report for Non-
Major Natural Gas Companies).
DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due January 8,
2024.
ADDRESSES: You may submit your comments (identified by Docket No. IC24-
01-000) by one of the following methods:
Electronic filing through <a href="https://www.ferc.gov">https://www.ferc.gov</a>, is preferred.
<bullet> Electronic Filing: Documents must be filed in acceptable
native applications and print-to-PDF, but not in scanned or picture
format.
<bullet> 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, Office of the Secretary, 12225 Wilkins Avenue,
Rockville, MD 20852.
Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in
accordance with submission guidelines at: <a href="https://www.ferc.gov">https://www.ferc.gov</a>. For
user assistance, contact FERC Online Support by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#87e1e2f5e4e8e9ebeee9e2f4f2f7f7e8f5f3c7e1e2f5e4a9e0e8f1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cea8abbcada1a0a2a7a0abbdbbbebea1bcba8ea8abbcade0a9a1b8">[email protected]</span></a>, 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 <a href="https://www.ferc.gov">https://www.ferc.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d094b1a4b193bcb5b1a2b1beb3b59096958293feb7bfa6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bafedbcedbf9d6dfdbc8dbd4d9dffafcffe8f994ddd5cc">[email protected]</span></a>, telephone at (202) 502-8663.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: FERC Form No. 2, Annual Report for Major Natural Gas
Companies; OMB Control No. 1902-0028.
FERC Form No. 2-A, Annual Report for Non-Major Natural Gas
Companies; OMB Control No. 1902-0030.
OMB Control No.: 1902-0028, 1902-0030.
Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC Form No. 2 and
FERC Form No. 2-A information collection requirements without a change
to the current reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Abstract: Pursuant to sections 8, 10 and 14 of the Natural Gas Act
(NGA), (15 U.S.C. 717g-717m), the Commission is authorized to conduct
investigations and collect and record data, and to prescribe rules and
regulations concerning accounts, records and memoranda as necessary or
appropriate for purposes of administering the NGA. The Commission may
prescribe a system of accounts for jurisdictional companies and, after
notice and opportunity for hearing, may determine the accounts in which
particular outlays and receipts will be entered, charged or credited.
The Commission collects FERC Form Nos. 2 and 2-A information as
prescribed in 18 CFR 260.1 and 18 CFR 260.2. These forms provide
information concerning a company's current performance, compiled using
the Commission's Uniform System of Account (USoA).\1\ FERC Form No. 2
is filed by ``Major'' natural gas companies that have combined natural
gas transported or stored for a fee that exceeds 50 million Dekatherms
in each of the three previous calendar years. FERC Form No. 2-A is
filed by ``Non-Major'' natural gas companies that do not meet the
filing threshold for the FERC Form No. 2, but have total gas sales or
volume transactions that exceeds 200,000 Dekatherms in each of the
three previous calendar years.
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\1\ See 18 CFR part 201 (Uniform System of Accounts Prescribed
for Natural Gas Companies Subject to the Provisions of the Natural
Gas Act).
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The forms provide information concerning a company's financial and
operational information. The forms contain schedules which include a
basic set of financial statements: Comparative Balance Sheet, Statement
of Income and Retained Earnings, Statement of Cash Flows, and the
Statement of Comprehensive Income and Hedging Activities. Supporting
schedules containing supplementary information are filed, including
revenues and the related quantities of products sold or transported;
account balances for various operating and maintenance expenses;
selected plant cost data; and other information.
The information collected assists the Commission in the
administration of its jurisdictional responsibilities and is used by
Commission staff, state regulatory agencies, customers, financial
analysts and others in the review of the financial condition of
regulated companies. The information is also used in various rate
proceedings, industry analyses and in the Commission's audit programs
and as appropriate, for the computation of annual charges. The
information is made available to the public, interveners and all
interested parties to assist in the proceedings before the Commission.
For financial information to be useful to the Commission, it must be
understandable, relevant, reliable and timely. The Form Nos. 2 and 2-A
financial statements are prepared in accordance with the Commission's
USofA and related regulations, and provide data that enables the
Commission to develop and monitor cost-based rates, analyze costs of
different services and classes of assets, and compare costs across
lines of business. The use of the USofA permits natural gas companies
to account for similar transactions and events in a consistent manner,
and to communicate those results to the Commission on a periodic basis.
Comparability of data and financial statement analysis for a particular
entity from one period to the next, or between entities, within the
same industry, would be difficult to achieve if each company maintained
its own accounting records using dissimilar accounting methods and
classifications to record similar transactions and events. In summary,
without the information collected in the forms, it would be difficult
for the Commission to ensure, as required by the NGA, that a pipeline's
rates remain just and reasonable, respond to Congressional and outside
inquires, and make decisions in a timely manner.
Type of Respondent: Major and Non-Major Natural Gas Companies.
Estimate of Annual Burden: \2\ The Commission estimates the annual
public reporting burden and cost \3\ for the
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information collection as shown in the following table:
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\2\ 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.
\3\ The Commission staff believes the FERC FTE (full-time
equivalent) average cost for wages plus benefits is representative
of the corresponding cost for the industry respondents. Based upon
the FERC's 2023 average cost for salary plus benefits, the average
hourly cost is $96/hour.
\4\ Every figure in this column is rounded to the nearest
dollar.
Renewal for FERC Form 2 and 2A
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Annual number Annual cost
Information collection (FERC Number of of responses Total number of Average burden & cost per Total annual burden hours per respondent
form No.) respondents per respondent responses response & cost ($)
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (3) (4)....................... (3) * (4) = (5)......... (5) / (1) \4\
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2............................. 100 1 100 1,671.66 hrs.; $160,479.36 167,166 hrs.; $16,047,936 $160,479,36
2-A........................... 81 1 81 296 hrs.; $28,416......... 23,976 hrs.; $2,301,696.. $28,416
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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.
Dated: November 3, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-24832 Filed 11-8-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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