[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 13, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14564-14566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6139]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Energy Information Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Energy Information Administration (EIA), Department of Energy 
(DOE).

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

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SUMMARY: The EIA is soliciting comments concerning proposed revisions 
to existing electric power survey forms, the creation of new forms, and 
a three-year extension to December 31, 2004, approval for all EIA 
electric power surveys. EIA's current electric power surveys are:
Form EIA-411, ``Coordinated Bulk Power Supply Program Report,''
Form EIA-412, ``Annual Report of Public Electric Utilities,''
Form EIA-417R, ``Electric Power Systems Emergency Report,''
Form EIA-826, ``Monthly Electric Utility Sales and Revenue Report with 
State Distributions,''
Form EIA-860A, ``Annual Electric Generator Report--Utility,''
Form EIA-860B, ``Annual Electric Generator Report--Nonutility,''
EIA-861, ``Annual Electric Utility Report,'' and
Form EIA-906, ``Power Plant Report'' (which replaced Forms EIA-759 and 
EIA-900 beginning with the reporting of January 2001 information).
    EIA is proposing the changes outlined in this notice. The changes 
will result in the electric power survey forms listed below:
Form EIA-411, ``Coordinated Bulk Power Supply Program Report,''
Form EIA-412 ``Annual Electric Industry Financial Report,''
Form EIA-423, ``Cost and Quality of Fuels for Electric Plants,''
Form EIA-826, ``Monthly Electric Sales and Revenue Report with State 
Distributions,''
Form EIA-860, ``Annual Electric Generator Report'' (combined Forms EIA-
860A and EIA-860B),
Form EIA-861, ``Annual Electric Power Industry Report,'' and
Form EIA-906, ``Power Plant Report.''
Form EIA-417R is not included in EIA's electric power surveys package 
for this comment request. Form EIA-417R will be included in a future 
separate Federal Register notice.

DATES: Written comments must be filed on or before May 14, 2001. If you 
anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that period, 
contact the person listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to John G. Colligan, Energy Information 
Administration, Electric Power Division, EI-53.1, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Washington, DC 20585-0650. Alternatively, John Colligan may be 
contacted by telephone at (202) 287-1756, FAX at (202) 287-1946, or by
e-mail at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of forms and instructions should be directed to John Colligan at 
the address listed above. All of the proposed forms are available on 
EIA's web site: http://www.eia.doe.gov/fuelelectric.html.

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 DOE Organization Act (Pub. L. No. 95-91, 
42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) require the 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 3507(a) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995.
    The EIA collects information about the electric power industry for 
use by government and private sector analysts. The survey information 
are disseminated in a variety of publications, electronic products, and 
electronic data files. For details on EIA's electric power information 
program, please visit EIA's web site at http://www.eia.doe.gov/fuelelectric.html.

II. Current Actions

    The EIA will request OMB approval of: (a) a three-year extension, 
through December 31, 2004, for all the forms listed, and (b) 
modifications to the specific forms described below. The proposed 
changes EIA is requesting through this action reflect the increasingly 
competitive nature of the electric power industry as a whole and the 
power generators in particular. EIA recognizes that its information 
collections must continue to adapt as the industry changes. Elements 
associated with distributed generation are not included on current 
forms at this time. A final decision regarding the collection of this 
information has not been made, and the elements may be included in 
EIA's final proposal.
    EIA has completed an extensive review and update of the electric 
power survey collection series. The forms presented here are the result 
of that task which includes input from all sectors of the electric 
power industry. Electric generation and sales are continuing the trend 
toward open competition. The degree of competition is not uniform 
throughout the country at this time, but continues to grow 
sporadically, as reported by the EIA electric power data suppliers. 
With the increase in competition among generators there is a 
corresponding increase in the need for protection from disclosure of 
individually-identifiable commercially sensitive information. Along 
with the forms changes, the EIA is proposing a revision to the 
commercially sensitive data elements collected on EIA's electric power 
forms which will be treated as confidential.
    As a means of improving its electric power surveys to reflect the 
changing industry, EIA proposes the following changes.
    Form EIA-411, ``Coordinated Bulk Power Supply Program Report.'' The 
most important change to the Form EIA-411 is the expansion of the data 
collected on transmission assets. Specifically, Item 6, Proposed Bulk 
Electric Transmission Line Additions, has been replaced with Schedule 
6, Proposed Electric Transmission Asset

[[Page 14565]]

Data. The new schedule collects 10 additional data elements on planned 
transmission lines (Part A), 10 new data elements on planned 
substations (Part B), and five new data elements on other transmission 
facilities (Part C). Four data elements were added to Schedule 3, Parts 
B and D, collecting information on existing and planned generating 
capacity (Parts B and D, respectively). Together, these represent a net 
addition of 29 data elements on the Form EIA-411. Respondents also will 
be asked to provide a transmission system schematic, in addition to the 
transmission system map already required. The form and instructions 
will be modified to show these changes.
    Form EIA-412 ``Annual Report of Public Electric Utilities,'' will 
be renamed ``Annual Electric Industry Financial Report,'' to reflect 
the new requirement that unregulated power producers will also provide 
annual plant cost data on Schedule 10, Large Electric Generating Plant 
Statistics. On Schedule 1, one element was deleted. Schedule 10 
combines the old Schedules X and XI that collected similar data from 
steam-electric and hydroelectric plants, respectively. The scope of the 
survey also has been broadened to include all steam-electric generators 
with an electric generator nameplate rating of 25,000 kilowatts (kW) or 
larger, and gas-turbine and hydro plants with a nameplate rating of 
10,000 kW or larger.
    Also of significance are the changes proposed for the collection of 
transmission asset data on the Form EIA-412. Schedule 12 has been 
deleted and replaced with Schedule 11 to collect transmission line, 
substation, and other transmission facility information. This new 
schedule will collect existing and added (within the last year) asset 
information. Included in the ``added'' asset information will be cost 
data. By deleting the current Schedule 12, eight data elements will be 
eliminated. The new Schedule 11 will consist of six sections as shown 
below:

--Existing Transmission Line Information, Part A--18 data elements;
--Existing Substation Information, Part B--10 data elements;
--Existing Other Transmission Facility Information, Part C--6 data 
elements;
--Added Within Last Year Transmission Line Information, Part D--24 data 
elements;
--Added Within Last Year Substation Information, Part E--12 data 
elements; and
--Added Within Last Year Other Transmission Facility Information, Part 
F--10 data elements.
    As a result of these actions, the overall net change for the Form-
412 is an increase of about 35 data elements. The form and instructions 
will be modified to show these changes.
    Form EIA-423, ``Cost and Quality of Fuels for Electric Plants,'' is 
a new EIA electric power survey form. Currently, the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission (FERC) collects information on fuels received by 
electric plants subject to FERC jurisdiction. EIA proposes to collect 
monthly information on fossil fuels from electric plants not reporting 
on FERC Form 423. The data to be collected includes the cost and 
quality of fossil fuels delivered for the generation of electric power 
by unregulated generators, and from all non-steam regulated generators 
with a nameplate capacity of 50 megawatts or greater.
    Form EIA-826, ``Monthly Electric Utility Sales and Revenue Report 
with State Distributions,'' will be renamed ``Monthly Electric Sales 
and Revenue Report with State Distributions.'' The form and 
instructions will be modified to show these changes.
    Form EIA-860A, ``Annual Electric Generator Report--Utility,'' will 
be replaced with Form EIA-860, ``Annual Electric Generator Report.''
    Form EIA-860B, ``Annual Electric Generator Report--Nonutility,'' 
will be replaced with Form EIA-860, ``Annual Electric Generator 
Report.''
    Form EIA-860, ``Annual Electric Generator Report,'' will be a new 
form merging all information currently collected on Form EIA-860A and 
portions of the Form EIA-860B. As a result of combining these forms, 
there is a net decrease of four data elements. Respondents will include 
all electric generators over 1 megawatt. The form and instructions will 
be modified to show these changes.
    Form EIA-861, ``Annual Electric Utility Report,'' will be renamed 
``Annual Electric Power Industry Report.'' The change in the survey 
name more accurately reflects the current industry structure. On 
Schedule 1, two elements pertaining to the identification of the 
company were deleted. Two elements with respect to the North American 
Electric Council will be combined as one, eliminating one element on 
Schedule 2, Part A. On the changed form Schedule 2B, Sources and 
Disposition, will be completed by companies in both the regulated and 
unregulated sectors of the electric power industry. Two data elements 
are being added to Schedule 3, revenue from unbundled customers and 
cost of wholesale purchases. Two additional data elements pertaining to 
``price responsive'' customer load have been added to Schedule 5, 
Demand-Side Management. One data element related to the term of 
requirement contracts was deleted from Schedule 2A. The form and 
instructions will be modified to show these changes.
    Form EIA-906, ``Power Plant Report,'' is a new form in 2001 that 
replaced the Form EIA-759, ``Monthly Power Plant Report,'' and Form 
EIA-900 ``Monthly Nonutility Sales for Resale Report.'' The Form EIA-
906 combined and incorporated data elements from both the Form EIA-759 
and the Form EIA-900. No further revisions are planned to Form EIA-906 
at this time.
    With regard to confidential treatment of information reported to 
EIA on the electric power surveys, EIA is proposing changes in certain 
elements that will be treated as confidential and not released in 
individually-identifiable form. As the level of generation competition 
increases, so does the concern for the disclosure of confidential data. 
EIA is aware of these concerns regarding full disclosure of trade 
secrets and proprietary information. EIA is continuously monitoring the 
industry through the electric power survey system. Based on EIA's 
review of the industry and the changing competitive environment, EIA is 
proposing to increase the number of electric power survey elements that 
will be treated as confidential. Following are the data elements that 
will be treated as confidential across all EIA electric power surveys 
beginning in 2002 and will not be disclosed in individually-
identifiable form. (Elements that are currently treated as confidential 
by EIA are marked by asterisks.)
a--Planned equipment*, planned plant changes*, planned retirement 
dates*, and fuel projections*;
b--Heat rates*;
c--Fuel consumption, quantity, quality, and cost;
d--Sales for resale, wholesale;
e--Sales to end user*;
f--Retail sales, revenues and numbers of customers;
g--Financial data;
h--Fuel stocks/inventory*;
i--Thermal output;
j--Cost of purchase power.
The individual forms and instructions will address the specific data 
elements for each survey that will be treated as confidential.

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 comments.

[[Page 14566]]

Please indicate to which form(s) your comments apply.

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 to the Request for Information

    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 each collection is estimated and 
shown below as an average hour(s) per response. The estimated burden 
includes the total time necessary to provide the requested information. 
In your opinion, how accurate are these new estimates?
--Form EIA-411, ``Bulk Power Supply Program Report,''--16.15 hours per 
response (previous estimate was 20.00 hours);
--Form EIA-412 ``Annual Electric Industry Financial Report Utilities,''
--32.30 hours per response (previous estimate was 30.30 hours);
--Form EIA-423, ``Cost and Quality of Fuels for Electric Plants.''--
2.00 hours per response (new form);
--Form EIA-826, ``Monthly Electric Sales and Revenue Report with State 
Distributions,''--1.50 hours per response (previous estimate was 1.40 
hours);
--Form EIA-860, ``Annual Electric Generator Report,''--16.12 hours per 
response (previous estimate was 15.00 hours for Form EIA-860A and 2.12 
hours for Form EIA-860B);
--Form EIA-861, ``Annual Electric Power Industry Report.''--7.30 hours 
per response (previous estimate was 7.50 hours); and
--Form EIA-906, ``Power Plant Report.''--1.40 hours per response 
(previous estimate was 1.40 hours for EIA-759 and 0.50 hours for Form 
EIA-900).
    D. The agency estimates that the only cost to a respondent is for 
the time it will take to complete the collection. Will a respondent 
incur any 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 
methods of collection.

As a Potential User of the Information To Be Collected

    A. Is the information useful at the levels of detail to be 
collected?
    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: Sections 3506(c)(2)(A) and 3507(h)(1) of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35).

    Issued in Washington, DC, March 7, 2001.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy 
Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-6139 Filed 3-12-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P