[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 25, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54673-54675]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-26408]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Energy Information Administration


Solicitation of Comments on Form EIA-898A/B, ``Solar Thermal 
Installers Survey'' and ``Photovoltaic Systems Installers Survey''

AGENCY: Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of the proposed new forms and solicitation of comments.

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SUMMARY: The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed new Forms (EIA-898A/B), ``Solar 
Thermal Systems Installers Survey'' and ``Photovoltaic Systems 
Installers Survey''.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before December 26, 
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 Peter Holihan, (EI-522) Energy Information 
Administration, Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, U. S. 
Department of Energy, Washington, D. C. 20585 (telephone number 202-
254-5432) (e mail address [email protected]) (fax 202-254-6233).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the form(s) and instructions should be directed to Peter 
Holihan at the address listed above.

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. No. 93-275) and the Department of 
Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. No. 95-91), the Energy Information 
Administration (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 resource reserves, production, 
demand, and technology, and related economic and statistical 
information relevant to the adequacy of energy resources to meet 
demands in the near and longer term future for the Nation's economic 
and social needs.
    The Energy Information Administration, as part of its continuing 
effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden (required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13)), conducts a presurvey 
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 helps to ensure 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.
    Form EIA-898A will collect data on the installation of solar 
thermal collectors from installers consisting of manufacturers who also 
install solar devices, distributors who are also installers, building 
contractors, and trade professionals (e.g., plumbers and electricians). 
Data requested will be: the number and types of solar devices 
installed; the total energy output; the type of energy sources 
replaced; final State destination of solar devices installed; average 
costs and uses of installed solar devices as well as original versus 
retrofit percentages of revenue for solar systems installers; 
maintenance costs, and warranty data.
    Form EIA-898B will collect data on the installation of photovoltaic 
devices from installers consisting of manufacturers who also install 
photovoltaic devices, distributors who are also installers, building 
contractors, and trade professionals (e.g., plumbers and electricians). 
Data requested will be: the number and types of photovoltaic devices 
installed; the total energy output of the photovoltaic systems 
installed; the types of energy sources displaced; final State 
destination of photovoltaic devices installed; average costs and uses 
of installed systems as well as original verses retrofit percentages of 
revenue for photovoltaic devices installed; maintenance costs, and 
warranty data.

II. Current Actions

    The EIA is proposing two new surveys, Forms 898A/B, to collect data 
from installers of solar thermal collectors and photovoltaic devices. A 
pretest survey of a number of installers who were representative of the 
installers' industry has been conducted, with any recommendations being 
incorporated into the final survey forms. The purpose of the pretest 
survey was to identify potential survey respondents, pretest the 
questionnaire, and assess the availability of installation data. The 
EIA plans to meet with solar industry companies, DOE personnel, and 
other interested parties to discuss Forms EIA-898A/B. EIA will also 
consult with the Solar Energy Industry Association to review any 
comments the industry has.

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(s) your comments apply.

General Issues

    EIA is interested in receiving comments from persons regarding:
    A. Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility. Practical utility 
is the actual usefulness of information to or for an agency, taking 
into account its accuracy, adequacy, reliability, timeliness, and the 
agency's ability to process the information it collects.
    B. What enhancements can EIA 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 instructions require clarification?
    B. Can data be submitted in accordance with the due date specified 
in the instructions?
    C. Public reporting burden for each form is estimated to average 3 
hours. Burden includes the total time, effort, or financial resources 
expended to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide the 
information including: (1) reviewing instructions; (2) developing, 
acquiring, installing, and utilizing technology and systems for the 
purposes of collecting, validating, verifying, processing, maintaining, 
disclosing and providing information; (3) adjusting the existing ways 
to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; 
(4) training personnel to respond to a collection of information; (5) 
searching data sources; (6) completing and reviewing the collection of 
information; and (7) transmitting, or otherwise disclosing the 
information.
    Please comment on (1) the accuracy of our estimate and (2) how the 
agency could minimize the burden of the collection of information, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.
    D. In addition to the burden costs, are there any capital or start-
up cost components or any operational and maintenance components? The 
estimates should take into account costs 

[[Page 54675]]
associated with generating, maintaining, and disclosing or providing 
information. Capital and start-up costs include, among other items, 
preparations for collecting information such as purchasing computers, 
software; monitoring, sampling, drilling, testing equipment; and record 
storage facilities.
    E. 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 methods 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? If so, 
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 (e.g., coal 
production, natural gas consumption, and crude oil imports), 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 form. They also 
will become a matter of public record.

Statutory Authority

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

    Issued in Washington, D.C. October 18, 1995.
John Gross,
Acting Director, Office of Statistical Standards, Energy Information 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 95-26408 Filed 10-24-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P