[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 235 (Thursday, December 8, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75242-75243]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-26676]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC22-35-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725J); Comment 
Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.

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-725J (Definition of the Bulk Electric 
System), which will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB). The Commission published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register 
on September 28, 2022 and received no comments on the 60-day notice.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due January 9, 
2023.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC 725J to OMB through 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB Control Number 1902-
0259 (Definition of the Bulk Electric System) 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. 
IC22-35-000 and the form) 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 to: Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 12225 Wilkins 
Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852.
    Please reference the specific collection number(s) and/or title(s) 
in your comments.
    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: FERC-725J (Definition of the Bulk Electric System).
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0259.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-725J with no 
changes to the current reporting requirements.
    Abstract: On December 20, 2012, the Commission issued Order No. 
773, a Final Rule approving NERC's modifications to the definition of 
``bulk electric system'' and the Rules of Procedure exception process 
to be effective July 1, 2013. On April 18, 2013, in Order No. 773-A, 
the Commission largely affirmed its findings in Order No. 773. In Order 
Nos. 773 and 773-A, the Commission directed NERC to modify the 
definition of bulk electric system in two respects: (1) modify the 
local network exclusion (exclusion E3) to remove the 100 kV minimum 
operating voltage to allow systems that include one or more looped 
configurations connected below 100 kV to be eligible for the local 
network exclusion; and (2) modify the exclusions to ensure that 
generator interconnection facilities at or above 100 kV connected to 
bulk electric system generators identified in inclusion I2 are not 
excluded from the bulk electric system.\1\ Each year the Regions and 
NERC may need to act on exception requests submitted by U.S. only 
transmission owners, generator owners and distribution providers. We 
have revised the estimate for exception requests from 20 exception 
requests to 10, which is more accurate to the volume of received 
exception requests. Regarding Implementation Plans and Compliance, FERC 
estimates that 10% of the U.S. registered entities may have to perform 
this task on a continuing basis.
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    \1\ Revisions to Electric Reliability Organization Definition of 
Bulk Electric System and Rules of Procedure, Order No. 773, 141 FERC 
] 61,236 (2012); order on reh'g, Order No. 773-A, 143 FERC ] 61,053 
(2013); order on reh'g and clarification, 144 FERC ] 61,174 (2013); 
aff'd sub nom., People of the State of New York and the Pub. Serv. 
Comm'n of New York v. FERC, No. 13-2316 (2d. Cir. 2015). On June 13, 
2013, the Commission granted NERC's request for extension of time 
and extended the effective date for the revised definition of bulk 
electric system and the Rules of Procedure exception process to July 
1, 2014. Revisions to Electric Reliability Organization Definition 
of Bulk Electric System and Rules of Procedure, 143 FERC ] 61,231, 
at P 13 (2013). On March 20, 2014, the Commission approved NERC's 
revisions to the definition of bulk electric system and determined 
the revisions either adequately address the Commission's Order Nos. 
773 and 773-A directives or provide an equally effective and 
efficient approach. See order approving revised definition, 146 FERC 
] 61,199 (2014).
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    Type of Respondents: Generator owners, distribution providers, 
other NERC-registered entities.
    Estimate of Annual Burden.\2\ The Commission estimates the annual 
public reporting burden and cost \3\ for the information collection as:
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    \2\ 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.
    \3\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is based on 
the figures for August 2022 posted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics 
for the Utilities sector (available at Sector 22--Utilities--May 
2021 OEWS Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage 
Estimates (bls.gov)) and updated June 2022 for benefits information 
(at Employer Costs for Employee Compensation Summary--2022 Q01 
Results (bls.gov)). The hourly estimates for salary plus benefits 
are:
    --Legal (code 23-0000), $145.35
    --File Clerks (code 43-4071), $34.38
    --Electrical Engineer (code 17-2071), $77.02
    The average hourly burden cost for this collection is $85.58 
[($145.35 + $34.38 + $ 77.02)/3 = $85.58] and is rounded to $86.00 
an hour.

[[Page 75243]]



                                                                       FERC-725J (Definition of the Bulk Electric System)
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                                                            Annual number
                                              Number of     of responses    Total number    Average burden (hrs.) & cost ($) per    Total annual burden hours & total annual        Cost per
                                             respondents   per respondent   of responses                  response                                  cost ($)                     respondent ($)
                                                      (1)             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4)..................................  (3) * (4) = (5)............................          (5) / (1)
                                                                                      (3)
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Generator Owners, Distribution Providers,              10               1              10  120 hrs.; $10,320....................  1,200 hrs.; $103,200.......................            $10,320
 and Transmission Owners (Exception
 Request).
All Registered Entities (Implementation               157               1             157  350 hrs.; $30,100....................  54,950 hrs.; $4,725,700....................             30,100
 Plans and Compliance).
Local Distribution Determinations........               1               1               1  92 hrs.; $7,912......................  92 hrs.; $7,912............................              7,912
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    Total................................  ..............  ..............             168  .....................................  56,242 hrs.; $4,836,812....................  .................
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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 estimates 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: December 2, 2022.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-26676 Filed 12-7-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P