[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 125 (Tuesday, June 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35582-35583]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17371]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Energy Information Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Energy Information Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Agency information collection activities: proposed collection; 
comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed modifications and extensions of the 
following Electric Power Forms:

EIA-411, ``Coordinated Bulk Power Supply Program Report;''
EIA-412, ``Annual Report of Public Electric Utilities;''
EIA-417R, ``Electric Power Systems Emergency Report;''
EIA-759, ``Monthly Power Plant Report;''
EIA-767, ``Steam-Electric Plant Operation and Design Report;''
EIA-826, `` Monthly Electric Utility Sales and Revenue Report with 
State
    Distributions;''
EIA-860, ``Annual Electric Generator Report;''
EIA-861, ``Annual Electric Utility Report;''
EIA-867, ``Annual Nonutility Power Producer Report;'' and
EIA-900, ``Monthly Nonutility Sales for Resale Report.''

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before August 31, 1998. 
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 DOE contact listed below of your intention to do 
so as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to John G. Colligan, Energy Information 
Administration, Electric Power Division, EI-53, U.S. Department of 
Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0650; 
telephone (202) 426-1174; e-mail [email protected]; and FAX (202) 
426-1311.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of forms and instruction sets should be directed to John 
Colligan 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. 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 
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 EIA, 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. Also, EIA will later seek approval by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the collections under Section 
3507(h) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, Title 
44, U.S.C. Chapter 35).

Confidentiality Notice

    The issue of the confidential treatment of data collected on any of 
the forms listed above is being addressed and will be resolved as a 
separate matter under other Federal Register notices. Whatever final 
confidentiality procedures are implemented will be applied to each of 
the EIA survey forms above as appropriate.

II. Current Actions

    The EIA will request (a) a 3-year extension, through December 31, 
2001, for all forms listed, and (b) modifications to the specific forms 
as described below. The proposed changes the EIA is requesting through 
this action reflect the current state of the electric power industry.
    Additional changes may be required, prior to the new expiration 
date, in order to be up-to-date with the rapidly changing industry.
    Form EIA-411, ``Coordinated Bulk Power Supply Program,'' Propose 
changing planning projections period (Items 1, 2, and 4) from 10 years 
to 5 years. The form and instructions will be modified to show this 
changes.
    Form EIA-412, ``Annual Report of Public Electric Utilities,'' 
Propose changing the reporting threshold from 120,000 MWh to 150,000 
MWh. The instructions will be modified to show this change.
    Form EIA-417R, ``Annual Summary of Emergency Occurrences,'' no 
change.
    Form EIA-759, ``Monthly Power Plant Report,'' no change.
    Form EIA-767, ``Steam-Electric Plant Operation and Design Report,'' 
no change.
    Form EIA-826, ``Monthly Electric Utility Sales and Revenue Report 
with State Distributions.'' Propose adding

[[Page 35583]]

two new data tables: (1) the distribution company will be asked to 
provide data about the monthly bill if they are billing the consumer 
for another energy service provider; and (2) the energy service 
provider will report data if billing is done by them or a third party 
other than the distribution company. The form and instructions will be 
modified to show these changes.
    Form EIA-860, ``Annual Electric Generator Report,'' two changes are 
proposed: (1) the survey form designation and name will be altered to, 
Form EIA-860-A, ``Annual Electric Generator Report--Utility;'' and (2) 
the planning projection period (Schedule II and Schedule III) will be 
changed from 10 years to 5 years. The form and instructions will be 
modified to show these changes.
    Form EIA-861, ``Annual Electric Utility Report.'' Three changes are 
proposed: (1) Item 5 on Schedule II indicating new plant intention(s) 
will be deleted; (2) Schedule IV will require energy service providers 
to report the total dollars paid by the consumer(s) whether or not the 
energy service provider issues the bill; and (3) the Demand Side 
Management (Schedule V) threshold will be raised from 120,000 MWh to 
150,000 MWh. The form and instructions will be modified to show these 
changes.
    Form EIA-867, ``Annual Nonutility Power Producer Report.'' Three 
changes are proposed: (1) the form name and number will be changed to, 
Form EIA-860-B ``Annual Electric Generator Report--Nonutility''; (2) 
Item 3(a) estimated useful thermal output and 3(b) thermal output used 
will be added to Schedule IVB. The form and instructions will be 
modified to show these changes.
    Form EIA-900, ``Monthly Nonutility Sales for Resale Report.'' Six 
changes are proposed: (1) the survey name will be changed to ``Monthly 
Nonutility Power Report;'' three new data elements on (2) fuel type, 
(3) gross generation (kWh), and (4) fossil fuel consumption will be 
added; and (5) sales for resale and (6) sales to other end users will 
be deleted. The form and instructions will be modified to show these 
changes.

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
    A. Are the proposed collections of information necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency? Does the information 
have practical utility? Practical utility is defined as 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 by the due date?
    C. Public reporting burden estimates for each form collection are 
shown below. Burden includes the total time, effort, or financial 
resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or 
provide the information.

EIA-411, ``Coordinated Bulk Power Supply Program Report,''--15.50 hrs. 
per response (previous estimate was 20.7 hrs.)
EIA-412, ``Annual Report of Public Electric Utilities,''--30.3 hrs. per 
response (no change from previous estimate)
EIA-417R, ``Electric Power Systems Emergency Report and Annual Summary 
of Emergency Occurrences,''--2.89 hrs. per response (no change from 
previous estimate). Note: The frequency, magnitude, and duration of 
emergency occurrences are hard to predict, therefore making reporting 
times hard to predict.
EIA-759, ``Monthly Power Plant Report,''--1.4 hrs. per response (no 
change from previous estimate)
EIA-767, ``Steam-Electric Plant Operation and Design Report,'' 84 hrs. 
per response for plants of 100 MW or more, and 4 hrs. for plants from 
10 MW but less than 100 MW. (no change from previous estimate)
EIA-826, ``Monthly Electric Utility Sales and Revenue Report with State 
Distributions,''--1.5 hrs. per response (previous estimate was 1.4 
hrs.)
EIA-860, ``Annual Electric Generator Report,''--15.0 hrs. per response 
(previous estimate was 15.3 hrs)
EIA-861, ``Annual Electric Energy Industry Report,''--7.5 hrs per 
response (previous estimate was 7.9 hrs.)
EIA-867, ``Annual Nonutility Power Producer Report,''--2.12 hrs. per 
response (no change from previous estimate)
EIA-900, ``Monthly Nonutility Sales for Resale Report,''--.25 hrs. per 
response (no change from previous estimate).

    Please comment on (1) the accuracy of our estimates and (2) how the 
agency could minimize the burden of the collections of information, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    D. EIA estimates that respondents will incur no additional costs 
for reporting other than the hours required to complete the 
collections. What is the estimated: (1) total dollar amount annualized 
for capital and start-up costs, and (2) recurring annual costs of 
operating and maintaining and purchasing service costs associated with 
these data collections?
    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 forms?
    B. For what purpose would you use the data? Be specific.
    C. Identify any alternate sources of data. Do you use them? If so, 
what are their deficiencies and/or strengths?
    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, DC, June 24, 1998.
Lynda T. Carlson,
Director, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy Information 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-17371 Filed 6-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P