[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 197 (Thursday, October 10, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 82233-82236]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-23297]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC24-17-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725L) 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 725L (Mandatory Reliability Standards for 
the Bulk-Power System: MOD Reliability Standards). The 60-day notice 
comment period ended on September 27, 2024, and no comments were 
received.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due November 12, 
2024.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC-725L to OMB through 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB Control Number (1902-
0261) 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. IC24-17-000) 
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 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 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5a3c3f283935343633343f292f2a2a35282e1a3c3f2839743d352c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2f494a5d4c40414346414a5c5a5f5f405d5b6f494a5d4c01484059">[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: Kayla Williams may be reached by email 
at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#296d485d486a454c485b48474a4c696f6c7b6a074e465f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7337120712301f161201121d101633353621305d141c05">[email protected]</span></a>, telephone at (202) 502-6468.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: FERC-725L, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-
Power System: MOD Reliability Standards.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0261.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-725L information 
collection requirements with no changes to the reporting requirements.
    Abstract: MOD Reliability Standards ensure that generators remain 
in operation during specified voltage and frequency excursions, 
properly coordinate protective relays and generator voltage regulator 
controls, and ensure that generator models accurately reflect the 
generator's capabilities and equipment performance.
    On May 30, 2013, the North American Electric Reliability 
Corporation (NERC) filed a petition explaining that the reliability of 
the Bulk-Power System benefits from ``good quality simulation models of 
power system equipment,'' and that ``model validation ensures the 
proper performance of the control systems and validates the computer 
models used for stability analysis.'' NERC further stated that the 
Reliability Standards will enhance reliability because the tests 
performed to obtain model data may reveal latent defects that could 
cause ``inappropriate unit response during system disturbances.'' \1\ 
Subsequently, on March 20, 2014, the Commission approved Reliability 
Standards MOD-025-2, MOD-026-1, and MOD-027-1. These Standards were 
intended to address generator verifications needed to support Bulk-
Power System reliability that would also ensure that accurate data is 
verified and made available for planning simulations.\1\
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    \1\ Final Rule in Docket No. RM13-16-000.
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    On May 1, 2014,\2\ the Commission approved Reliability Standards 
MOD-032-1 and MOD-033-2. These Standards were to address ``system-level 
modeling data and validation requirements necessary for developing 
planning models and the Interconnection-wide cases that are integral to 
analyzing the reliability of the Bulk-Power System.''
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    \2\ NERC Petition for Approval of Five Proposed Reliability 
Standards MOD-025-2, MOD-026-1, MOD-027-1, PRC-019-1, and PRC-024-1 
submitted to FERC on 5/30/2013.
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    MOD-025-2, MOD-026-1, MOD-027-1, MOD-031-3, MOD-032-1, and MOD-033-
2 are all currently approved within the FERC-725L information 
collection. The reporting requirements associated with each standard 
will not change as a result of this extension request.

[[Page 82234]]

    Type of Respondents: NERC-registered entities including generator 
owners, transmission planners, planning authorities, balancing 
authorities, resource planners, transmission service providers, 
reliability coordinators, and transmission operators.\3\
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    \3\ In subsequent portions of this notice, the following 
acronyms will be used:
    PA = Planning Authority, GO = Generator Owner, TP = Transmission 
Planner, BA = Balancing Authority, RP = Resource Planner, TSP = 
Transmission Service Provider, RC = Reliability Coordinator, TOP = 
Transmission Operator.
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    Estimate of Annual Burden: \4\ The Commission estimates the annual 
public reporting burden \5\ and cost for the information collection as:
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    \4\ ``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, reference 5 CFR 1320.3.
    \5\ Each of the five MOD standards in the FERC-725L information 
collection previously contained ``one-time'' components to their 
respondent burden. These one-time burden categories consisted 
primarily of activities related to establishing industry practices 
and developing data validation procedures tailored toward these 
reliability standards and their reporting requirements. None of the 
one-time burdens apply any longer, so they are being removed from 
the FERC-725L information collection.

                                                                        MOD-025-2
          [Verification and data reporting of generator real and reactive power capability and synchronous condenser reactive power capability]
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                                                     Annual number
                                    Number of        of responses    Total number   Average burden & cost per  Total annual burden hours     Cost per
                                 respondents \6\    per respondent   of responses            response             & total annual cost     respondent ($)
                               (1)................             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4)......................  (3) * (4) = (5)..........       (5) / (1)
                                                                               (3)
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Verification and Data          1210 (GO)..........               1            1210  \7\ 6 hrs.; $463.74......  7,260 hrs.; $561,125.40..         $463.74
 Reporting (Attachment 2).
Evidence Retention...........  1210 (GO)..........               1            1210  \8\ 1 hr.; $39.58........  1210 hrs.; $47,891.80....           39.58
                              --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total....................  ...................  ..............  ..............  .........................  8,470 hrs.; $609,017.20..  ..............
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                                                                        MOD-026-1
                   [Verification of models and data for generator excitation control system or plant volt/variance control functions]
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                                                     Annual number
                                    Number of        of responses    Total number   Average burden & cost per  Total annual burden hours     Cost per
                                   respondents      per respondent   of responses            response             & total annual cost     respondent ($)
                               (1)................             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4)......................  (3) * (4) = (5)..........       (5) / (1)
                                                                               (3)
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Instructions for obtaining     203 (TP)...........               1             203  8 hrs.; $618.32..........  1,624 hrs.; $125,518.96..         $618.32
 excitation control system or
 plant voltage/variance
 control function model.
Documentation on generator     605 (GO)...........               1             605  8 hrs.; $618.32..........  4,840 hrs.; $374,083.60..          618.32
 verification.
Evidence Retention...........  808 (GO and TOP)...               1             808  1 hr.; $39.58............  808 hrs.; $31,948.32.....           39.58
                              --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total....................  ...................  ..............  ..............  .........................  7,272 hrs.; $531,550.88..  ..............
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                                                                        MOD-027-1
                   [Verification of models and data for turbine/governor and load control or active power/frequency control functions]
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                                                     Annual number
                                    Number of        of responses    Total number   Average burden & cost per  Total annual burden hours     Cost per
                                   respondents      per respondent   of responses            response             & total annual cost     respondent ($)
                               (1)................             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4)......................  (3) * (4) = (5)..........       (5) / (1)
                                                                               (3)
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Instructions for obtaining     203 (TP)...........               1             203  8 hrs.; $618.32..........  1,624 hrs.; $125,518.96..         $618.32
 excitation control system or
 plant voltage/variance
 control function model.
Documentation on generator     605 (GO) \9\.......               1             605  8 hrs.; $618.32..........  4,840 hrs.; $374,083.60..          618.32
 verification.
Evidence Retention...........  808 (GO and TP)....               1             808  1 hr.; $39.58............  808 hrs.; $31,980.64.....           39.58
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[[Page 82235]]

 
    Total....................  ...................  ..............  ..............  .........................  7,272 hrs.; $531,583.20..  ..............
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                                                MOD-031-3 (Demand and Energy Data), Included in FERC-725L
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                                                     Annual number
Reliability standard MOD-031-   Number and type of   of responses    Total number   Average burden & cost per  Total annual burden hours     Cost per
              3                    respondents      per respondent   of responses         response \10\           & total annual cost       respondent
                               (1)................             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4)......................  (3) * (4) = (5)..........       (5) / (1)
                                                                               (3)
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Develop summary in accordance  607 (DP, TP and/or                1             607  8 hrs.; $618.32..........  4,856 hrs.; $375,320.24..         $618.32
 with Requirement R1,           BA).
 Subparts 1.5.4 and 1.5.5.
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    New Total for MOD-031-3    ...................  ..............  ..............  .........................  4,856 hrs.; $375,320.24..  ..............
     for Renewal.
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                                                                        MOD-032-1
                   [Verification of models and data for turbine/governor and load control or active power/frequency control functions]
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                                                     Annual number
                                    Number of        of responses    Total number   Average burden & cost per  Total annual burden hours     Cost per
                                   respondents      per respondent   of responses            response             & total annual cost     respondent ($)
                               (1)................             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4)......................  (3) * (4) = (5)..........       (5) / (1)
                                                                               (3)
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Data Submittal...............  2,126 (BA, GO, PA/                1           2,126  8 hrs.; $618.32..........  17,008 hrs.;                      $618.32
                                PC, RP, TO, TP,                                                                 $1,314,548.32.
                                and TSP).
Evidence Retention...........  2,126 (BA, GO, PA/                1           2,126  1 hr.; $39.58............  2,126 hrs.; $84,147.08...           39.58
                                PC, RP, TO, TP,
                                and TSP).
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    Total....................  ...................  ..............  ..............  .........................  19,134 hrs.;               ..............
                                                                                                                $1,398,695.40.
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                                                             MOD-033-2 (Formerly MOD-033-1)
                                                   [Steady-state and dynamics system model validation]
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                                                     Annual number
                                    Number of        of responses    Total number   Average burden & cost per  Total annual burden hours     Cost per
                                   respondents      per respondent   of responses            response             & total annual cost     respondent ($)
                               (1)................             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4)......................  (3) * (4) = (5)..........       (5) / (1)
                                                                               (3)
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Data Submittal...............  177 (RC and TOP)...               1             177  8 hrs.; $618.32..........  1,416 hrs.; $109,442.64..         $618.32
Evidence Retention...........  239 (PA/PC, RC, and               1             239  1 hr.; $39.58............  239 hrs.; $9,459.62......           39.58
                                TOP).
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    New Total for MOD-033-2    ...................  ..............  ..............  .........................  1,655 hrs.; $118,902.26..  ..............
     Renewal.
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[[Page 82236]]

    The total annual estimated burden and cost for the FERC-725L 
information collection is 48,659 hours and $2,255,507.94 respectively.
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    \6\ The number of respondents for MOD-025-2/MOD-026-1/MOD-027-1/
MOD-31-3/MOD-032-/MOD-033-2 are from the NERC compliance registry 
April 16, 2024.
    \7\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) based on 
the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of 2023, for an Electrical 
Engineer (17-2071) $77.29/hr.
    \8\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) based on 
the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of 2023 Information and 
Record Clerk (43-4199) $39.58/hr.
    \9\ It is estimated that the applicable numbers of generator 
owner respondents used to calculate the public reporting burden for 
these standards MOD-026-1, MOD-027-1, MOD-031-3, MOD-032-1, and MOD-
033-1 is half of total numbers of GO (605=1210/2) due to the higher 
applicability threshold for those Reliability Standards.
    \10\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) based on 
the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of 2023, for an Electrical 
Engineer (17-2071) $77.29/hr.
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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: October 2, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-23297 Filed 10-9-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


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