Notice2024-31432
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725G); Comment Request; Extension
Primary source
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Published
December 31, 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 currently approved information collections, FERC 725G, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System: Regional Reliability Standard PRC standards; FERC-725G1, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System: Reliability Standard PRC-004-6 (Protection System Misoperation Identification and Correction), FERC-725G4, Mandatory Reliability Standards: Reliability Standard PRC-010-2 (Under Voltage Load Shedding) and 725P1, PRC-005-6 (Protection System, Automatic Reclosing, and Sudden Pressure Relaying Maintenance). There are no changes made to the reporting requirements for this information collection.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 250 (Tuesday, December 31, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 250 (Tuesday, December 31, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 107138-107142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-31432]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC25-4-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725G); Comment
Request; Extension
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments.
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[[Page 107139]]
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 collections, FERC 725G, Mandatory Reliability Standards for
the Bulk-Power System: Regional Reliability Standard PRC standards;
FERC-725G1, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System:
Reliability Standard PRC-004-6 (Protection System Misoperation
Identification and Correction), FERC-725G4, Mandatory Reliability
Standards: Reliability Standard PRC-010-2 (Under Voltage Load Shedding)
and 725P1, PRC-005-6 (Protection System, Automatic Reclosing, and
Sudden Pressure Relaying Maintenance). There are no changes made to the
reporting requirements for this information collection.
DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due March 3, 2025.
ADDRESSES: You may submit copies of your comments (identified by Docket
No. IC25-4-000) 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, not in scanned or picture format.
<bullet> For those unable to file electronically, comments may be
filed by USPS mail or by other delivery methods:
[cir] Mail via U.S. Postal Service Only: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE,
Washington, DC 20426.
[cir] All other delivery services: 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#4d2b283f2e2223212423283e383d3d223f390d2b283f2e632a223b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="97f1f2e5f4f8f9fbfef9f2e4e2e7e7f8e5e3d7f1f2e5f4b9f0f8e1">[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: Kayla Williams may be reached by email
at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#de9abfaabf9db2bbbfacbfb0bdbb9e989b8c9df0b9b1a8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fabe9b8e9bb9969f9b889b94999fbabcbfa8b9d49d958c">[email protected]</span></a>, telephone at (202) 502-6468.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In this information collection request, the
Commission is merging the FERC-725G1 (OMB Control No. 1902-0284), FERC-
725G4 (OMB Control No. 1902-0282) and FERC-725P1 (OMB Control No. 1902-
0280) into the FERC-725G (OMB Control No. 1902-0252).
FERC-725G1
Title: Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System:
Reliability Standard PRC-004-6.
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\1\ 16 U.S.C.824o.
\2\ As defined at 16 U.S.C. 824o(a)(1) and 18 CFR 39.1, the term
``bulk-power system'' means facilities and control systems necessary
for operating an interconnected electric energy transmission network
(or any portion thereof), and electric energy from generating
facilities needed to maintain transmission system reliability. The
term does not include facilities used in the local distribution of
electric energy.
\3\ 16 U.S.C. 824o(e).
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OMB Control No.: 1902-0284.
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\4\ Using the November 20, 2024, NERC compliance registration
information for entities that are Generator Owners, Transmission
Owners, and Distribution Providers (in the US), the number of
potential respondents is 1,861. However, not every entity will have
a misoperation event during a year. Based on our previous experience
with this information collection, we are estimating that
approximately half of the 1,861 potential respondents annually will
have a reportable misoperation, i.e., 930 (rounded) responses per
year for FERC-725G1.
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Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-725G1 information
collection requirements.
Abstract: The Commission collects information under FERC-725G1 in
accordance with section 215 of the Federal Power Act (FPA) \1\ and 18
CFR parts 39 and 40. Section 215 of the FPA gives the Commission and
the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (as the Commission-
approved Electric Reliability Organization) to establish and enforce
reliability standards for all users, owners, and operators of the bulk-
power system.\2\ Once approved, the Reliability Standards may be
enforced by the Electric Reliability Organization subject to Commission
oversight, or by the Commission independently.\3\
Reliability Standard PRC-004-6 requires transmission owners,
generator owners, and distribution providers to identify and correct
causes of mis-operations of certain protection systems for bulk-power
system elements. It also requires retention of evidence of
misoperations for a minimum of 12 calendar months.
Types of Respondents: Transmission Owners, Generator Owners, and
Distribution Providers.
Frequency of Response: On occasion.
Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates 930 responses
annually, and per-response burdens of 16 hours and $1,130.72.\4\ The
total estimated burdens per year are 930 responses, 14,880 hours, and
$1,051,570 (rounded). These burdens are itemized in the following
table:
[[Page 107140]]
Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System--Reliability Standard PRC-004-6 (FERC-725G1) Annual Estimates of Respondents' Burdens
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B. Annual
number of C. Total number of D. Average burden & E. Total annual burden F. Cost per respondent
A. Number of respondents responses per responses cost per response \5\ hours & total annual ($)
respondent cost
(column A x column B) (column C x column D).. (column E / column A)
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930................................. 1 930 16 hrs.; $1,130.72..... 14,880 hrs.; $1,051,570 $1,130.72
(rounded).
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FERC-725G4
Title: Mandatory Reliability Standards: Reliability Standard PRC-
010-2 (Under Voltage Load Shedding).
OMB Control No.: 1902-0282.
Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-725G4 information
collection requirements.\6\
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\5\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is a
combination based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of
2024, for 75% of the average of an Electrical Engineer (17-2071)
$79.31/hr., 79.31 x .75 = 59.4825 ($59.48-rounded) ($59.48/hour) and
25% of an Information and Record Clerk (43-4199) $44.74/hr., $44.74
x .25% = 11.185 ($11.19 rounded) ($11.19/hour), for a total ($59.48
+ $11.19 = $70.67/hour).
\6\ If OMB renews FERC-725G4, the Commission subsequently may
consider requesting that OMB combine that information collection
activity with FERC-725G1. Such action would be administrative only
and would not indicate the discontinuation of the information
collection requirements in FERC-725G4.
\7\ ``Load shedding'' means disconnecting consumers from the
grid to prevent demand from exceeding supply, which can cause
widespread grid collapse. A ``UVLS Program'' provides for automatic
load shedding, utilizing voltage inputs, in specific circumstances
and locations.
\8\ ``UVLS Entities,'' as defined at the NERC website at <a href="https://www.nerc.com/pa/Stand/Reliability%20Standards/PRC-010-2.pdf">https://www.nerc.com/pa/Stand/Reliability%20Standards/PRC-010-2.pdf</a>, are
distribution providers and transmission owners responsible for the
ownership, operation, or control of UVLS equipment, as required by a
UVLS Program.
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Abstract: The Commission collects information under FERC-725G4 in
accordance with section 215 of the FPA and 18 CFR parts 39 and 40.
Reliability Standard PRC-010-2 requires respondents to submit date-
stamped documentation of their compliance with the relevant UVLS
Program.\7\
Types of Respondents: UVLS Entities.\8\
Frequency of Response: On occasion.
Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates 25 responses
annually, and per-response burdens of 48 hours and $4,176.\9\ The total
estimated burdens per year are 25 responses, 1,200 hours, and $104,400.
These burdens are itemized in the following table:
Mandatory Reliability Standards--Reliability Standard PRC-010-2 (Under Voltage Load Shedding) (FERC-725G4) Annual Estimates of Respondents' Burdens
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B. Annual
number of C. Total number of D. Average burden & E. Total annual burden F. Cost per respondent
A. Number of respondents responses per responses cost per response \10\ hours & total annual ($)
respondent cost
(Column A x Column B) (Column C x Column D).. (Column E / Column A)
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31.................................. 1 31 48 hrs.; $3,392.16..... 1,488 hrs.; $105,156.96 $3,392.16
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FERC-725P1
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\9\ Using the November 20, 2024, NERC compliance registration
information for only unique US entities that are Transmission Owners
(325) and Distribution Providers (298), the number of potential
respondents is 623, considering overlap between functions. However,
not every entity has an under-voltage load shedding program.
Approximately five percent of the potential respondents have such a
program. Therefore, we estimate 31 (rounded) responses per year for
FERC-725G4.
\10\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is a
combination based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of
2024, for 75% of the average of an Electrical Engineer (17-2071)
$79.31/hr., 79.31 x .75 = 59.4825 ($59.48-rounded) ($59.48/hour) and
25% of an Information and Record Clerk (43-4199) $44.74/hr., $44.74
x .25% = 11.185 ($11.19 rounded) ($11.19/hour), for a total ($59.48
+ $11.19 = $70.67/hour).
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Title: Mandatory Reliability Standards: Reliability Standard PRC-
005-6 (Protection System, Automatic Reclosing, and Sudden Pressure
Relaying Maintenance).
OMB Control No.: 1902-0280.
Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-725P1 information
collection requirements.\11\
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\11\ If OMB renews FERC-725P1, the Commission subsequently may
consider requesting that OMB combine that information collection
activity with FERC-725G. Such action would be administrative only
and would not indicate the discontinuation of the information
collection requirements in FERC-725P1.
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Abstract: The Commission collects information under FERC-725P1 in
accordance with section 215 of the FPA and 18 CFR parts 39 and 40.
Reliability Standard PRC-005-6 requires that transmission and
generation protection systems affecting the reliability of the Bulk-
Power System are maintained and tested.
Types of Respondents: Distribution providers, generator owners and
transmission owners Entities.
Frequency of Response: On occasion.
Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates 1,861 responses
annually, and per-response burdens of 2 hours and $141.34.\12\ The
total estimated burdens per year are 1,861 responses, 3,722 hours, and
$263,033.74. These burdens are itemized in the following table:
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\12\ Using the November 20, 2024, NERC compliance registration
information for only unique US entities that are Distribution
Providers (298), generator owners (1,238) and transmission owners
(325). Therefore, we estimate 1,861 (rounded) responses per year for
FERC-725P1.
[[Page 107141]]
Mandatory Reliability Standards--Reliability Standard PRC-005-6 (Protection System, Automatic Reclosing, and Sudden Pressure Relaying Maintenance) (FERC-
725P1) Annual Estimates of Respondents' Burdens
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B. Annual
number of C. Total number of D. Average burden & E. Total annual burden F. Cost per respondent
A. Number of respondents responses per responses cost per response \13\ hours & total annual ($)
respondent cost
(Column A x Column B) (Column C x Column D).. (Column E / Column A)
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325 (TO)............................ 1 325 2 hrs.; $141.34........ 650 hrs.; $45,935.50... $141.34
1,238 (GO).......................... 1 1,238 2 hrs.; $141.34........ 2,476 hrs.; $174,978.92 $141.34
298 (DP)............................ 1 298 2 hrs.; $141.34........ 596 hrs.; $42,119.32... $141.34
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Total........................... .............. 1,861 ....................... 3,722 hr., 263,033.74.. .......................
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725G1, 725G4 and 725P1 Merge Back Into 725G (1902-0252)
Abstract: On August 8, 2005, Congress enacted into law the
Electricity Modernization Act of 2005, which is Title XII, Subtitle A,
of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005).\14\ EPAct 2005 added a
new section 215 to the FPA, which required a Commission-certified
Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) to develop mandatory and
enforceable Reliability Standards, which are subject to Commission
review and approval. Once approved, the Reliability Standards may be
enforced by the ERO subject to Commission oversight, or the Commission
can independently enforce Reliability Standards.\15\
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\13\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is a
combination based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of
2024, for 75% of the average of an Electrical Engineer (17-2071)
$79.31/hr., 79.31 x .75 = 59.4825 ($59.48-rounded) ($59.48/hour) and
25% of an Information and Record Clerk (43-4199) $44.74/hr., $44.74
x .25% = 11.185 ($11.19 rounded) ($11.19/hour), for a total ($59.48
+ $11.19 = $70.67/hour).
\14\ Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law 109-58, Title XII,
Subtitle A, 119 Stat. 594, 941 (codified at 16 U.S.C. 824o).
\15\ 16 U.S.C. 824o(e)(3).
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The information collected by the FERC-725G is required to implement
the statutory provisions of section 215 of the Federal Power Act
(FPA).\2\ Section 215 of the FPA buttresses the Commission's efforts to
strengthen the reliability of the interstate bulk power grid.
Mandatory Reliability Standards--Reliability Standard for FERC-725G (1902-0252) Annual Estimates of Respondents'
Burdens
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D. Total E. Total annual
C. Total annual average burden burden hours & F. Cost per respondent
FERC-725G responses & cost per total annual ($)
response \16\ cost
(Column A x Column B) (Column C x (Column E / Column A)
Column D).
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FERC-725-G1, Total PRC-004-6 930 16 hrs.; 14,880 hrs.; $1,130.72
$1,130.72. $1,051,569.60.
FERC-725-G4, Total PRC-010-2 31 48 hrs.; 1,488 hrs.; 3,392.16
$3,392.16. $105,156.96.
FERC-725-P1, Total PRC-005-6 1,861 2 hrs.; $141.34 3,722 hr., 141.34
263,033.74.
Currently approved FERC-725G 11,367 ............... 762,718........ .......................
Totals.
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FERC-725-G New Total.... 14,189 ............... 782,808........ .......................
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The FERC-725G information collection currently contains the
reporting and recordkeeping requirements for the following (12)
Reliability Standards: PRC-002-4, PRC-004-6, PRC-005-6, PRC-006-5, PRC-
010-2, PRC-012-2, PRC-019-2, PRC-023-6, PRC-024-3, PRC-025-2, PRC-026-
2, and PRC-027-1.
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\16\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is a
combination based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of
2024, for 75% of the average of an Electrical Engineer (17-2071)
$79.31/hr., 79.31 x .75 = 59.4825 ($59.48-rounded) ($59.48/hour) and
25% of an Information and Record Clerk (43-4199) $44.74/hr., $44.74
x .25% = 11.185 ($11.19 rounded) ($11.19/hour), for a total ($59.48
+ $11.19 = $70.67/hour).
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PRC-002-4 Disturbance Monitoring and Reporting Requirements
The purpose is to have adequate data available to facilitate
analysis of Bulk Electric System (BES) Disturb.
<bullet> PRC-005-6 Automatic Underfrequency Load Shedding
To document and implement programs for the maintenance of all
Protection Systems, Automatic Reclosing, and Sudden Pressure Relaying
affecting the reliability of the Bulk Electric System (BES) so that
they are kept in working order
<bullet> PRC-006-5 Automatic Underfrequency Load Shedding
To establish design and documentation requirements for automatic
Underfrequency Load Shedding (UFLS) programs to arrest declining
frequency, assist recovery of frequency following underfrequency events
and provide last resort system preservation measures.
<bullet> PRC-012-2 Remedial Action Schemes
To ensure that Remedial Action Schemes (RAS) do not introduce
unintentional or unacceptable reliability risks to the Bulk Electric
System (BES).
<bullet> PRC-019-2 Coordination of Generating Unit or Plant
Capabilities, Voltage Regulating Controls, and Protection
The purpose is to verify coordination of generating unit Facility
or synchronous condenser voltage regulating controls, limit functions,
[[Page 107142]]
equipment capabilities and Protection System settings.
<bullet> PRC-023-4 Transmission Relay Load-Ability
The purpose to verify coordination of generating unit Facility or
synchronous condenser voltage regulating controls, limit functions,
equipment capabilities and Protection System settings.
<bullet> PRC-024-3 Generator Frequency and Voltage Protective Relay
Settings
The purpose to set protection such that generating resource(s)
remain connected during defined frequency and voltage excursions in
support of the Bulk Electric System (BES).
<bullet> PRC-025-2 Generator Relay Load-Ability
The purpose is to set load-responsive protective relays associated
with generation Facilities at a level to prevent unnecessary tripping
of generators during a system disturbance for conditions that do not
pose a risk of damage to the associated equipment.
<bullet> PRC-026-2 Relay Performance During Stable Power Swings
The purpose is to ensure that load-responsive protective relays are
expected to not trip in response to stable power swings during non-
Fault conditions.
<bullet> PRC-027-1 Coordination of Protection Systems for Performance
During Faults
The purpose is to maintain the coordination of Protection Systems
installed to detect and isolate Faults on Bulk Electric System (BES)
Elements, such that those Protection Systems operate in the intended
sequence during Faults.
Each of these Reliability Standards have three components that
impose burden upon affected industry:
<bullet> Requirements (e.g., denoted in each Reliability Standard as
R1, R2 . . .)
<bullet> Measures (e.g., denoted in each Reliability Standard as M1, M2
. . .)
<bullet> Evidence Retention
These three components can be reviewed for the Reliability
Standards in North American Electric Reliability Commission (NERC)
petitions in FERC's eLibrary system (<a href="http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp">http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp</a>) or on NERC's own website (<a href="http://www.nerc.com">www.nerc.com</a>).
Type of Respondents: Generator owners, Planning coordinators,
Distribution providers, and UFLS-only Distribution Providers.
Estimate of Annual Burden: \17\ Our estimates are based on the NERC
Compliance Registry Summary of Entities as of November 20, 2024.
According to the NERC compliance registry, and functions as of, which
indicates there are registered as GO, DP and TO entities. The
individual burden estimates are based on the time needed to gather
data, run studies, and analyze study results to design or update the
underfrequency load shedding programs. These are consistent with
estimates for similar tasks in other Commission approved standards.
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\17\ 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. See 5
CFR 1320 for additional information on the definition of information
collection burden.
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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: December 23, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-31432 Filed 12-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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