[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 24, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51974-51975]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-18232]


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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.

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 the currently approved 
information collection, FERC-604 (Cash Management Agreements), which 
will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a 
review of the information collection requirements.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due September 23, 
2022.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC-604 to OMB through 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB control number (1902-
0267) in the subject line. Your comments should be sent within 30 days 
of publication of this notice in the Federal Register.
    Please submit copies of your comments (identified by Docket No. 
IC22-14-000) to the Commission as noted below. Electronic filing 
through https://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: https://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.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Cash Management Agreements.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0267.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-604 information 
collection requirements 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 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 implements these 
reporting requirements in accordance with 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.

[[Page 51975]]



                                                          FERC-604, Cash Management Agreements
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                                             Number of                           Average  burden hours &
         Number of  respondents            responses  per    Total number of      average cost  \2\ per     Total annual burden hours       Cost per
                                             respondent         responses             response  ($)         &  total annual cost ($)     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 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.
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    \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.

    Dated: August 18, 2022.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-18232 Filed 8-23-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P