[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 114 (Tuesday, June 14, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35980-35981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-12766]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC22-14-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-604) 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 (PRA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission 
or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved 
requirements and burden of information collection, FERC- 604 (Cash 
Management Agreements).

DATES: Comments on the collections of information are due August 15, 
2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments (identified by Docket No. IC22-14-
000) on FERC-604 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: All 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 http://www.ferc.gov.

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

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: This collection of information is authorized by the 
following statutory provisions:
     Sections 8 and 10 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717g 
and 717i);
     Sections 301 and 304 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 
835 and 825c); and
     Sections 20(1) and 20(5) of the Interstate Commerce Act 
(49 App. U.S.C. 20(1) and 20(5)).
    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

[[Page 35981]]

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 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 this new reporting 
requirement under the FERC-555 information collection (OMB Control No. 
1902-0098). Now, 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 for the information collection as:
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    \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 the industry's hourly 
cost for wages plus benefits is similar to the Commission's $87.00 
FY 2021 average hourly cost for wages and benefits.

                                                          FERC-604, Cash Management Agreements
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                    Number of
   Number of      responses per    Total  number  of   Average burden hours &  average cost      Total annual burden hours & total         Cost per
  respondents       respondent         responses              \2\ per  response  ($)                     annual cost  ($)               respondent  ($)
(1)                         (2)     (1) * (2) = (3)   (4)...................................  (3) * (4) = (5).......................    (5) / (1) = (6)
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            45                1                  45   1.5 hours; $130.50....................  67.5 hours; $5,872.50.................            $130.50
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    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.

    Dated: June 8, 2022.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-12766 Filed 6-13-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P