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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 3, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 95765-95768]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-28248]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC25-1-000]

Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-519, FERC-520, 
FERC-546, and FERC-580) 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 collection, FERC-519, (Application under Federal Power Act 
Section 203); FERC-520, (Application for Authority to Hold interlocking 
Directorate positions; FERC-546, (Certification of Qualifying Facility 
(QF) Status for a Small Power Production or Cogeneration Facility); 
FERC-580, (Interrogatory on Fuel and Energy Purchase Practices). The 
above four collections are a part of a combined notice only and are not 
being combined into one OMB Collection number.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due February 3, 
2025.

ADDRESSES: You may submit copies of your comments (identified by Docket 
No. IC25-1-000) 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 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, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852.
    Instructions: All 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 
[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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kayla Williams may be reached by email 
at [email protected], telephone at (202) 502-6468.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. FERC-519

    Title: FERC-519, Application under Federal Power Act Section 
203.\1\
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    \1\ 16 U.S.C. 824b.
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    OMB Control No.: 1902-0082.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-519 information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting 
requirements.
    Abstract: The Commission requires that public utility officers must 
seek authorization under amended section 203(a)(1)(B) of the Federal 
Power Act (FPA) to merge or consolidate, directly or indirectly, its 
facilities subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission, or any part 
thereof, with the facilities of any other person, or any part thereof, 
that are subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission and have a value 
in excess of $10 million, by any means whatsoever. In addition, as 
required by the Act, the Commission establishes a requirement to submit 
a notification filing for mergers or consolidations by a public utility 
if the facilities to be acquired have a value in excess of $1 million 
and such public utility is not required to secure Commission 
authorization under amended section 203(a)(1)(B). The information 
collected under the FERC-519 enables the Commission to meet its 
statutory responsibilities regarding public utility disposition, 
merger, consolidation of facilities, purchase, or acquisition oversight 
and enforcement in accordance with the FPA as referenced above. Without 
this information, FERC would be unable to meet these responsibilities. 
The required information includes descriptions of corporate attributes 
of the party or parties to the proposed transaction (e.g., a sale, 
lease, or other disposition, merger, or consolidation of facilities, or 
purchase of other acquisition of the securities of a public utility and 
the facilities or other property involved in the transaction), 
statements about effect of the transaction, and the applicant's proof 
that the transaction will be consistent with the public interest. It 
will enable the Commission to meet its statutory responsibilities 
regarding its FPA section 203 oversight of public utility dispositions, 
mergers, or consolidation of facilities, and associated oversight and 
enforcement responsibilities under the FPA as referenced above. The 
required information to be collected in the notification filing 
(established by the addition of 18 CFR part 33.12) for certain 
transactions includes descriptions of corporate attributes of the party 
or parties to the transaction and the facilities involved. FPA section 
203 requires a filing on the occasion that a public utility proposes to 
dispose of jurisdictional facilities, merge such facilities, or acquire 
the securities of another public utility. Public Utilities consist of:
     Corporate;
     Information Technology Management;
     General Accounting;
     Personnel and Payroll;
     Transportation;
     Tariffs and Rates;
     Insurance;
     Operations and Maintenance;
     Plant and Depreciation;
     Purchase and Stores;
     Revenue Accounting and Collection;
     Tax;

[[Page 95766]]

     Treasury; and
     Miscellaneous.
    Type of Respondents: Public utility officers regulated by the FPA.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: \2\ The Commission estimates the total 
annual burden and cost \3\ for this information collection as follows:
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    \2\ ``Burden'' is 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 Title 5 Code of Federal Regulations 1320.3.
    \3\ Commission staff estimates that the industry's skill set and 
cost (for wages and benefits) for FERC-520 are approximately the 
same as the Commission's average cost. The FERC 2024 average salary 
plus benefits for one FERC full-time equivalent (FTE) is $207,786/
year (or $100/hour).

                                                                    FERC-519--Application Under Federal Power Act Section 203
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                                                     Annual number
                                        Number of     of responses    Total number of       Average burden & cost per       Total annual burden hours (total annual     Cost per respondent ($)
                                       respondents   per respondent      responses                   response                                cost)
                                               (1)              (2)    (1) * (2) = (3)  (4)..............................  (3) * (4) = (5)..........................  (5) / (1)
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FERC-519 (FPA Section 203 Filings)             134                1                134  324.43 hr.\5\; $32,443...........  43,473.62 hrs.; $4,347,362...............  $32,443.
 \4\.
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2. FERC-520
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    \4\ Commission staff estimates that approximately 26 section 203 
filings will change from full section 203 filings to the 
notification filing described above and will take one burden hour to 
complete. The number of respondents and responses is based on 
Commission staff's estimate that 13 percent of the approximately 200 
section 203 filings received will be affected. This represents a 
significant reduction in burden hours.
    \5\ With this amendment each of the 26 affected entities and 
their related filings (i.e., the entities that now only have to file 
the section 203 notification filings) is reduced to 1 hour.
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    Title: FERC-520, Application for Authority to Hold Interlocking 
Directorate Positions.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0083.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-520 information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting 
requirements.
    Abstract: FERC Form No. 520 is an application requesting FERC 
authorization for officers and directors of regulated public utilities 
to simultaneously hold positions of officers and directors of certain 
other entities. Section 305(b)(1) of the Federal Power Act (FPA) \6\ 
prohibits the holding of specific interlocking positions unless the 
Commission has authorized the holding of such interlocks upon a 
determination that neither public nor private interests will be 
adversely affected.
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    \6\ 16 U.S.C. 825d(b)(1).
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    FERC-520 consists of three information collection activities. A 
``full application,'' in accordance with 18 CFR 45.8, provides detailed 
information about the positions for which authorization is sought, 
including a description of duties. Submission of a more streamlined 
``informational report,'' in accordance with 18 CFR 45.9, is a 
condition for an automatic grant of authorization to hold interlocking 
directorates. This automatic authorization is available only to certain 
types of officers and directors. Finally, a ``notice of change,'' in 
accordance with 18 CFR 45.5, is required within 60 days after an 
officer or director resigns or withdraws from Commission-authorized 
interlocked positions or if the applicant is not re-elected or 
reappointed to the interlocked position. However, no notice of change 
is required if the only change is: (1) a resignation or withdrawal from 
fewer than all position held between or among affiliated public 
utilities; (2) a reelection or reappointment to a position that was 
previously authorized; or (3) holding a different or additional 
interlocking position that would qualify for automatic authorization 
under 18 CFR 45.9.
    Type of Respondents: Officers and directors of public utilities 
seeking authorization to hold interlocking directorates.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 7 The Commission estimates 
the total annual burden and cost \8\ for this information collection as 
follows:
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    \7\ ``Burden'' is 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 Title 5 Code of Federal Regulations 1320.3.
    \8\ Commission staff estimates that the industry's skill set and 
cost (for wages and benefits) for FERC-520 are approximately the 
same as the Commission's average cost. The FERC 2024 average salary 
plus benefits for one FERC full-time equivalent (FTE) is $207,786/
year (or $100/hour).

                                                         FERC-520--Application for Authority To Hold Interlocking Directorate Positions
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                                                        B. Annual
                                       A. Number of     number of        C. Total number of       D. Average burden & cost per    E. Total annual burden hours & total
                                        respondents   responses per           responses                     response                          annual cost                F. Cost per respondent
                                                        respondent
                                       ............  ...............     (Column A x Column B)                                   (Column C x Column D)................     (Column E / Column A)
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Full Application.....................            16                1                        16  50 hrs.; $4,350................  800 hrs.; $69,600....................                    $4,350
Informational Report.................           500                1                       500  8 hrs.; $696...................  4,000 hrs.; $348,000.................                       696
Notice of Change.....................           100                1                       100  0.25 hrs.; $21.75..............  25 hrs.; $2,175......................                     21.75
    Totals...........................           616              N/A                       616  N/A............................  4,825 hrs.; $419,775.................                       N/A
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3. FERC-546

    Title: FERC-546, Certificated Rate Filings: Gas Pipeline Rates.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0155.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-546 information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting 
requirements.
    Abstract: The Commission reviews the FERC-546 materials to decide 
whether to approve rates and tariff changes associated with an 
application for a certificate under Natural Gas Act

[[Page 95767]]

(NGA) section 7(c) (15 U.S.C. 717). Additionally, FERC reviews FERC-546 
materials in NGA section 4(f) (15 U.S.C. 717), storage applications, to 
evaluate an applicant's market power and determine whether to grant 
market-based rate authority to the applicant. The Commission uses the 
information in FERC-546 to monitor jurisdictional transportation, 
natural gas storage, and unbundled sales activities of interstate 
natural gas pipelines and Hinshaw \9\ pipelines. In addition to 
fulfilling the Commission's obligations under the NGA, the FERC-546 
enables the Commission to monitor the activities and evaluate 
transactions of the natural gas industry, ensure competitiveness, and 
improve efficiency of the industry's operations. In summary, the 
Commission uses the information to:
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    \9\ Hinshaw pipelines are those that receive all out-of-state 
gas from entities within or at the boundary of a state if all the 
natural gas so received is ultimately consumed within the state in 
which it is received, 15 U.S.C. 717(c). Congress concluded that 
Hinshaw pipelines are ``matters primarily of local concern,'' and so 
are more appropriately regulated by pertinent state agencies rather 
than by FERC. The Natural Gas Act section 1(c) exempts Hinshaw 
pipelines from FERC jurisdiction. A Hinshaw pipeline, however, may 
apply for a FERC certificate to transport gas outside of state 
lines.
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     ensure adequate customer protections under NGA section 
4(f);
     review rate and tariff changes filed under NGA section 
7(c) for certification of natural gas pipeline transportation and 
storage services;
     provide general industry oversight; and
     supplement documentation during the pipeline audits 
process.
    Failure to collect this information would prevent the Commission 
from monitoring and evaluating transactions and operations of 
jurisdictional pipelines and performing its regulatory functions.
    Type of Respondents: Jurisdictional pipeline companies and storage 
operators.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: \10\ The Commission estimates the burden 
and cost for this information collection as follows:
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    \10\ ``Burden'' is 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 Title 5 Code of Federal Regulations 
1320.3.

                                                                    FERC-546 (Certificated Rate Filings: Gas Pipeline Rates)
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                                          Annual      Annual number    Total number of
                                         number of     of responses       responses          Average burden & cost per      Total annual burden hours & total annual    Cost per respondent ($)
                                        respondents   per respondent      (rounded)             response (rounded)                       cost (rounded)                        (rounded)
                                                (1)              (2)    (1) * (2) = (3)  (4).............................  (3) * (4) = (5)..........................  (5) / (1)
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Pipeline Certificate Filings and                 48           \11\ 1                 48  500 hrs.; $50,000...............  24,000 hrs.; $2,400,000..................  $50,000.
 Storage Applications.
Project Area Labor Wage \12\.........            16                1                 16  15 hrs; $1,500..................  240 hrs; $24,000.........................  15 hrs: $1,500.
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4. FERC-580
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    \11\ This figure was calculated by dividing the total number of 
responses (111) by the total number of respondents (83). The 
resulting figure was then rounded to the nearest thousandth place.
    \12\ Project-Area Wage Standards in the Labor Cost Component of 
Cost-of-Service Rates under Docket No. PL24-1-000 was issued on 
March 21, 2024, which allows jurisdictional entities to include 
wages consistent with project-area standards in cost-of-service 
rates filed with the Commission where the record supports that 
outcome.
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    Title: FERC Form 580: Interrogatory on Fuel and Energy Purchase 
Practices Pursuant to Section 205 of the Federal Power Act.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0137.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC Form 580 with no 
substantive changes to the current reporting requirements. 
Administrative changes to update the form are being made, as described 
below.
    Abstract: The Commission collects FERC Form 580 information every 
other year as required under Section 205(f)(2) of the FPA,\13\ which 
provides that the Commission must review, ``not less frequently than 
every 2 years,'' practices under automatic adjustment clauses 
(AACs).\14\ As required by FPA section 205(f)(2), the Commission uses 
the information collected through the FERC Form 580 interrogatory to 
review utility purchase and cost recovery practices under AACs in order 
to ensure efficient use of resources.\15\ The Commission uses the 
information to evaluate costs in individual rate filings and to 
supplement periodic utility audits. The public also uses the 
information in this manner. Without the FERC Form 580 interrogatory, 
the Commission would not have the requisite information available to 
conduct the necessary review the FPA mandates.
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    \13\ 16 U.S.C. 824d.
    \14\ An automatic adjustment clause is a provision of a rate 
schedule which provides for increases or decreases (or both), 
without prior hearing, in rates reflecting increases or decreases 
(or both) in costs incurred by an electric utility.
    For additional information on AACs, see the Frequently Asked 
Questions (FAQs) and Desk Reference for FERC Form 580 on the 
Commission's website.
    \15\ By using the data in FERC Form 580, the Commission is able 
to review utility purchase and cost recovery practices and ensure 
the resources are in compliance with Commission regulations in 18 
CFR 35.14.
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    Type of Respondents: The filing must be submitted by all FERC-
jurisdictional utilities owning and/or operating at least one steam-
electric generating station of 50 MW or greater capacity or having a 
majority ownership interest in a jointly-owned steam-electric 
generating station of at least 50 MW. A jurisdictional utility without 
a cost-based tariff on file with the Commission is not required to file 
the form.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the annual \16\ 
public reporting burden \17\ and cost \18\ for the information 
collection as:
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    \16\ The FERC Form 580 interrogatory is conducted every two 
years.
    \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 1320 for additional information on the definition of information 
collection burden.
    \18\ Commission staff estimates that the industry's skill set 
and cost (for wages and benefits) for FERC-520 are approximately the 
same as the Commission's average cost. The FERC 2024 average salary 
plus benefits for one FERC full-time equivalent (FTE) is $207,786/
year (or $100/hour).

[[Page 95768]]

                  FERC Form 580 (Interrogatory on Fuel and Energy Purchase Practices Pursuant to Section 205 of the Federal Power Act)
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                                              Annual number                                                                                 Annual cost
                                 Number of     of responses    Total number of    Average burden & cost     Total annual burden hours &   per respondent
                                respondents   per respondent      responses            per response              total annual cost              ($)
                                        (1)              (2)    (1) * (2) = (3)  (4)....................  (3) * (4) = (5)...............       (5) / (1)
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Respondents with FACs \19\...            24              0.5                 12  103 hrs.; $10,300......  1,236 hrs.; $123,600..........          $5,150
Respondents with AACs, but no            12              0.5                  6  20 hrs.; $2,000........  120.0 hrs.; $12,000...........           1,000
 FACs.
Respondents with no AACs and              4              0.5                  2  2 hrs.; $200...........  4.0 hrs.; $400................             100
 no FACs.
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    Total....................  ............  ...............                 20  .......................  1,360.0 hrs.; $136,000........  ..............
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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.
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    \19\ Fuel Adjustment Clause (FAC).

    Dated: November 25, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-28248 Filed 12-2-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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