[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 143 (Thursday, July 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60409-60411]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-16386]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC24-16-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (Ferc-725y); 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-725Y, Mandatory Reliability Standard 
(Personnel Performance, Training, and Qualifications).

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due September 23, 
2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit copies of your comments (identified by Docket 
No. IC24-16-000) 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, not in scanned or picture format.
     For those unable to file electronically, comments may be 
filed by USPS mail or by other delivery methods:
    [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, Office of the Secretary, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, 
MD 20852.
    Instructions: All 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.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: FERC-725Y, Mandatory Reliability Standard (Personnel 
Performance, Training, and Qualifications).
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0279.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-725Y information 
collection requirements with no changes to the reporting requirements.
    Abstract: The FERC-725Y information collection is intended to help 
ensure the safe and reliable operation of the interconnected grid 
through the retention of suitably trained and qualified personnel in 
positions that can impact the reliable operation of the Bulk-Power 
System. The Commission uses the FERC-725Y to implement the 
Congressional mandate of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to develop 
mandatory and enforceable Reliability Standards to better ensure the 
reliability of the nation's Bulk-Power System. FERC-725Y ensures that 
personnel performing or supporting real-time operations on the Bulk 
Electric System (BES) are trained using a systematic approach. The 
Reliability Standard requires entities to maintain records subject to 
review by the Commission and North American Electric Reliability 
Corporation (NERC) to ensure compliance with the Reliability Standard.
    Reliability Standard PER-003-2 purpose is to ensure that System 
Operators performing the reliability-related tasks of the Reliability 
Coordinator, Balancing Authority and Transmission Operator are 
certified through the NERC System Operator Certification Program when 
filling a Realtime operating position responsible for control of the 
Bulk Electric System.
     R1. Each Reliability Coordinator shall staff its Real-time 
operating

[[Page 60410]]

positions performing Reliability Coordinator reliability-related tasks 
with System Operators who have demonstrated minimum competency in the 
areas listed by obtaining and maintaining a valid NERC Reliability 
Operator certificate.
     R2. Each Transmission Operator shall staff its Real-time 
operating positions performing Transmission Operator reliability-
related tasks with System Operators who have demonstrated minimum 
competency in the areas listed by obtaining and maintaining one of the 
following valid NERC certificates.
     R3. Each Balancing Authority shall staff its Real-time 
operating positions performing Balancing Authority reliability-related 
tasks with System Operators who have demonstrated minimum competency in 
the areas listed by obtaining and maintaining one of the following 
valid NERC certificates.
    Reliability Standard PER-005-2 requires entities to maintain 
records subject to review by the Commission and NERC to ensure 
compliance with the Reliability Standard. This Reliability Standard 
contains of six Requirements:
     R1 requires reliability coordinators, balancing 
authorities, and transmission operators to develop and implement a 
training program for system operators.
     R2 requires transmission owners to develop and implement a 
training program for system operators.
     R3 requires reliability coordinators, balancing 
authorities, transmission operators and transmission owners to verify 
the capabilities of their identified personnel.
     R4 requires reliability coordinators, balancing 
authorities, transmission operators and transmission owners to provide 
those personnel with emergency operations training using simulation 
technology.
     R5 requires reliability coordinators, balancing 
authorities, and transmission operators develop and implement training 
for system operators whose job functions can impact BES real-time 
reliability tasks.
     R6 requires applicable generator operators to develop and 
implement training for certain of their dispatch personnel at a 
centrally located dispatch center.
    Reliability Standard PER-006-1 ensures that personnel are trained 
on specific topics essential to reliability to perform or support Real-
Time operations of the Bulk Electric System.
     R1 identifies generator operator plant personnel 
responsible for Real-time control and carrying out Operating 
instructions are trained on the operational functionality of Protection 
Systems and Remedial Action Schemes that affect the output of 
generating facility(ies) it operates.
    Type of Respondents: Transmission owners and generator owners.
    Estimate of Annual Burden \1\: Our estimate below regarding the 
number of respondents is based on the NERC compliance registry as of 
April 16, 2024. In general, the number of respondents has increased 
from previous renewal as each entity may have multiple responsibilities 
under these standards and those responsibilities are counted 
separately.
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    \1\ 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, reference 5 Code of Federal Regulations 1320.3.
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    When the original PER-003-0 was approved in Order No. 693 the 
associated manhours were part of the 83 NERC Reliability Standards 
approved at one time.\2\ In the two revisions done PER-003-1 and PER-
003-2 it was determined at that there was no change in burden specific 
to PER-003. To increase clarity, manhours associated with the original 
PER-003-0 are being moved from the 725A collection and being added into 
the 725Y collection. The next update to 725A (2024) will reflect the 
change in burden associated with PER-003 and moving manhours from 725A 
into 725Y.
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    \2\ Order No. 693 Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-
Power System--approved March 16, 2007.
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    The Commission estimates the additional annual reporting burden and 
cost as follows:

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                                                             Annual number                                          Total annual burden
                                       Number and type of    of responses    Total number     Avg. burden & cost    hours & total annual     Cost per
                                        respondents \3\     per respondent   of responses      per response \4\           cost ($)        respondent ($)
                                     (1)..................             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4)..................  (3) * (4) = (5)......       (5) / (1)
                                                                                       (3)
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                                           FERC-725Y in Docket No. IC24-16-000 Reliability Standard PER-003-2
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Annual Review of Credentials.......  12 (RC)..............               1              12  60 hrs. $4,637.40....  720 hrs. $55,648.80..       $4,637.40
                                     98 (BA)..............               1              98  60 hrs. $4,637.40....  5,880 hrs.                   4,637.40
                                                                                                                    $454,465.20.
                                     165 (TOP)............               1             165  60 hrs. $4,637.40....  9.900 hrs.                   4,637.40
                                                                                                                    $765,171.00.
Record Retention...................  (RC, BA, TOP) 275....               1             275  60 hrs. $2,735.40....  16,500 hrs.                  2,735.40
                                                                                                                    $752,235.00.
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    Total..........................  .....................  ..............  ..............  .....................  33,000 hrs.            ..............
                                                                                                                    $2,027,520.00.
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                                                       FERC-725Y (Reliability Standard PER-005-2)
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Annual Evaluation, Update of         12 (RC)..............               1              12  14 hrs.; $1,082.06...  168 hrs.; $12,984.72.        1,082.06
 Training Program.                   98 (BA)..............               1              98  14 hrs.; $1,082.06...  1,372 hrs.;                  1,082.06
                                                                                                                    $106,041.88.
                                     165 (TOP)............               1             165  14 hrs.; $1,082.06...  2,310 hrs.;                  1,082.06
                                                                                                                    $178,539.90.
                                     324 (TO).............               1             324  14 hrs.; $1,082.06...  4,536 hrs.;                  1,082.06
                                                                                                                    $350,587.44.
                                     1028 (GOP)...........               1            1028  14 hrs.; $1,082.06...  14,392 hrs.;                 1,082.06
                                                                                                                    $1,112,357.68.
Annual Evaluation and Update of      (RC, BA, TOP, TO,                   1            1627  8 hrs.; $364.72......  13,016 hrs.;                   364.72
 Training Program.                    GOP) 1627.                                                                    $593,399.44.
Retention of Records...............  (RC, BA, TOP, TO,                   1            1627  10 hrs.; $455.90.....  16,270 hrs.;                   455.90
                                      GOP) 1627.                                                                    $741,749.30.
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    Total..........................  .....................  ..............  ..............  .....................  68,892 hrs.;           ..............
                                                                                                                    $3,095,660.36.
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                                                       FERC-725Y (Reliability Standard PER-006-1)
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GOP; Reporting, Recordkeeping Req..  1028.................               1            1028  14 hrs.; $1,082.06...  14,392 hrs.;                 1,082.06
                                                                                                                    $1,112,357.68.
GOP; Reporting Req. R1.............  1028.................               1            1028  5 hrs.; $386.45......  5,140 hrs.;                    386.45
                                                                                                                    $397,270.60.

[[Page 60411]]

 
GOP; Recordkeeping Req.............  \5\ 1028.............               1            1028  10 hrs.; $455.90.....  10,280 hrs.;                   455.90
                                                                                                                    $468,665.20.
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    Total..........................  .....................  ..............  ..............  .....................  29,812 hrs.;           ..............
                                                                                                                    $1,978,293.48.
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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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    \3\ For PER-003-2, PER-005-2 and PER-006-1: RC = Reliability 
Coordinator; BA = Balancing Authority; TOP = Transmission Operator; 
TO = Transmission Owner; GOP = Generator Operator. The NERC 
compliance registry table April 16, 2024, was used to perform 
analysis.
    \4\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is a 
combination based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of 
2023. The estimates for cost per response are loaded hourly wage 
figure (includes benefits) based on two occupational categories for 
2023 found on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm):
     Electrical Engineer (Occupation Code: 17-2071): $77.29 
(to calculate the reporting requirements).
     Office and Administrative Support (Occupation Code: 43-
0000): $45.59 (to calculate the recordkeeping requirements).
    \5\ The number of US unique GOPs is 1028 taken from the NERC 
compliance registry information of April 16, 2024.

    Dated: July 19, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-16386 Filed 7-24-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P