[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 12, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86121-86123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27221]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. RD23-6-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725A(1D) and 
FERC-725Z); Comment Request; Revision

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of information collections 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 collections, FERC-725A(1D) (Mandatory Reliability Standards 
for the Bulk-Power System TOP-003-6.1) and FERC-725Z (Mandatory 
Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System IRO-010-5 Reliability 
Standards).

DATES: Comments on the collections of information are due February 12, 
2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit copies of your comments (identified by Docket 
No. RD23-6-000) by one of the following methods:
     Electronic Filing: Documents must be filed in acceptable 
native applications and print-to-PDF, but not in scanned or picture 
format. Electronic filing through http://www.ferc.gov, is preferred.
     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: All submissions must be formatted and filed in 
accordance with submission guidelines at: http://www.ferc.gov. Please 
ensure each comment refers to the appropriate collection. 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: Jean Sonneman may be reached by email 
at [email protected], telephone at (202) 502-6362.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Titles: FERC-725Z, Mandatory Reliability Standards: IRO Reliability 
Standards, and FERC-725A(1D), Mandatory Reliability Standards for the 
Bulk-Power System Reliability Standards (TOP-003-6.1).
    Action: Proposed Changes to Collections.
    OMB Control Nos.: 1902-0276 (FERC-725Z); 1902-0324 (FERC-725A(1D)).
    Type of Request: Modification of the FERC-725Z and FERC-725A(1D) 
information collection requirements.
    Abstract: On 9/21/2023, the North American Electric Reliability 
Corporation (NERC) filed a petition on the proposed Modifications to 
Reliability Standards IRO-010 and TOP-003 to improve the approaches 
used for data and information specification and exchange by, among 
other things: (i) clarifying that specifications include both data and 
information; (ii) requiring the identification of the applicable entity 
that is required to respond to the request for the specification; (iii) 
including a data conflict resolution provision within the data 
specification requirement; (iv) clarifying that specifications should 
include protocols to address periodicity, performance criterion, and 
update and correction mechanisms; and (v) consolidating the format and 
security protocols within the data specification requirements.
    The proposed Modifications to FERC-725Z for IRO-010-5 and FERC-
725A(1D) for TOP-003-6.1, address recommendations arising from the SER 
Phase 2 Team by clarifying, consolidating, and improving approaches for 
data and information specification and exchange. The proposed revisions 
are intended to advance the reliability of the Bulk-Power System 
(``BPS'') by ensuring that Registered Entities with operational 
responsibilities are able to request and receive the data and 
information necessary to support Operational

[[Page 86122]]

Planning Analysis, Real-time Assessments, Real-time monitoring, and 
Balancing Authority analysis functions in an optimal manner.
    The proposed modifications would advance the reliability of the BPS 
by facilitating improved coordination of information and data sharing, 
thus allowing the entities responsible for the reliable operation of 
the BPS to request and receive data and information necessary to 
support Operational Planning Analysis, Real-time Assessments, Real-time 
monitoring, and Balancing Authority analysis functions in an optimal 
manner.
    The changes being implemented primarily affect the reliability 
coordinator in IRO-010-5 and the transmission operator and balancing 
authority in TOP-003-6.1 with other entities have much lower burden. 
Additionally, the burden is expected to only be needed for years 1 and 
2 as the burden is only focused on procedures for sharing data and 
moving details from one requirement to another within the same 
standard. After year two with procedures fully in place there are no 
expectations for additional burden to continue as documents will be in 
place. The existing burden will remain the same until updated further 
for these reliability standards.
    These Standards, FERC-725A(1D) (Temporary placeholder for FERC-
725A) for TOP-003-6.1, FERC-725Z for IRO-010-5, which are all currently 
approved information collections.
    Type of Respondents: NERC-registered entities including generator 
owner, generator operator, reliability coordinator, balancing 
authorities, distribution provider, transmission owner, and 
transmission operators.\1\
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    \1\ In subsequent portions of this notice, the following 
acronyms will be used: DP = Distribution Provider, BA = Balancing 
Authority, RC = Reliability Coordinator, TOP = Transmission Owner, 
GO = Generator Owner, GOP = Generator Operator, TOP = Transmission 
Operator.
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    Estimate of Annual Burden: \2\ The Commission estimates the annual 
public reporting burden and cost for the information collections as: 
\3\
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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. For further explanation of what is included in the 
information collection burden, reference 5 Code of Federal 
Regulations 1320.3.
    \3\ https://www.nerc.com/FilingsOrders/us/NERC%20Filings%20to%20FERC%20DL/Petition%20for%20Approval%20of%20IRO-010%20and%20TOP-003_final.pdf.

Reliability Standard IRO-010-5 (Reliability Coordinator Data 
Specification and Collection)
Reliability Standard TOP-003-6.1 (Transmission Operator and Balancing 
Authority Data and Information Specification and Collection)
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    \4\ Values represent unique U.S. entities as based on the NERC 
compliance registry information as of September 22, 2023.
    \5\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is a 
combination based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of 
2023, for 75% of the average of an Electrical Engineer (17-2071) 
$77.29/hr., 77.29 x .75 = 57.9675 ($57.97-rounded) ($57.97/hour) and 
25% of an Information and Record Clerk (43-4199) $39.58/hr, $39.58 x 
.25% = 9.895 ($9.90 rounded) ($9.90/hour), for a total ($57.97 + 
$9.90 = $67.87/hour).

             TOP-003-6.1--Transmission Operator and Balancing Authority Data and Information Specification and Collection for Years 1 and 2
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                                                  Annual  number
                                    Number of      of  responses  Annual  number of    Average burden  hours &       Total annual burden hours & cost
                                 respondents \4\  per respondent       responses         cost per  response
Type of entity                               (1)             (2)    (1) * (2) = (3)  (4) \5\...................  (3) * (4) = (5)
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                                                        FERC-725A(1D), OMB Control No. 1902-0324
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TOP...........................               166               1                166  80 hrs.; $5,429.60........  13,280 hrs.; $901,313.60.
BA............................                98               1                 98  80 hrs.; $5,429.60........  7,840 hrs.; $532,100.80.
TO............................               323               1                323  8 hrs.; $542.96...........  2,584 hrs.; $175,376.08.
GOP...........................             1,002               1              1,002  8 hrs.; $542.96...........  8,016 hrs.; $544,045.92.
GO............................             1,164               1              1,164  8 hrs.; $542.96...........  9,312 hrs.; $632,005.44.
DP............................               301               1                301  8 hrs.; $542.96...........  2,408 hrs.; $163,430.96.
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FERC-725A(1D) for TOP-003-6.1   ................  ..............  .................  ..........................  43,440 hrs.; $2,948,272.80.
 Total Years 1 & 2.
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FERC-725A(1D) for TOP-003-6.1   ................  ..............  .................  ..........................  No Change to existing burden.
 Total Year 3 and beyond.
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                         IRO-010-5--Reliability Coordinator Data and Information Specification and Collection for Years 1 and 2
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                                                  Annual  number
                                    Number of      of  responses   Total  number of  Average burden  & cost per     Total annual burden  hours & total
                                 respondents \6\  per respondent      responses                response                        annual cost
Type of entity                               (1)             (2)    (1) * (2) = (3)  (4) \7\...................  (3) * (4) = (5)
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                                                          FERC-725Z, OMB Control No. 1902-0276
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RC............................                12               1                 12  80 hrs.; $5,429.60........  960 hrs.; $65,155.20.
BA............................                98               1                 98  8 hrs.; $542.96...........  784 hrs.; $53,210.08.
GO............................             1,164               1              1,164  8 hrs.; $542.96...........  9,312 hrs.; $632,005.44.
GOP...........................             1,002               1              1,002  8 hrs.; $542.96...........  8,016 hrs.; $544,045.92.
TOP...........................               166               1                166  8 hrs.; $542.96...........  1,328 hrs.; $90,131.36.
TO............................               323               1                323  8 hrs.; $542.96...........  2,584 hrs.; $175,376.08.
DP............................               301               1                301  8 hrs.; $542.96...........  2,408 hrs.; $163,430.96.
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FERC-725Z for IRO-010-5 Total   ................  ..............  .................  ..........................  25,392 hrs.; $1,723,355.04.
 Years 1 & 2.
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[[Page 86123]]

 
FERC-725Z for IRO-010-5 Total   ................  ..............  .................  ..........................  No Change to existing burden.
 Year 3 and beyond.
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    The total annual estimated burden and cost for the FERC-725A(1D) 
information collection is 43,440 hours and $2,948,272.80. FERC 725Z is 
25,392 hours and $1,723,355.04 respectively.
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    \6\ Values represent unique U.S. entities as based on the NERC 
compliance registry information as of September 22, 2023.
    \7\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is a 
combination based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of 
2022, for 75% of the average of an Electrical Engineer (17-2071) 
$77.29/hr., 77.29 x .75 = 57.9675 ($57.97-rounded) ($57.97/hour) and 
25% of an Information and Record Clerk (43-4199) $39.58/hr, $39.58 x 
.25% = 9.895 ($9.90 rounded) ($9.90/hour), for a total ($57.97 + 
$9.90 = $67.87/hour).
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    Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) whether the collections of 
information are 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 
burdens and costs of the collections of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility and clarity of the information collections; and 
(4) ways to minimize the burden of the collections of information on 
those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.

    Dated: December 6, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-27221 Filed 12-11-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P