[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 241 (Monday, December 16, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68442-68443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-27011]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC19-46-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-604); Comment 
Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission 
or FERC) is soliciting public comments on the currently approved 
information collection, FERC-604 (Cash Management Agreements) and 
submitting the information collection to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review. 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 collection of information are due January 15, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: Comments filed with OMB, identified by the OMB Control No. 
1902-0267, should be sent via email to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs: [email protected]. Attention: Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission Desk Office.
    A copy of the comments should also be sent to the Commission, in 
Docket No. IC19-46-000, by either of the following methods:
     eFiling at Commission's Website: 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], telephone at (202) 502-8663, and fax at (202) 
273-0873.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: FERC-604 (Cash Management Agreements).
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0267.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-604 with no 
changes to the current reporting requirements.
    Abstract: On September 6, 2019 (84 FR 46949), the Commission 
published a Notice in the Federal Register in Docket No. IC19-46-000 
requesting public comments. The Commission received no comments and is 
noting that in the related submittal to OMB. Cash management or ``money 
pool'' programs typically concentrate affiliates' cash assets in joint 
accounts for the purpose of providing financial flexibility and 
lowering the cost of borrowing. In a 2001 investigation, FERC staff 
found that balances in cash management programs affecting FERC-
regulated entities totaled approximately $16 billion. Additionally, 
other investigations revealed large transfers of funds amounting to 
more than $1 billion between regulated pipeline affiliates and non-
regulated parents whose financial conditions were precarious. The 
Commission found that these and other fund transfers and the enormous 
(mostly unregulated) pools of money in cash management programs could 
detrimentally affect regulated rates.
    To protect customers and promote transparency, the Commission 
issued Order No. 634-A (2003) requiring entities to formalize in 
writing and file with the Commission their cash management agreements. 
At that time, the Commission obtained OMB clearance for the new 
reporting requirement under the FERC-555 information collection (OMB 
Control No. 1902-0098). The Commission includes these reporting 
requirements for cash management agreements under the FERC-604 
information collection (OMB Control No. 1902-0267). The Commission 
implemented these reporting requirements in 18 CFR 141.500, 260.400, 
and 357.5.
    Type of Respondents: Public utilities, natural gas companies, and 
oil pipeline companies.
    Estimate of Annual Burden.\1\ The Commission estimates the annual 
public reporting burden and cost \2\ for the information collection as:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Burden is defined as the total time, effort, or financial 
resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or 
disclose or provide information to or for a federal agency. See 5 
CFR 1320 for additional information on the definition of information 
collection burden.
    \2\ The Commission staff estimates that industry is similarly 
situated in terms of hourly cost (for wages plus benefits). Based on 
the Commission's FY (Fiscal Year) 2019 average cost of $167,091 (for 
wages plus benefits), $80.00/hour is used.

[[Page 68443]]



                                                          FERC--604--Cash Management Agreements
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Number of
   Number of      responses per    Total number  of     Average burden hours & average cost      Total annual burden hours & total         Cost per
  respondents       respondent         responses                 per response ($)                         annual cost ($)               respondent ($)
(1)                         (2)     (1) * (2) = (3)   (4)...................................  (3) * (4) = (5).......................    (5) / (1) = (6)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            35                1                  35   1.5 hours; $120.00....................  52.5 hours; $4,200.00.................            $120.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the collection 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 collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) 
ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.

    Dated: December 10, 2019.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-27011 Filed 12-13-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P