Notice2025-23220
Commission Information Collection Activities (Ferc-552, Ferc-549e); Consolidated 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
December 18, 2025
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Abstract
In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved information collection, FERC-552, Annual Report of Natural Gas Transactions, and FERC-549E, Price Index Data Providers and Developers. There is no change to the information collection requirements.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 241 (Thursday, December 18, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 241 (Thursday, December 18, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59099-59100]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-23220]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC26-5-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (Ferc-552, Ferc-
549e); Consolidated Comment Request; Extension
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, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A), the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the
currently approved information collection, FERC-552, Annual Report of
Natural Gas Transactions, and FERC-549E, Price Index Data Providers and
Developers. There is no change to the information collection
requirements.
DATES: Comments on the collections of information are due February 17,
2026.
ADDRESSES: Please submit comments via email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#95d1f4e1f4d6f9f0f4e7f4fbf6f0d5d3d0c7d6bbf2fae3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0347627762406f666271626d606643454651402d646c75">[email protected]</span></a>.
You must specify the Docket No. (IC26-5-000) and the FERC Information
Collection number (FERC-552 or 549E) in your email. If you are unable
to file electronically, comments may be filed by USPS mail or by hand
(including courier) delivery:
<bullet> Mail via U.S. Postal Service only, addressed to: Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First
Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
<bullet> Hand (including courier) delivery to: Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852.
Docket: To view comments and issuances in this docket, please visit
<a href="https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/search">https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/search</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kayla Williams may be reached by email
at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f4b0958095b798919586959a9791b4b2b1a6b7da939b82"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d692b7a2b795bab3b7a4b7b8b5b39690938495f8b1b9a0">[email protected]</span></a>, or by telephone at (202)502-6468.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: FERC-552, Annual Report of Natural Gas Transactions; FERC-
549E, Price Index Data Providers and Developers.
OMB Control No.: 1902-0242, 1902-0328
Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-549E and FERC-552
information collection requirements with no changes to the current
reporting requirements.
Abstract:
FERC-552: The Commission uses the information collected in the FERC
Form No. 552 \1\ to provide greater transparency into the size of the
physical natural gas market and the use of physical fixed-price and
index-based natural gas transactions. This information assists the
Commission and the public in assessing whether index prices are the
result of a robust market of fixed-price transactions.
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\1\ FERC Form No. 552 is prescribed in 18 CFR 260.401.
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FERC Form No. 552 had its genesis in the Energy Policy Act of
2005,\2\ which added section 23 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA). Section
23 of the NGA, among other things, directs the Commission ``to
facilitate price transparency in markets for the sale or transportation
of physical natural gas in interstate commerce, having due regard for
the public interest, the integrity of those markets, and the protection
of consumers.'' \3\
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\2\ Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law 109-58, sections 1261
et seq., 119 Stat. 594 (2005).
\3\ 15 U.S.C. 717t-2(a)(1)(2006).
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FERC-549E: Price indices are commonly used in natural gas and
electricity wholesale markets. These indices are used by market
participants to price their commodities. The Commission set forth
standards for price index developers to demonstrate that their internal
processes were sufficient to qualify as a Commission-approved price
index developer and, thus, have their price indices referenced in
Commission-jurisdictional tariffs in their Initial Policy Statement.\4\
Price index developers seeking approval voluntarily provide written
statements to the Commission to explain how they met these standards.
The Commission uses the information collected from these price index
developers to determine whether the Commission
[[Page 59100]]
would approve the use of their indices in Commission-jurisdictional
tariffs. After the Initial Policy Statement was issued, thirteen price
index developers sought approval. The Commission issued a Revised
Policy Statement on April 21, 2022, effective on December 31, 2022.\5\
Beginning six months after the effective date of this revision,
interstate natural gas pipelines and public utilities proposing to use
price indices in jurisdictional tariffs are no longer entitled to the
rebuttable presumption that a price index developer's price indices
produce just and reasonable rates unless the price index developer has
obtained approval or re-approval from the Commission within the last
seven years. The FERC-549E represents the burden for price index
developers to comply with Commission requirements pertaining to
information collection and data publication and to seek approval of
their index with the Commission and for data providers that submit
information to price index developers.
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\4\ 104 FERC ] 61,121 (Initial Policy Statement), clarified,
Order on Clarification of Policy Statement on Natural Gas and
Electric Price Indices, 105 FERC ] 61,282 (2003) (2003 Clarification
Order), clarified, Order Further Clarifying Policy Statement on
Natural Gas and Electric Price Indices, 112 FERC ] 61,040 (2005)
(2005 Clarification Order).
\5\ Actions Regarding the Commission's Policy on Price Index
Formation and Transparency, and Indices Referenced in Natural Gas
and Electric Tariffs (PL20-3-000) (Revised Policy Statement), April
21, 2022.
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Type of Respondents: Wholesale natural gas market participants
(FERC-552), price index data providers and developers (FERC-549E).
Estimate of Annual Burden: \6\ The Commission estimates the annual
public reporting burden for the information collection as:
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\6\ The Commission defines burden 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.
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Annual
number of Cost per
Number of responses Total number of Average burden & cost Total annual burden hours & respondent
respondents per responses per response 7 total annual cost ($)
respondent
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (3) (4)...................... (3) * (4) = (5)................ (5) / (1)
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FERC-552: Annual Report of Natural Gas Transactions 8
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Wholesale natural gas market 671 1 671 20 hrs.; $2,060.......... 13,420 hrs.; $1,382,260........ 2,060
participants.
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FERC 549E: Price Index Data Providers 9 and Developers
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Data providers (and their 76 249 18,924 4 hrs.; $412............. 75,696 hrs.; $7,796,688........ 102,588
affiliates) report Next Day
Transactions.
Data Providers-perform biennial 96 .5 48 80 hrs.; $8,240.......... 3,840 hrs.; $395,520........... 4,120
self-audit (not annual).
Data Providers (and their 70 12 840 4 hrs.; $412............. 3,360 hrs.; $346,080........... 4,944
affiliates) report Next Month
Transactions.
Price Index Developers--code of 6 1 6 80 hrs.; $8,240.......... 480 hrs.; $49,440.............. 8,240
conduct & confident.; & inform
customers.
Price Index Developers--identify 6 1 6 80 hrs.; $8,240.......... 480 hrs.; $49,440.............. 8,240
assessed index price vs.
calculated.
Price Index Developers--re-certify 6 .14 1 269 hrs.; $27,707........ 269 hrs.; $27,707.............. 4,618
every 7 yrs..
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Total FERC 549E............... ........... ............ 19,825 ......................... 84,125; $8,664,875............. 132,750
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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.
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\7\ The estimates for cost per response are derived using the
following formula: Average Burden Hours per Response $103 per Hour =
Average Cost per Response. The hourly cost figure comes from FERC's
average annual cost of salary plus benefits in FY25 of $214,093. We
believe this estimate is comparable to respondents salaries.
\8\ Based off of CY 2024 FERC Form 552 data.
\9\ Id.
Dated: December 12, 2025.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2025-23220 Filed 12-17-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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