[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 173 (Thursday, September 8, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54994-54995]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19405]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC22-18-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-715); 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-715 (Annual Transmission Planning and 
Evaluation Report), 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 October 11, 
2022.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC-715 to OMB through 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB control number (1902-
0171) 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. 
IC22-18-000) to the Commission as noted below. 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.

[[Page 54995]]

    [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 http://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: FERC-715, Annual Transmission Planning and Evaluation 
Report.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0171.
    Abstract: Section 213(b) of the Federal Power Act \1\ instructs the 
Commission to require transmitting utilities \2\ to submit information 
annually about potentially available transmission capacity and known 
constraints. Such information must be available to potential 
transmission customers, State regulatory authorities, and the public.
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    \1\ 16 U.S.C. 824l(b)
    \2\ FPA section 3(23) (16 U.S.C. 796(23)) defines ``transmitting 
utility'' as an entity that owns, operates, or controls facilities 
used for the transmission of electric energy in interstate commerce 
for the sale of electric energy at wholesale.
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    The Commission implements section 213(b) in accordance with the 
regulation at 18 CFR 141.300, which provides that the information 
collection applies to each transmitting utility that operates 
integrated transmission system facilities rated above 100 kilovolts 
(kV), and lists the following information that must be included in the 
annual submission:
     Contact information;
     Base case power flow data (if the respondent does not 
participate in the development and use of regional power flow data);
     Transmission system maps and diagrams used by the 
respondent for transmission planning;
     A detailed description of the transmission planning 
reliability criteria used to evaluate system performance for time 
frames and planning horizons used in regional and corporate planning;
     A detailed description of the respondent's transmission 
planning assessment practices (including, but not limited to, how 
reliability criteria are applied and the steps taken in performing 
transmission planning studies); and
     A detailed evaluation of the respondent's anticipated 
system performance as measured against its stated reliability criteria 
using its stated assessment practices.
    The information collected under FERC-715 assists the Commission in 
reviewing:
     Rates and charges;
     Disposition of jurisdictional facilities;
     Consolidations and mergers;
     Adequacy of supply; and
     Reliability and security of the nation's bulk power 
system.
    Without the FERC-715 data, the Commission would be less able to 
evaluate planned projects or requests related to transmission.
    Type of Respondent: Integrated transmission system facilities rated 
at or above 100 kilovolts (kV).
    Estimate of Annual Burden: \3\ The Commission estimates the total 
annual burden and cost \4\ for this information collection as follows.
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    \3\ ``Burden'' is 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 CFR 1320.3.
    \4\ 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-715, Annual Transmission Planning and Evaluation Report
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                                                        Annual number                                              Total annual burden
           Type of response               Number of     of responses    Total number     Average burden & cost     hours & total annual      Cost per
                                         respondents   per respondent   of responses         per response                  cost           respondent ($)
                                                  (1)             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4).....................  (3) * (4) = (5)........       (5) / (1)
                                                                                  (3)
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Annual Transmission Planning and                  111               1             111  160 hrs.; $13,920.......  17,760 hrs.; $1,545,120         $13,920
 Evaluation Report.
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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.

    Dated: September 1, 2022.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-19405 Filed 9-7-22; 8:45 am]
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