[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 190 (Friday, September 30, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67343-67345]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23681]
[[Page 67343]]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC16-11-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC Form Nos. 1,
1-F, and 3-Q); Comment Request
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Comment request.
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SUMMARY: The Commission previously issued a 60-day Notice in the
Federal Register (81 FR 38169, 6/13/2016) requesting public comments on
FERC Form Nos. 6, 580, 1, 1-F, and 3-Q. The Commission received no
comments regarding FERC Form Nos. 6 and 580 and issued a separate 30-
day Notice on those collections (81 FR 62112, 9/8/2016).
The Commission did receive comments (responding to the 60-day
Notice) regarding FERC Form Nos. 1, 1-F, and 3-Q. This Notice addresses
those comments and solicits additional comments on FERC Form Nos. 1, 1-
F, and 3-Q.
In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D), the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (Commission or FERC) is submitting the FERC Form No. 1
(Annual Report of Major Electric Utilities, Licensees, and Others),
FERC Form No. 1-F (Annual Report for Nonmajor Public Utilities and
Licensees), and FERC Form No. 3-Q (Quarterly Financial Report of
Electric Utilities, Licensees, and Natural Gas Companies) to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) for review of the information collection
requirements. Any interested person may file comments directly with OMB
and should address a copy of those comments to the Commission as
explained below.
DATES: Comments on the FERC Form Nos. 1, 1-F, and 3-Q are due by
October 31, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Comments filed with OMB, identified by the OMB Control Nos.
1902-0021 (FERC Form No. 1), 1902-0029 (FERC Form No. 1-F), and 1902-
0205 (FERC Form No. 3-Q) should be sent via email to the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs: [email protected], Attention:
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Desk Officer.
A copy of the comments should also be sent to the Commission, in
Docket No. IC16-11-000, by either of the following methods:
eFiling at Commission's Web site: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp
Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20426.
Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in
accordance with submission guidelines at: http://www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp. For user assistance, contact FERC Online Support
by email at [email protected], or by phone at: (866) 208-3676
(toll-free), or (202) 502-8659 for TTY.
Docket: Users interested in receiving automatic notification of
activity in this docket or in viewing/downloading comments and
issuances in this docket may do so at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/docs-filing.asp.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at
[email protected], by telephone at (202) 502-8663, and by fax at
(202) 273-0873.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Type of Request: Three-year extension of the information collection
requirements for FERC Form Nos. 1, 1-F, and 3-Q, with no changes to the
current reporting requirements. Please note that each collection is
distinct from the next.
Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the 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 estimates of the
burden and cost of the collections of information, including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance
the quality, utility and clarity of the information collections; and
(4) ways to minimize the burden of the collections of information on
those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology.
FERC Form No. 1, Annual Report of Major Electric Utilities, Licensees,
and Others
OMB Control No.: 1902-0021.
Abstract: The FERC Form No. 1 (Form No. 1) is a comprehensive
financial and operating report submitted annually for electric rate
regulation, market oversight analysis, and financial audits by Major
electric utilities, licensees and others. Major pertains to utilities
and licensees having in each of the three previous calendar years,
sales or transmission services that exceed one of the following: (1)
One million megawatt hours of total annual sales; (2) 100 megawatt
hours of annual sales for resale; (3) 500 megawatt hours of annual
power exchanges delivered; or (4) 500 megawatt hours of annual wheeling
for others (deliveries plus losses).\1\
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\1\ As detailed in 18 CFR 101 (Uniform System of Accounts
Prescribed for Public Utilities and Licensees Subject to the
Provision of the Federal Power Act, General Instructions) and 18 CFR
141.1. Nonoperating entities formerly designated as Major and new
entities that expect to be in the Major category should file as
detailed in 18 CFR 101.
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The Form No. 1 is designed to collect financial and operational
information and is considered to be a non-confidential public use form.
The Form No. 1 includes a basic set of financial statements:
Comparative Balance Sheet, Statement of Income, Statement of Retained
Earnings, Statement of Cash Flows, Statements of Accumulated
Comprehensive Income, Comprehensive Income, and Hedging Activities; and
Notes to Financial Statements. Supporting schedules contain
supplementary information and outlines of corporate structure and
governance; information on formula rates; and description of important
changes during the year. Other schedules provide information on
revenues and the related quantities of electric sales and electricity
transmitted; account balances for all electric operation and
maintenance expenses; selected plant cost data; and other statistical
information.
Type of Respondent: Major electric utilities.
Comments: In response to the 60-day Notice, the Commission received
comments from The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) collectively on
Forms 1 and 1-F.\2\ A summary of the comments and the Commission's
responses follow.
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\2\ The submittals are posted at http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=14318233 and http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=14318200.
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The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) submitted comments
on 7/28/2016 on Forms 1 and 1-F.\3\
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\3\ Id.
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BEA Comments: BEA uses data from Forms 1 and 1-F in estimating the
national income and product account (NIPA) structures investment
estimate. BEA states: ``While BEA uses this information indirectly
through the [U.S. Census Bureau's Construction Value Put-In Place]
program, it is considered an indispensable data source to the NIPA
estimates.'' \4\ BEA would like to explore receiving data directly from
the Commission with aggregated industry
[[Page 67344]]
totals of particular line items from Forms 1 and 1-F. BEA also suggests
that the Commission expand the Form 1 and 1-F collection to include
additional information regarding details on capital expenditures.
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\4\ Id.
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FERC Response: BEA may access Form 1 and 1-F data directly: (1)
Using the Form 1 viewer and historical data that is accessible via the
Commission's Web site at www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/forms.asp; or (2) by
searching for individual filings in eLibrary at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp.
The Commission is not presently considering modifications to
collect additional information on the Forms 1 and 1-F. Separately, the
Commission is looking at modernizing data collection in Docket No.
AD15-11, but that is an activity not addressed here.\5\
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\5\ When FERC makes changes to the forms, instructions, and/or
reporting platform system, that information will be submitted to
OMB, as appropriate, for review under the Paperwork Reduction Act
(PRA). More information on the Forms Refresh project is posted at
http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/forms/eforms-refresh.asp.
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Estimate of Annual Burden: The estimated annual burden \6\ and cost
\7\ follow:
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\6\ The one-time implementation burden (of 3 hours per
respondent for the Forms 1 and 1-F) for the Final Rule in Docket No.
RM11-24 (issued 7/18/2013) was administratively averaged over Years
1-3 giving an additional 1 hour annually for Years 1-3. Because the
implementation period and that 3-year period (of averaging the
implementation burden) have been completed, the additional 1 hour of
burden is removed here and for the FERC Form 1-F, below. These
changes were inadvertently omitted from the 60-day Notice in Docket
No. IC16-11.
\7\ The cost estimate (wages plus benefits) is $78.66/hour and
is used for the Form Nos. 1, 1-F, and 3-Q. The $78.66/hour (wages
plus benefits) is based on figures from the Bureau of Labor
Statistics National Industry--Specific Occupational and Employment
Wage Estimates (May 2015 estimates at http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm, and benefits information for December 2015 at
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm) and is an average of
the following: (a) Management (code 11-0000) of $88.94/hour; (b)
business and financial operations occupations (code 13-0000) of
$56.86/hour; (c) legal (code 23-0000) of $128.94/hour; and (d)
office and administrative support (code 43-0000) of $39.91/hour.
Form No. 1
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Total annual
Annual number Total number Average burden burden hours & Cost per
Number of respondents of responses of responses hours & cost per total annual respondent ($)
per respondent response cost
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (4)............. (3) * (4) = (5) (5) / (1)
(3)
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210.......................... 1 210 1,168 hrs.; 245,280 hrs.; $91,874.88
$91,874.88. $19,293,724.80.
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The instructions to the Form 1 will be updated to reflect the
current burden estimate and email addresses for FERC and OMB.
FERC Form No. 1-F, Annual Report for Nonmajor Public Utilities and
Licensees
OMB Control No.: 1902-0029.
Abstract: The FERC Form No. 1-F (Form No. 1-F) is a financial and
operating report submitted annually for electric rate regulation,
market oversight analysis, and financial audits by Nonmajor electric
utilities and licensees. Nonmajor pertains to utilities and licensees
having total annual sales of 10,000 megawatt-hours or more in the
previous calendar year and not classified as Major.\8\
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\8\ As detailed in 18 CFR 101 (Uniform System of Accounts
Prescribed for Public Utilities and Licensees Subject to the
Provision of the Federal Power Act, General Instructions) and 18 CFR
141.2. Nonoperating entities formerly designated as Nonmajor and new
entities that expect to be in the Nonmajor category should file as
detailed in 18 CFR 101.
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The Form No. 1-F is designed to collect financial and operational
information and is considered to be a non-confidential public use form.
The Form No. 1-F includes a basic set of financial statements:
Comparative Balance Sheet, Statement of Retained Earnings, Statement of
Cash Flows, Statement of Comprehensive Income and Hedging Activities,
and Notes to Financial Statements. Supporting schedules contain
supplementary information and include revenues and the related
quantities of electric sales and electricity transmitted; account
balances for all electric operation and maintenance expenses; selected
plant cost data; and other statistical information.
Type of Respondent: Nonmajor electric utilities.
Comments: In response to the 60-day Notice, the Commission received
comments from the BEA on 7/28/2016. As indicated above, these comments
were submitted collectively for both Forms 1 and 1-F; a summary of the
comments and the Commission's responses are provided above under Form
1.
Estimate of Annual Burden: The estimated annual burden and cost
follow. (The estimated hourly cost used for the Form No. 1-F is $78.66
(wages plus benefits) and is described above, under the Form No. 1.):
Form No. 1-F
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Annual number Total annual
of responses Total number Average burden burden hours & Cost per
Number of respondents per of responses hours & cost per total annual respondent ($)
respondent response cost
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (4)............. (3) * (4) = (5) (5) / (1)
(3)
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5............................ 1 5 122 hrs.; 610 hrs.; $9,596.52
$9,596.52. $47,982.60.
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The instructions to the Form 1-F will be updated to reflect the
current burden estimate and email addresses for FERC and OMB.
FERC Form No. 3-Q, Quarterly Financial Report of Electric Utilities,
Licensees, and Natural Gas Companies
OMB Control No.: 1902-0205.
Abstract: The FERC Form No. 3-Q (Form No. 3-Q) is a quarterly
financial and operating report for rate regulation, market oversight
analysis, and financial audits which supplements the (a) Form
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Nos. 1 and 1-F for the electric industry, or the (b) Form No. 2 (Major
Natural Gas Pipeline Annual Report; OMB Control No. 1902-0028) and Form
No. 2-A (Nonmajor Natural Gas Pipeline Annual Report; OMB Control No.
1902-0030) (for the natural gas industry). The Form No. 3-Q is
submitted for all Major and Nonmajor electric utilities and licensees;
and natural gas companies.\9\
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\9\ 18 CFR 260.1(b) states that for natural gas companies,
Major, as defined by the Natural Gas Act, pertains to a company
whose combined gas transported or stored for a fee exceed 50 million
Dth in each of the three previous calendar years. 18 CFR 260.2(b)
states that for natural gas companies, Nonmajor as defined by the
Natural Gas Act, pertains to a company not meeting the filing
threshold for Major, but having total gas sales or volume
transactions exceeding 200,000 Dth in each of the three previous
calendar years.
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Form No. 3-Q includes a basic set of financial statements:
Comparative Balance Sheet, Statement of Income and Statement of
Retained Earnings, Statement of Cash Flows, Statement of Comprehensive
Income and Hedging Activities and supporting schedules containing
supplementary information. Electric respondents report revenues and the
related quantities of electric sales and electricity transmitted;
account balances for all electric operation and maintenance expenses;
selected plant cost data; and other statistical information. Natural
gas respondents include monthly and quarterly quantities of gas
transported and associated revenues; storage, terminaling and
processing services; natural gas customer accounts and details of
service; and operational expenses, depreciation, depletion and
amortization of gas plant.
Type of Respondent: Major and nonmajor electric utilities and
natural gas pipelines.
Comments: In response to the 60-day Notice, the Commission received
comments from two parties on Form 3-Q. A summary of the comments and
the Commission's responses follow.
BEA submitted comments on 7/28/2016 on Form 3-Q.\10\
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\10\ The submittal is posted at http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=14318234.
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BEA Comments: BEA relies heavily on data from Forms 3-Q to
calculate components of both the industry and national economic
accounts to estimate gross output, intermediate input, and value
added to the U.S. economy from the utilities industry. Similar to
BEA's comments on Forms 1 and 1-F, BEA is interested in the
inclusion of additional information in Form 3-Q regarding details
related to capital expenditures. BEA suggests expansions to the Form
3-Q such as adding ``new versus replacement capital expenditures for
certain line items''; including ``annual payments for equipment,
software, and structures leased under operating leases from
others''; and improving ``questions to help identify plants
producing services in the current period (in service) versus plant
not in service or off-line''.
FERC Response: The Commission is not presently considering
modifications to collect additional information on the Form 3-Q but
as noted above is looking at modernizing data collection, which is a
separate activity not addressed here.
EEI submitted comments on 8/12/2016 on the Form 3-
Q.\11\
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\11\ The submittal is posted at http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=14328920.
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EEI Comments: In its comments, EEI proposes eliminating the Form
3-Q or reducing its frequency. EEI claims that the Form 3-Q has
little to no value to the Commission's objective to achieve vigilant
oversight of reporting entities. EEI states that it is unclear
exactly how and to what extent the Commission uses the quarterly
data and that no EEI member has ever been contacted about a Form 3-Q
filing. EEI poses that Form 3-Q does not lend itself to
identification of emerging trends or the economic effects of
significant transactions and events and that Form 3-Q has no bearing
on formula rate determination. As such EEI recommends that the
Commission eliminate Form 3-Q or alternately adopt a mid-year
frequency.
Regarding the accuracy of the Commission's burden and cost
estimates, EEI comments that the Commission's estimates are
reasonable, but that EEI does not believe the burden and costs are
warranted.
FERC Response: The Commission currently uses the Form 3-Q report
to perform oversight analysis and make timely evaluations of current
financial information submitted to the Commission. Additionally,
Form 3-Q is used to validate the debt and equity information of
filings under Part 34 of the Commission's regulations when the most
recent 12-month filing occurred more than 4 months prior to the
application under Part 34. The Commission is not presently
considering modifications to the collection or frequency of
collection of the Form 3-Q, but may consider doing so in the future,
at which time EEI will be able to submit comments on this issue.
Estimate of Annual Burden: The estimated annual burden and cost (as
rounded) follow. (The estimated hourly cost used for the Form No. 3-Q
is $78.66 (wages plus benefits) and is described above, under the Form
No. 1.)
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\12\ The estimated number of electric filers of the Form No. 3-Q
is 213 (rather than the 215 total for the number of filers of the
Form Nos. 1 and 1-F) due to waivers granted by the Commission in
Docket No. AC04-105.
Form No. 3-Q
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Annual number Total annual burden
Number of of responses Total number of Average burden hours & hours & total annual Annual cost per
respondents per respondent responses cost per response cost respondent ($)
........... (1) (2)(1) * (2) = (4)................... (3) * (4) = (5)....... (5) / (1)
(3)
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FERC 3-Q (electric)................. \12\ 213 3 639 168 hrs.; $13,214.88.. 107,352 hrs.; $39,644.64
$8,444,308.
FERC 3-Q (gas)...................... 167 3 501 167 hrs.; $13,136.22.. 83,667 hrs.; 39,408.66
$6,581,246.
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Total for FERC 3-Q.............. 1,140 191,019 hrs.;
$15,025,554.
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The instructions to the Form 3-Q will be updated to reflect the
current burden estimate and email addresses for FERC and OMB.
Dated: September 26, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-23681 Filed 9-29-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P