Notice2026-08962
Commission Information Collection Activities (Ferc-725e) 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
May 6, 2026
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 collection FERC-725E (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Western Electric Coordinating Council) for the retirement of Regional Reliability Standard BAL-002-WECC-3 (Contingency Reserves).
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 87 (Wednesday, May 6, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 6, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24540-24541]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-08962]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. RD26-5-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (Ferc-725e) Comment
Request; Extension
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 collection FERC-725E (Mandatory Reliability Standards for
the Western Electric Coordinating Council) for the retirement of
Regional Reliability Standard BAL-002-WECC-3 (Contingency Reserves).
DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due July 6, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may submit your comments (identified by Docket No. RD26-
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: Addressed to: Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the 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#bbdddec9d8d4d5d7d2d5dec8cecbcbd4c9cffbdddec9d895dcd4cd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="563033243539383a3f383325232626392422163033243578313920">[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: Contact: Kayla Williams at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#83c7e2f7e2c0efe6e2f1e2ede0e6c3c5c6d1c0ade4ecf5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="82c6e3f6e3c1eee7e3f0e3ece1e7c2c4c7d0c1ace5edf4">[email protected]</span></a>, telephone at (202) 502-6468.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: FERC-725E, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Western
Electric Coordinating Council, Retirement of BAL-002-WECC-3.
OMB Control No.: 1902-0264
Type of Request: Retirement of BAL-002-WECC-3 from 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\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
WECC promotes bulk electric system reliability in the Western
Interconnection and 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 RD26-5-000, FERC is retiring Regional Reliability Standard BAL-
002-WECC-3 (Contingency Reserve), which requires balancing authorities
and reserve sharing groups to document compliance with the contingency
reserve requirements. NERC and WECC explain that ``Regional Reliability
Standard BAL-002-WECC-3 requires applicable WECC entities to maintain
reserves at levels that exceed those required under the continent-wide
Reliability Standard BAL-002-3--Disturbance Control Standard--
Contingency Reserve for Recovery from a Balancing Contingency Event.
Following a recent review of the regional standard, WECC identified
that no technical basis supports the continued applicability of the
standard, and that rather than advance reliability in the Western
Interconnection, the regional standard may be presenting unnecessary
challenges.
Type of Respondents: Balancing authorities and reserve sharing
groups.
Estimate of Annual Burden: \4\ Our estimates for a reduction in
burden under 725E are specific to just BAL-002-WECC-3 entities no
longer needing to be compliant with the applicable Requirements.
Additionally, the estimate used information from the
[[Page 24541]]
NERC Compliance Registry Summary of Entities as of February 9, 2026.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The individual burden estimates include the time needed to gather
data, run studies, and analyze study results. These are consistent with
estimates for similar tasks in other Commission-approved standards.
Estimates for the additional average annual burden and cost \5\ as
follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is a
combination of the following categories from the BLS website, <a href="http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm:">http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm:</a> 75% of the average of an
Electrical Engineer (17-2071) $71.19/hr., x .75 = 53.3925 ($53.39-
rounded) ($53.39/hour); and 25% of an Information and Record Clerk
(43-4199) $40.51/hr., $40.51 x .25 = 10.1275 ($10.13 rounded)
($10.13/hour), for a total ($53.39+$10.13 = $63.52/hour).
FERC-725E, Mandatory Reliability Standards for theWestern Electric Coordinating Council, Retirement of BAL-002-
WECC-3 Changes in Docket No. RD26-5-000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual Total annual
Type and number of Total Average burden burden hours &
Reliability standard or process number of responses number of hrs. & cost ($) cost ($)
entities \6\ per entity responses per response (rounded)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (4) (3) * (4) = (5)
(3)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual review and record 34 (BA) 1 34 12 hrs.; $762.24 408 hrs.;
retention...................... $25,916.00
1 (RSG) 1 1 1 hrs.; 63.52 1 hrs.; 64.00
---------------------------------------------------------------
Total for retirement BAL-002- .............. 35 ........... ................. 409 hrs;
WECC-3..................... 25,980.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ The ``Number of Entity'' data is compiled from the February
9, 2026, edition of the NERC Compliance Registry. ``BA'' means
balancing authority; ``RSG'' means reserve sharing group.
Dated: May 1, 2026.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2026-08962 Filed 5-5-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on May 6, 2026.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.