[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 31, 2025)] [Notices] [Pages 61392-61393] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2025-24093] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. IC26-4-000] Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-551) Comment Request; Extension AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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-551 (Reporting of Flow Volume and Capacity by Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines). There are no proposed changes to the record retention requirements. DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due March 2, 2026. ADDRESSES: Please submit comments via email to [email protected]. You must specify the Docket No. (IC26-4-000) and the FERC Information Collection number (FERC-551) in your email. If you are unable to file electronically, comments may be filed by USPS mail or by hand (including courier) delivery:Mail via U.S. Postal Service only, addressed to: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. Hand (including courier) delivery to: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852. Docket: To view comments and issuances in this docket, please visit https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/search. Once there, you can also sign-up for automatic notification of activity in this docket. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kayla Williams may be reached by email at [email protected], or by telephone at (202) 502-6468. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: FERC-551, Reporting of Flow Volume and Capacity by Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines. [[Page 61393]] OMB Control No.: 1902-0243. Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-551 information collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting requirements. Abstract: The Commission is authorized to facilitate price transparency in markets for the sale or transportation of natural gas in interstate commerce, regarding the public interest, the integrity of those markets, fair competition, and the protection of consumers. FERC- 551 uses the information provided by pipelines as part of its overall implementation of the statutory provisions of section 23 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), 16 U.S.C. 717t-2. More specifically, the Commission relies, in part, on section 23(a)(1) of the NGA, for authority to collect this information and uses the pipelines' FERC-551 postings as part of fulfilling the transparency provisions of section 23(a)(1) of the NGA. The data requirements for pipelines are listed the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR 284.13, reporting requirements for interstate pipelines. The Commission has directed that the data requirements under FERC-551 are to be posted on interstate pipelines' websites and provided in downloadable file formats, in conformity with 18 CFR 284.12. The posting requirements are based on the Commission's authority under section 23 of the NGA (as added by the Energy Policy Act of 2005), which provides, in relevant part, that the Commission may issue such rules as necessary and appropriate to provide for the dissemination of ``information about the availability and prices of natural gas at wholesale and in interstate commerce.'' \1\ This provision enhances the Commission's authority to ensure confidence in the Nation's natural gas markets. The Commission's market-oriented policies for the wholesale natural gas industry require that interested persons have broad confidence that reported market prices accurately reflect the interplay of legitimate market forces. Without confidence in the efficiency of price formation, the true value of transactions is very difficult to determine. Further, price transparency facilitates ensuring that jurisdictional prices are ``just and reasonable.'' \2\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ Section 23(a)(2) of the NGA, 15 U.S.C. 717t-2(a)(2) (2000 & Supp. V 2005). \2\ See sections 4 and 5 of the NGA, 15 U.S.C. 717c and 717d. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The posting of FERC-551 information occurs on a daily basis. The data must be available for download for not less than 90 days from the date of posting and must be retained by the pipeline for three years. Type of Respondents: Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines. Estimate of Annual Burden: \3\ The Commission estimates the total public reporting burden and cost for this information collection as follows: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ 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 1320.3. \4\ The hourly figure (wages plus benefits) is based on the average of the occupational categories for 2025 found on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm and http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm): --Management (Occupation Code 11-0000): $83.41. --Business (Occupation Code 13-0000): $55.13. --Financial (Occupation Code 13-2051):$68.56. These various occupational categories' wage (and benefits) figures are averaged and weighted equally, giving an average of $69.03/hour. The resulting wage figure is rounded to $69/hour for use in calculating wage figures in the FERC-551 renewal. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total annual Number of Annual number Total number Average burden burden hours & Burden hours & cost per respondents of responses of responses & cost per total annual respondent ($) per respondent response \4\ cost (1) (2) (1) * (2) = (4)............ (3) * (4) = (5) (5) / (1) (3) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 178 365 64,970 0.5 hours; 32,485 hrs.; 182.5 hrs.; $12,593. $34.50. $2,241,465. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 23, 2025. Carlos D. Clay, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2025-24093 Filed 12-30-25; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P