Notice2024-09283
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725E); Comment Request; Revision and Extension
Primary source
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Published
April 30, 2024
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Abstract
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 revision and extension to the information collection, FERC-725E (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Western Electric Coordinating Council), which will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. No Comments were received on the 60-day notice that was published on February 6, 2024.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 84 (Tuesday, April 30, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 84 (Tuesday, April 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34232-34234]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-09283]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. RD24-2-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725E); Comment
Request; Revision and Extension
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.
ACTION: Notice for revision and extension 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 revision and extension to the
information collection, FERC-725E (Mandatory Reliability Standards for
the Western Electric Coordinating Council), which will be submitted to
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. No Comments were
received on the 60-day notice that was published on February 6, 2024.
DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due May 30, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC 725E to OMB through
<a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB Control Number (1902-
0246) in the subject line of your comments. Comments should be sent
within 30 days of publication of this notice to <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>.
Please submit copies of your comments to the Commission. You may
submit copies of your comments (identified by Docket No. RD24-2-000) 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, Secretary of the Commission, 12225 Wilkins
Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852.
Instructions: OMB submissions must be formatted and filed in
accordance with submission guidelines at <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. 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 <a href="https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview">https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview</a>. For
user assistance, contact FERC Online Support by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8debe8ffeee2e3e1e4e3e8fef8fdfde2fff9cdebe8ffeea3eae2fb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="74121106171b1a181d1a11070104041b060034121106175a131b02">[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/ferc-online/overview">https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean Sonneman may be reached by email
at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a1e5c0d5c0e2cdc4c0d3c0cfc2c4e1e7e4f3e28fc6ced7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3074514451735c555142515e535570767562731e575f46">[email protected]</span></a>, telephone at (202) 502-6362.
[[Page 34233]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: FERC-725E, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Western
Electric Coordinating Council (WECC).
OMB Control No.: 1902-0246.
Type of Request: Revision and extension to the FERC-725E
information collection requirements.
Abstract: FERC-725E is the information collection that 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 (ERO). 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, the Commission
approved eight regional Reliability Standards submitted by the ERO that
were proposed by 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\ N. Am. Electric Reliability Corp., 119 FERC ] 61,260 (2007).
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WECC promotes bulk electric system reliability in the Western
Interconnection. WECC is the Regional Entity responsible for compliance
monitoring and enforcement. In addition, WECC provides an environment
for the development of Reliability Standards and the coordination of
the operating and planning activities of its members as set forth in
the WECC Bylaws.
There are several regional Reliability Standards in the WECC
region. These regional Reliability Standards generally require entities
to document compliance with substantive requirements, retain
documentation, and submit reports to WECC. In RD24-2-000, standard VAR-
501-WECC-3.1 is being updated for syntax and the proposed changes have
been deemed non-substantive. The currently approved VAR-501-WECC-3.1 is
being replaced by VAR-501-WECC-4. The changes include updates to
document numbering, the removal and replacement of obsolete language,
and removal of redundant language.
For the purposes of the extension, the following standards will
remain unchanged:
<bullet> BAL-002-WECC-3 (Contingency Reserve) \4\ requires
balancing authorities and reserve sharing groups to document compliance
with the contingency reserve requirements described in the standard.
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\4\ BAL-002-WECC-2 is included in the OMB-approved inventory for
FERC-725E. On November 9, 2016, NERC and WECC submitted a joint
petition for approval of an interpretation of BAL-002-WECC-2, to be
designated BAL-002-WECC-2a. BAL-002-WECC-2a was approved by order in
Docket No. RD17-3-000 on January 24, 2017. The Order determined:
``The proposed interpretation provides clarification regarding the
types of resources that may be used to satisfy Contingency Reserve
requirements in regional Reliability Standard BAL-002-WECC-2.'' BAL-
002-WECC-2a did not trigger the Paperwork Reduction Act and did not
affect the burden estimate. BAL-002-WECC-2a is being included in
this Notice and the Commission's submittal to OMB as part of the
FERC-725E. BAL-002-WECC-3 became effective June 28, 2021, under
docket RM19-20-000 in Order No. 876, replacing BAL-002-WECC-2a.
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<bullet> BAL-004-WECC-3 (Automatic Time Error Correction) \5\
requires balancing authorities to document that time error corrections
and primary inadvertent interchange payback were conducted according to
the requirements in the standard.
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\5\ BAL-004-WECC-3 was approved under docket RD18-2-000 on May
30, 2018.
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<bullet> FAC-501-WECC-2 (Transmission Maintenance) \6\ requires
transmission owners with certain transmission paths to have a
transmission maintenance and inspection plan and to document
maintenance and inspection activities according to the plan.
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\6\ FAC-501-WECC-2 was approved under docket RD18-5-000 on May
30, 2018.
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<bullet> IRO-006-WECC-3 (Qualified Transfer Path Unscheduled Flow
(USF) Relief) \7\ requires balancing authorities and reliability
coordinators to document actions taken to mitigate unscheduled flow.
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\7\ On December 20, 2013, NERC and WECC submitted a joint
petition for approval of IRO-006-WECC-2 and retirement of IRO-006-
WECC-1. IRO-006-WECC-2 was approved by order in Docket No. RD14-9-
000 on May 13, 2014. IRO-006-WECC-3 was approved by order in Docket
No. RD19-4-000 on May 10, 2019. Because the reporting burden for
IRO-006-WECC-3 did not increase for entities that operate within the
Western Interconnection, FERC submitted the order to OMB for
information only. The burden related to IRO-006-WECC-3 does not
differ from the burden of IRO-006-WECC-2, which is included in the
OMB-approved inventory. IRO-006-WECC-3 is being included in this
Notice and the Commission's submittal to OMB as part of FERC-725E.
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<bullet> VAR-501-WECC-4 (Power System Stabilizers (PSS)) requires
the Western Interconnection is operated in a coordinated manner under
normal and abnormal conditions by establishing the performance criteria
for WECC power system stabilizers.
Type of Respondents: Balancing authorities, reserve sharing groups,
transmission owners, reliability coordinators, transmission operators,
generator operators and generator owners.
Estimate of Annual Burden: \8\ We provide the tables below with
burden estimates which show the current burden estimates which include
the ongoing burden associated with reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, which are not changing in RD24-2-000. Further, the change
in RD24-2-000 is considered non-substantive, therefore, the Commission
is estimating that there is no change in the burden estimates from the
currently approved estimates.
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\8\ 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.
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In Table 1, the Commission highlights the burden estimates for the
VAR-501-WECC-4 (updated in Docket No. RD24-2-000). In Table 2, the
Commission estimates the total estimated burden for the entirety of the
FERC 725E collection.
Table 1--Burden Estimates for VAR-501-WECC-4, as Updated in Docket No. RD24-2-000, FERC-725E, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Western Electric
Coordinating Council, Changes in Docket No. RD24-2-000
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Number of Annual number Average burden Total annual burden
Entity respondents of responses Annual number hrs. & cost \10\ hours & total annual Cost per
\9\ per respondent of responses per response ($) cost ($) respondent ($)
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (4) (3) * (4) = (5) (5) / (1) =
(3) (6)
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Standard VAR-501-WECC-4
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Reporting Requirements
Generator Owners and/or Operators annual... 311 2 622 1 hr.; $91.81 622 hrs.; $57,105.82 $183.62
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Recordkeeping Requirements
Generator Owners and/or Operators annual... 311 2 622 0.5 hrs.; $28.07 311 hrs.; $17,459.54 56.14
Burden Annual for VAR-501-WECC-4............... .............. .............. .............. ................. 933 hrs.; $74,565.36 ..............
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Net Burden for FERC-725E, for Submittal to OMB. The table below
describes the new and continuing information collection requirements
and the associated burden for FERC-725E. (The burden in Table 2 refers
to burden associated with VAR-501-WECC-4, BAL-002-WECC-3, BAL-004-WECC-
3, FAC-501-WECC-2, and IRO-006-WECC-3).
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\9\ The number of respondents is derived from the NERC
Compliance Registry as of December 15, 2023.
\10\ For VAR-501-WECC-4, the 2023 hourly cost (for salary plus
benefits) uses the figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for
three positions involved in the reporting and recordkeeping
requirements. These figures include salary (<a href="http://bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm">http://bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm</a>) and benefits (<a href="http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm">http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm</a>) and are:
1. Manager: $106.33/hour;
2. Engineer: $77.29/hour;
3. Information and Record Clerk: $56.14/hour.
The hourly cost for the reporting requirements ($91.81) is an
average of the cost of a manager and engineer. The hourly cost for
recordkeeping requirements uses the cost of an Information and
Record Clerk ($56.14/hour).
\11\ The number of respondents is derived from the NERC
Compliance Registry as of December 15, 2023, and represent unique
U.S. register entities in the WECC regional area.
Table 2--Net Burden for FERC-725E, FERC-725E, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Western Electric Coordinating Council
[Continuing Information Collection Requirements]
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Number of Annual number Average burden
Entity respondents of responses Annual number of hrs. & cost per Total annual burden hours Cost per
\11\ per respondent responses response ($) & total annual cost ($) respondent ($)
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (3) (4) (3) * (4) = (5) (5) / (1) =
(6)
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Reporting Requirements
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Balancing Authorities............ 34 1 34 21 hrs., 714 hrs., $65,552.34 $1,928.01
$1,928.01
Transmission Owners that operate 5 3 15 40 hrs., 600 hrs., $55,086.00 11,017.20
qualified transfer paths........ $3,672.40
Reliability Coordinators......... 2 1 2 1 hr., $91.81 2 hr., $183.62 91.81
Reserve Sharing Group............ 2 1 2 1 hr., $91.81 2 hrs., $183.62 91.81
Generator Owners and/or Operators 311 2 622 1 hr.; $91.81 622 hrs.; $57,105.82 183.62
annual for VAR-501-WECC-4.......
Total Annual Reporting .............. .............. 1,940 hrs.; $178,111.40 .................
Requirements for FERC-725E..
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Recordkeeping Requirements
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Balancing Authorities............ 34 1 34 2.1 hrs., $117.89 71.4 hrs., $4,008.40 117.89
Balancing Authorities (IRO-006).. 34 1 34 1 hr., $56.14 34 hrs., $1,908.76 56.14
Reliability Coordinator.......... 2 1 2 1 hr.; $56.14 2 hr.; $112.28 56.14
Generator Owners and/or Operators 311 2 622 0.5 hrs.; $28.07 311 hrs.; $17,459.54 56.14
annual for VAR-501-WECC-4.......
Total Annual Recordkeeping .............. .............. ....................... ................. 418.4 hrs.; $23,488.98 ..............
for FERC-725E...............
Total Annual Burden for FERC- .............. .............. ....................... ................. 2,358.4 hrs.; $201,600.38 ..............
725E........................
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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: April 24, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-09283 Filed 4-29-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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