[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 48 (Monday, March 11, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17460-17461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05125]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC24-13-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-716); Comment 
Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

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-716, Good Faith Requests for Transmission 
Service and Good Faith Responses by Transmitting Utilities, OMB Control 
Number 1902-0170.

DATES: Comments on the collections of information are due [INSERT DATE 
60 days after date of publication in the Federal Register].

ADDRESSES: You may submit copies of your comments (identified by Docket 
No. IC24-13-000 and FERC-0170) 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 other delivery services:
    [cir] Mail via U.S. Postal Service Only: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20426.
    [cir] All other delivery services: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission,

[[Page 17461]]

Secretary of the 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-716, Good Faith Requests for Transmission Service and 
Good Faith Responses by Transmitting Utilities.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0170.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-716 information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting 
requirements.
    Abstract: This information collection pertains to negotiations 
between a generator of electricity and a transmitting utility under 
sections 211 through section 213 \1\ of the Federal Power Act (FPA).
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    \1\ 16 U.S.C. 824j, 824k, and 824l.
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    Section 211 of the FPA authorizes any electric utility, Federal 
power marketing agency, or any other person generating electric energy 
for sale or resale to apply to the Commission for an order requiring a 
transmitting utility to provide transmission services (including any 
enlargement of transmission capacity necessary to provide such 
services) to the applicant. The Commission may issue such order if it 
finds that such an order meets the requirements of section 212,\2\ and 
would otherwise be in the public interest.
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    \2\ Section 212 requires that, subject to appropriate terms and 
conditions and just and reasonable rates, access to the electric 
transmission system for the purposes of wholesale transactions is 
made widely available.
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    Section 213 provides that whenever an application for such an order 
constitutes a ``good faith request'' for service, the transmitting 
utility must provide the applicant with a ``detailed written 
explanation, with specific reference to the facts and circumstances of 
the request, stating (1) the transmitting utility's basis for the 
proposed rates, charges, terms, and conditions for such services, and 
(2) its analysis of any physical or other constraints affecting the 
provision of such services.''
    The Commission's regulation at 18 CFR 2.20 identifies 12 components 
of a good faith request for transmission and 5 components of a reply to 
a good faith request. The regulation at 18 CFR 2.20(a)(2) provides that 
the Commission may issue an order requiring a transmitting utility to 
provide transmission services (including any enlargement of 
transmission capacity necessary to provide such services) only if: (1) 
an applicant has made a request for transmission services to the 
transmitting utility that would be the subject of such order at least 
60 days prior to its filing of an application for such order, and (2) 
the applicant has, pursuant to section 213(a) of the FPA, made a good 
faith request to a transmitting utility to provide wholesale 
transmission services and requests specific rates and charges, and 
other terms and conditions.
    Type of Respondents: Transmission Requestors and Transmitting 
Utilities.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the average 
annual burden \3\ and cost \4\ for this information collection as 
follows.
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    \3\ 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 
collections burden, reference 5 CFR 1320.3.
    \4\ The Commission staff estimates that the average respondent 
for FERC-576 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.

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                                                        Annual number                                              Total annual burden
          Types of responses              Number of     of responses    Total number     Average burden hrs. &     hrs. & total annual       Cost per
                                         respondents   per respondent   of responses     cost ($) per response             cost           respondent ($)
                                                  (1)             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4).....................  (3) * (4) = (5)........       (5) / (1)
                                                                                  (3)
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Information exchange between parties.               6               1               6  100 hrs.; $10,000.......  600 hrs.; $60,000......         $10,000
Application submitted to FERC if                    6               1               6  2.5 hrs.; $250.00.......  15 hrs.; $1,500........             250
 parties' negotiations are
 unsuccessful.
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    Totals...........................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ........................  615 hrs.; $61,500......  ..............
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    Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) whether the collections 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 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: March 5, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-05125 Filed 3-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P