[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22702-22704]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06869]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. RD23-6-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities Comment Request; 
Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy.

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 proposed revisions of the 
currently approved information collection, FERC-725A (Mandatory 
Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System) and FERC-725Z 
(Mandatory Reliability Standards: IRO Reliability Standards) as it 
affects information collection requirements associated with proposed on 
Reliability Standards IRO-010-5 and TOP-003-6.1. The 60-day notice 
comment period ended on February 12, 2024, with one comment received.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due May 2, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC-725A and 725Z to OMB through 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB Control Numbers 725A 
(1902-0244) and 725Z (1902-0276) in the subject line of your comments. 
Comments should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
    Please submit copies of your comments to the Commission. You may 
submit copies of your comments (identified by Docket No. RD23-6-000) 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, Secretary of the Commission, 12225 Wilkins 
Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852.
    Instructions: OMB submissions must be formatted and filed in 
accordance with submission guidelines at www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Using the search function under the ``Currently Under Review'' 
field, select Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; click ``submit,'' 
and select ``comment'' to the right of the subject collection. FERC 
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/ferc-online/overview.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean Sonneman may be reached by email 
at [email protected], telephone at (202) 502-6362.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: FERC-725A (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-
Power System) and FERC-725Z (Mandatory Reliability Standards: IRO 
Reliability Standards) as it affects information collection 
requirements associated with proposed on Reliability Standards IRO-010-
5 and TOP-003-6.1.
    OMB Control No.: FERC-725A (1902-0244) FERC-725Z (1902-0276).
    Type of Request: Approval of FERC-725A and FERC-725Z information 
collection requirements associated with proposed on Reliability 
Standards IRO-010-5 and TOP-003-6.1.
    Abstract: This Notice pertains to the FERC-725A and FERC-725Z 
information collection requirements. On September 21, 2023, the North 
American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) filed a petition (NERC 
Petition) seeking approval of proposed Reliability Standards IRO-010-5 
(Reliability Coordinator Data and Information Specification and 
Collection), and TOP-003-6.1 (Transmission Operator and Balancing 
Authority Data and Information Specification and Collection), the 
associated Violation Risk Factors and Violation Severity Levels, and 
the proposed implementation plan including the retirement of the 
currently-effective Reliability Standards IRO-010-4 and TOP-003-5.
    NERC states in its petition that it revised both standards so that 
the language is parallel in form and function and uses similar 
vernacular in describing the underlying requirements. The proposed 
revisions allow applicable entities to use available technologies, 
integrate new technologies, and define expectations for data and 
information exchange.\1\ The modifications to these two standards 
originated through the second phase of NERC's Standards Efficiency 
Review (SER) to consolidate information/data exchange requirements.\2\
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    \1\ NERC Petition at 13.
    \2\ See NERC, SER Phase 2 Recommendations Working Document, 
(Aug. 2021), https://www.nerc.com/pa/Stand/Standards%20Efficiency%20Review%20DL/SER_Phase_2_Recommendations_Working_Document_08062021.xlsx.
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    NERC's petition was noticed on September 26, 2023, with 
interventions, comments, and protests due on or before October 26, 
2023.
    NERC's uncontested filing is hereby approved pursuant to the 
relevant authority delegated to the Director, Office of Electric 
Reliability under 18 CFR 375.303(a)(2)(i) (2023).
    The following tables were modified to use annualized totals due to 
the comments received.
    Revised TOP-003-6.1, 725A in table below:

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                   TOP-003-6.1--Transmission Operator and Balancing Authority Data and Information Specification and Collection Annual
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                                              Number of     Annual number
              Type of entity                 respondents    of responses    Annual number of   Average burden hrs. & cost    Total annual burden hours &
                                                 \3\       per respondent      responses              per response                      cost
                                                      (1)             (2)    (1) * (2) = (3)  (4) \4\.....................  (3) * (4) = (5)
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                                                          FERC-725A, OMB Control No. 1902-0244
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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 for TOP-003-6.1 Total        ..............  ..............  .................  ............................  43,440 hrs.; $2,948,272.80.
     Annual.
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    Revised IRO-010-5, 725Z table:
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    \3\ Values represent unique U.S. entities as based on the NERC 
compliance registry information as of September 22, 2023.
    \4\ 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).

                               IRO-010-5--Reliability Coordinator Data and Information Specification and Collection Annual
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                                              Number of     Annual number
              Type of entity                 respondents    of responses    Annual number of    Average burden & cost per    Total annual burden hours &
                                                 \5\       per respondent      responses                response                  total annual cost
                                                      (1)             (2)    (1) * (2) = (3)  (4) \6\.....................  (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 Annual.......  ..............  ..............  .................  ............................  25,392 hrs.; $1,723,355.04.
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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.
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    \5\ Values represent unique US entities as based on the NERC 
compliance registry information as of September 22, 2023.
    \6\ 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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    The one comment received offers that the estimates appear to 
capture burden estimates and costs of initial implementation only 
within years one and two and does not capture requirements beyond year 
three and forward. Staff reviewed the comment and updated the estimates 
to reflect the reporting burden to be an annual burden, instead of just 
for years one and two. Tables for 725A (TOP Reliability Standards) and 
725Z (IRO Reliability Standards) have been updated to show the change 
with the original estimates, followed by the revised table for both 
collections.
    The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports 
meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission 
proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners, 
environmental justice communities, Tribal members and others, access 
publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For 
public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as 
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is 
encouraged to

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contact OPP at (202) 502-6595 or [email protected].

    Dated: March 26, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-06869 Filed 4-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P