[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 21 (Wednesday, January 31, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6106-6107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01841]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC24-01-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC Form Nos. 2 
and 2-A); 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 (PRA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission 
or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved 
information collection, FERC Form No. 2 (Annual Report for Major 
Natural Gas Companies) and FERC Form No. 2-A (Annual Report for Non-
Major Natural Gas Companies), which will be submitted to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due March 1, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC Form Nos. 2 and 2-A to OMB 
through www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Attention: Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB Control 
Number (1902-0303) 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. IC24-01-000) 
by one of the following methods: Electronic filing through https://www.ferc.gov, is preferred.
    <bullet> Electronic Filing: Documents must be filed in acceptable 
native applications and print-to-PDF, but not in scanned or picture 
format.
    <bullet> 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, 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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cfa9aabdaca0a1a3a6a1aabcbabfbfa0bdbb8fa9aabdace1a8a0b9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="53353621303c3d3f3a3d36202623233c212713353621307d343c25">[email protected]</span></a>, 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: Jean Sonneman may be reached by email 
at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ce8aafbaaf8da2abafbcafa0adab8e888b9c8de0a9a1b8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0642677267456a63677467686563464043544528616970">[email protected]</span></a>, telephone at (202) 502-6362.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: No comments were received on the 60-day 
notice published on November 9, 2023 at 88 FR 77297.\1\
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    \1\ The 60-day notice published on November 9, 2023, 
inadvertently contained a burden table that did not reflect 2023 
updates. However, the estimates contained in the instant 30-day 
notice accurately reflect these updates. Parties should inform the 
Commission should they need additional time to respond to this 
notice beyond the 30 days provided.
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    Title: FERC Form No. 2, Annual Report for Major Natural Gas 
Companies; OMB Control No. 1902-0028.
    FERC Form No. 2-A, Annual Report for Non-Major Natural Gas 
Companies; OMB Control No. 1902-0030.
    OMB Control Nos.: 1902-0028, 1902-0030.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC Form Nos. 2 and 
2-A information collection requirements without a change to the current 
reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
    Abstract: Pursuant to sections 8, 10 and 14 of the Natural Gas Act 
(NGA), (15 U.S.C. 717g, 717i, and 717m), the Commission is authorized 
to conduct investigations and collect and record data, and to prescribe 
rules and regulations concerning accounts, records and memoranda as 
necessary or appropriate for purposes of administering the NGA. The 
Commission may prescribe a system of

[[Page 6107]]

accounts for jurisdictional companies and, after notice and opportunity 
for hearing, may determine the accounts in which particular outlays and 
receipts will be entered, charged or credited.
    The Commission collects FERC Form Nos. 2 and 2-A information as 
prescribed in 18 CFR 260.1 and 18 CFR 260.2. These forms provide 
information concerning a company's current performance, compiled using 
the Commission's Uniform System of Account (USofA).\2\ FERC Form No. 2 
is filed by ``Major'' natural gas companies that have combined natural 
gas transported or stored for a fee that exceeds 50 million Dekatherms 
in each of the three previous calendar years. FERC Form No. 2-A is 
filed by ``Non-Major'' natural gas companies that do not meet the 
filing threshold for the FERC Form No. 2 but have total gas sales or 
volume transactions that exceed 200,000 Dekatherms in each of the three 
previous calendar years.
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    \2\ See 18 CFR part 201 (Uniform System of Accounts Prescribed 
for Natural Gas Companies Subject to the Provisions of the Natural 
Gas Act).
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    The forms provide information concerning a company's financial and 
operational information. The forms contain schedules which include a 
basic set of financial statements: Comparative Balance Sheet, Statement 
of Income, Statement of Retained Earnings, Statement of Cash Flows, and 
the Statement of Comprehensive Income and Hedging Activities. 
Supporting schedules containing supplementary information are filed, 
including revenues and the related quantities of products sold or 
transported; account balances for various operating and maintenance 
expenses; selected plant cost data; and other information.
    The information collected assists the Commission in the 
administration of its jurisdictional responsibilities and is used by 
Commission staff, state regulatory agencies, customers, financial 
analysts and others in the review of the financial condition of 
regulated companies. The information is also used in various rate 
proceedings, industry analyses and in the Commission's, audit programs 
and as appropriate, for the computation of annual charges. The 
information is made available to the public, interveners and all 
interested parties to assist in the proceedings before the Commission. 
For financial information to be useful to the Commission, it must be 
understandable, relevant, reliable, and timely. The Form Nos. 2 and 2-A 
financial statements are prepared in accordance with the Commission's 
USofA and related regulations and provide data that enables the 
Commission to develop and monitor cost-based rates, analyze costs of 
different services and classes of assets, and compare costs across 
lines of business. The use of the USofA permits natural gas companies 
to account for similar transactions and events in a consistent manner, 
and to communicate those results to the Commission on a periodic basis. 
Comparability of data and financial statement analysis for a particular 
entity from one period to the next, or between entities, within the 
same industry, would be difficult to achieve if each company maintained 
its own accounting records using dissimilar accounting methods and 
classifications to record similar transactions and events.
    In summary, without the information collected in the forms, it 
would be difficult for the Commission to ensure, as required by the 
NGA, that a pipeline's rates remain just and reasonable, respond to 
Congressional and outside inquires, and make decisions in a timely 
manner.
    Type of Respondent: Major and Non-Major Natural Gas Companies.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: \3\ The Commission estimates the annual 
public reporting burden and cost \4\ for the information collection as 
shown in the following table:
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    \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 Code of Federal Regulations 1320.3.
    \4\ The Commission staff believes the FERC FTE (full-time 
equivalent) average cost for wages plus benefits is representative 
of the corresponding cost for the industry respondents. Based upon 
the FERC's 2023 average cost for salary plus benefits, the average 
hourly cost is $96/hour.
    \5\ Every figure in this column is rounded to the nearest 
dollar.

                                                           Renewal for FERC Form Nos. 2 and 2A
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                                                Annual number of
  Information collection        Number of        responses per     Total number of     Average burden & cost     Total annual burden     Annual cost per
      (FERC form No.)          respondents         respondent         responses            per response              hours & cost        respondent ($)
                                          (1)                (2)    (1) * (2) = (3)  (4).....................  (3) * (4) = (5)........     (5) / (1) \5\
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2.........................                106                  1                106  1,643 hrs.; $157,728....  174,158 hrs.;                     157,728
                                                                                                                $16,719,168.
2-A.......................                 78                  1                 78  267 hrs.; $25,632.......  20,826 hrs.; $1,999,296            25,632
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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.
    The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports 
meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission 
proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners, 
environmental justice communities, Tribal members and others, access 
publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For 
public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as 
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is 
encouraged to contact OPP at (202) 502-6595 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#98d7c8c8d8fefdeafbb6fff7ee"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0b445b5b4b6d6e7968256c647d">[email protected]</span></a>.

    Dated: January 24, 2024.
Debbie-Anne. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-01841 Filed 1-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


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