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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 250 (Tuesday, December 31, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 107138-107142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-31432]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC25-4-000]

Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725G); Comment 
Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments.

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[[Page 107139]]

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 collections, FERC 725G, Mandatory Reliability Standards for 
the Bulk-Power System: Regional Reliability Standard PRC standards; 
FERC-725G1, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System: 
Reliability Standard PRC-004-6 (Protection System Misoperation 
Identification and Correction), FERC-725G4, Mandatory Reliability 
Standards: Reliability Standard PRC-010-2 (Under Voltage Load Shedding) 
and 725P1, PRC-005-6 (Protection System, Automatic Reclosing, and 
Sudden Pressure Relaying Maintenance). There are no changes made to the 
reporting requirements for this information collection.

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

ADDRESSES: You may submit copies of your comments (identified by Docket 
No. IC25-4-000) 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, not in scanned or picture format.
     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 services: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Office of the Secretary, 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: In this information collection request, the 
Commission is merging the FERC-725G1 (OMB Control No. 1902-0284), FERC-
725G4 (OMB Control No. 1902-0282) and FERC-725P1 (OMB Control No. 1902-
0280) into the FERC-725G (OMB Control No. 1902-0252).

FERC-725G1

    Title: Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System: 
Reliability Standard PRC-004-6.
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    \1\ 16 U.S.C.824o.
    \2\ As defined at 16 U.S.C. 824o(a)(1) and 18 CFR 39.1, the term 
``bulk-power system'' means facilities and control systems necessary 
for operating an interconnected electric energy transmission network 
(or any portion thereof), and electric energy from generating 
facilities needed to maintain transmission system reliability. The 
term does not include facilities used in the local distribution of 
electric energy.
    \3\ 16 U.S.C. 824o(e).
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    OMB Control No.: 1902-0284.
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    \4\ Using the November 20, 2024, NERC compliance registration 
information for entities that are Generator Owners, Transmission 
Owners, and Distribution Providers (in the US), the number of 
potential respondents is 1,861. However, not every entity will have 
a misoperation event during a year. Based on our previous experience 
with this information collection, we are estimating that 
approximately half of the 1,861 potential respondents annually will 
have a reportable misoperation, i.e., 930 (rounded) responses per 
year for FERC-725G1.
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    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-725G1 information 
collection requirements.
    Abstract: The Commission collects information under FERC-725G1 in 
accordance with section 215 of the Federal Power Act (FPA) \1\ and 18 
CFR parts 39 and 40. Section 215 of the FPA gives the Commission and 
the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (as the Commission-
approved Electric Reliability Organization) to establish and enforce 
reliability standards for all users, owners, and operators of the bulk-
power system.\2\ Once approved, the Reliability Standards may be 
enforced by the Electric Reliability Organization subject to Commission 
oversight, or by the Commission independently.\3\
    Reliability Standard PRC-004-6 requires transmission owners, 
generator owners, and distribution providers to identify and correct 
causes of mis-operations of certain protection systems for bulk-power 
system elements. It also requires retention of evidence of 
misoperations for a minimum of 12 calendar months.
    Types of Respondents: Transmission Owners, Generator Owners, and 
Distribution Providers.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates 930 responses 
annually, and per-response burdens of 16 hours and $1,130.72.\4\ The 
total estimated burdens per year are 930 responses, 14,880 hours, and 
$1,051,570 (rounded). These burdens are itemized in the following 
table:

[[Page 107140]]

     Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System--Reliability Standard PRC-004-6 (FERC-725G1) Annual Estimates of Respondents' Burdens
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                                         B. Annual
                                         number of       C. Total number of      D. Average burden &     E. Total annual burden   F. Cost per respondent
      A. Number of respondents         responses per         responses          cost per response \5\     hours & total annual             ($)
                                        respondent                                                                cost
                                                        (column A x column B)                           (column C x column D)..    (column E / column A)
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930.................................               1                      930  16 hrs.; $1,130.72.....  14,880 hrs.; $1,051,570                $1,130.72
                                                                                                         (rounded).
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FERC-725G4

    Title: Mandatory Reliability Standards: Reliability Standard PRC-
010-2 (Under Voltage Load Shedding).
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0282.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-725G4 information 
collection requirements.\6\
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    \5\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is a 
combination based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of 
2024, for 75% of the average of an Electrical Engineer (17-2071) 
$79.31/hr., 79.31 x .75 = 59.4825 ($59.48-rounded) ($59.48/hour) and 
25% of an Information and Record Clerk (43-4199) $44.74/hr., $44.74 
x .25% = 11.185 ($11.19 rounded) ($11.19/hour), for a total ($59.48 
+ $11.19 = $70.67/hour).
    \6\ If OMB renews FERC-725G4, the Commission subsequently may 
consider requesting that OMB combine that information collection 
activity with FERC-725G1. Such action would be administrative only 
and would not indicate the discontinuation of the information 
collection requirements in FERC-725G4.
    \7\ ``Load shedding'' means disconnecting consumers from the 
grid to prevent demand from exceeding supply, which can cause 
widespread grid collapse. A ``UVLS Program'' provides for automatic 
load shedding, utilizing voltage inputs, in specific circumstances 
and locations.
    \8\ ``UVLS Entities,'' as defined at the NERC website at https://www.nerc.com/pa/Stand/Reliability%20Standards/PRC-010-2.pdf, are 
distribution providers and transmission owners responsible for the 
ownership, operation, or control of UVLS equipment, as required by a 
UVLS Program.
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    Abstract: The Commission collects information under FERC-725G4 in 
accordance with section 215 of the FPA and 18 CFR parts 39 and 40. 
Reliability Standard PRC-010-2 requires respondents to submit date-
stamped documentation of their compliance with the relevant UVLS 
Program.\7\
    Types of Respondents: UVLS Entities.\8\
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates 25 responses 
annually, and per-response burdens of 48 hours and $4,176.\9\ The total 
estimated burdens per year are 25 responses, 1,200 hours, and $104,400. 
These burdens are itemized in the following table:

   Mandatory Reliability Standards--Reliability Standard PRC-010-2 (Under Voltage Load Shedding) (FERC-725G4) Annual Estimates of Respondents' Burdens
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                                         B. Annual
                                         number of       C. Total number of      D. Average burden &     E. Total annual burden   F. Cost per respondent
      A. Number of respondents         responses per         responses          cost per response \10\    hours & total annual             ($)
                                        respondent                                                                cost
                                                        (Column A x Column B)                           (Column C x Column D)..    (Column E / Column A)
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31..................................               1                       31  48 hrs.; $3,392.16.....  1,488 hrs.; $105,156.96                $3,392.16
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FERC-725P1
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    \9\ Using the November 20, 2024, NERC compliance registration 
information for only unique US entities that are Transmission Owners 
(325) and Distribution Providers (298), the number of potential 
respondents is 623, considering overlap between functions. However, 
not every entity has an under-voltage load shedding program. 
Approximately five percent of the potential respondents have such a 
program. Therefore, we estimate 31 (rounded) responses per year for 
FERC-725G4.
    \10\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is a 
combination based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of 
2024, for 75% of the average of an Electrical Engineer (17-2071) 
$79.31/hr., 79.31 x .75 = 59.4825 ($59.48-rounded) ($59.48/hour) and 
25% of an Information and Record Clerk (43-4199) $44.74/hr., $44.74 
x .25% = 11.185 ($11.19 rounded) ($11.19/hour), for a total ($59.48 
+ $11.19 = $70.67/hour).
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    Title: Mandatory Reliability Standards: Reliability Standard PRC-
005-6 (Protection System, Automatic Reclosing, and Sudden Pressure 
Relaying Maintenance).
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0280.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-725P1 information 
collection requirements.\11\
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    \11\ If OMB renews FERC-725P1, the Commission subsequently may 
consider requesting that OMB combine that information collection 
activity with FERC-725G. Such action would be administrative only 
and would not indicate the discontinuation of the information 
collection requirements in FERC-725P1.
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    Abstract: The Commission collects information under FERC-725P1 in 
accordance with section 215 of the FPA and 18 CFR parts 39 and 40. 
Reliability Standard PRC-005-6 requires that transmission and 
generation protection systems affecting the reliability of the Bulk-
Power System are maintained and tested.
    Types of Respondents: Distribution providers, generator owners and 
transmission owners Entities.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates 1,861 responses 
annually, and per-response burdens of 2 hours and $141.34.\12\ The 
total estimated burdens per year are 1,861 responses, 3,722 hours, and 
$263,033.74. These burdens are itemized in the following table:
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    \12\ Using the November 20, 2024, NERC compliance registration 
information for only unique US entities that are Distribution 
Providers (298), generator owners (1,238) and transmission owners 
(325). Therefore, we estimate 1,861 (rounded) responses per year for 
FERC-725P1.

[[Page 107141]]

Mandatory Reliability Standards--Reliability Standard PRC-005-6 (Protection System, Automatic Reclosing, and Sudden Pressure Relaying Maintenance) (FERC-
                                                     725P1) Annual Estimates of Respondents' Burdens
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                                         B. Annual
                                         number of       C. Total number of      D. Average burden &     E. Total annual burden   F. Cost per respondent
      A. Number of respondents         responses per         responses          cost per response \13\    hours & total annual             ($)
                                        respondent                                                                cost
                                                        (Column A x Column B)                           (Column C x Column D)..    (Column E / Column A)
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325 (TO)............................               1                      325  2 hrs.; $141.34........  650 hrs.; $45,935.50...                  $141.34
1,238 (GO)..........................               1                    1,238  2 hrs.; $141.34........  2,476 hrs.; $174,978.92                  $141.34
298 (DP)............................               1                      298  2 hrs.; $141.34........  596 hrs.; $42,119.32...                  $141.34
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    Total...........................  ..............                    1,861  .......................  3,722 hr., 263,033.74..  .......................
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725G1, 725G4 and 725P1 Merge Back Into 725G (1902-0252)

    Abstract: On August 8, 2005, Congress enacted into law the 
Electricity Modernization Act of 2005, which is Title XII, Subtitle A, 
of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005).\14\ EPAct 2005 added a 
new section 215 to the FPA, which required a Commission-certified 
Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) to develop mandatory and 
enforceable Reliability Standards, which are subject to Commission 
review and approval. Once approved, the Reliability Standards may be 
enforced by the ERO subject to Commission oversight, or the Commission 
can independently enforce Reliability Standards.\15\
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    \13\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is a 
combination based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of 
2024, for 75% of the average of an Electrical Engineer (17-2071) 
$79.31/hr., 79.31 x .75 = 59.4825 ($59.48-rounded) ($59.48/hour) and 
25% of an Information and Record Clerk (43-4199) $44.74/hr., $44.74 
x .25% = 11.185 ($11.19 rounded) ($11.19/hour), for a total ($59.48 
+ $11.19 = $70.67/hour).
    \14\ Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law 109-58, Title XII, 
Subtitle A, 119 Stat. 594, 941 (codified at 16 U.S.C. 824o).
    \15\ 16 U.S.C. 824o(e)(3).
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    The information collected by the FERC-725G is required to implement 
the statutory provisions of section 215 of the Federal Power Act 
(FPA).\2\ Section 215 of the FPA buttresses the Commission's efforts to 
strengthen the reliability of the interstate bulk power grid.

Mandatory Reliability Standards--Reliability Standard for FERC-725G (1902-0252) Annual Estimates of Respondents'
                                                     Burdens
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                                                           D. Total     E. Total annual
                                  C. Total annual       average burden   burden hours &   F. Cost per respondent
          FERC-725G                  responses            & cost per      total annual             ($)
                                                        response \16\         cost
                                (Column A x Column B)                   (Column C x        (Column E / Column A)
                                                                         Column D).
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FERC-725-G1, Total PRC-004-6                      930  16 hrs.;         14,880 hrs.;                   $1,130.72
                                                        $1,130.72.       $1,051,569.60.
FERC-725-G4, Total PRC-010-2                       31  48 hrs.;         1,488 hrs.;                     3,392.16
                                                        $3,392.16.       $105,156.96.
FERC-725-P1, Total PRC-005-6                    1,861  2 hrs.; $141.34  3,722 hr.,                        141.34
                                                                         263,033.74.
Currently approved FERC-725G                   11,367  ...............  762,718........  .......................
 Totals.
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    FERC-725-G New Total....                   14,189  ...............  782,808........  .......................
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    The FERC-725G information collection currently contains the 
reporting and recordkeeping requirements for the following (12) 
Reliability Standards: PRC-002-4, PRC-004-6, PRC-005-6, PRC-006-5, PRC-
010-2, PRC-012-2, PRC-019-2, PRC-023-6, PRC-024-3, PRC-025-2, PRC-026-
2, and PRC-027-1.
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    \16\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is a 
combination based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of 
2024, for 75% of the average of an Electrical Engineer (17-2071) 
$79.31/hr., 79.31 x .75 = 59.4825 ($59.48-rounded) ($59.48/hour) and 
25% of an Information and Record Clerk (43-4199) $44.74/hr., $44.74 
x .25% = 11.185 ($11.19 rounded) ($11.19/hour), for a total ($59.48 
+ $11.19 = $70.67/hour).
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PRC-002-4 Disturbance Monitoring and Reporting Requirements

    The purpose is to have adequate data available to facilitate 
analysis of Bulk Electric System (BES) Disturb.

 PRC-005-6 Automatic Underfrequency Load Shedding

    To document and implement programs for the maintenance of all 
Protection Systems, Automatic Reclosing, and Sudden Pressure Relaying 
affecting the reliability of the Bulk Electric System (BES) so that 
they are kept in working order

 PRC-006-5 Automatic Underfrequency Load Shedding

    To establish design and documentation requirements for automatic 
Underfrequency Load Shedding (UFLS) programs to arrest declining 
frequency, assist recovery of frequency following underfrequency events 
and provide last resort system preservation measures.

 PRC-012-2 Remedial Action Schemes

    To ensure that Remedial Action Schemes (RAS) do not introduce 
unintentional or unacceptable reliability risks to the Bulk Electric 
System (BES).

 PRC-019-2 Coordination of Generating Unit or Plant 
Capabilities, Voltage Regulating Controls, and Protection

    The purpose is to verify coordination of generating unit Facility 
or synchronous condenser voltage regulating controls, limit functions,

[[Page 107142]]

equipment capabilities and Protection System settings.

 PRC-023-4 Transmission Relay Load-Ability

    The purpose to verify coordination of generating unit Facility or 
synchronous condenser voltage regulating controls, limit functions, 
equipment capabilities and Protection System settings.

 PRC-024-3 Generator Frequency and Voltage Protective Relay 
Settings

    The purpose to set protection such that generating resource(s) 
remain connected during defined frequency and voltage excursions in 
support of the Bulk Electric System (BES).

 PRC-025-2 Generator Relay Load-Ability

    The purpose is to set load-responsive protective relays associated 
with generation Facilities at a level to prevent unnecessary tripping 
of generators during a system disturbance for conditions that do not 
pose a risk of damage to the associated equipment.

 PRC-026-2 Relay Performance During Stable Power Swings

    The purpose is to ensure that load-responsive protective relays are 
expected to not trip in response to stable power swings during non-
Fault conditions.

 PRC-027-1 Coordination of Protection Systems for Performance 
During Faults

    The purpose is to maintain the coordination of Protection Systems 
installed to detect and isolate Faults on Bulk Electric System (BES) 
Elements, such that those Protection Systems operate in the intended 
sequence during Faults.
    Each of these Reliability Standards have three components that 
impose burden upon affected industry:

 Requirements (e.g., denoted in each Reliability Standard as 
R1, R2 . . .)
 Measures (e.g., denoted in each Reliability Standard as M1, M2 
. . .)
 Evidence Retention

    These three components can be reviewed for the Reliability 
Standards in North American Electric Reliability Commission (NERC) 
petitions in FERC's eLibrary system (http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp) or on NERC's own website (www.nerc.com).
    Type of Respondents: Generator owners, Planning coordinators, 
Distribution providers, and UFLS-only Distribution Providers.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: \17\ Our estimates are based on the NERC 
Compliance Registry Summary of Entities as of November 20, 2024. 
According to the NERC compliance registry, and functions as of, which 
indicates there are registered as GO, DP and TO entities. The 
individual burden estimates are based on the time needed to gather 
data, run studies, and analyze study results to design or update the 
underfrequency load shedding programs. These are consistent with 
estimates for similar tasks in other Commission approved standards.
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    \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.
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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: December 23, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-31432 Filed 12-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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