Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725E); Comment Request; Extension

Issuing agencies

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 (1902-0246), (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Western Electric Coordinating Council) for the retirement of Regional Reliability Standard BAL-002-WECC-3 (Contingency Reserves). The comment period ended on July 6, 2026, with no comments received.

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 163 (Tuesday, August 25, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 163 (Tuesday, August 25, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54865-54866]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17317]


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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.

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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 currently approved 
information collection FERC-725E (1902-0246), (Mandatory Reliability 
Standards for the Western Electric Coordinating Council) for the 
retirement of Regional Reliability Standard BAL-002-WECC-3 (Contingency 
Reserves). The comment period ended on July 6, 2026, with no comments 
received.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due September 24, 
2026.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC-725E to OMB through <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRA/icrPublicCommentRequest?ref_nbr=202608-1902-005">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRA/icrPublicCommentRequest?ref_nbr=202608-1902-005</a>. You can also visit <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a> 
and use the drop-down under ``Currently under Review'' to select the 
``Federal Energy Regulatory Commission'' where you can see the open 
opportunities to provide comments. Comments should be sent within 30 
days of publication of this notice.
    Please submit a copy of your comments to the Commission via email 
to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6226031603210e070310030c010722242730214c050d14"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5b1f3a2f3a18373e3a293a35383e1b1d1e0918753c342d">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. You must specify Docket No. (RD26-5-000) and 
the FERC Information Collection number (FERC-725E) 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: Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street 
NE, Washington, DC 20426.
    <bullet> All other delivery methods: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Secretary of the 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>. Once there, you can also 
sign up for automatic notification of activity in this docket.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact: Kayla Williams at 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#87c3e6f3e6c4ebe2e6f5e6e9e4e2c7c1c2d5c4a9e0e8f1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="95d1f4e1f4d6f9f0f4e7f4fbf6f0d5d3d0c7d6bbf2fae3">[email&#160;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.: 1902-0246.
    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

[[Page 54866]]

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 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 NERC Compliance 
Registry Summary of Entities as of February 9, 2026.
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    \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.
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    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:
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    \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 the Western Electric Coordinating Council, Retirement of BAL-002-WECC-3 Changes in Docket No. RD26-5-000
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                                         Type and      Annual number
   Reliability standard or process       number of     of responses    Total number    Average burden  hours & cost)   Total annual burden hours  & cost
                                       entities \6\     per entity     of responses          per response  ($)                  ($)  (rounded)
                                                 (1)             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4)...........................  (3) * (4) = (5)
                                                                                 (3)
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Annual review and record retention..         34 (BA)               1              34  12 hrs.; $762.24..............  408 hrs.; $25,916.00
                                             1 (RSG)               1               1  1 hrs.; $63.52................  1 hrs.; $64.00
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    Total for retirement BAL-002-     ..............  ..............              35  ..............................  409 hrs; $25,980.00
     WECC-3.
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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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    \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: August 20, 2026.
Carlos D. Clay,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2026-17317 Filed 8-24-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


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