[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 46 (Thursday, March 7, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16556-16557]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04807]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC24-12-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-582); 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-582 (Electric Fees, Annual Charges, 
Waivers, and Exemptions) (OMB Control Number 1902-0132).

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due May 6, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit your comments (identified by Docket No. IC24-
12-000 and FERC-582) by one of the following methods:
    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:
    [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. 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: 
    Title: FERC-582, Electric Fees, Annual Charges, Waivers, and 
Exemptions.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0132.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-582 information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting 
requirements.
    Abstract: The information required by FERC-582 is contained in 18 
CFR parts 381 and 382.
    The Commission uses the FERC-582 information to implement the 
statutory provisions of the Independent Offices Appropriation Act of 
1952 \1\ which authorizes the Commission to establish fees for its 
services. In addition, the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 
\2\ authorizes the Commission to assess and collect fees and annual 
charges in any fiscal year in amounts equal to all the costs incurred 
by the Commission in that fiscal year.
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    \1\ 31 U.S.C. 9701.
    \2\ 42 U.S.C. 7178.
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    To comply with the FERC-582, respondents must submit to the 
Commission the sum of the megawatt-hours (MWh) of all unbundled 
transmission (including MWh delivered in wheeling transactions and MWh 
delivered in exchange transactions) and the megawatt-hours of all 
bundled wholesale power sales (to the extent the bundled wholesale 
power sales were not separately reported as unbundled transmission). 
The data collected in the FERC-582 information collection are drawn 
directly from the FERC Form 1 (Annual Report of Major Electric 
Utilities, Licensees and Others) \3\ transmission data. The Commission

[[Page 16557]]

sums the costs of its electric regulatory program and subtracts all 
electric regulatory program filing fee collections to determine the 
total collectible electric regulatory program costs. Then, the 
Commission uses the data submitted under FERC-582 to determine the 
total megawatt-hours of transmission of electric energy in interstate 
commerce. Respondents (public utilities and power marketers) subject to 
these annual charges must submit FERC-582 data to the Commission by 
April 30 of each year.\4\ The Commission issues bills for annual 
charges to respondents. Then, respondents must pay the charges within 
45 days of the Commission's issuance of the bill.
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    \3\ OMB Control No. 1902-0021, described in 18 CFR 141.1.
    \4\ 18 CFR 382.201.
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    Respondents may file requests for waivers and exemptions of fees 
and charges \5\ based on need. The Commission's staff uses the filer's 
financial information to evaluate the request for a waiver or exemption 
of the obligation to pay a fee or an annual charge.
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    \5\ This includes requirements of 18 CFR 381.105 (methods of 
payment), 381.106 (waiver), 381.108 (exemption), 381.302 
(declaratory order), 381.303 (review of DOE remedial order), 381.304 
(DOE denial of adjustment), and 381.305 (OGC interpretation).
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    Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the burden \6\ 
and cost \7\ for this information collection as follows.
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    \6\ 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, refer to 5 CFR part 1320.
    \7\ The Commission staff estimates that the average respondent 
for FERC-582 is similarly situated to the Commission, in terms of 
salary plus benefits. Based on FERC's current annual average of 
$207,786 (for salary plus benefits), the average hourly cost is 
$100/hour.

                        FERC-582, Electric Fees, Annual Charges, Waivers, and Exemptions
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                       Annual number                                           Total annual
      Number of        of responses    Total number of    Average burden &    burden hours &        Cost per
     respondents      per respondent      responses      cost per response         cost            respondent
(1)                              (2)    (1) x (2) = (3)  (4)..............  (3) * (4) = (5)..      (5)/(1) = (5)
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51..................               1                 51  2.39 hrs.;         121.89 hrs.;                 $239.00
                                                          $239.00.           $12,189.00.
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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 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: February 29, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-04807 Filed 3-6-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P