[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 16, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31258-31260]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10351]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. RD22-5-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725D(1));
Comment Request
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, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or
FERC) is soliciting public comment on a new information collection,
FERC-725D(1), Mandatory Reliability Standards FAC-001-4 and FAC-002-4.
This notice will be part of an information collection request that 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 June 15, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC-725D(1) to OMB through
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB control number (1902-
NEW) 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.
RD22-5-000) 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.
[[Page 31259]]
[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: FERC-725D(1), RD22-5-000, Mandatory Reliability Standards
FAC-001-4 and FAC-002-4.
OMB Control No.: 1902-NEW.
Respondents: Transmission owners and generator owners for
Reliability Standard FAC-001-4. Planning coordinators for Reliability
Standard FAC-002-4.\1\
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\1\ The NERC Glossary, at https://www.nerc.com/pa/Stand/Glossary%20of%20Terms/Glossary_of_Terms.pdf, defines these terms. A
transmission owner (TO) is the entity that owns and maintains
transmission facilities. A generator owner (GO) is the entity that
owns and maintains generating units. A planning coordinator,
formerly known as a planning authority (PA/PC), is the responsible
entity that coordinates and integrates transmission facilities,
service plans, resource plans, and protection systems.
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Frequency of Information Collection: Once during years 1 and 2. On
occasion during year 3 and beyond.
Abstract: The Facilities Design, Connections, and Maintenance
Reliability Standards address topics such as facility interconnection
requirements, facility ratings, system operating limits, and transfer
capabilities. These Reliability Standards are designated with the
prefix ``FAC.''
On November 23, 2002 the Commission published an order approving
new Reliability Standards FAC-001-4 and FAC-002-4 (87 FR 71602). The
Commission approved those new standards to help ensure appropriate
coordination and communication regarding the interconnection of
facilities.
At present, the collections of information associated with all
``FAC'' Reliability Standards are authorized under FERC-725D (OMB
Control Number 1902-0247). Ordinarily, the Commission would ask OMB to
approve the collections of information associated with the new
Reliability Standards as revisions of FERC-725D. However, another
information collection request pertaining to FERC-725D is pending at
OMB,\2\ and only one request per information collection is allowed to
be pending at OMB at the same time. FERC-725D(1) is a temporary
placeholder number to avoid conflicting with the pending request
already submitted to OMB regarding FERC-725D.
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\2\ That pending request would not affect FAC-001-3 or FAC-002-
3, the predecessors to the Reliability Standards approved by the
Commission in its November 23, 2022 order.
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Previous Reliability Standard FAC-001-003 required transmission
owners and generator owners to complete coordinated studies on new or
``materially modified'' existing interconnections. As approved in the
November 23, 2022 order, FAC-001-4 requires coordinated studies of
``qualified changes'' in interconnections instead of ``materially
modified'' interconnections. This revision is intended to prevent
confusion with the Commission-defined term ``Material Modification'' in
pro forma interconnection procedures and agreements.\3\ The term
``qualified changes'' refers to changes in existing interconnected
facilities that can have reliability impacts and helps ensure that they
are properly addressed in interconnection requirements and studies.
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\3\ The regulation at 18 CFR 35.28(c)(1) requires every public
utility that owns, controls, or operates facilities used for the
transmission of electric energy in interstate commerce to have on
file with the Commission an open access transmission tariff
consisting of the pro forma tariff promulgated by the Commission, or
such other tariff as may be approved by the Commission. The
regulation at 18 CFR 35.28(f)(1) requires every public utility that
is required to have on file a non-discriminatory open access
transmission tariff to amend such tariff by adding the standard
interconnection procedures and agreement and the standard small
generator interconnection procedures and agreement required by the
Commission.
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In the November 23 order, the Commission also revised Requirement
R6 of existing Reliability Standard FAC-002-3 by authorizing the
planning coordinator to define the term ``qualified change'' and
requiring public posting of the definition.
Necessity of Information: Mandatory.
Internal Review: The Commission has reviewed the collections of
information associated with the rulemaking in Docket No. RD22-5-000,
and has determined that the described information collection activities
are necessary. These requirements conform to the Commission's need for
efficient information collection, communication, and management within
the energy industry.
Estimate of Annual Burden: The responsibilities of applicable
entities for FAC-001-4 (i.e., transmission owners and generator owners)
are the same as those approved for Reliability Standard FAC-001-3 in
FERC-725D. Table 1, below, accordingly shows the same burdens as
approved in FERC-725D, with updated costs.
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\4\ The Commission staff estimates that the industry's hourly
cost for wages plus benefits is similar to the Commission's $91.00
FY 2022 average hourly cost for wages and benefits.
Table 1--Estimated Burdens for FAC-001-4
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Number of
Types and numbers annual Average number of burden Total burden hours and
Types of responses of respondents responses per Total number of responses hours and cost per cost
respondent response \4\
A B................. C D (Column B x Column C).... E......................... F (Column D x Column E)
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Documentation & Updates........ 498 GOs/TOs....... 1 498........................ 34 hrs.; $3,094........... 16,932 hrs. $1,491,672.
Evidence Retention............. 498 GOs/TOs....... 1 498........................ 1 hr.; $91.00............. 498 hrs.; $45,318.
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[[Page 31260]]
Under, FAC-002-4, the new collection FERC-725D(1) represents a
minor additional burden to planning coordinators, due to the
requirement that they develop the definition of ``qualified change''
for new and existing interconnections of generation, transmission or
electricity end user facilities. This burden is expected to be greater
in years one and two than in year three and beyond for FAC-002-4. The
burden and cost estimates for FAC-002-4 are based on the increase in
the reporting and recordkeeping burden imposed by the revised
Reliability Standards. Our estimates are based on the NERC Compliance
Registry as of September 16, 2022, which indicates 63 planning
coordinators.
Table 2--Estimated Burdens for FAC-002-4
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Number of
annual Average number of burden hours
Type and numbers of respondents responses per Total number of responses and cost per response Total burden hours and cost
respondent
A B C (Column A x Column B)......... D.............................. E (Column C x Column D)
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63 PA/PCs Years 1 and 2............. 1 63.............................. 120 hrs.; $7,200............... 7,560 hrs.; $453,600.
63 PA/PCs Ongoing, beginning in Year 1 63.............................. 40 hrs.; $2,520................ 2,520 hrs.; $158,760.
3.
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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: May 9, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-10351 Filed 5-15-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P