[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 111 (Friday, June 7, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48609-48610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12545]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC24-20-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities FERC-917 and FERC-
918; Consolidated Comment Request; Extension

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-917 (Electric Transmission Facilities) 
and FERC-918 (Standards for Business Practices and Communication 
Protocols for Public Utilities), both under OMB Control No. 1902-0233.

DATES: Comments on the collections of information are due August 6, 
2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit copies of your comments (identified by Docket 
No. IC24-20-000 and the specific FERC collection number (FERC-917 and/
or FERC-918) 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-917, Electric Transmission Facilities and FERC-918, 
Standards for Business Practices and Communication Protocols for Public 
Utilities.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0233.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-917 and FERC-918 
information collection requirements with no changes to the reporting 
requirements.
    Type of Respondents: Public utilities transmission providers.
    Abstract: The information collection requirements in the FERC 917 
and 918 include posting requirements in compliance with Federal Power 
Act sections 206. Furthermore, the requirements for posting are 
described in the Commission's pro forma Open Access Transmission Tariff 
(OATT) that is prescribed by 18 CFR 35.28 to ensure non-discriminatory 
practices in electric energy systems and markets. Additionally, the 
specifications to posting information and standards that must be 
followed are outlined in 18 CFR part 37 (Open Access Same Time 
Information System (OASIS)) and part 38 (Standards for Public Utility 
Business Operations and Communications) of the Commission's 
regulations.
    The FERC 917 and 918 information collections specifically contain 
the burden related to gathering and posting information (on OASIS) as 
specified in the OATT \1\ and the burden related to complying with 
standards that are described by the North American Energy Standards 
Board (NAESB).\2\
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    \1\ The requirements for OASIS were established in FERC order 
888 and 889. Later, in FERC Order 1000-A, the FERC Information 
Collection under OMB control no. 1902-0233 was created.
    \2\ 18 CFR part 38
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    This notice and information collection request pertains to the 
extension of the existing requirements with no change to the reporting 
requirements.\3\
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    \3\ There is a separate docket no. (RM21-17) that is revising 
the OATT at this time. To reduce confusion between the revision and 
the extension, the Commission is issuing this notice for the 
extension to requirements that are not being revised in the separate 
rulemaking effort.
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    Estimate of Annual Burden: \4\ The Commission estimates the annual 
public reporting burden for the information collection to remain 
consistent with the

[[Page 48610]]

previous estimate. However, the Commission has updated the number of 
respondents with a more current estimate.
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    \4\ 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.
    \5\ The Commission staff estimates that the average respondent 
for this collection is similarly situated to the Commission, in 
terms of salary plus benefits. Based on FERC's 2024 annual average 
of $207,786 (for salary plus benefits), the average hourly cost is 
$100/hour.

      FERC-917 (Electric Transmission Facilities) and FERC-918 (Standards for Business Practices and Communication Protocols for Public Utilities)
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                                                        Annual number                    Average annual burden     Total average annual   Average annual
                                          Number of     of responses    Annual number    hours & cost \5\ per      burden hours & total      cost per
                                         respondents   per respondent   of responses         response ($)            annual cost ($)      respondent ($)
                                                  (1)             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4).....................  (3) * (4) = (5)........     (5) / (1) =
                                                                                  (3)                                                                (6)
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                                                                   FERC-917 & FERC-918
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Non-Discriminatory Open Access                    162               1             162  566 hrs.; $56,600.......  91,692 hrs.; $9,169,200         $56,600
 Transmission Tariff (reporting).
Open Access Transmission Tariff                   162               1             162  10 hrs.; $1000..........  1,620 hrs.; $162,000...           1,000
 (record keeping).
Information to be posted on the OASIS             162               1             162  376 hrs.; $37,600.......  60,912 hrs.; $6,091,200          37,600
 and Auditing Transmission service
 (reporting).
Information to be posted on the OASIS             162               1             162  45 hrs.; $4,500.........  7,290 hrs.; $6,091,200.           4,500
 and Auditing Transmission service
 (record keeping).
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    Total............................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ........................  161,514 hrs.;            ..............
                                                                                                                  $16,151,400.
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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: June 3, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-12545 Filed 6-6-24; 8:45 am]
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