Document ID: FERC-2010-0835-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals
Posted Date: 2010-06-21T04:00Z

[Federal Register: June 21, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 118)]
[Notices]               
[Page 35001-35003]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21jn10-58]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC10-725E-000]

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

June 15, 2010.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Energy.

[[Page 35002]]

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

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A) (2006), 
(Pub. L. No. 104-13), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the proposed 
information collection described below.

DATES: Comments in consideration of the collection of information are 
due 60 days after publication of this Notice in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be filed either electronically (eFiled) or in 
paper format, and should refer to Docket No. IC10-725E-000. Documents 
must be prepared in an acceptable filing format and in compliance with 
Commission submission guidelines at http://www.ferc.gov/help/
submission-guide.asp. eFiling instructions are available at: http://
www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. First time users must follow 
eRegister instructions at: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
eregistration.asp, to establish a user name and password before 
eFiling. The Commission will send an automatic acknowledgement to the 
sender's e-mail address upon receipt of eFiled comments. Commenters 
making an eFiling should not make a paper filing. Commenters that are 
not able to file electronically must send an original and two (2) paper 
copies of their comments to: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 
20426.
    Users interested in receiving automatic notification of activity in 
this docket may do so through eSubscription at http://www.ferc.gov/
docs-filing/esubscription.asp. In addition, all comments and FERC 
issuances may be viewed, printed or downloaded remotely through FERC's 
eLibrary at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp, by searching 
on Docket No. IC10-725E-000. For user assistance, contact FERC Online 
Support by e-mail at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or by phone at: (866) 
208-3676 (toll-free) or (202) 502-8659 for TTY.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Miller may be reached by e-
mail at DataClearance@FERC.gov, telephone at (202) 502-8415, and fax at 
(202) 273-0873.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected by the FERC-725E 
(OMB Control No. 1902-0246) is required to implement the statutory 
provisions of section 215 of the Federal Power Act (FPA) (16 U.S.C. 
824o). Section 215 of the FPA buttresses the Commission's efforts to 
strengthen the reliability of the interstate grid through the grant of 
new authority by providing for a system of mandatory Reliability 
Standards developed by the Electric Reliability Organization. 
Reliability Standards that the ERO proposes to the Commission may 
include Reliability Standards that are proposed to the ERO by a 
Regional Entity.\1\ A Regional Entity is an entity that has been 
approved by the Commission to enforce Reliability Standards under 
delegated authority from the ERO.\2\ On June 8, 2008 in an adjudicatory 
order, the Commission approved eight regional Reliability Standards 
submitted by the ERO that were proposed by the Western Electricity 
Coordinating Council (WECC).\3\
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    \1\ 16 U.S.C. 824o(e)(4).
    \2\ 16 U.S.C. 824o(a)(7) and (e)(4).
    \3\ 72 FR 33462, June 18, 2007.
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    WECC is responsible for coordinating and promoting electric system 
reliability. In addition to promoting a reliable electric power system 
in the Western Interconnection, WECC supports efficient competitive 
power markets, ensures open and non-discriminatory transmission access 
among members, and provides a forum for resolving transmission access 
disputes plus the coordination of operating and planning activities of 
its members. WECC and the eight other regional reliability councils 
were formed due to national concern regarding the reliability of the 
interconnected bulk power systems, the ability to operate these systems 
without widespread failures in electric service and the need to foster 
the preservation of reliability through a formal organization. The 
eight regional Reliability Standards are translations of existing 
reliability criteria and are now binding on the applicable subset of 
users, owners and operators of the Bulk Power System in the United 
States portion of the Western Interconnection. The Commission's 
reporting requirements are found in 18 CFR Part 40.
    The eight proposed Reliability Standards do not require responsible 
entities to file information with the Commission. However, the 
standards do require responsible entities to file periodic reports with 
WECC and to develop and maintain certain information for a specified 
period of time, subject to inspection by WECC. WECC-BAL-STD-002-0 
requires balancing authorities and reserve sharing groups to submit to 
WECC quarterly reports on operating reserves as well as reports after 
any instance of non-compliance. WECC-IRO-STD-006-0 requires 
transmission operators, balancing authorities and load-serving entities 
to document and report to WECC actions taken in response to direction 
to mitigate unscheduled flow. The standard also requires transmission 
operators to document required actions that are and are not taken by 
responsible entities. WECC-PRC-STD-001-1 requires certain transmission 
operators to submit to WECC annual certifications of protective 
equipment. WECC-PRC-STD-003-1 requires certain transmission operators 
to report to WECC any misoperation of relays and remedial action 
schemes. WECC-PRC-STD-005-1 requires certain transmission operators to 
maintain, in stated form, maintenance and inspection records pertaining 
to their transmission facilities. The standard also requires operators 
to certify to WECC that the operator is maintaining the required 
records. WECC-TOP-STD-007-0 requires certain transmission operators to 
submit to WECC quarterly reports on transfer capability data and 
compliance as well as reports after an instance of non-compliance. 
WECC-VAR-STD-002a-1 and WECC-VAR-STD-002b-1 require certain generators 
to submit quarterly reports to WECC on automatic voltage control and 
power system stabilizers. All of the foregoing regional Reliability 
Standards require the reporting entity to retain relevant data in 
electronic form for one year or for a longer period if the data is 
relevant to a dispute or potential penalty, except that WECC-PRC-STD-
005-1 requires retention of maintenance and inspection records for five 
years and retention of other data for four years.
    The Commission uses the data to participate in North American 
Electric Reliability Council's (NERC's) Reliability readiness reviews 
of balancing authorities, transmission operators and reliability 
coordinators in North America to determine their readiness to maintain 
safe and reliable operations. In addition, FERC's Office of Electric 
Reliability uses the data to engage in studies and other activities to 
assess the longer-term and strategic needs and issues related to power 
grid reliability.
    Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the 
FERC-725E reporting requirements, with no changes.
    Burden Statement: The estimated annual burden follows.

[[Page 35003]]

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                                                          Average number of    Average  burden
        FERC Data collection              Number of         reponses per         hours  per       Total burden
                                         respondents         respondent           response            hours
                                                   (1)                   (2)               (3)   (1) x (2) x (3)
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FERC-725E Reporting:
    Balancing Authorities...........                32                     1                20               640
    Generator Operators.............               196                     1                10              1960
    Load-Serving Entities...........               140                     1                10              1490
    Transmission Operators/Owners...                83    1-7 each (total of                40              3320
                                                                         83)
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    Record-keeping..................        Balancing Authorities             ................                64
                                              Generator Operators             ................               196
                                            Load-Serving Entities             ................               140
                                      Transmission Owners/Operators           ................               332
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                                                           Totals             ................               732
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7,410 Total Annual hours for the Information Collection: 7,410 
reporting hours + 732 recordkeeping = 8,142 hours.

    The Commission is seeking comments on the costs to comply with 
these requirements. It has projected the average annualized cost to be 
$918,480 as shown below:

Reporting = 7,410 hours @ $120/hour = $889,200, Recordkeeping = 732 
hours @ $40/hour = $29,280
Total Costs = Reporting ($889,200) + Recordkeeping ($29,280) = $918,480

    The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial 
resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, disclose, or provide 
the information including: (1) Reviewing instructions; (2) developing, 
acquiring, installing, and utilizing technology and systems for the 
purposes of collecting, validating, verifying, processing, maintaining, 
disclosing and providing information; (3) adjusting the existing ways 
to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; 
(4) training personnel to respond to a collection of information; (5) 
searching data sources; (6) completing and reviewing the collection of 
information; and (7) transmitting, or otherwise disclosing the 
information.
    The estimate of cost for respondents is based upon salaries for 
professional and clerical support, as well as direct and indirect 
overhead costs. Direct costs include all costs directly attributable to 
providing this information, such as administrative costs and the cost 
for information technology. Indirect or overhead costs are costs 
incurred by an organization in support of its mission. These costs 
apply to activities which benefit the whole organization rather than 
any one particular function or activity.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Commission, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology, e.g. permitting electronic submission of 
responses.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-14956 Filed 6-18-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P