[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 138 (Thursday, July 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38704-38705]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15591]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC21-22-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-585); Comment 
Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or 
FERC) is soliciting public comment on a renewal of currently approved 
information collection, FERC-585 (Reporting of Electric Energy 
Shortages and Contingency Plans Under PURPA \1\ Section 206), which 
will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review.
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    \1\ PURPA = Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1979 (Pub. 
L. 95-617, 92 Stat. 3117), enacted 11/9/1978.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due August 23, 
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2021.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC-585 to OMB through 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB Control Number (1902-
0138) in the subject line of your comments. Comments should be sent 
within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
    Please submit copies of your comments to the Commission. You may 
submit copies of your comments (identified by Docket No. IC21-22-000) 
by one of the following methods:
    Electronic filing through http://www.ferc.gov, is preferred.
     Electronic Filing: Documents must be filed in acceptable 
native applications and print-to-PDF, but not in scanned or picture 
format.
     For those unable to file electronically, comments may be 
filed by USPS mail or by hand (including courier) delivery.
    [cir] Mail via U.S. Postal Service Only: Addressed to: Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First 
Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
    [cir] Hand (Including Courier) Delivery: Deliver to: Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852.
    Instructions: OMB submissions must be formatted and filed in 
accordance with submission guidelines at www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Using the search function under the ``Currently Under Review'' 
field, select Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; click ``submit,'' 
and select ``comment'' to the right of the subject collection.
    FERC submissions must be formatted and filed in accordance with 
submission guidelines at: http://www.ferc.gov. For user assistance, 
contact FERC Online Support by email at [email protected], or 
by phone at: (866) 208-3676 (toll-free).
    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 https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at 
[email protected], telephone at (202) 502-8663.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: FERC-585 (Reporting of Electric Energy Shortages and 
Contingency Plans Under PURPA \2\ Section 206).
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    \2\ PURPA = Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1979 (Pub. 
L. 95-617, 92 Stat. 3117), enacted 11/9/1978.
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    OMB Control No.: 1902-0138
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-585 information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting 
requirements.
    Abstract: The Commission uses the information collected under the 
requirements of FERC-585 to implement the statutory provisions of 
Section 206 of PURPA. Section 206 of PURPA amended the Federal Power 
Act (FPA) by adding a new subsection (g) to section 202, under which 
the Commission, by rule, was to require each public utility to report 
to the Commission and any appropriate state regulatory authority:
     any anticipated shortages of electric energy or capacity 
which would affect the utility's capability to serve its wholesale 
customers; and
     a contingency plan that would outline what circumstances 
might give rise to such occurrences.
     In Order No. 575,\3\ the Commission modified the reporting 
requirements in 18 CFR 294.101(b) to provide that, if a public utility 
includes in its rates schedule, provisions that during electric energy 
and capacity shortages:
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    \3\ Final Rule in Docket RM92-12-000, issued on 1/13/1995.
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    [cir] It will treat firm power wholesale customers without undue 
discrimination or preference; and
    [cir] it will report any modifications to its contingency plan for 
accommodating shortages within 15 days to the appropriate state 
regulatory agency and to the affected wholesale customers, then the 
utility need not file with the Commission an additional statement of 
contingency plan for accommodating such shortages.
    This revision merely changed the reporting mechanism; the public 
utility's contingency plan would be located in its filed rate rather 
than in a

[[Page 38705]]

separate document. In Order No. 659,\4\ the Commission modified the 
reporting requirements in 18 CFR 294.101(e) to provide that public 
utilities must comply with the requirements to report shortages and 
anticipated shortages by submitting this information electronically 
using the Office of Electric Reliability's alert system at 
[email protected] in lieu of submitting an original and two copies to 
the Secretary of the Commission. The Commission uses the information to 
evaluate and formulate an appropriate option for action in the event an 
unanticipated shortage is reported and/or materializes. Without this 
information, the Commission and State agencies would be unable to:
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    \4\ Final Rule in Docket RM05-19-000, issued on 5/27/2005
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     Examine and approve or modify utility actions;
     prepare a response to anticipated disruptions in electric 
energy; and/or
     ensure equitable treatment of all public utility customers 
under the shortage situation.
    The Commission implements these filing requirements in the Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR part 294.101.
    The 60-day notice \5\ published on 5/06/2021 with no comments 
received.
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    \5\ 86 FR 20684
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    Type of Respondents: Public Utilities.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: \6\ The Commission estimates the annual 
public reporting burden for the information collection as:
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    \6\ ``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. For further explanation of what is included in the 
information collection burden, refer to 5 Code of Federal 
Regulations 1320.3.
    \7\ The estimates for cost per response are derived using the 
following formula: Average Burden Hours per Response * 83.00 per 
Hour = Average Cost per Response. This is Based upon FERC's 2020 FTE 
average salary plus benefits. Commission staff believes that any 
industry effort applied to FERC-585 would be compensated similarly 
to FERC's average salary.

                                                    FERC-585 (Reporting of Electric Shortages and Contingency Plans Under PURPA Section 206)
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                                                            Annual number                                                                                                            Cost per
                                              Number of     of responses    Total number     Average burden & cost per response \7\     Total annual burden hours & total annual  respondent ($)
                                             respondents   per respondent   of responses                                                                  cost                        (5)/(1)
                                                      (1)             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4).......................................  (3) * (4) = (5)..........................
                                                                                      (3)
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Contingency plan.........................               1               1               1  1 hrs.; $83.00............................  1 hrs.; $83.00...........................          $83.00
Capacity Shortage........................               1               1               1  1 hrs.; $83.00............................  1 hrs.; $83.00...........................           83.00
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    Total................................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..........................................  2 hrs.; $166.00..........................  ..............
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    Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the collection of 
information is 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 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.

Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-15591 Filed 7-21-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P