[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 19, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42996-42997]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15394]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

[Docket No. RUS-22-AGENCY-0036]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Wholesale 
Contracts for the Purchase and Sale of Electric Power; OMB Control No. 
0572-0089

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Utilities Service 
(RUS), announces its' intention to request an extension of a currently 
approved information collection and invites comments on this 
information collection.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by September 19, 2022 
to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically by the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and, in the 
``Search Field'' box, labeled ``Search for Rules, Proposed Rules, 
Notices or Supporting Documents,'' enter the following docket number: 
(RUS-22-AGENCY-0036). To submit or view public comments, click the 
``Search'' button, select the ``Documents'' tab, then select the 
following document title: (60-Day Notice of Proposed Information 
Collection: Wholesale Contracts for the Purchase and Sale of Electric 
Power; OMB Control No.: 0572-0089) from the ``Search Results'' and 
select the ``Comment'' button. Before inputting your comments, you may 
also review the ``Commenter's Checklist'' (optional). Insert your 
comments under the ``Comment'' title, click ``Browse'' to attach files 
(if available). Input your email address and select ``Submit Comment.''
    Information on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for 
accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after 
the close of the comment period, is available through the site's 
``FAQ'' link.
    Other Information: Additional information about Rural Development 
and its programs is available on the internet at https://www.rd.usda.gov.
    All comments will be available for public inspection online at the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal (https://www.regulations.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Crystal Pemberton, Management Analyst, 
Branch 1, Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulations Management 
Division, United States Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 
260-8621. Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
regulation (5 CFR part 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) requires that interested members 
of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on 
information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)). This notice identifies the following information collection 
that RUS is submitting to OMB as extension to an existing collection 
with Agency adjustment.
    Title: Wholesale Contracts for the Purchase and Sale of Electric 
Power.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0089.
    Expiration Date of Approval: November 30, 2022.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 6 hours per response.
    Respondents: Small business or other for-profit; not-for-profit 
organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 60 hours.
    Abstract: Most RUS financed electric systems are cooperatives and 
are organized in a two-tiered structure. Retail customers are members 
of the distribution system that provides electricity to their homes and 
business. Distribution cooperatives, in turn, are members of power 
supply cooperatives, also known as generation and transmission 
cooperatives (G&T's) that generate or purchase power and transmit the 
power to the distribution systems.
    For a distribution system, a lien on the borrower's assets 
generally represents adequate security. However, since most G&T 
revenues flow from its distribution members, RUS requires, as a 
condition of a loan or loan guarantee to a G&T the long-term 
requirements wholesale power contract (WPC) to purchase their power 
from the G&T at rates that cover all the G&T's expenses, including debt 
service and margins. RUS considers Form 444 as an example for the G&T's 
to utilize as either their WPC or create their own WPC if it has all 
the same information as the form. The WPC is specialized based on the 
combined requirements of the G&T and its members. The WPC is used by 
RUS G&T borrowers to enter into agreement with their distribution 
members for purchase of power from the G&T. The WPC is prepared and 
executed by the G&T and each member and by RUS and the information 
allows RUS to determine credit quality and credit worthiness to 
determine repayment ability for loans and loan guarantees.
    Comments are invited on:
    (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether 
the information will have practical utility;
    (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
collection of information including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used;
    (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology. All responses to this notice will be 
summarized and included in the request for OMB

[[Page 42997]]

approval. All comments will become a matter of public record.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Crystal 
Pemberton, Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulations Management 
Division, at (202) 260-862. Email: [email protected].
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

Christopher McLean,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-15394 Filed 7-18-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P