[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 158 (Thursday, August 15, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66375-66377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18301]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. IC24-23-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725A); 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-725A (Mandatory Reliability Standards for 
the Bulk-Power System). There are no changes to the information 
collection.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due October 15, 
2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit copies of your comments (identified by Docket 
No. IC24-23-000) 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, 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: Doug Reimel may be reached by email at 
[email protected], telephone at (202) 502-6461.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

[[Page 66376]]

    Title: FERC-725A (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-
Power System).
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0244.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-725A information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting 
requirements.
    Abstract: On August 8, 2005, the Electricity Modernization Act of 
2005, which is Title XII, Subtitle A, of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 
(EPAct 2005), was enacted into law.\1\ EPAct 2005 added a new section 
215 to the FPA, which requires a Commission-certified electric 
reliability organization (ERO) (FERC-725) to develop mandatory and 
enforceable Reliability Standards, which are subject to Commission 
review and approval. Once approved, the Reliability Standards may be 
enforced by the ERO, subject to Commission oversight or the Commission 
can independently enforce Reliability Standards (FERC-725A).\2\
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    \1\ Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law No 109-58, Title XII, 
Subtitle A, 119 Stat. 594, 941 (2005), to be codified at 16 U.S.C. 
824o.
    \2\ 16 U.S.C. 824o(e)(3).
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    On February 3, 2006, the Commission issued Order No. 672, 
implementing section 215 of the FPA.\3\ Pursuant to Order No. 672, the 
Commission certified one organization, NERC, as the ERO.\4\ The ERO is 
required to develop Reliability Standards, which are subject to 
Commission review and approval. The Reliability Standards will apply to 
users, owners and operators of the Bulk-Power System, as set forth in 
each Reliability Standard.
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    \3\ Rules Concerning Certification of the Electric Reliability 
Organization; Procedures for the Establishment, Approval and 
Enforcement of Electric Reliability Standards, Order No. 672, 71 FR 
8662 (February 17, 2006), FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,204 (2006), order 
on reh'g, Order No. 672-A, 71 FR 19814 (April 18, 2006), FERC Stats. 
& Regs. ] 31,212 (2006).
    \4\ North American Electric Reliability Corp., 116 FERC ] 61,062 
(ERO Certification Order), order on reh'g & compliance, 117 FERC ] 
61,126 (ERO Rehearing Order) (2006), order on compliance, 118 FERC ] 
61,030 (2007) (January 2007 Compliance Order).
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    On March 16, 2007, the Commission issued Order No. 693, a Final 
Rule adding part 40, a new part, to the Commission's regulations. The 
Final Rule states that this part applies to all users, owners and 
operators of the Bulk-Power System within the United States (other than 
Alaska or Hawaii). It also requires that each Reliability Standard 
identify the subset of users, owners and operators to which that 
particular Reliability Standard applies. The new regulations also 
require that each Reliability Standard that is approved by the 
Commission will be maintained on the ERO's internet website for public 
inspection.
    In order for the Commission to perform its oversight function with 
regard to Reliability Standards that are proposed by the ERO, it is 
essential that the Commission receives timely information regarding all 
or potential violations of Reliability Standards. While section 215 of 
the FPA contemplates the filing of the record of an ERO or Regional 
Entity enforcement action, FERC needs information regarding violations 
and potential violations at or near the time of occurrence. Therefore, 
it will work with the ERO and regional reliability organizations to be 
able to use electronic filing of information so the Commission receives 
timely information. The new regulations also require that each 
Reliability Standard that is approved by the Commission will be 
maintained on the ERO's internet website for public inspection.
    In accordance with section 39.5 of the Commission's regulations, 
the ERO must file each Reliability Standard or a modification to a 
Reliability Standard with the Commission. The filing is to include a 
concise statement of the basis and purpose of the proposed Reliability 
Standard, either a summary of the Reliability development proceedings 
conducted by the ERO or a summary of the Reliability Standard 
development proceedings conducted by a Regional Entity together with a 
summary of the Reliability Standard review proceedings of the ERO and a 
demonstration that the proposed Reliability Standard is ``just, 
reasonable, not unduly discriminatory or preferential, and in the 
public interest.
    The existing burden inventory for the entire FERC-725A collection 
is estimated at 1,407,238 burden hours (Table 1). FERC-725A contains 
the information collection requirements for nearly all of the US wide 
Reliability Standards. The collection started in 2007 when FERC 
approved 83 Reliability Standards with an estimated 1,252,680 burden 
hours. Since that time, NERC has revised many of the original standards 
(as well as proposed new standards) resulting in many incremental 
additions to the total burden hours. Additionally, over time FAC-003, 
FAC-008, PER-003; INT-006; INT-009; TOP-001, TOP-002, TOP-003, TOP-010 
revisions were captured in 725A collection. In August 2024, the 
associated manhours and cost for PER-003-2 are being relocated from 
725A into 725Y (Table 2). This change will not result in change in the 
number of respondents in 725A as the same group of responsible entities 
have other obligation under 725A but the associated cost per entity 
will decrease slightly overall (Table 3).
    Estimate of Annual Burden: \5\ The Commission estimates the burden 
and cost for this information collection as follows.
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    \5\ 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.
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IC24-23-000 Renewal of 725A

    The following table represents the current burden associated with 
all Mandatory Reliability Standards that fall under FERC-725A.
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    \6\ This is a list of NERC registered entities who under 725A 
need to follow the NERC Standards. BA = Balancing Authority (98); DP 
= Distribution Provider (371); GP = Generator Owner (1,210); 
Generator Operator (1028); PA/PC Planning Authority/Planning 
Coordinator (62); RC = Reliability Coordinator (12); RP = Resource 
Planner (159); RSG = Reserve Sharing Group (8); FRSG = Frequency 
Response Sharing Group (1); TO = Transmission Owner (324); TOP = 
Transmission Operator (165); TP = Transmission Provided (203); TSP = 
Transmission Service Provider (70); for a sum total of (3,711). The 
same entity may have multiple registration obligation to follow 
under 725A, so an individual entity's obligation increases based on 
registration functions. These values were derived from the NERC 
Compliance data of April 16, 2024, using only unique United States 
registered entities.
    \7\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is a 
combination based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of 
2024, for 75% of the average of an Electrical Engineer (17-2071) 
$79.31/hr., 79.31 x .75 = 59.4825 ($59.48-rounded) ($59.48/hour) and 
25% of an Information and Record Clerk (43-4199) $44.74/hr., $44.74 
x .25% = 11.185 ($11.19 rounded) ($11.19/hour), for a total ($59.48 
+ $11.19 = $70.67/hour).

[[Page 66377]]



                                                                Original 725A IC24-23-000
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                                         Number and
                                           type of      Annual number   Total number     Average burden & cost     Total annual burden       Cost per
                                         respondents    of responses    of responses       per response \7\        hours & total annual   respondent ($)
                                             \6\       per respondent                                                    cost ($)
                                                  (1)             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4).....................  (3) * (4) = (5)........       (5) / (1)
                                                                                  (3)
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Annual Review of 725A................           3,711               1           3,711  379.21 hrs., $26,798.77.  1,407,238 hrs.,              $26,798.77
                                                                                                                  $99,449,509.46.
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    Total............................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ........................  1,407,238 hrs.           ..............
                                                                                                                  $99,449,509.46.
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                               Original 725 A Moving to FERC-725Y in Docket No. IC24-16-000 Reliability Standard PER-003-2
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                                                               Annual number                    Average burden &     Total annual burden
                                       Number and type of      of responses    Total number     cost per response   hours & total annual     Cost per
                                        respondents \8\       per respondent   of responses            \9\                cost ($)        respondent ($)
                                   (1)......................             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4).................  (3) * (4) = (5).....       (5) / (1)
                                                                                         (3)
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Annual Review of Credentials.....  12 (RC)..................               1              12  60 hrs., $4,758.60..  720 hrs., $57,103.20        4,758.60
                                   98 (BA)..................               1              98  60 hrs., $4,758.60..  5,880 hrs.,                $4,758.60
                                                                                                                     $466,342.80.
                                   165 (TOP)................               1             165  60 hrs., $4,758.60..  9,900 hrs., $785,169        4,758.60
Record Retention.................  (RC, BA, TOP) 275........               1             275  60 hrs., $2,915.40..  16,500 hrs.,                2,915.40
                                                                                                                     $801,735.
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    Total........................  .........................  ..............  ..............  ....................  33,000 hrs.,          ..............
                                                                                                                     $2,110,350.
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     Electrical Engineer (Occupation Code: 17-2071): $79.31 (to 
calculate the reporting requirements).
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    \8\ For PER-003-2: 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.
    \9\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is a 
combination based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of 
2024. 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):
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     Office and Administrative Support (Occupation Code: 43-
0000): $48.59 (to calculate the recordkeeping requirements).
    Third table to show different from table 1 minus table 2.

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                                                                   Number of
                                                                    annual                                    Average number of
Reliability standard & requirement    Number of entities \10\    responses per   Total number of responses     burden hours per      Total burden hours
                                                                    entity                                      response \11\
                                    (1).......................             (2)  (1) * (2) = (3)...........  (4)..................  (3) * (4) = (5)
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                                                                        FERC-725A
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Mandatory Reliability Standards     3,711.....................               1  3,711.....................  379.21 hrs.,           1,407,238 hrs.,
 for Bulk Power System.                                                                                      $26,798.77.            $99,449,509.46.
PER-003-2 Net Changes.............  550 (No change)...........               1  550 (No Change)...........  -60 hrs., $4,240.20..  -33,000 hrs.,
                                                                                                                                    $2,332,110.00
                                                                                                                                    (Reduction).
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    Total for FERC-725A...........  ..........................  ..............  ..........................  .....................  1,374,238 hrs.,
                                                                                                                                    $97,117,399.46.
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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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    \10\ This is a list of NERC registered entities who under 725A 
need to follow the NERC Standards. BA = Balancing Authority (98); DP 
= Distribution Provider (371); GP = Generator Owner (1,210); 
Generator Operator (1028); PA/PC Planning Authority/Planning 
Coordinator (62); RC = Reliability Coordinator (12); RP = Resource 
Planner (159); RSG = Reserve Sharing Group (8); FRSG = Frequency 
Response Sharing Group (1); TO = Transmission Owner (324); TOP = 
Transmission Operator (165); TP = Transmission Provided (203); TSP = 
Transmission Service Provider (70); for a sum total of (3,711). The 
same entity may have multiple registration obligation to follow 
under 725A so an individual entity's obligation increases based on 
registration functions. These values were derived from the NERC 
Compliance data of April 16, 2024 using only unique United States 
registered entities.
    \11\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is a 
combination based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of 
2024, for 75% of the average of an Electrical Engineer (17-2071) 
$79.31/hr., 79.31 x .75 = 59.4825 ($59.48-rounded) ($59.48/hour) and 
25% of an Information and Record Clerk (43-4199) $44.74/hr., $44.74 
x .25% = 11.185 ($11.19 rounded) ($11.19/hour), for a total ($59.48 
+ $11.19 = $70.67/hour).

    Dated: August 9, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-18301 Filed 8-14-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P