[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 244 (Thursday, December 19, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 103811-103816]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30275]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. RD24-5-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725S); Comment
Request; Revision
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, (DOE).
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-725S, (Emergency Preparedness and
Operations (EOP) Reliability Standards) and submitting the information
collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. Any
interested person may file comments directly with OMB and should
address a copy of those comments to the Commission as explained below.
DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due January 21,
2025.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC-725S (1902-0270) to OMB
through www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Attention: Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB Control
Numbers 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. RD24-5-000) 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
[[Page 103812]]
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: Kayla Williams may be reached by email
at [email protected], telephone at (202) 502-6468.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: FERC-725S, Emergency Preparedness and Operations (EOP)
Reliability Standards.
OMB Control No.: 1902-0270.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved FERC-725S
information collection requirements with changes to the reporting
requirements.
Abstract: On February 16, 2024, the North American Electric
Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Commission-certified Electric
Reliability Organization (ERO), submitted a petition seeking approval
of proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2 (Extreme Cold Weather
Preparedness and Operations). As discussed in this order, we approve
proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2, its associated violation risk
factors and violation severity levels, NERC's proposed implementation
plan, the newly defined terms Fixed Fuel Supply Component and Generator
Cold Weather Constraint, the revised defined terms Generator Cold
Weather Critical Component and Generator Cold Weather Reliability
Event, and the retirement of Reliability Standard EOP-012-1 immediately
prior to the effective date of proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-
2.\1\ We also approve NERC's proposed implementation date for
Reliability Standard EOP-011-4 and the proposed retirement of
Reliability Standards EOP-011-2 and EOP-011-3 immediately prior to the
effective date of proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2.\2\
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\1\ 16 U.S.C. 824o(d)(2).
\2\ Id.
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It is essential to the reliable operation of the Bulk-Power System
to ``ensure enough generating units will be available during the next
cold weather event.'' \3\ When extreme cold weather events such as
Winter Storms Uri or Elliott occur, the Bulk-Power System cannot
operate reliably without adequate generation. Proposed Reliability
Standard EOP-012-2 improves upon the approved, but not yet effective,
Reliability Standard EOP-012-1 by clarifying the requirements for
generator cold weather preparedness and by making other improvements
consistent with the Commission's directives in its February 2023 Order
to help ensure that more generation is available during extreme cold
weather.\4\ Accordingly, we find that proposed Reliability Standard
EOP-012-2 is just, reasonable, not unduly discriminatory or
preferential, and in the public interest.
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\3\ FERC, NERC, and Regional Entity Staff, The February 2021
Cold Weather Outages in Texas and the South Central United States,
at 189 (Nov. 16, 2021), https://www.ferc.gov/media/february-2021-cold-weather-outages-texas-and-south-central-united-states-ferc-nerc-and (November 2021 Report).
\4\ See, e.g., N. Am. Elec. Reliability Corp., 182 FERC ]
61,094, PP 3-11 (2023) (February 2023 Order); reh'g denied, 183 FERC
] 62,034, order on reh'g, 183 FERC ] 61,222 (2023).
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Nevertheless, we find that proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2
requires improvement to address certain concerns, as discussed below.
Therefore, pursuant to section 215(d)(5) of the Federal Power Act
(FPA),\5\ FERC directs NERC to:
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\5\ 16 U.S.C. 824o(d)(5).
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(1) develop and submit modifications to proposed Reliability
Standard EOP-012-2 to address concerns related to the ambiguity of the
newly defined term Generator Cold Weather Constraint to ensure that the
Generator Cold Weather Constraint declaration criteria included within
the proposed Standard are objective and sufficiently detailed so that
applicable entities understand what is required of them and to remove
all references to ``reasonable cost,'' ``unreasonable cost,'' ``cost,''
and ``good business practices'' and replace them with objective,
unambiguous, and auditable terms;
(2) develop and submit modifications to proposed Reliability
Standard EOP-012-2 for NERC to receive, review, evaluate, and confirm
the validity of each Generator Cold Weather Constraint invoked by a
generator owner, in a timely fashion, to ensure that such declaration
cannot be used to avoid mandatory compliance with the proposed
Reliability Standard or obligations in a corrective action plan;
(3) develop and submit modifications to proposed Reliability
Standard EOP-012-2 to shorten and clarify the corrective action plan
implementation timelines and deadlines in Requirement R7, as further
directed below;
(4) develop and submit modifications to Requirement R7 of proposed
Reliability Standard EOP-012-2 to ensure that any extension of a
corrective action plan implementation deadline beyond the maximum
implementation timeframe required by the Standard is pre-approved by
NERC and to ensure that the generator owner informs relevant registered
entities of operating limitations in extreme cold weather during the
period of the extension; and
(5) develop and submit modifications to Requirement R8, part 8.1 of
proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2 to implement more frequent
reviews of Generator Cold Weather Constraint declarations to verify
that the constraint declaration remains valid.
The Commission has repeatedly expressed an urgency in completing
cold weather Reliability Standards and having them implemented in a
timely manner to address the risks presented by cold weather events on
the reliability of the Bulk-Power System.\6\ Further, we note that NERC
submitted the current filing in response to Commission directives to
improve the cold weather Reliability Standards, and the five core
directives to NERC in this order are not new issues, but rather
targeted modifications necessary to fully address issues identified in
the Commission's prior February 2023 Order. Accordingly, we direct NERC
to make the above modifications and submit the revised Reliability
Standard within nine months of the date of issuance of the order in
Docket No. RD24-5-000.\7\
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\6\ See e.g., N. Am. Elec. Reliability Corp., 183 FERC ] 62,034
at P 10 (emphasizing that industry has been aware of and alerted to
the need to prepare generating units for cold weather since at least
2011 and that in considering an appropriate implementation period
for Reliability Standard EOP-012-1, NERC should consider how much
time industry has already had to implement freeze protection
measures).
\7\ 89 FR 55239.
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[[Page 103813]]
Background
Section 215 and Mandatory Reliability Standards
Section 215 of the FPA provides that the Commission may certify an
ERO, the purpose of which is to develop mandatory and enforceable
Reliability Standards, subject to Commission review and approval.\8\
Reliability Standards may be enforced by the ERO, subject to Commission
oversight, or by the Commission independently.\9\ Pursuant to section
215 of the FPA, the Commission established a process to select and
certify an ERO,\10\ and subsequently certified NERC.\11\
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\8\ 16 U.S.C. 824o(c).
\9\ Id. Sec. 824o(e).
\10\ Rules Concerning Certification of the Elec. Reliability
Org.; & Procs. for the Establishment, Approval, & Enforcement of
Elec. Reliability Standards, Order No. 672, 114 FERC ] 61,104, order
on reh'g, Order No. 672-A, 114 FERC ] 61,328 (2006); see also 18 CFR
39.4(b) (2023).
\11\ N. Am. Elec. Reliability Corp., 116 FERC ] 61,062, order on
reh'g and compliance, 117 FERC ] 61,126 (2006), aff'd sub nom.
Alcoa, Inc. v. FERC, 564 F.3d 1342 (D.C. Cir. 2009).
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The February 2021 Cold Weather Reliability Event
On February 16, 2021, Commission, NERC, and Regional Entity staff
initiated a joint inquiry into the circumstances surrounding a February
2021 cold weather reliability event then affecting Texas and the South-
Central United States. In November 2021, Commission staff issued a
report regarding the event, which found that the event was the largest
controlled firm load shed event in U.S. history; over 4.5 million
people lost power and at least 210 people lost their lives during the
event.\12\ The November 2021 Report made 28 recommendations including,
inter alia, enhancements to the Reliability Standards to improve
extreme cold weather operations, preparedness, and coordination.\13\
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\12\ See November 2021 Report at 9.
\13\ Id. at 184-212 (sub-recommendations 1a through 1j).
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After the February 2021 cold weather reliability event, but before
the November 2021 Report was issued, NERC filed a petition for approval
of cold weather Reliability Standards addressing recommendations from a
report regarding a 2018 cold weather event.\14\ In August 2021, the
Commission approved NERC's modifications to Reliability Standards EOP-
011-2 (Emergency Preparedness and Operations), IRO-010-4 (Reliability
Coordinator Data Specification and Collection), and TOP-003-5
(Operational Reliability Data).\15\ Reliability Standards IRO-010-4 and
TOP-003-5 require that reliability coordinators, transmission
operators, and balancing authorities develop, maintain, and share
generator cold weather data.\16\ Reliability Standard EOP-011-2
requires generator owners to have generating unit cold weather
preparedness plans.\17\
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\14\ FERC and NERC Staff, The South Central United States Cold
Weather Bulk Electric System Event of January 17, 2018, at 89 (Jul.
2019), https://www.ferc.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/SouthCentralUnitedStatesColdWeatherBulkElectricSystemEventofJanuary17-2018.pdf.
\15\ See generally N. Am. Elec. Reliability Corp., 176 FERC ]
61,119 (2021).
\16\ Id.
\17\ Id.
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On October 28, 2022, NERC filed a petition seeking approval of
Reliability Standards EOP-011-3 (Emergency Operations) and EOP-012-1
(Extreme Cold Weather Preparedness and Operations), their associated
violation risk factors and violation severity levels, three newly-
defined terms (Extreme Cold Weather Temperature, Generator Cold Weather
Critical Component, and Generator Cold Weather Reliability Event),
NERC's proposed implementation plan, and the retirement of Reliability
Standard EOP-011-2.\18\ On February 16, 2023, the Commission approved
Reliability Standards EOP-011-3 and EOP-012-1, directed NERC to develop
and submit modifications to Reliability Standard EOP-012-1 and to
submit a plan on how NERC will collect and assess data surrounding the
implementation of Reliability Standard EOP-012-1, and deferred the
retirement of Reliability Standard EOP-011-2.\19\
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\18\ NERC 2022 Petition at 1-2.
\19\ See February 2023 Order, 182 FERC ] 61,094 at PP 3-11.
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On October 30, 2023, NERC filed a petition seeking approval of
Reliability Standards EOP-011-4 (Emergency Operations) and TOP-002-5
(Operations Planning), their associated violation risk factors and
violation severity levels, NERC's proposed implementation plan, and the
retirement of Reliability Standards EOP-011-2 and TOP-002-4. On
February 15, 2024, the Commission approved Reliability Standards EOP-
011-3 and TOP-002-5 and again deferred the retirement of Reliability
Standard EOP-011-2.\20\
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\20\ See id. PP 1-2.
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NERC's Petition and Proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2
On February 16, 2024, in response to the Commission's February 2023
Order, NERC filed a petition seeking approval of proposed Reliability
Standard EOP-012-2,\21\ its associated violation risk factors and
violation severity levels, two newly defined terms (Fixed Fuel Supply
Component and Generator Cold Weather Constraint), two revised terms
(Generator Cold Weather Critical Component and Generator Cold Weather
Reliability Event), NERC's proposed implementation plan, and the
retirement of currently approved Reliability Standard EOP-012-1.\22\
NERC explains that proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2 improves
upon the approved, but not yet effective, generator cold weather
preparation Reliability Standard EOP-012-1 and is consistent with the
Commission's directives from the February 2023 Order.\23\ NERC states
that proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2 clarifies applicability of
the Standard's requirements for generator cold weather preparedness,
would further define the circumstances under which a generator owner
may declare that constraints preclude it from implementing one or more
corrective actions to address freezing issues, and shortens the
implementation timeline so that cold weather reliability risks would be
addressed sooner.\24\
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\21\ The proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2 is not attached
to this order. The proposed Reliability Standard is available on the
Commission's eLibrary document retrieval system in Docket No. RD24-
5-000 and on the NERC website, www.nerc.com.
\22\ NERC Petition at 1-4.
\23\ Id. at 2.
\24\ Id.
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NERC states that the purpose of proposed Reliability Standard EOP-
012-2 is unchanged from that of approved Reliability Standard EOP-012-
1, which is to ensure that each generator owner develops and implements
plans to alleviate the reliability impacts of extreme cold weather on
its generating units.\25\ NERC also notes that proposed Reliability
Standard EOP-012-2 completes NERC's two-part plan to address
recommendations from the November 2021 Report by including revisions to
address parts of Key Recommendations 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d.\26\ NERC
states that the proposed Reliability Standard contains new and revised
requirements to advance the reliability of the Bulk-Power System by
requiring generator owners to (1) review their generator cold weather
data periodically, (2) include any identified start up issues in their
generator cold weather data provided to reliability entities, and (3)
consider the impacts of freezing precipitation and
[[Page 103814]]
wind speed in identifying generator cold weather data.\27\
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\25\ Id. at 29.
\26\ See id. at 25-26, 35, 49-50 (citing the November 2021
Report at 184-86).
\27\ Id. at 23.
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Proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2 has eight requirements,
seven of which have been carried over and modified from approved
Reliability Standard EOP-012-1 (Requirements R1-R7) and one of which is
new (Requirement R8). Proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2 applies
to generator owners and generator operators that own or operate bulk
electric system generating units.\28\
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\28\ NERC Petition at 22-23.
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Proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2, Requirement R1 modifies
the Requirements for each generator owner to calculate the Extreme Cold
Weather Temperature for each of its applicable generating units and to
re-calculate that temperature at least once every five calendar
years.\29\ Where a periodic re-calculation results in a lower Extreme
Cold Weather Temperature for the generating unit, the generator owner
must update its cold weather preparedness plan within six months and,
if necessary, develop a corrective action plan to implement measures at
the applicable unit to provide the capability to operate at that new,
lower temperature. Proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2, Requirement
R1, Part 1.2, also maintains Requirement R3.1 to identify generating
unit cold weather data, including operating limitations in cold weather
and minimum operating temperatures, from approved Reliability Standard
EOP-012-1, Requirement R3, Part 3.5.\30\
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\29\ Requirement R1 under proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-
2 modifies existing Requirement R3, Part 3.1 and Requirement R4
under currently approved but not yet effective Reliability Standard
EOP-012-1.
\30\ NERC Petition at 33-37.
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Proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2, Requirements R2 and R3
clarify the cold weather operational capability requirements for new
and existing bulk electric system generating units.\31\ Under proposed
Reliability Standard EOP-012-2, Requirement R2, generator owners would
be required to implement freeze protection measures at applicable bulk
electric system generating units to provide the capability to operate
at the Extreme Cold Weather Temperature with sustained, concurrent 20
mph wind speed for the unit.\32\ Specifically, Requirement R2 requires
generating units with a commercial operation date on or after October
1, 2027, to be capable of operating at the unit's Extreme Cold Weather
Temperature for a continuous 12-hour period or at the maximum
operational duration for intermittent energy resources if less than 12
continuous hours. If a generating unit is unable to do either then it
must develop a corrective action plan to add new or modify existing or
previously planned freeze protection measures to provide the capability
to operate at the unit's Extreme Cold Weather Temperature with a
sustained, concurrent 20 mph wind speed.\33\
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\31\ Requirements R2 and R3 under proposed Reliability Standard
EOP-012-2 were originally Requirements R1 and R2, respectively,
under currently approved but not yet effective Reliability Standard
EOP-012-1.
\32\ NERC Petition at 37.
\33\ Id. at 38.
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Similar to Requirement R2, but without the wind and duration
criteria, Requirement R3 requires either that existing generating
units, (i.e., those in commercial operation prior to October 1, 2027)
be capable of operating at the unit's Extreme Cold Weather Temperature
or that the generator owner develops a corrective action plan to
address the unit's inability to continuously operate successfully.\34\
Requirements R2 and R3 exempt generating units that do not self-commit
or are not required to operate at or below a temperature of 32 degrees
Fahrenheit, including those that may be called upon to operate to
assist in mitigating emergencies during periods at or below 32 degrees
Fahrenheit.\35\ Proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2, Requirement
R4,\36\ modifies the requirement for generator owners to implement and
maintain cold weather preparedness plans.\37\
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\34\ Id. at 38-39.
\35\ Proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2, Requirement R2,
n.1 and Requirement R3, n.2; see also NERC Petition at 41-42.
\36\ Proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2, Requirement R4 was
originally Requirement R3 in currently approved but not yet
effective Reliability Standard EOP-012-1.
\37\ NERC Petition at 45.
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Under Requirement R4, generator owners would include in their cold
weather preparedness plans the information determined in accordance
with proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2, Requirement R1.
Requirement R4 also clarifies that the cold weather preparedness plans
shall reflect the lowest calculated Extreme Cold Weather Temperature
for the unit, even if subsequent re-calculations indicate warming
temperatures.\38\
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\38\ Id. at 46 (citing proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2,
Requirement R4, n.3, which states that generator owners shall
include the lowest calculated Extreme Cold Weather Temperature for
the unit, even where subsequent periodic re-calculations under
Requirement R1, Part 1.1 cause an increase in the Extreme Cold
Weather Temperature).
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Proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2, Requirement R5 is
substantively unchanged from the prior version of the Standard.
Requirement R5 states that generator owners must train their personnel
annually on the unit's cold weather preparedness plans.\39\
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\39\ Id. at 47.
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Proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2, Requirement R6 modifies
the requirement that generator owners that self-commit or are required
to operate at or below a temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit and
experience an outage, failure to start, or derate due to freezing at or
above their Extreme Cold Weather Temperature must develop a corrective
action plan to address the identified causes. Requirement R6 exempts
generating units that do not self-commit or are not required to operate
at or below a temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit, including those
that may be called upon to operate to assist in mitigating emergencies
during periods at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.\40\
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\40\ Id. at 48 (citing Proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2,
Requirement R6, n.4).
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Proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2, Requirement R7 modifies
the requirement for implementing corrective action plans. Requirement
R7 includes new implementation deadlines for implementing corrective
action plans and clarifies the types of constraints that may preclude
the implementation of one or more corrective actions.\41\ Specifically,
Requirement R7 requires that for each corrective action plan developed
pursuant to Requirements R1, R2, R3, or R6, generator owners shall
include a timetable for implementing the corrective actions and
complete the corrective actions in accordance with the timetables
outlined in the proposed Standard.\42\ Under Requirement R7, generator
owners are permitted to update the corrective action plan timetables,
with justifications, if corrective actions change or the timetable
exceeds the timelines in Requirement R7, Part 7.1. This requirement
also states that the generator owner must document, in a declaration
with justification, any Generator Cold Weather Constraint that
precludes the generator owner from implementing the selected actions
[[Page 103815]]
contained within the corrective action plan.\43\
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\41\ Id. at 50.
\42\ Id. at 50-51 (noting that generator owners must list the
actions that address existing equipment or freeze protection
measures to be completed within 24 calendar months of completing
development of the corrective action plan, list the actions that
require new equipment or freeze protection measures, if any, to be
completed within 48 calendar months of completing development of the
corrective action plan, and list the updates to the cold weather
preparedness plan requirement under Requirement R4 to identify the
updates or additions to the Generator Cold Weather Critical
Components and their freeze protection measures) (emphasis added).
\43\ NERC Petition at 51-60.
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Proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2, Requirement R8 is a new
requirement that would apply to generator owners that have declared a
Generator Cold Weather Constraint under Requirement R7. Specifically,
this requirement states that each generator owner that creates a
Generator Cold Weather Constraint declaration shall review the
Generator Cold Weather Constraint declaration at least every five
calendar years or as needed when a change of status to the Generator
Cold Weather Constraint occurs and update the operating limitations
associated with capability and availability under Requirement R1, Part
1.2, if applicable.\44\
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\44\ Id. at 62.
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NERC requests that the Commission approve the violation risk
factors and violation severity levels for proposed Reliability Standard
EOP-012-2.\45\ Further, NERC proposes an effective date for Reliability
Standard EOP-012-2 (with the exception of Requirement R3, which would
become mandatory and enforceable 12-months following the proposed
Standard's effective date) of October 1, 2024 or the first day of the
first calendar quarter that is three months following regulatory
approval, whichever is later.\46\
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\45\ Id. at 2-3.
\46\ Id. at 66.
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Finally, NERC requests that the Commission approve proposed
Reliability Standard EOP-012-2 in an expedited manner. NERC explains
that, among other things, expedited approval would provide regulatory
certainty to entities seeking to comply with the proposed Reliability
Standard ahead of the mandatory and enforceable date.\47\
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\47\ Id. at 70-71.
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The EOP Standards are currently located in the FERC-725S (OMB
Control No. 1902-0270) collection.\48\ In Docket No. RD24-5-000, the
Commission proposes to replace the current OMB approved Reliability
Standard EOP-012-1 with proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2 (Table
1). Proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2 has eight requirements,
seven of which have been carried over and modified from the already
approved Reliability Standard EOP-012-1 (Requirements R1-R7) and one of
which is new (Requirement R8). The estimates in the tables below are
based, in combination, on one-time (years 1 and 2) and ongoing
execution (year 3) obligations to follow the revised Reliability
Standard EOP-012-2. The number of respondents below are based on an
estimate of the NERC compliance registry for generator owners and
generator operators. Proposed Reliability Standard EOP-012-2 applies to
generator owners and generator operators. The Commission based its
paperwork burden estimates on the NERC compliance registry as of April
16, 2024. According to the registry for US unique entities, there are
1,210 generator owners. The estimates in the tables below are based on
the change in burden from the Reliability Standards approved in this
order.\49\ The Commission based the burden estimates in the tables
below on staff experience, knowledge, and expertise.
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\48\ The FERC-725S collection includes the EOP family of
Reliability Standards: EOP-004-4, EOP 005-3, EOP-006-3, EOP-008-2,
EOP-010-1, EOP-011-4, and EOP-012-2.
\49\ The overall burden associated with Reliability Standard
EOP-012 will be the sum of the burden (responses) from Reliability
Standard EOP-012-1 (under RD23-1-000) and Reliability Standard EOP-
012-2 (under RD24-5-000).
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Public Reporting Burden: The estimated costs and burden for the
revisions in Docket No. RD24-5-000 are shown in the table below.
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\50\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is a
combination based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of
2024, for seventy five percent of the average of an Electrical
Engineer (17-2071)-$79.31 and mechanical engineers (17-2141)-$89.86.
($79.31 + $89.86)/2 = 84.585 x .75 = 63.439 ($63.44-rounded)
($63.44/hour) and twenty-five percent of an Information and Record
Clerk (43-4199) $44.74 x .25% = 11.185 ($11.19 rounded) ($11.19/
hour), for a total ($63.44+$11.19 = $74.63/hour).
\51\ A fraction of generator owners would be required to perform
the task on an ongoing basis, and the hours represent the whole body
of generator owners.
Table 1--Proposed Changes Due to Final Rule in Docket No. RD24-5-000 for EOP-012-2
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Number of
Reliability standard & Type and number of annual Total number Average number of burden
requirement entity responses of responses hours per response \50\ Total burden hours
per entity
(1).................. (2) (1) * (2) = (4).......................... (3) * (4) = (5)
(3)
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FERC-725S
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One Time Estimate--Years 1 and 2 EOP-012-2
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EOP-012-2........................ 1,210 (GO)........... 1 1,210 5 hrs., $373.15.............. 6,050 hrs., $451,511.5.
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Sub-Total for EOP-012-2 (one- ..................... ........... 1,210 5 hrs., $373.15.............. 6,050 hrs., $451,511.5.
time).
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Ongoing Estimate--Year 3 ongoing EOP-012-2
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EOP-012-2........................ 1,210 (GO)........... 1 1,210 2 hrs.\51\, $149.26.......... 2,420 hrs., $180,604.6.
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Sub-Total for EOP-012-2 ..................... ........... 1,210 2 hrs., $149.26.............. 2,420 hrs., $180,604.6.
(ongoing).
Sub-Total of ongoing burden ..................... ........... 404 ............................. 807 hrs., $60,226.41.
averaged over three years.
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Proposed Total Burden ..................... ........... 1,614 ............................. 6,857 hrs., $511,737.91.
Estimate of EOP-012-2.
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Changes to FERC 725S by RD24-5-000
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FERC-725S modification Current.............. Current Total change due to RD24-5-000
inventory............ inventory
(hours).............. (responses)
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Addition of EOP-012-2............ ..................... ........... +6,857 hrs., +1,614 responses.
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[[Page 103816]]
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.
Dated: December 13, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-30275 Filed 12-18-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P