[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 18, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44524-44525]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18086]


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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 on the proposed new Form EIA-905, ``Monthly Natural Gas Biller 
Survey .''

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 18, 
2000. If you anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that 
period, contact the person listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Roy Kass, EI-44, Form EIA-905, Forrestal 
Building, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, D.C. 20585. 
Alternatively, Roy Kass may be reached by phone at 202-586-4790, by e-
mail [email protected], or by FAX at 202-586-4420.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the form and instructions should be directed to Roy Kass at 
the address listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
II. Current Actions
III. Request for Comments

I. Background

    The Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 (Pub. L. No. 93-275, 
15 U.S.C. 761 et seq.) and the Department of Energy Organization Act 
(Pub. L. No. 95-91, 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) require the Energy 
Information Administration (EIA) to carry out a centralized, 
comprehensive, and unified energy information program. This program 
collects, evaluates, assembles, analyzes, and disseminates information 
on energy resource reserves, production, demand, technology, and 
related economic and statistical information. This information is used 
to assess the adequacy of energy resources to meet near and longer term 
domestic demands.
    The EIA, as part of its effort to comply with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), provides 
the general public and other Federal agencies with opportunities to 
comment on collections of energy information conducted by or in 
conjunction with the EIA. Any comments received help the EIA to prepare 
data requests that maximize the utility of the information collected, 
and to assess the impact of collection requirements on the public. 
Also, the EIA will later seek approval by the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) of the collections under Section 3506(c) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995.
    EIA's coverage of prices paid for natural gas is declining as 
customers choose to purchase gas from alternative supplies rather than 
the traditional local distribution companies. The coverage of 
residential and commercial natural gas prices is expected to continue 
declining as the result of customer choice programs. Data requirements 
were established to assess the gas industry's performance. (See http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/natural_gas/ng2/ng2main.html for more 
information on the data requirements.) The data requirements were 
developed with careful consideration of the public policy and economic 
issues through a series of focus groups conducted by EIA with 
representatives from the natural gas industry, state and Federal 
government representatives, and others.

II. Current Actions

    The proposed survey will collect monthly billing data, specifically 
the volume of natural gas sold and distributed (in therms), heat 
content (in Btu per cubic feet), and price components of natural gas 
(including commodity, taxes, distribution, and other charges), and 
number of customers by sector (residential and commercial).
    The data will be collected from local distribution companies, 
marketers, and billing agents that bill for natural gas sold and/or 
delivered in deregulated states. The data will be incorporated and used 
in EIA's monthly and annual natural gas publications. The data will 
also be used in EIA's modeling and analytic efforts, and to answer 
questions

[[Page 44525]]

from Federal policy makers, Congress and the general public.
    Submission of the data will be mandatory under Section 13(b) of the 
Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 (FEA Act) (Pubic Law 93-275), 
as amended. The information collected on this questionnaire will be 
kept confidential and not disclosed to the public to the extent that it 
satisfies the criteria for exemption under the Freedom of Information 
Act.
    EIA will begin cognitive testing of 20 respondents and field 
testing of over 200 LDCs and marketers in select states in August 2000. 
Information from respondents acquired through pretesting will be 
considered in the development of the collection instrument.

III. Request for Comments

    Prospective respondents and other interested parties should comment 
on the actions discussed in item II. The following are provided to 
assist in the preparation of comments.

General Issues

    A. Is the proposed collection of information necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency and 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 be made 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 need clarification?
    B. Can the information be submitted by the due date?
    C. Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to 
average 6 hours per response. The estimated burden includes the total 
time, effort, or financial resources expended to generate, maintain, 
retain, disclose and provide the information. In your opinion, how 
accurate is this estimate?
    D. The agency estimates that the only costs to the respondents are 
for the time it will take them to complete the collection. Will 
respondents incur start-up costs for reporting, or any recurring annual 
costs for operation, maintenance, and purchase of services associated 
with the information collection?
    E. What additional actions could be taken to minimize the burden of 
this collection of information? Such actions may involve the use of 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    F. Does any other Federal, State, or local agency collect similar 
information? If so, specify the agency, the data element(s), and the 
method(s) of collection.

As a Potential User

    A. Is the information useful at the levels of detail indicated on 
the form?
    B. For what purpose(s) would the information be used? Be specific.
    C. Are there alternate sources for the information and are they 
useful? If so, what are their weaknesses 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) of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

    Issued in Washington, D.C. July 11, 2000.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy 
Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-18086 Filed 7-17-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P