[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