[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 187 (Thursday, September 28, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66834-66835]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21259]



[[Page 66834]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC23-15-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-516H) 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-516H, (Electric Rate Schedules and Tariff 
Filings, Pro Forma Open Access Transmission Tariff).

ADDRESSES: You may submit your comments (identified by Docket No. IC23-
4-000) by one of the following methods:
    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, Office of the Secretary, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, 
Rockville, MD 20852.
    Instructions: All 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], telephone at (202) 502-8663.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: FERC-516H, Electric Rate Schedules and Tariff Filings, Pro 
Forma Open Access Transmission Tariff.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0303.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-516H information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting 
requirements.
    Abstract: This information collection request pertains to a final 
rule \1\ that, pursuant to section 206 of the Federal Power Act 
(FPA),\2\ requires respondents that are subject to 18 CFR 35.28 to 
submit compliance filings within 120 days of the effective date of the 
final rule that add a new Attachment M to their pro forma Open Access 
Transmission Tariffs (OATTs). The effective date of the final rule is 
March 14, 2022. The OATT compliance filing is due July 12, 2022.
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    \1\ 87 FR 2244 (January 13, 2022).
    \2\ 16 U.S.C. 824e.
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    FERC 516H: The regulation at 18 CFR 35.28, which pertains to non-
discriminatory open access transmission tariffs, applies to:
     Commission-jurisdictional public utilities that own, 
control, or operate facilities used for the transmission of electric 
energy in interstate commerce; and
     Non-jurisdictional utilities that seek voluntary 
compliance with jurisdictional transmission tariff reciprocity 
conditions.
    In Order No. 881, the Commission added 18 CFR 35.28(c)(5) to 
require any public utility that owns transmission facilities that are 
not under the public utility's control to, consistent with the pro 
forma OATT required by 18 CFR 35.28(c)(1), share with the public 
utility that controls such facilities (and its Market Monitoring 
Unit(s), if applicable):
    (i) Transmission line ratings for each period for which 
transmission line ratings are calculated for such facilities (with 
updated ratings shared each time ratings are calculated); and
    (ii) Written transmission line rating methodologies used to 
calculate the transmission line ratings for such facilities provided 
under subparagraph (i), above.
    Additionally, 18 CFR 35.28(c) requires each public utility 
transmission provider to have on file with the Commission and adhere to 
the Commission's pro forma Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT). In 
Order No. 881, the Commission added Attachment M of the Commission's 
pro forma OATT to require each jurisdictional transmission provider to 
maintain on the password-protected section of its OASIS page or on 
another password-protected website a database of transmission line 
ratings and transmission line rating methodologies. Such transmission 
line ratings and transmission line rating methodologies are to be 
calculated and provided by transmission owners. The database must 
include a full record of all transmission line ratings, both as used in 
real-time operations, and as used for all future periods for which 
transmission service is offered. Additionally, Attachment M of the 
Commission's pro forma OATT requires transmission providers, as the 
regulated entities, to share transmission line ratings and 
methodologies with any transmission provider(s) upon request and in a 
timely manner.
    Type of Respondent: Transmission Owners.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 3 The Commission estimates 
the annual public reporting burden for the information collection as 
below:
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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.

[[Page 66835]]



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                                                        Annual
                                                      estimated      Annual estimated number                              Total estimated burden hours &
      Area of modification           Number of        number of      of responses (column B x   Average burden hours &    total estimated cost (column D
                                    respondents     responses per           column C)            cost \1\ per response             x column E)
                                                      respondent
A.                                            B.                 C.                       D.   E.......................  F.
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                                                            FERC-516H (Control No. 1902-0303)
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Transmission owners update             289 (TOs)                1                        289   176 hrs; $16,192........  50,864 hrs; $4,679,488.
 forecasts and ratings, and
 share transmission line ratings
 and facility ratings
 methodologies w/transmission
 providers and, if applicable,
 RTOs/ISOs & market monitors
 (Year 1 and Ongoing).
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\1\ The hourly cost (for salary plus benefits) uses the figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for three positions involved in the reporting
  and recordkeeping requirements. These figures include salary (based on BLS data for May 2023, http://bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm) and benefits
  (based on BLS data issued March 19, 2022, http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm) and are Manager (Code 11-0000 $106.33/hour), Electrical
  Engineer (Code 17-2071 $77.29/hour). The hourly cost for the reporting requirements ($91.81 = $92 rounded) is an average of the cost of a manager and
  engineer.

    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 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 22, 2023.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-21259 Filed 9-27-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P