[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 50 (Monday, March 17, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12308-12311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-04134]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC25-4-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725G); 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 collections, FERC 725G, Mandatory Reliability Standards for
the Bulk-Power System: Reliability Standard PRC standards; FERC-725G1,
Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System: Reliability
Standard PRC-004-6 (Protection System Mis-operation Identification and
Correction), FERC-725G4, Mandatory Reliability Standards: Reliability
Standard PRC-010-2 (Under Voltage Load Shedding) and 725P1, PRC-005-6
(Protection System, Automatic Reclosing, and Sudden Pressure Relaying
Maintenance). There are no changes made to the reporting requirements
for this information collection. The comment period ended on March 3,
2025, with no comments received.
DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due April 16,
2025.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC-725G to OMB through
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB Control Number (1902-
0252) 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. IC25-4-000) 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 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 methods: 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/ferc-online/overview.
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: In this information collection request, the
Commission is merging the FERC-725G1 (OMB Control No. 1902-0284), FERC-
725G4 (OMB Control No. 1902-0282) and FERC-725P1 (OMB Control No. 1902-
0280) into the FERC-725G (OMB Control No. 1902-0252).
FERC-725G1
Title: Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System:
Reliability Standard PRC-004-6.
OMB Control No.: 1902-0284.
Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-725G1 information
collection requirements.
Abstract: The Commission collects information under FERC-725G1 in
accordance with section 215 of the Federal Power Act (FPA) \1\ and 18
CFR parts 39 and 40. Section 215 of the FPA gives the Commission and
the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (as the Commission-
approved Electric Reliability Organization) to establish and enforce
reliability standards for all users, owners, and operators of the bulk-
power system.\2\ Once approved, the Reliability Standards may be
enforced by the Electric Reliability Organization subject to Commission
oversight, or by the Commission independently.\3\
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\1\ 16 U.S.C.824o.
\2\ As defined at 16 U.S.C. 824o(a)(1) and 18 CFR 39.1, the term
``bulk-power system'' means facilities and control systems necessary
for operating an interconnected electric energy transmission network
(or any portion thereof), and electric energy from generating
facilities needed to maintain transmission system reliability. The
term does not include facilities used in the local distribution of
electric energy.
\3\ 16 U.S.C. 824o(e).
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Reliability Standard PRC-004-6 requires transmission owners,
generator owners, and distribution providers to identify and correct
causes of mis-operations of certain protection systems for bulk-power
system elements. It also requires retention of evidence of mis-
operations for a minimum of 12 calendar months.
[[Page 12309]]
Types of Respondents: Transmission Owners, Generator Owners, and
Distribution Providers.
Frequency of Response: On occasion.
Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates 930 responses
annually, and per-response burdens of 16 hours and $1,130.72.\4\ The
total estimated burdens per year are 930 responses, 14,880 hours, and
$1,051,570 (rounded). These burdens are itemized in the following
table:
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\4\ Using the November 20, 2024, NERC compliance registration
information for entities that are Generator Owners, Transmission
Owners, and Distribution Providers (in the US), the number of
potential respondents is 1,861. However, not every entity will have
a mis-operation event during a year. Based on our previous
experience with this information collection, we are estimating that
approximately half of the 1,861 potential respondents annually will
have a reportable mis-operation, i.e., 930 (rounded) responses per
year for FERC-725G1.
\5\ 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 = $70.67/hour).
Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System: Reliability Standard PRC-004-6 (FERC-725G1)--Annual Estimates of Respondents' Burdens
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B. Annual
A. Number of number of C. Total E. Total annual burden hours & total annual F. Cost per
respondents responses per number of D. Average burden & cost per response \5\ cost respondent ($)
respondent responses
(column A x (column C x column D)......................... (column E /
column B) column A)
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930 1 930 16 hrs.; $1,130.72....................... 14,880 hrs.; $1,051,570 (rounded)............. $1,130.72
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FERC-725G4
Title: Mandatory Reliability Standards: Reliability Standard PRC-
010-2 (Under Voltage Load Shedding).
OMB Control No.: 1902-0282.
Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-725G4 information
collection requirements.\6\
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\6\ If OMB renews FERC-725G4, the Commission subsequently may
consider requesting that OMB combine that information collection
activity with FERC-725G1. Such action would be administrative only
and would not indicate the discontinuation of the information
collection requirements in FERC-725G4.
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Abstract: The Commission collects information under FERC-725G4 in
accordance with section 215 of the FPA and 18 CFR parts 39 and 40.
Reliability Standard PRC-010-2 requires respondents to submit date-
stamped documentation of their compliance with the relevant UVLS
Program.\7\
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\7\ ``Load shedding'' means disconnecting consumers from the
grid to prevent demand from exceeding supply, which can cause
widespread grid collapse. A ``UVLS Program'' provides for automatic
load shedding, utilizing voltage inputs, in specific circumstances
and locations.
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Types of Respondents: UVLS Entities.\8\
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\8\ ``UVLS Entities,'' as defined at the NERC website at https://www.nerc.com/pa/Stand/Reliability%20Standards/PRC-010-2.pdf, are
distribution providers and transmission owners responsible for the
ownership, operation, or control of UVLS equipment, as required by a
UVLS Program.
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Frequency of Response: On occasion.
Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates 25 responses
annually, and per-response burdens of 48 hours and $4,176.\9\ The total
estimated burdens per year are 25 responses, 1,200 hours, and $104,400.
These burdens are itemized in the following table:
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\9\ Using the November 20, 2024, NERC compliance registration
information for only unique US entities that are Transmission Owners
(325) and Distribution Providers (298), the number of potential
respondents is 623, considering overlap between functions. However,
not every entity has an under-voltage load shedding program.
Approximately five percent of the potential respondents have such a
program. Therefore, we estimate 31 (rounded) responses per year for
FERC-725G4.
Mandatory Reliability Standards: Reliability Standard PRC-010-2 (Under Voltage Load Shedding) (FERC-725G4)--Annual Estimates of Respondents' Burdens
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B. Annual
A. Number number of C. Total D. Average burden & cost per response E. Total annual burden hours & total annual F. Cost per
of responses per number of \10\ cost respondent
respondents respondent responses ($)
(column A x (column C x column D)......................... (column E /
column B) column A)
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31 1 31 48 hrs.; $3,392.16....................... 1,488 hrs.; $105,156.96....................... $3,392.16
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FERC-725P1
Title: Mandatory Reliability Standards: Reliability Standard PRC-
005-6 (Protection System, Automatic Reclosing, and Sudden Pressure
Relaying Maintenance).
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\10\ 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).
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OMB Control No.: 1902-0280.
Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-725P1 information
collection requirements.\11\
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\11\ If OMB renews FERC-725P1, the Commission subsequently may
consider requesting that OMB combine that information collection
activity with FERC-725G. Such action would be administrative only
and would not indicate the discontinuation of the information
collection requirements in FERC-725P1.
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Abstract: The Commission collects information under FERC-725P1 in
accordance with section 215 of the FPA and 18 CFR parts 39 and 40.
Reliability Standard PRC-005-6 requires that transmission and
generation protection systems affecting the reliability of the Bulk-
Power System are maintained and tested.
Types of Respondents: Distribution providers, generator owners and
transmission owners Entities.
Frequency of Response: On occasion.
Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates 1,861 responses
[[Page 12310]]
annually, and per-response burdens of 2 hours and $141.34.\12\ The
total estimated burdens per year are 1,861 responses, 3,722 hours, and
$263,033.74. These burdens are itemized in the following table:
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\12\ Using the November 20, 2024, NERC compliance registration
information for only unique US entities that are Distribution
Providers (298), generator owners (1,238) and transmission owners
(325). Therefore, we estimate 1,861 (rounded) responses per year for
FERC-725P1.
\13\ 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 = $70.67/hour).
Mandatory Reliability Standards: Reliability Standard PRC-005-6 (Protection System, Automatic Reclosing, and Sudden Pressure Relaying Maintenance) (FERC-
725P1)--Annual Estimates of Respondents' Burdens
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B. Annual
A. Number number of C. Total D. Average burden & cost per response E. Total annual burden hours & total annual F. Cost per
of responses per number of \13\ cost respondent
respondents respondent responses ($)
(column A x (column C x column D)......................... (column E /
column B) column A)
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325 (TO) 1 325 2 hrs.; $141.34.......................... 650 hrs.; $45,935.50.......................... $141.34
1,238 (GO) 1 1,238 2 hrs.; $141.34.......................... 2,476 hrs.; $174,978.92....................... 141.34
298 (DP) 1 298 2 hrs.; $141.34.......................... 596 hrs.; $42,119.32.......................... 141.34
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Total ............... 1,861 ......................................... 3,722 hr., 263,033.74......................... ..............
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725G1, 725G4 and 725P1 Merge back into 725G (1902-0252):
Abstract: On August 8, 2005, Congress enacted into law the
Electricity Modernization Act of 2005, which is Title XII, Subtitle A,
of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005).\14\ EPAct 2005 added a
new section 215 to the FPA, which required a Commission-certified
Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) 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.\15\
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\14\ Energy Policy Act of 2005, Pub. L. 109-58, Title XII,
Subtitle A, 119 Stat. 594, 941 (codified at 16 U.S.C. 824o).
\15\ 16 U.S.C. 824o(e)(3).
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The information collected by the FERC-725G is required to implement
the statutory provisions of section 215 of the Federal Power Act
(FPA).\2\ Section 215 of the FPA buttresses the Commission's efforts to
strengthen the reliability of the interstate bulk power grid.
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\16\ 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 = $70.67/hour).
Mandatory Reliability Standards: Reliability Standard for FERC-725G (1902-0252)--Annual Estimates of Respondents' Burdens
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F. Cost per
FERC-725G C. Total annual responses D. Total average burden & E. Total annual burden hours & respondent
cost per response \16\ total annual cost ($)
(column A x column B).......... (column C x column D)............ (column E /
column A)
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FERC-725-G1 Total PRC-004-6........ 930............................ 16 hrs.; $1,130.72............. 14,880 hrs.; $1,051,569.60....... $1,130.72
FERC-725-G4 Total PRC-010-2........ 31............................. 48 hrs.; 3,392.16.............. 1,488 hrs.; 105,156.96........... 3,392.16
FERC-725-P1 Total PRC-005-6........ 1,861.......................... 2 hrs.; 141.34................. 3,722 hr., 263,033.74............ 141.34
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Currently approved FERC-725G 11,367......................... ............................... 762,718.......................... ..............
Totals.
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FERC-725-G New Total........... 14,189......................... ............................... 782,808.......................... ..............
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The FERC-725G information collection currently contains the
reporting and recordkeeping requirements for the following (12)
Reliability Standards: PRC-002-4, PRC-004-6, PRC-005-6, PRC-006-5, PRC-
010-2, PRC-012-2, PRC-019-2, PRC-023-6, PRC-024-3, PRC-025-2, PRC-026-
2, and PRC-027-1.
PRC-002-4 Disturbance Monitoring and Reporting Requirements
The purpose is to have adequate data available to facilitate
analysis of Bulk Electric System (BES) Disturb.
PRC-005-6 Automatic Underfrequency Load Shedding
To document and implement programs for the maintenance of all
Protection Systems, Automatic Reclosing, and Sudden Pressure Relaying
affecting the reliability of the Bulk Electric System (BES) so that
they are kept in working order
PRC-006-5 Automatic Underfrequency Load Shedding
To establish design and documentation requirements for automatic
Underfrequency Load Shedding (UFLS) programs to arrest declining
frequency, assist recovery of frequency following underfrequency
[[Page 12311]]
events and provide last resort system preservation measures.
PRC-012-2 Remedial Action Schemes
To ensure that Remedial Action Schemes (RAS) do not introduce
unintentional or unacceptable reliability risks to the Bulk Electric
System (BES).
PRC-019-2 Coordination of Generating Unit or Plant
Capabilities, Voltage Regulating Controls, and Protection
The purpose is to verify coordination of generating unit Facility
or synchronous condenser voltage regulating controls, limit functions,
equipment capabilities and Protection System settings.
PRC-023-6 Transmission Relay Load-Ability
The purpose to verify coordination of generating unit Facility or
synchronous condenser voltage regulating controls, limit functions,
equipment capabilities and Protection System settings.
PRC-024-3 Generator Frequency and Voltage Protective Relay
Settings
The purpose to set protection such that generating resource(s)
remain connected during defined frequency and voltage excursions in
support of the Bulk Electric System (BES).
PRC-025-2 Generator Relay Load-Ability
The purpose is to set load-responsive protective relays associated
with generation Facilities at a level to prevent unnecessary tripping
of generators during a system disturbance for conditions that do not
pose a risk of damage to the associated equipment.
PRC-026-2 Relay Performance During Stable Power Swings
The purpose is to ensure that load-responsive protective relays are
expected to not trip in response to stable power swings during non-
Fault conditions.
PRC-027-1 Coordination of Protection Systems for Performance
During Faults
The purpose is to maintain the coordination of Protection Systems
installed to detect and isolate Faults on Bulk Electric System (BES)
Elements, such that those Protection Systems operate in the intended
sequence during Faults.
Each of these Reliability Standards have three components that
impose burden upon affected industry:
Requirements (e.g., denoted in each Reliability Standard as
R1, R2 . . .)
Measures (e.g., denoted in each Reliability Standard as M1, M2
. . .)
Evidence Retention
These three components can be reviewed for the Reliability
Standards in North American Electric Reliability Commission (NERC)
petitions in FERC's eLibrary system (http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp) or on NERC's own website (www.nerc.com).
Type of Respondents: Generator owners, Planning coordinators,
Distribution providers, and UFLS-only Distribution Providers.
Estimate of Annual Burden: \17\ Our estimates are based on the NERC
Compliance Registry Summary of Entities as of November 20, 2024.
According to the NERC compliance registry, and functions as of, which
indicates there are registered as GO, DP and TO entities. The
individual burden estimates are based on the time needed to gather
data, run studies, and analyze study results to design or update the
underfrequency load shedding programs. These are consistent with
estimates for similar tasks in other Commission approved standards.
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\17\ 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. See 5
CFR part 1320 for additional information on the definition of
information collection burden.
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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.
Dated: March 4, 2025.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2025-04134 Filed 3-14-25; 8:45 am]
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