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[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 49 (Thursday, March 13, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11852-11853]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6365]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[FERC Form-580]

Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments

March 10, 1997.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection and request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(a) 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public comment 
on the specific aspects of the information collection described below.

DATES: Consideration will be given to comments submitted on or before 
May 12, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be 
obtained from and written comments may be submitted to the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, Attn: Michael P. Miller, Information 
Services Division, ED-12.4, 888 First Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 
20426.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael P. Miller may be reached by 
telephone at (202) 208-1415, by fax at (202) 273-0873, and by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the 
requirements of FERC Form 580, ``Interrogatory on Fuel and Energy 
Purchase Practices'', Docket No. IN79-6, (OMB No. 1902-0137) is used by 
the Commission to implement the statutory provisions of the Federal 
Power Act (FPA). The FPA was amended by the Public Utility Regulatory 
Policies Act (Pub. L. 95-617) to require the Commission to review ``not 
less frequently than every two (2) years * * * of practices * * * to 
ensure efficient use of resources (including economical purchase and 
use of fuel and electric energy) * * *'' the purpose of this collection 
of information is to carry out this statutory mandate. The information 
will also be used to: (1) Evaluate fuel costs in individual rate 
filings; (2) review fuel costs passed through automatic fuel adjustment 
clauses, as determined during periodic compliance audits of utility 
books and records; and (3) to initiate Commission action under Section 
205(f)(3) of the FPA. The Commission's regulations require that a 
determination be made that wholesale rates are just and reasonable. To 
make this determination, it is necessary to investigate and analyze the 
different types of costs incurred in providing electric service. One 
such expense is fuel costs, which accounts for nearly two-thirds of the 
electric utility's total operating costs.
    To allay its concern that utilities lack incentives to minimize 
fuel costs, Congress directed the Commission to review utility fuel and 
energy purchase practices to insure that fuel costs are reasonable. To 
properly assess the effectiveness of utility fuel procurement programs 
it is necessary to address a wide range of issues that directly impact 
fuel expenses.
    The FERC Form 580 responses are made part of an integrated data 
base to examine issues raised in contested fuel costs proceedings. 
Information in the data base is used to make preliminary evaluations of 
fuel costs in applications for rate increases filed with the 
Commission. In addition, when fuel costs are contested in formal rate 
proceedings, the data provide the basis for more detailed analyses of 
the utility's fuel procurement practices.
    Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the 
current expiration date, with some changes to the existing collection 
of data. The form is being modified to ask questions concerning fuel 
tolling, fuel-by-wire, and fuel conversion agreements.
    Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this collection is 
estimated as:

[[Page 11853]]

                                                                                                                
                                                                   Annual number                                
                                                                   of responses   Average burden   Total annual 
                      Number of respondents                             per          hours per     burden hours 
                                                                    respondent       response                   
(1)                                                                          (2)             (3)  (1) x (2) x (3
                                                                                                               )
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
129.............................................................              .5            93.5           6,031
Every 2 yrs. 129................................................             1.0            93.5          12,061
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The estimated total cost to respondents is $301,550, (i.e. 6,031 
hours divided by 2,087 hours per year per full time employee multiplied 
by $104,350 per year per average employee equals $301,550). The cost 
per respondent is $2,338.
    The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial 
resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, disclose, or provide 
the information including: (1) Reviewing instructions; (2) developing, 
acquiring, installing, and utilizing technology and systems for the 
purposes of collecting, validating, verifying, processing, maintaining, 
disclosing and providing information; (3) adjusting the existing ways 
to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; 
(4) training personnel to respond to a collection of information; (5) 
searching data sources; (6) completing and reviewing the collection of 
information; and (7) transmitting, or otherwise disclosing the 
information.
    The estimate of cost for respondents is based upon salaries for 
professional and clerical support, as well as direct and indirect 
overhead costs. Direct costs include all costs directly attributable to 
providing this information, such as administrative costs and the cost 
for information technology. Indirect or overhead costs are costs 
incurred by an organization in support of its mission. These costs 
apply to activities which benefit the whole organization rather than 
any one particular function or activity.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed 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 of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology e.g. permitting electronic submission of 
responses.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-6365 Filed 3-12-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M
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