[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 126 (Friday, June 30, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34237-34239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-16136]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Notice of Proposed Revisions, Extension of Forms and Solicitation 
of Comments.

AGENCY: Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy.

SUMMARY: The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed revision and a three-year extension of 
approval for its electric power forms. These forms include: Form EIA-
412, ``Annual Report of Public Electric Utilities;'' Form EIA-759, 
``Monthly Power Plant Report;'' Form EIA-826, ``Monthly Electric 
Utility Sales and Revenue Report with State Distributions;'' Form EIA-
860, ``Annual Electric Generator Report;'' Form EIA-861, ``Annual 
Electric Utility Report;'' and Form EIA-867 ``Annual Nonutility Power 
Producer Report.''

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before August 29, 1995. 
If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find it 
difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, 
you should advise the contact listed below of your intention to do so 
as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to John G. Colligan (EI-524), Energy 
Information Administration, Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Washington, D.C. 20585, Telephone (202) 254-5465, fax (202) 
254-6233, Internet e-mail [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Requests for additional information or copies 
of the form(s) and instructions should be directed to John Colligan at 
the address listed previously.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background
II. Current Actions
III. Request for Comments

I. Background

    In order to fulfill its responsibilities under the Federal Energy 
Administration Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-275) and the Department of 
Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. 95-91), the EIA is obliged to carry 
out a central, comprehensive, and unified energy data and information 
program. As part of this program, EIA collects, evaluates, assembles, 
analyzes, and disseminates data and information related to energy 
resources, reserves, production, demand, and technology, and related 
economic and statistical information relevant to the adequacy of energy 
resources to meet demands in the near-term and long-term future for the 
Nation's economic and social needs. To meet this responsibility, as 
well as internal DOE requirements that are dependent on accurate data, 
the EIA conducts statistical surveys that encompass each significant 
source of electric power, distribution and consumption activity in the 
United States.
    As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burden (required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995), EIA conducts 
a pre-survey consultation program to provide the general public and 
other Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/
or continuing reporting forms. This program ensures that requested data 
can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden is minimized, 
reporting forms are clearly understood, and the impact of collection 
requirements on respondents can be properly assessed.

II. Current Actions

    The EIA proposes the following changes and improvements:
--deleting data items no longer required;
--adding data items needed for analysis;
--improving the clarity of the instructions;
improving the design and flow of the forms;
--merging two forms (Form EIA-861 and Form EIA-867);
--dropping confidentiality requirement (Form EIA-867);
--electronic filing (EIA-412);
--appointment of an agent for filing; and
--changing the due date for the annual forms (Forms EIA-412, 861, and 
867) from prior due dates to April 1st of each year. (The Form EIA-860 
will continue to be due February 15th each year.)

    EIA proposes a three-year extension with changes to its existing 
collections. These changes reflect current industry operations and 
enable EIA to respond accurately to industry, Congressional, Federal 
and public data users requirements. The proposed changes are summarized 
below:

1. Form EIA-412

    The EIA proposes the following:
    a. In the ``Identification Section'' page one of the form, request 
the fax number and/or Internet e-mail address of the respondent contact 
person.
    b. Schedule I: Electric Utility Balance Sheet separate ``Plant 
Materials and Operating Supplies'' (account 154) from the existing 
``Materials and Supplies'' (accounts 153-163) and rename the remaining 
items as ``Other Supplies'' (account 153, 155-163).
    c. Schedule III: Statement of Cash Flows, a new schedule will be 
required from the publicly owned electric utilities (existing schedules 
III through XII will be renumbered). The data collected on this 
schedule will provide policy and decisionmakers with data comparable to 
the investor-owned electric utilities. The new schedule will provide a 
uniform reporting layout and facilitate easier public use of the data. 
Additionally it will make reconciliation of net income to cash flow 
less difficult.
    d. The instructions have been revised adding clarity and uniformity 
thus aiding the respondents in the completion and timely submission of 
the form.
    e. In order to minimize the overall burden, reduce reporting errors 
and overall costs, all respondents will be required to submit the Form 
EIA-412 electronically. Requests for submission in hard copy format 
rather than electronic filing must be made in writing and will be 
considered on a case-by-case basis. All submissions should be made on 
or before April 1st of each year.
    The Form EIA-412 electronic format is described below:
    --The EIA will mail a 3.5-inch diskette by January 15, 1996, 
(thereafter 2 months following the end of the fiscal year with a filing 
date 4 months after the end of the fiscal year) containing the 
respondent's form and operative software for electronic media;
    --The Form EIA-412 software operates in a PC-based user friendly 
environment;
    --The software operates using DOS 3.3 or higher, and a Hewlett 
Packard Laser Jet Series II, III, or IV (or compatible) printer;
    --Software integrity should be maintained; therefore, no inserts or 
deletions to accounts, columns, lines, etc., should be made;
    --No format changes to the prescribed schedules should be made;
    --A signed hard copy of page one, ``Identification Section and 
Certification 

[[Page 34238]]
Section,'' should be filed with each diskette;
    --Resubmissions (of any part of the form) should include the entire 
Form EIA-412 diskette and signed hard copy certification;
    --The software supports data entry onto screens that are identical 
to each schedule of the form;
    --The system performs some edit checks as the data are entered and 
additional edits are provided to a respondent using the software;
    --The software supports printing of a single page, or a series of 
pages with/without data, or copying to a diskette for filing with the 
EIA;
    --There are no license restrictions on the number of copies to be 
installed by any one respondent; and
    --The software is scheduled to be available in October 1995 and any 
respondent desiring to test the system should contact Roger Sacquety at 
(202) 254-5440.

 Form EIA-759

    The EIA is currently evaluating a proposal to revise the scope of 
its monthly data collection on the Form EIA-759, ``Monthly Power Plant 
Report.'' The proposal consists of two alternatives described in a 
Federal Register notice published April 28, 1995 (60 FR 20985) that 
would allow for the collection of data on net generation, fuel 
consumption, and end-of-month fuels stocks from both electric utilities 
and nonutility power producers.
    Alternative one: Collect monthly electric power data electronically 
from the 150 U.S. electric control areas. The control area operators 
gather information for the electric power industry (both electric 
utilities and independent power producers) in the United States. 
Adoption of this alternative would greatly reduce monthly respondent 
burden. The EIA would continue to use the Form EIA-759 until electric 
control area operators are filing monthly and the data have been 
validated for consistency.
    Alternative two: Revise the coverage of the current Form EIA-759 
and sample both utility and nonutility power producers. With the second 
alternative, nonutilities included in the sample would receive a 
monthly form to report generation provided to the electric grid, as 
well as, consumption and stocks of fuel. Implementation of this option 
would also reduce respondent burden, but not as much as in alternative 
one.
    The alternative selected will be announced in the Federal Register 
notice submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for clearance 
of the EIA Electric Power Program Package.

3. Form EIA-826

    The EIA proposes the following changes:
    a. include purchases of electricity by utilities from nonutilities 
at the utility/state level.
    b. delete Schedule II, ``Electric Energy Information by Company.'' 
The data collected on Schedule II are used by the U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis and are not used or published by 
EIA.

4. Form EIA-860

    In order to remove duplicative reporting to both the EIA and the 
North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) and reduce 
respondent burden, EIA proposes to change the method of data 
collection, revise some data elements, and clarify the instructions on 
the Form EIA-860 as follows:
    a. Respondents will have the option to file the Form EIA-860 
directly to EIA (the present method) or designate an agent(s) to file 
the form on their behalf;
    b. Utilities can designate NERC as their agent. NERC will process 
the data filed on Form EIA-860 and deliver the generator data base to 
EIA annually;
    c. Data reported will be ``as of January 1st'' of the reporting 
calendar year instead of ``as of December 31st'' of the year preceding 
the reporting calendar year, where the reporting calendar year is the 
year in which the report is filed;
    d. Schedule II: Power Plant Site Information, Elevation and Cooling 
system codes (type of cooling) have been deleted. The term ``Nonutility 
Use'' is being changed to ``Cogeneration'' to more accurately describe 
the data being collected;
    e. Schedule III: Generator Information, data terms (elements) have 
been deleted, added, and replaced as noted below:
    --Deleted are: Service Type, First Electricity Date (existing 
generators), Start-up Fuels, (Third) Energy Source, Reasons for Delay/
Cancellation, and Date of Cancellation;
    --The more appropriate term, ``Effective Date,'' replaced ``First 
Electricity Date'' to collect the same data related to proposed new 
generators and proposed changes to existing generators;
    --Added data elements are: ``Mode of Transportation of Fuels'' and 
``Ownership of Generator.''
    f. Instructions have been revised as follows:
    --Report multiple-proposed generator changes for the 10-year 
forecast period;
    --Added instructions to allow grouping by prime mover and energy 
source generators with nameplate capacity of less than 5 megawatts, 
provided aggregate capacity does not exceed 100 megawatts;
    --Two codes are added to the choices for prime mover;
    --Added a code to generically report future capacity plans without 
specific details, the other code facilitates the identification of 
``common-headered'' steam generators;
    --Five codes are added to expand the choices for reporting energy 
source; and
    --Nine codes are either added, deleted and/or changed to improve 
the reporting status of planned new generators and/or changes to 
existing generators.
    g. Schedule IV: Ownership of Generators Owned Jointly or by Others, 
the requirement to report leased generators, is deleted.

5. Form EIA-861

    EIA proposes the following changes:
    a. Consolidate the Form EIA-861 and the Form EIA-867, creating new 
Form EIA-899, ``Annual Electric Power Industry Report.'' Please refer 
to proposed Form EIA-899.

6. Form EIA-867

    EIA proposes the following changes:
    a. Consolidate the Form EIA-867 and the Form EIA-861, creating new 
Form EIA-899, ``Annual Electric Power Industry Report.'' Please refer 
to proposed Form EIA-899.

7. Proposed Form EIA-899

    EIA proposes the creation of Form EIA-899:
    a. Schedule I of Form EIA-899 is a modification of Schedule I of 
the Forms EIA-861 and EIA-867. This consolidated Schedule will collect 
the information common to both forms as follows: Identification, 
Certification, and Industry Classification. The Industry Classification 
section will determine the applicable schedules to be filed by each 
respondent. Added to Schedule I is the industry classification, ``Power 
Marketers,'' and the respondent's e-mail address.
    b. Prior Form EIA-861: All remaining schedules are intact and 
became part of the Form EIA-899 with the following modifications:
    --Schedule II: General Information, Peak Demand, Energy Sources and 
Disposition,--added a line for Transmission by Others Losses;
    --Schedule III: Electric Operating Revenue,--modified the 
instructions to clarify the treatment of taxes;
    --Schedule IV: Electric Energy Information on Sales to Ultimate 
Consumers by State or U.S. Territory,--added sectors for transportation 
and agriculture; 

[[Page 34239]]

    --Schedule V: Demand-Side Management Information,--added a DSM 
contact person and telephone number; and
    --Schedule VI: Nonutility Power Producer Information,--revised the 
title to ``Independent Power Producer Information,'' and changed the 
reporting requirements to include all independent power producers.
    c. Prior Form EIA-867: All remaining Schedules have been 
renumbered, are intact and became part of the Form EIA-899.
    --The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code designations 
are included in the instructions, the list of SIC codes has been 
enhanced to include sub-codes for SIC code 49 and include codes for SIC 
codes 91 and 97.
    --The Form EIA-899 filing date is April 1st; and
    --The Form EIA-899 collects information on electric generation 
including purchases and sales, electric capacity, and fuel consumption 
and will not be considered confidential. Data filed on the former Form 
EIA-867 have historically been treated as confidential. The EIA 
proposes that the data filed by all respondents in the electric power 
industry be considered public information consistent with similar data 
filed by other segments of the electric power industry on other EIA 
electric power forms. In addition, the industry is under a changing 
regulatory environment. Core data, as collected and published by the 
EIA, are needed by policy makers to develop regulations, and assess the 
impact of policies and regulations.
    d. There is an option to file the Form EIA-899 electronically. The 
electronic filing option should reduce overall costs of the respondent 
and the government.

III. Request for Comments

    Prospective respondents and other interested parties should comment 
on the actions discussed in item II. The following guidelines are 
provided to assist in the preparation of responses. Please indicate to 
which form or forms your comment or comments apply.
    General Issues: EIA is interested in receiving comments from 
persons regarding:
    A. Whether the proposed collection(s) of information is necessary 
for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information shall have practical utility and
    B. What enhancements EIA can make to the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected.
    As a potential respondent:
    A. Are the instructions and definitions clear and sufficient? If 
not, which instruction(s) require clarification?
    B. Can the data be submitted using the definitions included in the 
instructions?
    C. Can data be submitted in accordance with the response time 
specified in the instructions?
    D. For each of the following forms, public reporting burden (hours 
per response) is estimated to average: EIA-412 = 33.2 hrs.; EIA-759 = 
1.4 hrs.; EIA-826 = 1.8 hrs.; EIA-860 = 16.0 hrs.; EIA-899 total 9.35 
hrs: (Utility Power Producers = 7.08 hrs.; and Nonutility Power 
Producers 2.27 hrs.) Burden is based on how much time, including time 
for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering 
and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. Please comment on (1) the accuracy of our 
estimate and (2) efforts to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.
    E. What is the estimated cost to complete the form, including 
direct and indirect costs associated with the data collection? Direct 
costs should include all costs, such as administrative costs, directly 
attributable to providing this information.
    F. Please provide comments on the proposed change in 
confidentiality, and include specific reasons on how the release of 
specified data would likely cause substantial competitive harm to your 
company. If you have provided this information in response to the 
request for comments to the Federal Register notice published April 28, 
1995 (60 FR 20985), there is no need to resubmit the information. 
Kindly advise us of the date of your submission, and we will include it 
in our comments.
    G. Do you know of any other Federal, State, or local agency that 
collects similar data? If you do, specify the agency, the data 
element(s), and the means of collection.
    As a potential user:
    A. Can you use data at the levels of detail indicated on the form?
    B. For what purpose would you use the data? Be specific.
    C. Are there alternate sources of data and do you use them? What 
are their deficiencies and/or strengths?
    D. For the most part, information is published by EIA in U.S. 
customary units, e.g., cubic feet of natural gas, short tons of coal, 
and barrels of oil. Would you prefer to see EIA publish more 
information in metric units, e.g., cubic meters, metric tons, and 
kilograms? If yes, please specify what information, the metric unit(s) 
of measurement preferred, and in which EIA publication(s) you would 
like to see such information.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the forms. They also 
will become a matter of public record.

    Authority: Section 3506 (c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13).

    Issued in Washington, D.C., June 21, 1995.
Yvonne M. Bishop,
Director, Office of Statistical Standards, Energy Information 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 95-16136 Filed 6-29-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P