[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 149 (Wednesday, August 3, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46781-46783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-19635]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket Nos. IC11-1-000 and IC11-1F-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC Form 1 and
FERC Form 1F); Comment Request; Extension
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of proposed information collections and request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A)
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A) (2006),
(Pub. L. 104-13), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission
or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the proposed information
collections described below.
DATES: Comments in consideration of the collections of information are
due October 3, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be filed either electronically or in paper
format, and should refer to Docket Nos. IC11-1-000 and IC11-1F-000. For
comments that only pertain to the FERC Form 1, specify only the related
docket number. Comments that only pertain to the FERC Form 1F cannot be
eFiled at this time due to a system issue and must be submitted via
mail/courier. Documents must be prepared in an acceptable filing format
and in compliance with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
submission guidelines at http://www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp.
Comments may be filed electronically under Docket Number IC11-1-000
when comment pertains to both collections via the eFiling link on the
Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov. First time users will
have to establish a user name and password (http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/eregistration.asp) before eFiling. The Commission will send an
automatic acknowledgement to the sender's e-mail address upon receipt
of comments through eFiling. Commenters filing electronically should
not make a paper filing. Commenters that are not able to file
electronically must send their comments to: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20426.
Users interested in receiving automatic notification of activity in
Docket Number IC11-1 may do so through eSubscription at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp. However, due to a system
issue, Docket Number IC11-1F is not available at this time for
eSubscription. In addition, all comments and FERC issuances may be
viewed, printed or downloaded remotely through FERC's website using the
``eLibrary'' link and searching on Docket Numbers IC11-1 and IC11-1F.
For user assistance, contact FERC Online Support at:
[email protected], (866) 208-3676 (toll free), or (202) 502-
8659 (TTY).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by e-mail
at [email protected], telephone at (202) 502-8663, and fax at
(202) 273-0873.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with sections 304 and 309 of
[[Page 46782]]
the Federal Power Act, FERC is authorized to collect and record data to
the extent it considers necessary, and to prescribe rules and
regulations concerning accounts, records and memoranda. The Commission
may prescribe a system of accounts for jurisdictional companies and
after notice and an opportunity for hearing may determine the accounts
in which particular outlays and receipts will be entered, charged or
credited.
The Form No. 1 is a comprehensive financial and operating report
submitted for electric rate regulation and financial audits. Major is
defined as having (1) One million Megawatt hours or more; (2) 100
megawatt hours of annual sales for resale; (3) 500 megawatt hours of
annual power exchange delivered; or (4) 500 megawatt hours of annual
wheeling for others (deliveries plus losses).
FERC Form 1-F is designed to collect financial and operational
information from non-major public utilities and licensees. Non-major is
defined as having total annual sales of 10,000 megawatt-hours or more
in the previous calendar year and not classified as Major. The
Commission collects Form Nos. 1 and 1-F information as prescribed in 18
CFR 141.1 and 141.2.
Under the existing regulations FERC jurisdictional entities subject
to its Uniform System of Accounts \1\ must annually (quarterly for the
3Q) file with the Commission a complete set of financial statements,
along with other selected financial and non financial data through the
submission of FERC Forms 1, 1-F, and 3Q \2\. The FERC Annual/Quarterly
Report Forms provide the Commission, as well as others, with an
informative picture of the jurisdictional entities financial condition
along with other relevant data that is used by the Commission, as well
as others, in making economic judgments about the entity or its
industry.
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\1\ See 18 CFR part 201.
\2\ The FERC Form 3Q data collection (OMB Control No. 205) is
not being renewed as part of this proceeding. Some information
regarding the Form 3Q is included here as it relates to the FERC
Forms 1 and 1F.
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The information collected in the forms is used by Commission staff,
state regulatory agencies and others in the review of the financial
condition of regulated companies. The information is also used in
various rate proceedings, industry analyses and in the Commission's
audit programs and as appropriate, for the computation of annual
charges based on certain schedules contained on the forms. The
Commission provides the information to the public, interveners and all
interested parties to assist in the proceedings before the Commission.
Additionally, the uniformity of information helps to present
accurately the entity's financial condition and produces comprehensive
data related to the entity's financial history helping to act as a
guide for future action. The uniformity provided by the Commission's
chart of accounts and related accounting instructions permits
comparability and financial statement analysis of data provided by
jurisdictional entities. Comparability of data and financial statement
analysis for a particular entity from one period to the next, or
between entities, within the same industry, would be difficult to
achieve if each company maintained its own accounting records using
dissimilar accounting methods and classifications to record similar
transactions and events.
The FERC Annual Report Forms provide the Commission, as well as
others, with an informative picture of the jurisdictional entities'
financial condition along with other relevant data that is used by the
Commission in making economic judgments about the entity or its
industry. For financial information to be useful to the Commission, it
must be understandable, relevant, reliable and timely.
Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the
FERC Forms 1 and 1F reporting requirements, with no changes to the
forms.
Burden Statement: The estimated annual public reporting burden is
reflected in the following table:
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Number of Number of Average burden Total annual
Data collection respondents responses per hours per burden hours (1)
annually (1) respondent (2) response (3) x (2) x (3)
Form 1...................................... 209 1 1,162 242,858
Form 1F..................................... 5 1 116 580
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Total................................... .............. .............. ................ 243,438
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The total estimated annual cost burden to respondents on the FERC
Form 1 is $12,385,758 (242,858 hours x $51/hour \3\). The average cost
per respondent is $59,262.
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\3\ The per hour figures were obtained from the Bureau of Labor
Statistics National Industry-Specific Occupational and Employment
Wage Estimates (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_221100.htm),
and are based on the mean wage statistics for staff in the areas of
management, business and financial, legal and administrative. The
mean wage was then increased by 20% to account for benefits/
overhead.
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The total estimated annual cost burden to respondents on the FERC
Form 1F is $29,580 (580 hours x $51/hour \3\). The average cost per
respondent is $5,916.
The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial
resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, 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 collections of
information; and (7) transmitting or otherwise disclosing the
information.
The estimate of cost for respondents is based upon salaries for
professional and clerical support, as well as direct and indirect
overhead costs. Direct costs include all costs directly attributable to
providing this information, such as administrative costs and the cost
for information technology. Indirect or overhead costs are costs
incurred by an organization in support of its mission. These costs
apply to activities which benefit the whole organization rather than
any one particular function or activity.
Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collections of
information are necessary for the proper performance of the functions
of the Commission, including whether the information will have
practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the
burden of the proposed
[[Page 46783]]
collections of information, including the validity of the methodology
and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and
clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize
the burden of the collections of information on those who are to
respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms
of information technology (e.g. permitting electronic submission of
responses).
Dated: July 28, 2011.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-19635 Filed 8-2-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P