Quarterly Financial Report of Electric Utilities, Licensees, and Natural Gas Companies," requires companies to file with the Commission a complete set of quarterly financial statements. Most of the information contained in these forms is the same information currently submitted on an annual basis.
Quarterly reporting of financial information permits the Commission to better understand trends and other factors that may affect an entity's liquidity position, its commitments of capital expenditures, its sources of financing, along with changes in the amount of assets, liabilities, debt and equity used in its business. Transparent accountings and more frequent financial reporting play an important role in achieving vigilant oversight of market participants. More frequent financial reporting provides needed insight into the opportunities and risks facing the energy industry as the Commission considers and assesses the affects of its regulatory initiatives. The Commission shares the view that quarterly reporting enhances its overall decision making process by providing more timely, useful and relevant data to the decision making process.
On March 21, 2008, the Commission issued a Final Rule in Docket No. RM07-9-000 regarding "Revisions to Forms, Statement and Reporting Requirements for Natural Gas Pipelines." The purpose of the Final Rule is to improve the forms, reports and statements to provide, in greater detail, the information the Commission needs to carry out its responsibilities under the Natural Gas Act (NGA) to ensure that rates are just and reasonable, and to provide pipeline customers, state commissions, and the public the information they need to assess the justness and reasonableness of pipeline rates.
The information maintained and collected under the requirements of Part 260 is essential to the CommissionÂs oversight duties. The data now reported in the forms does not provide sufficient information to the Commission and the public to permit an evaluation of the filers jurisdictional rates. Since the triennial restatement of rates requirement was abolished and pipelines are no longer required to submit this information, the need for current and relevant data is greater than in the past. The information collection proposed in the Final Rule will increase the forms usefulness to both the public and the Commission. Without this information, it is difficult for the Commission and the public to perform an assessment of pipeline costs, and thereby help to ensure that rates are just and reasonable.
The Commission has determined that dependable, affordable, competitive wholesale energy markets require an adequate infrastructure, balanced market rules, and vigilant oversight. This proposed rule helps in achieving the goal of vigilant oversight by providing the Commission with more timely, relevant, reliable and understandable information from jurisdictional participants in the energy markets.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Form FERC-3Q Quarterly Financial Report of Electric Utilities, Licensees, and Natural Gas Companies,
OMB Just. RM07.9.doc
Quarterly Financial Report of Electric Utilities, Licensees, and Natural Gas Companies,