Document ID: FERC-2019-0744-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Rule
Title: Filing Process for Commission Forms
Posted Date: 2019-06-27T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 124 (Thursday, June 27, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 30620-30628]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-13588]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

18 CFR Parts 141 and 385

[Docket No. RM19-12-000; Order No. 859]

Revisions to the Filing Process for Commission Forms

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY:  The Commission is adopting eXtensible Business Reporting 
Language (XBRL) as the standard for filing the Commission Form Nos. 1, 
1-F, 2, 2-A, 3-Q electric, 3-Q natural gas, 6, 6-Q, 60, and 714. The 
use of XBRL will make the information in these forms easier for filers 
to submit and data users to analyze, and assist in automating 
regulatory filings. The Commission believes that transitioning from the 
current Visual FoxPro system to XBRL will decrease the costs, over 
time, of preparing the necessary data for submission and complying with 
future changes to filing requirements set forth by the Commission. In 
addition, the Commission is revising its regulations to require filers 
of Form No. 1-F to file their report in electronic media.

DATES: This rule is effective August 26, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Hudson (Technical Information), 
Office of Enforcement, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First 
Street NE, Washington, DC 20426, (202) 502-6620, 
Robert.Hudson@ferc.gov. Michael Chase, Office of General Counsel, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, 
DC 20426, (202) 502-6205, Michael.Chase@ferc.gov.

 
                                                               Paragraph
                                                                numbers
 
I. Background...............................................           2
II. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking...........................           3
III. Discussion.............................................           4
    A. Process for Implementing the XBRL-Based Solution.....           7
        1. Timeline and Structure...........................           7
        2. XBRL Taxonomy....................................          18
    B. Regulatory Text Revisions............................          26
IV. Information Collection Statement........................          27
V. Environmental Analysis...................................          36
VI. Regulatory Flexibility Act..............................          37
VII. Document Availability..................................          41
VIII. Effective Date and Congressional Notification.........          44
 

    1. The Commission is adopting eXtensible Business Reporting 
Language (XBRL) as the standard for filing the Commission's Form Nos. 
1, 1-F, 2, 2-A, 3-Q electric, 3-Q natural gas, 6, 6-Q, 60, and 714 (VFP 
Forms or Commission Forms). The Commission concludes that adoption of 
XBRL will make the information in these forms easier for filers to 
submit and data users to analyze, and assist in automating regulatory 
filings. The use of XBRL also will increase efficiency and decrease the 
costs, over time, of preparing the necessary data for submission and 
complying with future changes to filing requirements set forth by the 
Commission. In addition, the Commission is revising its regulations to 
require Form No. 1-F filers to file their report in electronic media 
pursuant to 18 CFR 385.2011.

I. Background

    2. Under the Commission's regulations, certain entities are 
required to report information to the Commission by filing one or more 
forms.\1\ Currently, this information is transmitted to the Commission 
using a Commission-distributed software application called Visual 
FoxPro (VFP). Each entity is required to gather its relevant financial 
and other data and enter the data into VFP on its own computer system. 
The entity then uses the VFP software to transmit the information to 
the Commission. Microsoft Corporation, the developer of the VFP 
software, no longer supports this application. As a result, on April 
25, 2015, the Commission issued an order announcing its intention to 
replace the current VFP filing format for the VFP Forms with an 
eXtensible Markup Language (XML)-based filing format.\2\ In the April 
2015 Order, the Commission stated that XML is the current industry 
standard for the submission of electronic data. In support of this 
proposed change, the Commission stated that the XML data format has 
significant advantages over other approaches because it is non-
proprietary and would establish a single standard for nearly all 
Commission forms, while also providing consistency with the 
Commission's current electronic tariff (eTariff) filings and the 
Electric Quarterly Report (EQR) systems.\3\ In the April 2015 Order, 
the Commission directed Commission staff to seek the assistance of the 
North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB) \4\ in the process of 
developing standards for the submission of the VFP Forms to the 
Commission.\5\ NAESB facilitated 18 meetings to discuss the 
transitioning of the forms to the XML process. In addition to these 
meetings, Commission staff analyzed different methods for

[[Page 30621]]

collecting forms information with other federal agencies.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See 18 CFR 141.1 (requiring annual filing of FERC Form No. 
1, Annual report of Major electric utilities, licensees and others); 
18 CFR 141.2 (requiring annual filing of FERC Form No. 1-F, Annual 
report for Nonmajor public utilities and licensees); 18 CFR 260.1 
(requiring annual filing of FERC Form No. 2, Annual report for Major 
natural gas companies); 18 CFR 260.2 (requiring annual filing of 
FERC Form No. 2-A, Annual report for Nonmajor natural gas 
companies); 18 CFR 141.400 and 18 CFR 260.300 (requiring quarterly 
filing of FERC Form No. 3-Q, Quarterly financial report of electric 
utilities, licensees, and natural gas companies); 18 CFR 357.2 
(requiring annual filing of FERC Form No. 6, Annual Report of Oil 
Pipeline Companies); 18 CFR 357.4 (requiring quarterly filing of 
FERC Form No. 6-Q, Quarterly report of oil pipeline companies); 18 
CFR 141.51 (requiring annual filing of FERC Form No. 714, Annual 
Electric Balancing Authority Area and Planning Area Report); and 18 
CFR 366.23 and 18 CFR 369.1 (requiring annual filing of FERC Form 
No. 60, Annual reports of centralized service companies).
    \2\ Electronic Filing Protocols for Commission Forms, 151 FERC ] 
61,025 (2015) (April 2015 Order).
    \3\ Id. P 5.
    \4\ NAESB serves as a forum for the development and promotion of 
standards for the wholesale and retail natural gas and electric 
industries. In response to the Commission's request on this matter, 
NAESB performed specific outreach to the oil pipeline industry to 
include participation from that sector.
    \5\ April 2015 Order, 151 FERC ] 61,025 at P 10.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

    3. On January 17, 2019, the Commission issued a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking in this proceeding, proposing to adopt XBRL as the standard 
for filing Commission Forms.\6\ The Commission stated that the XBRL 
standard includes all the advantages of the XML format, such as its 
non-proprietary nature, its efficient sharing of data across different 
information systems, and its ability to include identified proprietary 
formats (e.g., PDF, Microsoft Word, etc.), while also structuring the 
data with tags that utilize standard taxonomies to capture the inherent 
characteristics of the information as well as the value of the data.\7\ 
The Commission noted that the XBRL standard is required for filing 
forms by a number of other federal agencies, including the U.S. 
Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Energy, and the 
Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council.\8\ The Commission 
stated that XBRL is an international standard that enables the 
reporting of comprehensive, consistent, interoperable data that allows 
industry and other data users to automate submission, extraction, and 
analysis.\9\ The Commission also stated that the use of XBRL would 
facilitate the implementation of changes to its reporting requirements 
by enabling future changes without the need for costly development 
procedures.\10\ The Commission sought comment generally on the proposed 
transition from VFP to XBRL and specifically on the time period of 
historical VFP Form data that should be converted by the Commission to 
XBRL upon launch of the new XBRL system.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ Revisions to the Filing Process for Commission Forms, Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking, 166 FERC ] 61,027 (2019) (NOPR).
    \7\ Id. P 8.
    \8\ Id. P 9 & n.12.
    \9\ Id. P 9.
    \10\ Id. P 15.
    \11\ Id. P 20.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Discussion

    4. Nine commenters \12\ filed comments in response to the NOPR, 
broadly supporting the use of XBRL to replace the current software for 
filing Commission Forms. The commenters generally agree that using XBRL 
to file Commission Forms would be superior to the current VFP-based 
filing format or a customized XML-based format. No commenters provided 
any alternative to XBRL or opposed the Commission's proposal to replace 
VFP with XBRL as the standard for submitting Commission Forms. Based on 
the need to transition to a new filing format and the comments received 
in response to the NOPR, the Commission will adopt the XBRL standard 
for filing Commission Form Nos. 1, 1-F, 2, 2-A, 3-Q electric, 3-Q 
natural gas, 6, 6-Q, 60, and 714.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ American Gas Association (AGA); the Association of Oil Pipe 
Lines (AOPL); Donnelly Financial Solutions; the Edison Electric 
Institute (EEI); Interstate Natural Gas Association of America 
(INGAA); National Grid USA (National Grid); Systrends USA; 
Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC); and XBRL 
US, Inc. (XBRL US). In addition, the Midcontinent Independent System 
Operator, Inc. filed a motion to intervene in this proceeding.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    5. The Commission intends to make the data from the XBRL filings 
available to the public, as it does now for the VFP-filed Commission 
Forms, and provide a system that will allow for easier downloading of 
the data. The Commission will convert the XBRL data to a human-readable 
form for each company, similar to how the VFP Forms are currently 
published in the Commission's eLibrary system. The Commission also will 
create a database that parties can use to search the forms data and 
download the information.
    6. The Commission intends to proceed with the development and 
implementation of the XBRL standard using the following process. After 
publication of this final rule, the Commission will make available a 
draft of the XBRL taxonomy and other related documents. After public 
release of these items, Commission staff will convene technical 
conference(s) to discuss the taxonomy and other related documents, any 
technical concerns, and any issues related to the transition, including 
the implementation schedule. At the conclusion of the technical 
conference(s), the Commission will continue to collect comments. 
Following review of those comments, the Commission will issue an order 
adopting the final taxonomy, protocols, and an implementation guide, 
and establishing an implementation schedule. Industry participants will 
be afforded reasonable time to develop their software and the 
Commission will make available a platform for the testing of the 
filers' submissions.

A. Process for Implementing the XBRL-Based Solution

1. Timeline and Structure
a. Comments
    7. In providing support for the Commission's proposed use of XBRL 
for filing Commission Forms, the commenters raise issues for Commission 
consideration to ensure a smooth transition from VFP to XBRL, including 
recommendations for the timing of implementing XBRL as the standard and 
how much historical data the Commission should initially make available 
upon conversion to XBRL. In its comments, National Grid recommends that 
the Commission set at least one technical conference to obtain 
stakeholder input on any revisions that should be made to the 
Commission's XBRL software.\13\ AOPL requests that the implementation 
schedule allow time for sufficient technical conferences to ensure 
issues are adequately vetted and addressed.\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ National Grid Comments at 6.
    \14\ AOPL Comments at 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    8. AGA recommends that the Commission develop a compliance timeline 
and structure that are not burdensome to either filers or reviewers of 
the filings.\15\ AGA notes the Commission should provide sufficient 
time for software evaluation, development, contracting, implementation, 
and testing. EEI encourages the Commission to ensure that adequate time 
and resources are dedicated to implementing the new XBRL-based 
Commission Forms filing process and notes that the initial reporting 
period should afford some flexibility to account for unanticipated 
technical issues that may arise, including the ability to continue to 
use VFP, if necessary, and a willingness to provide extensions of time 
in case of unanticipated technical challenges.\16\ EEI states that this 
accommodation is needed because the NOPR does not contemplate a gradual 
phase-in of the XBRL system.\17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ AGA Comments at 2.
    \16\ EEI Comments at 4-5.
    \17\ Id. at 5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    9. National Grid urges the Commission to take expedited action to 
develop the XBRL system to minimize the use of the legacy VFP 
system.\18\ National Grid also recommends that the Commission implement 
a one-year safe harbor period to allow filing entities to use the 
legacy VFP software if problems are encountered with adopting the new 
format.\19\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ National Grid Comments at 3.
    \19\ Id. at 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    10. EEI requests that the Commission provide a minimum of 18 months 
from the final rule for the industry to develop and implement the new 
software.\20\ AGA recommends that the Commission adopt a two- to three-
year XBRL transition period, while also permitting early implementation 
for companies that can implement the XBRL system in

[[Page 30622]]

less time.\21\ To aid the XBRL transition, AGA suggests that a 
``staggered approach'' could be adopted in place of, or in addition to, 
a delayed mandate with early adoption process. Specifically, AGA 
proposes that the Commission select a date for pipelines to file their 
Form No. 2-As in the required XBRL filing format that falls after the 
date that the Form No. 2 filers are required to make their filings. AGA 
suggests that this staggered approach would allow the XBRL software 
vendors and service providers to better allocate resources to support 
the XBRL implementation for all companies.\22\ As an alternative to the 
two- to three-year extension of the compliance deadline, AGA suggests 
that the Commission establish a formal grace period, possibly for 30 
days, for all filings requiring the XBRL filing format during a two-
year phase-in period.\23\ In addition, AGA recommends that the 
Commission not require interested entities to use special software to 
access and view the filed financial data, rather suggesting that 
information filed with the Commission be accessible and readable. AGA 
states that interested persons should have the ability to download the 
information in PDF form or via other common electronic means.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ EEI Comments at 4-5.
    \21\ AGA Comments at 5.
    \22\ Id.
    \23\ Id. at 5-6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    11. Some commenters request that the Commission implement a testing 
period for the new XBRL standard. For example, AOPL states it 
anticipates its members will want opportunities to participate in a 
testing interface with the new XBRL filing method in advance of 
implementation.\24\ Similarly, EEI asks that the Commission provide 
filers with the opportunity to participate in testing the revisions to 
the filing process and the XBRL system itself, in advance of the 
technical conference(s), by providing as much additional information as 
possible to participants regarding its proposal to allow a more 
granular understanding of the XBRL process and system.\25\ XBRL US 
recommends that that the Commission provide guidance and training to 
filers.\26\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ AOPL Comments at 4.
    \25\ EEI Comments at 4.
    \26\ XBRL US Comments at 5-6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    12. AGA cautions the Commission that its members will not only need 
to determine how to comply with any new requirements, if applicable, 
but also potentially need to review the forms filed by the interstate 
pipelines from which the utilities receive service to ensure that the 
XBRL versions are accurate and consistent with historical data. AGA 
requests that the Commission afford customers and interested persons 
sufficient opportunity to review the filings, determine whether any 
substantive changes have been made, and raise concerns.\27\ AGA 
requests that the Commission not make any determination in this 
proceeding that would limit the ability of companies to use the 
Commission's forms for state compliance purposes. AGA notes that 
various state commissions have either adopted the forms for their own 
purposes or permit entities to file information at the state level 
consistent with the Commission's forms and methods to comply with state 
requirements.\28\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ AGA Comments at 5.
    \28\ Id. at 7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

b. Commission Determination
    13. As stated above, after publication of this final rule, the 
Commission will release a draft XBRL taxonomy and other related 
documents.\29\ Following the release of the draft taxonomy, the 
Commission will convene staff-led technical conference(s) to enable 
interested industry members, vendors, and the public to discuss and 
propose revisions to the draft taxonomy, along with other important 
components of the XBRL system. In response to comments by AGA, National 
Grid, AOPL, and EEI, the technical conference(s) will serve as the 
forum to discuss any issues related to the transition, including the 
implementation schedule, the idiosyncrasies of specific forms, how 
footnotes will be programmed, and how ``cellnotes'' will be treated in 
the conversion of historical VFP Form data. The Commission intends to 
provide a reasonable amount of time for issues to be vetted and 
addressed in the technical conference(s). At the conclusion of the 
technical conference process, the Commission will continue to solicit 
comments and, after reviewing those comments, the Commission will issue 
an order adopting the final taxonomy, protocols, implementation guide 
and other documents, and establishing an implementation schedule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ As explained in the NOPR, the use of XBRL results in the 
creation of a taxonomy. Taxonomies are files containing relevant 
business terminology, their meanings, their data types, 
relationships among terms, and the rules or formulas that files for 
submission must follow. NOPR, 166 FERC ] 61,027 at P 14. Taxonomies 
are not permanent documents, but rather are code that describes 
elements that can be used in other programs and software. The 
taxonomy contains all the information needed to create a form 
submission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    14. In response to comments by EEI and AGA concerning the 
compliance timeline and structure, the Commission plans to allow a 
reasonable period of time following the technical conference process 
for software evaluation, development, implementation and testing, while 
also attempting to minimize the burden on filers and reviewers of the 
filings, to the extent possible. However, as explained in the NOPR, 
because Microsoft Corporation no longer supports VFP, and its continued 
use has resulted in compatibility and maintenance difficulties for the 
Commission and some filers, the Commission will strive to fully 
transition to XBRL and retire VFP as soon as practicable. Given the 
importance of ensuring that the data collected through Commission Forms 
is uniform and available in the same format at the same time, we do not 
anticipate that a one-year safe harbor period to continue allowing 
filers to use the VFP software after the new XBRL system is 
implemented, as suggested by National Grid, will be warranted. 
Moreover, contrary to EEI's suggestion, we do not anticipate allowing 
the continued use of VFP after the implementation of XBRL. Following 
discussions at the technical conference(s), including about the 
implementation date for XBRL, the Commission will issue an order with 
the final implementation schedule and process. To the extent a filer 
encounters technical difficulties in filing Commission Forms using the 
new XBRL system after deployment, that filer will be free to seek an 
extension of time for compliance.
    15. In addition, as requested by AGA, AOPL, and EEI, the Commission 
plans to provide an opportunity for interested industry members to test 
a version of the XBRL system before implementing the new XBRL system. 
The technical conference(s) will be open to the public and the 
Commission encourages all interested entities, including vendors, to 
participate in the upcoming technical conference(s) and to test the 
system. We reiterate that in this proceeding we are not changing the 
information to be collected in Commission Forms. All information 
currently collected in Commission Forms will continue to be collected; 
however, where it will be collected and how it will be validated and 
displayed will change through the adoption of the XBRL system.\30\ We 
will

[[Page 30623]]

not require the use of special software to access the data and we will 
ensure there is the ability to download the information in a human-
readable form, as suggested by AGA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \30\ As stated in the NOPR, the proposed XBRL-based FERC Form 
Nos. 1, 1-F, and 3-Q electric will incorporate energy storage-
related data which the Commission required be submitted under Order 
No. 784, but had not been included in the VFP Forms due to the 
technical limitations of VFP addressed with this final rule. See 
Third-Party Provision of Ancillary Services; Accounting and 
Financial Reporting for New Electric Storage Technologies, Order No. 
784, 144 FERC ] 61,056 (2013). See also Accounting and Reporting 
Guidance for New Electric Storage Technologies, Docket No. AI14-1-
000, at 1-2 (Feb. 20, 2014). Other similar changes made to the data 
to be collected and reported in Commission Forms that have been 
previously approved by the Commission but that could not be reported 
due to the limitations of VFP, if any, will be included among the 
data collected using the new XBRL system.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    16. While recognizing XBRL US's recommendation that the Commission 
provide guidance and training to filers, the Commission will provide 
guidance on how to use the new XBRL-based filing system through 
documentation, but the Commission does not anticipate that it will 
itself provide training on the new system. Any guidance documents will 
be published online and made available in draft form for review before 
final publication.
    17. When the Commission receives the forms in XBRL format, it will 
make those forms available in a human-readable version, similar to how 
they are currently published in the Commission's eLibrary system. 
Therefore, an entity interested in reviewing forms after they have been 
submitted in XBRL will be able to do so. As a result, the Commission 
does not believe, contrary to AGA's request for additional time to 
review Commission Form submissions, that conversion to XBRL warrants 
more time to review these filings because the current proceeding is not 
changing the information collected in Commission Forms.
2. XBRL Taxonomy
a. Comments
    18. Most commenters emphasize their need for a comprehensive review 
of the proposed XBRL taxonomy prior to any technical conference(s). 
INGAA states it is crucial for the Commission to ensure adequate 
transition time once the taxonomy is finalized.\31\ EEI states it 
prefers that the taxonomy and mapping be predetermined for each form, 
noting that the current format of each form should dictate the common 
taxonomy and mapping for that form and that the footnotes to the 
financial statements also should be filed as a single block of 
text.\32\ AOPL suggests that the Commission develop a taxonomy that has 
all necessary customization to accommodate the unique requirements of 
the respective forms, including the Form Nos. 6 and 6-Q filed by oil 
pipelines.\33\ AOPL also states its members will be interested during 
the technical conferences in understanding how the draft taxonomy 
addresses tagging within footnotes and the ability to use ``cellnotes'' 
in Form Nos. 6 and 6-Q, and how they will be treated in the 
Commission's conversion of historical VFP Form data to XBRL.\34\ AOPL 
suggests that the Commission consider development of document and/or 
workbook templates that track the display of the existing Form Nos. 6 
and 6-Q for ease of reviewing form submissions and to help lessen the 
burden of XBRL implementation.\35\ Systrends USA requests that the 
Commission provide a submission portal so that third-party software can 
transfer the completed Commission Forms directly from an application to 
the Commission, similar to the end-user submission portal designed for 
EQR that uses a web service to upload the document.\36\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ INGAA Comments at 2.
    \32\ EEI Comments at 3.
    \33\ AOPL Comments at 3.
    \34\ Id. at 3-4.
    \35\ Id. at 4.
    \36\ Systrends USA Comments at 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    19. WUTC states that the Commission should be the leader in 
establishing a regulatory taxonomy, and suggests that development of 
any draft taxonomy be conducted in concert with the states and the 
National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), and 
include the capacity for state-specific data along with Commission-
based interstate operational and financial data.\37\ According to WUTC, 
without a Commission-developed taxonomy that incorporates state 
requirements, the states would be required to recreate new taxonomies 
which would not necessarily be readable by other state agencies.\38\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ WUTC Comments at 2-3.
    \38\ Id. at 2-3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    20. As to how much historical data should be converted to the new 
system to coincide with the launch, INGAA supports the NOPR's proposal 
to incorporate the prior three years of VFP Form data from the current 
VFP system.\39\ By contrast, EEI suggests that the transfer of 
historical data should be deferred entirely until after the successful 
launch of the XBRL system.\40\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \39\ INGAA Comments at 2.
    \40\ EEI Comments at 6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    21. With respect to the involvement of NAESB in the technical 
conference(s), INGAA supports the idea that NAESB be involved with the 
staff-led technical conference, as this will allow all interested 
industry members to discuss and propose revisions to the Commission's 
draft taxonomy in consultation with NAESB. INGAA notes that NAESB's 
involvement will also provide interested industry members with an 
opportunity to propose revisions to the Commission's draft taxonomy 
before it is finalized.\41\ However, EEI notes that, to the extent 
staff-led technical conference(s), or any other aspects of the 
implementation of XBRL are hosted or otherwise coordinated by NAESB, 
they should not be limited to NAESB members, nor should participants be 
required to pay fees to NAESB, in order to have input or the ability to 
vote on any proposals.\42\ EEI states that this will ensure that all 
stakeholders impacted by the proposal will have the opportunity to 
participate and provide comment on any proposal.\43\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \41\ INGAA Comments at 2.
    \42\ EEI Comments at 3-4.
    \43\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

b. Commission Determination
    22. The Commission plans to address all technical details of the 
XBRL system in its draft taxonomy and other documents released prior to 
the technical conference(s) to encourage input and discussion on their 
components and implementation. Accordingly, we find Systrends USA's 
comments requesting a submission portal \44\ and XBRL US's 
recommendation to use automated validation rules and implement a 
process to conduct public reviews of new taxonomy releases \45\ to be 
premature. If necessary, the Commission will address technical topics 
such as these during the technical conference(s). Future changes to the 
taxonomy and related code can be made under the Secretary of the 
Commission's delegated authority to make such changes.\46\ Before the 
Commission implements any such changes, notice of the proposed change 
will be provided sufficiently in advance to notify companies and 
provide them time to comply with the changes to the taxonomy and 
related code.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \44\ Systrends USA Comments at 1.
    \45\ XBRL US Comments at 5-6.
    \46\ In particular, Sec.  375.302(z) of the Commission's 
regulations authorizes the Secretary of the Commission or designee 
to ``[i]ssue instructions pertaining to allowable electronic file 
and document formats . . . and procedural guidelines for submissions 
via the internet, on electric media, or via other electronic 
means.'' 18 CFR 375.302(z).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    23. Regarding WUTC's suggestion that the development of any draft 
taxonomy be conducted in concert with state commissions and NARUC, the 
Commission encourages state utility commissions to participate in the 
technical conference(s). With respect to

[[Page 30624]]

WUTC's suggestion that the Commission's taxonomy incorporate state 
requirements, we do not plan to incorporate state requirements into the 
Commission-developed taxonomy. Incorporating a diverse array of state 
requirements into the Commission's taxonomy would lead to potential 
challenges and delays in implementing and maintaining the new system. 
However, XBRL is extensible in nature and filings can be created to 
meet particular state commission requirements without affecting the 
Commission's requirements. Furthermore, because the Commission is not 
revising the substance of the required filings, it does not need to 
take into account state compliance purposes in this proceeding, as 
suggested by AGA.
    24. With regard to converting historical data, the new XBRL system 
and the conversion of historical data to XBRL will be developed 
concurrently. Therefore, at this time, contrary to EEI's suggestion, 
the Commission does not anticipate deferring the transfer of historical 
data until after the XBRL system is launched. If the conversion of 
historical data delays the development of the new XBRL system, then the 
Commission may decide to defer the transfer of historical data until 
after the launch of the XBRL system.
    25. This proceeding will continue to be open to all interested 
industry members, vendors, and the public. The Commission directs its 
staff to initiate technical conference(s) and to lead the transition 
effort and welcomes input from all interested parties. The Commission 
appreciates the assistance and input that NAESB has provided to date in 
facilitating meetings to discuss the transition and sees value in 
continuing to work with NAESB and its members, as appropriate, to 
facilitate interaction with filers and users about the new XBRL system.

B. Regulatory Text Revisions

    26. With the exception of Form No. 1-F, current regulations already 
provide for the filing of Form Nos. 1, 2, 2-A, 3-Q electric, 3-Q 
natural gas, 6, 6-Q, 60, and 714 in electronic format according to the 
instructions for each form and filing. The Commission sees no need for 
further regulatory text changes pertaining to these forms. Upon 
completion of the technical conference process, however, the Commission 
will issue an order revising the filing format instructions for the 
forms to accord with the results of the technical conference(s). These 
instructions will cover only the format for making the electronic 
flings and will not include any revisions to the substance of the 
required filings, which the Commission will make when necessary in 
appropriate separate proceedings. By this final rule, the Commission is 
revising its regulations to require Form No. 1-F filers to submit Form 
No. 1-F in electronic format rather than filing an original and copies 
of the form on paper, as is currently required. The Commission is 
therefore revising Sec.  141.2(b)(1)(i) of the Commission's regulations 
\47\ and Rule 2011 of its Rules of Practice and Procedure \48\ to 
require Form No. 1-F filers to submit their reports using electronic 
media as prescribed in Rule 2011.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \47\ 18 CFR 141.2(b)(1)(i).
    \48\ 18 CFR 385.2011.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Information Collection Statement

    27. The collections of information for this final rule are being 
submitted to OMB for review under section 3507(d) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA).\49\ The PRA requires each federal agency to seek 
and obtain Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval before 
undertaking a collection of information directed to ten or more persons 
or contained in a rule of general applicability. OMB's regulations 
require approval of certain information collection requirements imposed 
by agency rules.\50\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \49\ 44 U.S.C. 3507(d).
    \50\ 5 CFR 1320.11.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    28. The Commission solicited public comments regarding the accuracy 
of the burden estimates and any suggested methods for minimizing 
respondents' burden. Specifically, the Commission asked that any 
revised burden or cost estimates submitted by commenters be supported 
by sufficient detail to understand how the estimates are generated. No 
comments were filed raising any objection to the burden estimates 
provided in the NOPR. Accordingly, we will use that same burden 
estimate in this final rule.
    29. The revisions in this final rule update the filing process for 
regulated entities required to file Commission Forms. The information 
collected in Commission Forms is required to be submitted to the 
Commission annually or quarterly under existing regulations and 
reporting requirements adopted under the Federal Power Act (FPA), the 
Natural Gas Act (NGA), the Interstate Commerce Act (ICA), and the 
Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005 (PUHCA 2005). Commission 
Forms would continue to be submitted to the Commission under these 
existing regulations and reporting requirements. The new and amended 
regulations and reporting requirements adopted in this final rule will 
require regulated entities to furnish the information collected in 
Commission Forms using tags in XBRL-Related Documents.\51\ The 
specified financial and operational information already is required to 
be collected and filed with the Commission pursuant to existing 
periodic and annual report requirements. Under this final rule, the 
information would need to be filed with the Commission using XBRL. The 
Commission anticipates that the revisions to the filing process for 
Commission Forms, once effective, would reduce ongoing regulatory 
burdens.\52\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \51\ XBRL-Related Documents for purposes of this rulemaking 
encompass documents, code, and any other file related to presenting 
information in XBRL that are part of the filing submission.
    \52\ 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 5 CFR 1320.3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    30. The collections of information related to this final rule 
include the following Commission Forms. FERC Form No. 1 (OMB Control 
No. 1902-0021), FERC Form No. 2 (OMB Control No. 1902-0028), and FERC 
Form No. 6 (OMB Control No. 1902-0022) prescribe the information that 
major electric utilities, licensees, and others; major natural gas 
companies; and oil pipeline companies, respectively, must disclose 
annually about their finances and operations. FERC Form No. 1-F (OMB 
Control No. 1902-0029) and FERC Form No. 2-A (OMB Control No. 1902-
0030) prescribe the information that nonmajor electric utilities and 
licensees; and nonmajor natural gas companies, respectively, must 
disclose annually about their finances and operations. FERC Form No. 3-
Q (OMB Control No. 1902-0205) prescribes information that electric 
utilities, licensees, and natural gas companies must disclose quarterly 
about their finances and operations. FERC Form No. 6-Q (OMB Control No. 
1902-0206) prescribes information that oil pipeline companies must 
disclose quarterly about their finances and operations. FERC Form No. 
714 (OMB Control No. 1902-0140) prescribes information that certain 
electric transmitting utilities operating balancing authority areas or 
planning areas are required to file annually. FERC Form No. 60 (OMB 
Control No. 1902-0215) prescribes information that centralized service 
companies must disclose annually about their finances and operations.
    31. The following estimates of reporting burden are related only to 
this

[[Page 30625]]

final rule and include the costs to comply with the Commission's 
directives in this final rule. The compliance burden estimates for the 
revisions to the filing process for Commission Forms are based on 
several assumptions and unique assessments for each form. However, all 
regulated entities required to submit Commission Forms would have to 
map the reporting information to the Commission's standard XBRL 
taxonomy and create a final submission file(s). We estimate that filers 
would incur the following average burden hours:
     XBRL Form Nos. 1, 1-F, 3-Q electric, 2, 2-A, 3-Q natural 
gas, 6, and 6-Q \53\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \53\ The internal burden hours for tagging Form Nos. 1 and 3-Q 
electric are combined because the annual information reported in 
Form No. 1 is a compilation of the information reported in the prior 
three quarters in Form Nos. 3-Q electric in addition to the fourth 
quarter. Similarly, we have combined the number of internal burden 
hours for tagging the Form Nos. 2 and 3-Q natural gas and the Form 
Nos. 6 and 6-Q, respectively, because the annual Form Nos. 2 and 6 
are based on a compilation of the information reported in the prior 
three quarters in Form Nos. 3-Q natural gas and 6-Q in addition to 
the fourth quarter.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    [cir] Burden hours to tag in XBRL:
    [ssquf] 100 hours to prepare and submit the first filing using 
XBRL; and
    [ssquf] 14 hours for each subsequent filing in XBRL.
     Form No. 60
    [cir] Burden hours to tag in XBRL:
    [ssquf] 20 hours to prepare and submit the first filing made in 
XBRL; and
    [ssquf] 3 hours for each subsequent filing.
     Form No. 714
    [cir] Burden hours to tag in XBRL:
    [ssquf] 15 hours to prepare and submit the first filing made in 
XBRL; and
    [ssquf] 2 hours for each subsequent filing.
    32. Public Reporting Burden: The Commission's burden estimates are 
for a one-time implementation of the transition to XBRL adopted in this 
final rule, and an ongoing estimate for maintenance of the XBRL 
reporting system. The following estimates of reporting burden are 
related only to this final rule and anticipate the costs to filers for 
compliance with the final rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \54\ The average burden and cost per response is calculated 
using the hourly wage figures described in detail below.
    \55\ Every figure in this column is rounded to the nearest 
dollar.
    \56\ There is no change to the internal burden hours for filing 
Form Nos. 3-Q electric, 3-Q natural gas, and 6-Q because the burden 
hours associated with these quarterly forms are included in the 
burden hours calculated for filing Form Nos. 1, 2, and 6.
    \57\ This total number of responses does not include the 
responses for Form Nos. 3-Q electric, 3-Q natural gas, or 6-Q 
because the burden hours for tagging Form Nos. 1, 2, and 6 include 
the number of hours required to tag the quarterly responses. The 
quarterly filings are generally a subset of the annual filings.

                                                                 RM19-12-000 Final Rule
                                                             One-Time Implementation Burden
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Annual  number
                                  Number of     of  responses   Total  number    Average  burden &    Total annual  burden hours  &    Annual  cost per
         Requirement             respondents         per        of  responses    cost per  response             cost \55\              respondent  ($)
                                                 respondent                             \54\
                                          (1)             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4)..................  (3) * (4) = (5)..............  (5) / (1)
                                                                          (3)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form No. 1...................             207               1             207  100 hrs.; $6,931.....  20,700 hrs.; $1,434,717......  $6,931.
Form No.1-F..................               5               1               5  100 hrs.; $6,931.....  500 hrs.; $34,655............  $6,931.
Form No. 3-Q electric........             212               3             636  No Change \56\.......  No Change....................  No Change.
Form No. 2...................              92               1              92  100 hrs.; $6,931.....  9,200 hrs.; $637,652.........  $6,931.
Form No. 2-A.................              73               1              73  100 hrs.; $6,931.....  7,300 hrs.; $505,963.........  $6,931.
Form No. 3-Q natural gas.....             165               3             495  No Change............  No Change....................  No Change.
Form No. 6...................             244               1             244  100 hrs.; $6,931.....  24,400 hrs.; $1,691,164......  $6,931.
Form No. 6-Q.................             244               3             732  No Change............  No Change....................  No Change.
Form No. 60..................              39               1              39  20 hrs.; $1,386.20...  780 hrs.; $54,062............  $1,386.20.
Form No. 714.................             176               1             176  15 hrs.; $1,039.65...  2,640 hrs.; $182,977.........  $1,039.65.
                              --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total for Implementation   ..............  ..............        \57\ 836  .....................  65,520 hrs.; $4,541,190......  ...................
     Burden.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                 RM19-12-000 Final Rule
                                                        Annual Ongoing System Maintenance Burden
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Annual  number
                                  Number of     of  responses   Total  number    Average  burden &    Total annual  burden hours  &    Annual  cost per
         Requirement             respondents         per        of  responses    cost per  response             cost \59\              respondent  ($)
                                                 respondent                             \58\
                                          (1)             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4)..................  (3) * (4) = (5)..............  (5) / (1)
                                                                          (3)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form No. 1...................             207               1             207  14 hrs.; $970.34.....  2,898 hrs.; $200,860.........  $970.34.
Form No.1-F..................               5               1               5  14 hrs.; $970.34.....  70 hrs.; $4,852..............  $970.34.
Form No. 3-Q electric........             212               3             636  No Change............  No Change....................  No Change.
Form No. 2...................              92               1              92  14 hrs.; $970.34.....  1,288 hrs.; $89,271..........  $970.34.
Form No. 2-A.................              73               1              73  14 hrs.; $970.34.....  1,022 hrs.; $70,835..........  $970.34.
Form No. 3-Q natural gas.....             165               3             495  No Change............  No Change....................  No Change.
Form No. 6...................             244               1             244  14 hrs.; $970.34.....  3,416 hrs.; $236,763.........  $970.34.
Form No. 6-Q.................             244               3             732  No Change............  No Change....................  No Change.
Form No. 60..................              39               1              39  3 hrs.; $207.93......  117 hrs.; $8,109.............  $207.93.

[[Page 30626]]

 
Form No. 714.................             176               1             176  2 hrs.; $138.62......  352 hrs.; $24,397............  $138.62.
                              --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total for Ongoing Burden.  ..............  ..............        \60\ 836  .....................  9,163 hrs.; $635,087.........  ...................
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission's estimates for the hourly wage figure (as related 
to the implementation and ongoing burden estimate) are based on the 
Bureau of Labor Statistics data (for the Utilities sector, at http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm, plus benefits information at 
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm). The salaries (plus 
benefits) for the eight occupational categories are:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \58\ The average burden and cost per response is calculated 
using the hourly wage figures described in detail below.
    \59\ Every figure in this column is rounded to the nearest 
dollar.
    \60\ This total number of responses does not include the 
responses for Form Nos. 3-Q electric, 3-Q natural gas, or 6-Q 
because the burden hours for tagging Form Nos. 1, 2, and 6 include 
the number of hours required to tag the quarterly responses. The 
quarterly filings are generally a subset of the annual filings.

 Management (Occupation Code: 11-0000): $94.28/hour
 Information Security Analysts (Occupation Code: 15-1122): 
$60.90/hour
 Legal (Occupation Code: 23-0000): $143.68/hour
 Office and Administrative Support: $41.34/hour
 Computer and Information Systems Manager (Occupation Code: 11-
3021): $96.51
 Management Analyst (Occupation Code: 13-1111): $63.32/hour
 Computer and Information Systems Analyst (Occupation Code: 15-
1120): $66.47/hour
 Accountants and Auditors (Occupation Code: 13-2011): $56.59/
hour

    The average hourly cost for all eight of these categories is 
calculated assuming the following weights in correspondence to effort 
applied by each respective occupation:

 Management (Occupation Code: 11-0000): 5%
 Information Security Analysts (Occupation Code: 15-1122): 5%
 Legal (Occupation Code: 23-0000): 5%
 Office and Administrative Support: 10%
 Computer and Information Systems Manager (Occupation Code: 11-
3021): 10%
 Management Analyst (Occupation Code: 13-1111): 5%
 Computer and Information Systems Analyst (Occupation Code: 15-
1120): 35%
 Accountants and Auditors (Occupation Code: 13-2011): 25%

    Overall, the average hourly cost uses the following calculation 
with all seven occupations and their respective weights included:

[($94.28/hour * 0.05) + ($60.90/hour * 0.05) + ($143.68/hour * 0.05) + 
($41.34/hour * 0.1) + ($96.51/hour * 0.1) + ($63.32/hour * 0.05) + 
($66.47/hour * 0.35) + ($56.59/hour * 0.25)] / 8 = $69.31.

    The number of responses related to both the implementation and 
ongoing burden is 836 responses.\61\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \61\ This total number of responses does not include the 
responses for Form Nos. 3-Q electric, 3-Q natural gas, or 6-Q 
because the burden hours for tagging Form Nos. 1, 2, and 6 include 
the number of hours required to tag the quarterly responses. The 
quarterly filings are generally a subset of the annual filings.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The implementation burden will be 65,520 hours for Year 1.
    The ongoing burden in Years 2 and 3 will be 9,163 hours per year.
    The responses and burden for Years 1-3 for both the implementation 
and ongoing burden are as follows:

836 responses/year;
[(65,520 hours for Year 1) + (9,163 hours for Year 2) + (9,163 hours 
for Year 3)] / 3 years = 27,949 hours/year (annual average for Years 1-
3).

    33. Out-of-pocket expenses: We estimate that filers would incur the 
following out-of-pocket expenses for software, consulting, or filing 
agent services in the Years 2 and 3 (following the first year of 
implementation):
     XBRL Form Nos. 1, 1-F, 3-Q electric, 2, 2-A, 3-Q natural 
gas, 6, and 6-Q:
    [cir] Out-of-pocket cost for software and filing agent services: 
$4,912 for each filing.
    [cir] Total out-of-pocket cost for software and filing agent 
services per year: (621 respondents) * ($4,912 for each filing) = 
$3,050,352.
     Form No. 60:
    [cir] Out-of-pocket cost for software and filing agent services: 
$982 for each filing.
    [cir] Total out-of-pocket cost for software and filing agent 
services per year: (39 respondents) * ($982 for each filing) = $38,298.
     Form No. 714
    [cir] Out-of-pocket cost for software and filing agent services: 
$737 for each filing.
    [cir] Total out-of-pocket cost for software and filing agent 
services per year: (176 respondents) * ($737 for each filing) = 
$129,712.
    34. Based on the number of filers we expect to be subject to the 
requirements, the number of filings that we expect those filers to make 
and the burden hours and out-of-pocket cost estimates described, we 
estimate that in total for all filers, the average yearly burden of the 
requirements over the first three years would be 27,949 internal hours 
per year and $2,145,575 in out-of-pocket expenses per year. This would 
be incurred by an average of 836 filers for an average yearly burden 
per filer of 33.4 internal hours and $2,566 in out-of-pocket expenses 
over Years 1-3.
    Titles: Form No. 1 (Annual Report of Major Electric Utilities, 
Licensees and Others); Form No. 1-F (Annual Report for Nonmajor Public 
Utilities and Licensees); Form No. 3-Q electric (Quarterly Financial 
Report of Electric Utilities, Licensees and Natural Gas Companies); 
Form No. 2 (Annual Report for Major Natural Gas Companies); Form No. 2-
A (Annual Report for Non-major Natural Gas Companies); Form No. 3-Q gas 
(Quarterly Financial Report of Electric Utilities, Licensees and 
Natural Gas Companies); Form No. 6 (Annual Report of Oil Pipeline 
Companies); Form No. 6-Q (Quarterly Financial

[[Page 30627]]

Report of Oil Pipeline Companies); Form No. 60 (Annual Reports of 
Centralized Service Companies); Form No. 714 (Annual Electric Balancing 
Authority Area and Planning Area Report).
    Action: Revision of Currently Approved Collections of Information.
    OMB Control Nos.: 1902-0021 (Form No. 1), 1902-0029 (Form No. 1-F), 
1902-0028 (Form No. 2), 1902-0030 (Form No. 2-A), 1902-0205 (Form No. 
3-Q), 1902-0022 (Form No. 6), 1902-0206 (Form No. 6-Q), 1902-0215 (Form 
No. 60), and 1902-0140 (Form No. 714).
    Respondents: Public utilities, licensees, interstate natural gas 
companies, oil pipeline companies, centralized service companies, 
Balancing Authorities, or other for profit and/or not for profit 
institutions.
    Frequency of Responses: Annually or quarterly.
    Necessity of the Information: The Commission requires that the 
information collected in Form Nos. 1, 1-F, 3-Q electric, 2, 2-A, 3-Q 
natural gas, 6, 6-Q, 60, and 714 be submitted in an updated electronic 
format that is compatible with current technology and ensures access to 
the information required to be collected.
    Internal Review: The Commission has reviewed the reporting 
requirements related to Commission Forms and made a determination that 
revising the filing process for Commission Forms will ensure the 
Commission has the necessary data to carry out its statutory mandates, 
while reducing unnecessary burden on industry. The Commission has 
assured itself, by means of its internal review, that there is 
specific, objective support for the burden estimate associated with the 
information requirements.
    35. Interested persons may obtain information on the reporting 
requirements by contacting the following: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426 [Attention: Ellen 
Brown, Office of the Executive Director, email: DataClearance@ferc.gov, 
phone: (202) 502-8663, fax: (202) 273-0873]. Please send comments 
concerning the collection of information and the associated burden 
estimates to the Commission, and to the Office of Management and 
Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 725 17th Street 
NW, Washington, DC 20503 [Attention: Desk Officer for the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission]. For security reasons, comments to OMB 
should be submitted by email to: oira_submission@omb.eop.gov. Comments 
submitted to OMB should include Docket Number RM19-2-000 and any 
related information collection and its respective OMB Control Number 
[Form No. 1 (1902-0021), Form No. 1-F (1902-0029), Form No. 2 (1902-
0028), Form No. 2-A (1902-0030), Form No. 3-Q (1902-0205), Form No. 6 
(1902-0022), Form No. 6-Q (1902-0206), Form No. 60 (1902-0215), and 
Form No. 714 (1902-0140)].

V. Environmental Analysis

    36. The Commission is required to prepare an Environmental 
Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement for any action that may 
have a significant adverse effect on the human environment.\62\ The 
Commission has categorically excluded certain actions from this 
requirement as not having a significant effect on the human 
environment.\63\ The actions taken in this final rule fall within the 
categorical exclusions in the Commission's regulations for rules 
regarding information gathering, analysis, and dissemination.\64\ 
Accordingly, no environmental assessment is necessary and none has been 
prepared for this rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \62\ Regulations Implementing the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969, Order No. 486, 52 FR 47897 (Dec. 17, 1987), FERC Stats. 
& Regs. ] 30,783 (1987) (cross-referenced at 41 FERC ] 61,284).
    \63\ 18 CFR 380.4.
    \64\ 18 CFR 380.4(a)(2)(ii) and 380.4(a)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

VI. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    37. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA) \65\ generally 
requires a description and analysis of proposed rules that will have 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
The Commission is not required to perform this sort of analysis if the 
proposed activities within the final rule would not have such an 
effect.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \65\ 5 U.S.C. 601-12.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    38. Approximately 212 electric utility, licensees, and other 
companies are required to file the Form Nos. 1 and 3-Q electric, or 
Form No. 1-F, and therefore are subject to the requirements adopted by 
this rule. Of those filers, the Commission estimates approximately 40 
will be small as defined by SBA regulations.\66\ Approximately 244 oil 
pipeline companies are required to file the Form Nos. 6 and 6-Q, and 
therefore are subject to the requirements of this final rule. Of those 
oil pipeline filers, the Commission estimates approximately 23 percent 
will be small, as currently defined for ``All Other Pipeline 
Transportation'' companies (NAICS code 486990) as a company that, in 
combination with its affiliates, has total annual receipts of $37.5 
million or less. Approximately 165 interstate natural gas pipelines are 
required to file the Form Nos. 2 and 3-Q natural gas, or Form No. 2-A, 
and therefore are subject to the requirements adopted by this rule. 
Most of the natural gas pipelines regulated by the Commission do not 
fall within the RFA's definition of a small entity, which is currently 
defined for natural gas pipelines (NAICS code 486210) as a company 
that, in combination with its affiliates, has total annual receipts of 
$27.5 million or less. For the year 2018, eleven companies not 
affiliated with larger companies had annual revenues in combination 
with its affiliates of $27.5 million or less and therefore could be 
considered a small entity under the RFA. This represents about seven 
percent of the total potential respondents that may have a significant 
burden imposed on them.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \66\ The small business size standards are provided in 13 CFR 
121.201. In 13 CFR 121.201, the SBA uses the North American Industry 
Classification System (NAICS) codes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    39. Approximately 39 holding companies currently file Form No. 60. 
Commission staff estimates that these companies are not likely to fall 
within the RFA's definition of small \67\ because holding companies of 
public utilities or natural gas pipelines are generally not small 
businesses. Finally, there are approximately 176 balancing authorities 
(NAICS code 221121) that are required to file Form No. 714. Of those 
balancing authorities, 33 percent (or approximately 58) are estimated 
to fall within the RFA's definition of small.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \67\ 5 U.S.C. 601(3) (citing to section 3 of the Small Business 
Act, 15 U.S.C. 632). Section 3 of the Small Business Act defines a 
``small business concern'' as a business that is independently owned 
and operated and that is not dominant in its field of operation. 15 
U.S.C. 632. The Small Business Size Standards component of the NAICS 
defines, for example, a small electric utility as one that, 
including its affiliates, is primarily engaged in the generation, 
transmission, and/or distribution of electric energy for sale and 
whose quantity of employees falls under a certain threshold 
dependent on the type of utility and its applicable NAICS code.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    40. Accordingly, the Commission finds that the revised requirements 
set forth in this final rule will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities, and no regulatory 
flexibility analysis is required.

VII. Document Availability

    41. In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the 
Federal Register, the Commission provides all interested persons an 
opportunity to view and/or print the contents of this document via the 
internet through FERC's Home Page (http://www.ferc.gov)

[[Page 30628]]

and in FERC's Public Reference Room during normal business hours (8:30 
a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time) at 888 First Street NE, Room 2A, 
Washington DC 20426.
    42. From FERC's Home Page on the internet, this information is 
available on eLibrary. The full text of this document is available on 
eLibrary in PDF and Microsoft Word format for viewing, printing, and/or 
downloading. To access this document in eLibrary, type the docket 
number excluding the last three digits of this document in the docket 
number field.
    43. User assistance is available for eLibrary and the FERC's 
website during normal business hours from FERC Online Support at 202-
502-6652 (toll free at 1-866-208-3676) or email at 
ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or the Public Reference Room at (202) 502-
8371, TTY (202)502-8659. Email the Public Reference Room at 
public.referenceroom@ferc.gov.

VIII. Effective Date and Congressional Notification

    44. These regulations are effective August 26, 2019. Pursuant to 
the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs has designated this rule as not a 
``major rule,'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects

18 CFR Part 141

    Electric power, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

18 CFR Part 385

    Administrative practice and procedure, Electric power, Penalties, 
Pipelines, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    By the Commission.

    Issued: June 20, 2019.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
    In consideration of the foregoing, the Commission amends parts 141 
and 385 of chapter I, title 18 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as 
follows.

PART 141--STATEMENTS and REPORTS (SCHEDULES)

0
1. The authority citation for part 141 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 79; 15 U.S.C. 717-717z; 16 U.S.C. 791a-
828c, 2601-2645; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 42 U.S.C. 7101-7352.2.

0
2. Amend Sec.  141.2 by revising paragraph (b)(1)(i) to read as 
follows:

Sec.  141.2  FERC Form No. 1-F, Annual report for Nonmajor public 
utilities and licensees.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) Generally. Each Nonmajor and each Nonoperating (formerly 
designated as Nonmajor) public utility and licensee as defined in Part 
101 of this chapter, shall prepare and file with the Commission FERC 
Form No. 1-F as prescribed in Sec.  385.2011 of this chapter and as 
indicated in the General Instructions set out in this form, and must be 
properly completed and verified. Filing on electronic media pursuant to 
Sec.  385.2011 of this chapter is required.
* * * * *

PART 385--RULES OF PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

0
3. The authority citation for part 385 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 551-557; 15 U.S.C. 717-717w, 3301-3432; 16 
U.S.C. 791a-825v, 2601-2645; 28 U.S.C. 2461; 31 U.S.C. 3701, 9701; 
42 U.S.C. 7101-7352, 16441, 16451-16463; 49 U.S.C. 60502; 49 App. 
U.S.C. 1-85 (1988); 28 U.S.C. 2461 note (1990); 28 U.S.C. 2461 note 
(2015).

0
4. Amend Sec.  385.2011 by adding paragraph (a)(8) and revising 
paragraph (c)(3) to read as follows:

Sec.  385.2011  Procedures for filing on electronic media (Rule 2011).

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (8) FERC Form No. 1-F, Annual report for Nonmajor public utilities 
and licensees.
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (3) With the exception of the FERC Form Nos. 1, 1-F, 2, 2-A, 6, 60, 
and 714, the electronic media must be accompanied by the traditional 
prescribed number of paper copies.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2019-13588 Filed 6-26-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P