Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Notice.
In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(a) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described below.
Comments on the collection of information are due April 21, 2006.
Copies of sample filings of the proposed collection of information can be obtained from the Commission's Web site (
Documents filed electronically via the Internet must be prepared in WordPerfect, MS Word, Portable Document Format, or ASCII format. To file the document, access the Commission's Web site at
All comments may be viewed, printed or downloaded remotely via the Internet through FERC's homepage using the eLibrary link. For user assistance, contact
Michael Miller may be reached by telephone at (202) 502–8415, by fax at (202) 273–0873, and by e-mail at
The information collected under the requirements of FERC–585 “Reporting of Electric Energy Shortages and Contingency Plans under PURPA” (OMB No. 1902–0138) is used by the Commission to implement the statutory provisions of section 206 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1979 (PURPA) Pub. L. 95–617, 92 Stat. 3117. Section 206 of PURPA amended the Federal Power Act (FPA) by adding a new subsection (g) to section 202, under which the Commission by rule, was to require each public utility to (1) report to the Commission and appropriate state regulatory authorities of any anticipated shortages of electric energy or capacity which would affect the utility's capability to serve its wholesale customers; and (2) report to the Commission and any appropriate state regulatory authority contingency plan that would outline what circumstances might give rise to for such occurrences.
In FERC Order No. 575 (60 FR 4859, January 25, 1995) the Commission modified the reporting requirements in 18 CFR 294.101(b) to provide that if a public utility includes in its rates schedule provisions that: (a) during electric energy and capacity shortages it will treat firm power wholesale customers without undue discrimination or preference; and (b) it will report any modifications to its contingency plan for accommodating shortages within 15 days to the appropriate state regulatory agency and to the affected wholesale customers, then the utility need not file with the Commission an additional statement of contingency plan for accommodating such shortages. This revision merely changed the reporting mechanism; the public utility's contingency plan would be located in its filed rate rather than in a separate document.
The Commission uses the information to evaluate and formulate appropriate an option for action in the event an unanticipated shortage is reported and/or materializes. Without this information, the Commission and State agencies would be unable to: (1) Examine and approve or modify utility actions, (2) prepare a response to anticipated disruptions in electric energy and (3) ensure equitable treatment of all public utility customers under the shortage situations. The Commission implements these filing requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR part 294.
Estimated cost burden to respondents is $27,704. (511 hours/2080 hours per year times $112,767 per year average per employee = $ 27,704). The cost per respondent is $3,958.
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