Notice2025-06220
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725r and FERC-725a); Comment Request; Revision
Primary source
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Published
April 11, 2025
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 proposed revisions of the currently approved information collection, FERC-725R, (Mandatory Reliability Standards: BAL Reliability Standards) and FERC-725A, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System: TOP and INT Standards.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 69 (Friday, April 11, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 69 (Friday, April 11, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15460-15462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-06220]
[[Page 15460]]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. RD25-5-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725r and FERC-
725a); Comment Request; Revision
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 proposed revisions of the
currently approved information collection, FERC-725R, (Mandatory
Reliability Standards: BAL Reliability Standards) and FERC-725A,
Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System: TOP and INT
Standards.
DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due June 10, 2025.
ADDRESSES: You may submit copies of your comments (identified by Docket
No. RD25-5-000) 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, 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#6f090a1d0c00010306010a1c1a1f1f001d1b2f090a1d0c41080019"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="11777463727e7f7d787f74626461617e636551777463723f767e67">[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#64200510052708010516050a070124222136274a030b12"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3b7f5a4f5a78575e5a495a55585e7b7d7e6978155c544d">[email protected]</span></a>, telephone at (202) 502-6468.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: FERC-725R, (Mandatory Reliability Standards: BAL Reliability
Standards) and FERC-725A, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-
Power System: TOP and INT Standards.
OMB Control No.: FERC-725R (1902-0268) and FERC-725A (1902-0244).
Type of Request: Revision of FERC-725R--Mandatory Reliability
Standards, proposed Reliability Standard BAL-007-1 (Near-term Energy
Reliability Assessments) and FERC-725A--proposed Reliability Standard
TOP-003-7 (Transmission Operator and Balancing Authority Data and
Information Specification and Collection).
Abstract: The FERC-725R and FERC-725A information collection
requirements are subject to review by the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) under section 3507(d) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995. OMB's regulations require approval of certain information
collection requirements imposed by agency rules. Upon approval of a
collection of information, OMB will assign an OMB control number and
expiration date. Respondents subject to the filing requirements will
not be penalized for failing to respond to these collections of
information unless the collections of information display a valid OMB
control number. The Commission solicits comments on the need for this
information, whether the information will have practical utility, the
accuracy of the burden estimates, ways to enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be collected or retained, and any
suggested methods for minimizing respondents' burden, including the use
of automated information techniques.
The Commission bases its paperwork burden estimates on the
additional paperwork burden presented by the proposed the Commission's
regulations,\1\ proposing the approval of proposed Reliability Standard
BAL-007-1 (Near-term Energy Reliability Assessments), the approval of
proposed Reliability Standard TOP-003-7 (Transmission Operator and
Balancing Authority Data and Information Specification and Collection),
and the approval of the proposed definitions of the terms Energy
Reliability Assessment (ERA) and Near-Term Energy Reliability
Assessment (Near-Term ERA) for inclusion in the Glossary of Terms Used
in NERC Reliability Standards.
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\1\ 18 CFR 39.5.
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NERC explains ``the purpose of proposed Reliability Standard BAL-
007-1 is to identify and minimize the risks of forecasted Energy
Emergencies in the operations planning time horizon by analyzing the
expected resource mix availability.'' \2\ NERC states that proposed
Reliability Standard BAL-007-1 requires balancing authorities ``to
perform a Near-Term ERAs and have Operating Plans in place to identify
and minimize the risks of forecasted Energy Emergencies.'' \3\
Furthermore, NERC states that ``proposed Reliability Standard TOP-003-7
would provide the Balancing Authority with specific authority to
collect the data necessary to perform the Near-Term ERAs.'' \4\ Based
on the NERC Compliance Registry, as of November 20, 2024, we estimate
that 97 balancing authorities (BAs) would be subject to mandatory
compliance with proposed Reliability Standard BAL-007-1. For proposed
Reliability Standard TOP-003-7, only the 97 balancing authorities will
have a change in burden.
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\2\ NERC Petition at 3.
\3\ Id.
\4\ Id. at 4.
Proposed Burden BAL-007-1 Docket No. RD25-5
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Number of
Type and annual Total number Average number of Total burden
Reliability standard number of responses of responses burden hours per hours
entity \5\ per entity response \6\
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (4).............. (3) * (4) = (5)
(3)
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Annual Collection BAL-007-1 FERC-725R
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Annual review and record 97 (BA) 1 97 24 hrs.; $70.67/ 2,328 hrs.;
retention. hr. $164,519.76.
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[[Page 15461]]
Total for BAL-007-1....... .............. ........... 97 ................. 2,328 hrs.;
$164,519.76.
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Proposed Burden TOP-003-7 Docket No. RD25-5
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Number of
Type and annual Total number Average number of Total burden
Reliability standard number of responses of responses burden hours per hours
entity \7\ per entity response \8\
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (4).............. (3) * (4) = (5)
(3)
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Annual Collection TOP-003-7 FERC-725A
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Annual review and record 97 (BA) 1 97 4 hrs.; $70.67/hr 388 hrs.;
retention. $27,419.96.
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Total for TOP-003-7....... .............. ........... 97 ................. 388 hrs.;
$27,419.96.
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The annual responses and burden hours for proposed Reliability
Standard BAL-007-1 is 97 responses; 2,328 hours. The annual responses
and burden hours for proposed Reliability Standard TOP-003-7 is 97
responses; 388 hours.
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\5\ Number of entity data taken from the NERC compliance
registry, dated November 20, 2024.
\6\ 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).
\7\ Number of entity data taken from the NERC compliance
registry, dated November 20, 2024.
\8\ 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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The annual cost burden is $164,519.76 for proposed Reliability
Standard BAL-007-1, and $27,419.96 for proposed Reliability Standard
TOP-003-7.
Title: Mandatory Reliability Standards, proposed Reliability
Standard BAL-007-1 (Near-term Energy Reliability Assessments) and
proposed Reliability Standard TOP-003-7 (Transmission Operator and
Balancing Authority Data and Information Specification and Collection).
Action: Revision to FERC-725R and FERC-725A information collection.
OMB Control No.: 1902-0268 & 1902-0244.
Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit institutions; not-for-
profit institutions.
Frequency of Responses: Annually.
Necessity of the Information: This order approves Reliability
Standards pertaining to near-term energy reliability assessments and
data and information specification and collection. As discussed above,
the Commission, through its delegated authority to the Director of the
Office of Electric Reliability under 18 CFR 375.303, approves these
Reliability Standards because the Standards will help identify and
minimize the risks of forecasted energy emergencies in the operations
planning time horizon by analyzing the expected resource mix
availability and requiring the development of operating plans where
necessary.
Internal Review: The Commission, through its delegated authority to
the Director of the Office of Electric Reliability, has reviewed the
proposed Reliability Standards and made a determination that its action
is necessary to implement section 215 of the FPA.
Interested persons may obtain information on the reporting
requirements by contacting the following: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426; Attention: Kayla
Williams, Office of the Executive Director, email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2e6a4f5a4f6d424b4f5c4f404d4b6e484b5c4d00494158">[email protected]</a>, phone: (202) 502-6468.
For submitting comments concerning the collection(s) of information
and the associated burden estimate(s), please send your comments to the
Commission, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Washington, DC 20503 [Attention:
Desk Officer for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, phone: (202)
395-4638, fax: (202) 395-7285]. For security reasons, comments to OMB
should be submitted by email to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b3dcdac1d2ecc0c6d1dedac0c0dadcddf3dcded19dd6dcc39dd4dcc5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fb9492899aa4888e9996928888929495bb949699d59e948bd59c948d">[email protected]</span></a>. Comments
submitted to OMB should include Docket Number RD25-5-000 and OMB
Control Number 1902-0264.
In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the
Federal Register, the Commission provides all interested persons an
opportunity to view and/or print the contents of this document via the
internet through the Commission's Home Page (<a href="https://www.ferc.gov">https://www.ferc.gov</a>).
From the Commission's Home Page on the internet, this information
is available on eLibrary. The full text of this document is available
on eLibrary in PDF and Microsoft Word format for viewing, printing,
and/or downloading. To access this document in eLibrary, type the
docket number excluding the last three digits of this document in the
docket number field.
User assistance is available for eLibrary and the Commission's
website during normal business hours from the Commission's Online
Support at (202) 502-6652 (toll free at 1-866-208-3676) or email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9cfaf9eefff3f2f0f5f2f9efe9ececf3eee8dcfaf9eeffb2fbf3ea"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5f393a2d3c30313336313a2c2a2f2f302d2b1f393a2d3c71383029">[email protected]</span></a>, or the Public Reference Room at (202) 502-
8371, TTY (202) 502-8659. Email the Public Reference Room at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e8989d8a84818bc69a8d8e8d9a8d868b8d9a878785a88e8d9a8bc68f879e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c2b2b7a0aeaba1ecb0a7a4a7b0a7aca1a7b0adadaf82a4a7b0a1eca5adb4">[email protected]</span></a>.
All submissions must be formatted and filed in accordance with
submission guidelines at: https://www.ferc.gov/
[[Page 15462]]
help/submission-guide.asp. For user assistance, contact FERC Online
Support by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#593f3c2b3a36373530373c2a2c2929362b2d193f3c2b3a773e362f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="93f5f6e1f0fcfdfffafdf6e0e6e3e3fce1e7d3f5f6e1f0bdf4fce5">[email protected]</span></a>, or by phone at: (866)
208-3676 (toll-free), or (202) 502-8659 for TTY.
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 7, 2025.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2025-06220 Filed 4-10-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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