[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 79 (Thursday, April 24, 2014)] [Notices] [Pages 22811-22812] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2014-09342] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. RD14-2-000] Proposed Agency Information Collection AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE. ACTION: Comment request. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is submitting the information collection in Docket No. RD14-2-000 to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review of the information collection requirements. Any interested person may file comments directly with OMB and should address a copy of those comments to the Commission as explained below. The Commission issued a Notice in the Federal Register (79 FR 4894, 1/ 30/2013) requesting public comments. FERC received no comments in response to that notice and has made this notation in its submission to OMB. DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due by May 27, 2014. ADDRESSES: Comments filed with OMB, identified by the docket number, should be sent via email to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs: [email protected]. Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Desk Officer. The Desk Officer may also be reached via telephone at 202-395-4718. A copy of the comments should also be sent to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, identified by the Docket No. RD14-2-000, by either of the following methods:eFiling at Commission's Web site: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in accordance with submission guidelines at: http://www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp. For user assistance contact FERC Online Support by email at [email protected], or by phone at: (866) 208-3676 (toll-free), or (202) 502-8659 for TTY. 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 http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/docs-filing.asp. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at [email protected], by telephone at (202) 502-8663, and by fax at (202) 273-0873. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collection in Docket No. RD14-2-000 relates to the FERC-approved revision to the definition of bulk electric system, developed by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC).\1\ The approved revision modifies the definition of bulk electric system in response to Commission directives in Order Nos. 773 and 773-A, as well as some other clarifying revisions.\2\ The information collection requirements contained in the definition of bulk electric system are contained in FERC-725J (OMB Control Number 1902-0259). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ North American Electric Reliability Corp., 146 FERC ] 61,199 (2014) (March 2014 Order). \2\ Revisions to Electric Reliability Organization Definition of Bulk Electric System and Rules of Procedure, Order No. 773, 141 FERC ] 61,236 (2012); order on reh'g, Order No. 773-A, 143 FERC ] 61,053 (2013), order on reh'g and clarification, 144 FERC ] 61,174. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- On December 20, 2012, the Commission issued Order No. 773, a Final Rule approving NERC's modifications to the definition of ``bulk electric system'' and the Rules of Procedure exception process to be effective July 1, 2013. On April 18, 2013, in Order No. 773-A, the Commission largely affirmed its findings in Order No. 773. In Order Nos. 773 and 773-A, the Commission directed NERC to modify the definition of bulk electric system in two respects: (1) Modify the local network exclusion (exclusion E3) to remove the 100 kV minimum operating voltage to allow systems that include one or more looped configurations connected below 100 kV to be eligible for the local network exclusion; and (2) modify the exclusions to ensure that generator interconnection facilities at or above 100 kV connected to bulk electric system generators identified in inclusion I2 are not excluded from the bulk electric system. In its December 13, 2013 Petition, NERC proposed revisions to respond to the Commission directives in Order Nos. 773 and 773-A. In addition, NERC revised inclusion I4 to include the collector system at the point of aggregation.\3\ Therefore, the estimates for this information collection are based on the three modifications approved in the March 2014 Order. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ The bulk electric system definition components consist of the core definition, five inclusions and four exclusions. NERC does not propose any changes to the core definition, inclusion I3 or exclusion E2. The proposed changes chiefly affect exclusions E1 and E3 and inclusion I4. NERC also made minor clarifying changes to inclusions I1, I2, and I5 and exclusion E4. These minor changes do not affect the information collection and reporting requirements approved in Order Nos. 773 and 773-A. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Commission estimates a modest decrease in information collection and reporting that would result from implementing the proposed revisions to the definition of bulk electric system. Specifically, the Commission estimates a decrease in information collection and reporting that would result from implementing NERC's proposed revisions to the definition of bulk electric system. The estimate is derived in NERC's alternative proposal in addressing the Commission's concern regarding low voltage looped configurations. NERC explains that its technical analysis shows that a 50 kV threshold for sub[hyphen]100 kV loops does not affect the application of exclusion E1. NERC states that this approach will ease the administrative burden on entities as it negates the necessity for an entity to prove that they qualify for exclusion E1 if the sub[hyphen]100 kV loop in question is less than or equal to 50 kV.\4\ This administrative burden falls into the category of ``System Review and List Creation'' as described in Order Nos. 773 and 773-A.\5\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \4\ NERC Petition at 19-25, Exhibit D at 2, 48-90. \5\ System Review and List Creation corresponds to step 1 of NERC's proposed transition plan, which requires each U.S. asset owner to apply the revised bulk electric system definition to all elements to determine if those elements are included in the bulk electric system pursuant to the revised definition. See Order No. 773, 141 FERC ] 61,236 at P 330. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Because the E1 exclusion applies to low voltage loops operated below 50 kV, entities will no longer evaluate looped configurations for either the E3 network exclusion or the NERC exception process.\6\ Accordingly, we estimate a decrease of one engineering hour needed for ``System Review and List Creation'' for transmission owners and distribution providers, respectively. With respect to the revisions to inclusion I4, NERC states that the [[Page 22812]] standard drafting team ``identified the portions of the collector system which consistently provide a reliability benefit to the interconnected transmission network and are easily identified within collector systems.'' \7\ Thus, the Commission estimates no material change in information collection because the engineering time needed to evaluate the collector system component included in the bulk electric system is a simple and straightforward determination of whether the collector system aggregates to greater than 75 MVA. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \6\ Cf., Order No. 773-A, 143 FERC ] 61,053 at P 128. \7\ NERC Petition at 16. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Estimate of Annual Burden: \8\ The Commission estimates the public reporting burden as follows: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \8\ The Commission defines burden 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. For further explanation of what is included in the information collection burden, reference 5 Code of Federal Regulations 1320.3. RD14-2-000 (FERC-725J)--Revision to the Definition of Bulk Electric System ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Estimated Number of Number of Total number Average burden total year 1 respondents responses per of responses hours per burden \9\ (A) respondent (A) x (B) = response (D) reduction (C) (B) (C) x (D) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Transmission Owners (System 333 1 333 -1 -333 Review and List Creation)...... Distribution Providers (System 554 1 554 -1 -554 Review and List Creation)...... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total....................... .............. .............. .............. .............. -887 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The total estimated decrease in cost burden to respondents (year 1 only) is $53,220; [-887 hours * $60 \10\ = -$53,220]. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \9\ The number of respondents for transmission owners and distribution providers is based on the NERC Compliance Registry referenced in Order No. 773. \10\ The estimate for cost per hour for an electrical engineer is $60 (the average salary plus benefits) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics at http://bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: April 18, 2014. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2014-09342 Filed 4-23-14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P