Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System

OMB Control No: 1902-0244	ICR Reference No: 201011-1902-005
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201007-1902-001
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-725A
Title: Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System
Type of Information Collection: No material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 12/21/2010
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 11/29/2010
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the change is approved.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	03/31/2013	03/31/2013	03/31/2013
Responses	1,439	0	1,439
Time Burden (Hours)	1,281,450	0	1,281,450
Cost Burden (Dollars)	134,766,955	0	134,766,955

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Abstract: FERC implemented the Electricity Modernization Act of 2005 which added a new section 215 to the Federal Power Act. FERC approved 83 of 107 proposed Reliability Standards, including six of the eight regional differences, and the Glossary of Terms Used in Reliability Standards as developed by the North American Electric Reliability Council, on behalf of its wholly-owned subsidiary, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). FERC certified NERC as the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) responsible for developing and enforcing mandatory reliability standards. Bulk-Power System means facilities and control systems necessary for operating an interconnected electric energy transmission network and electric energy from generating facilities needed to maintain transmission system reliability. In RM09-18-000 FERC adopts, with modifications, its proposal as contained in its March 18, 2010 NOPR to require the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) to revise its definition of the term “bulk electric system.” In the Final Rule, FERC directs the ERO, through the ERO’s Reliability Standards Development Process, to revise the definition to address FERC’s technical concerns and ensure that the definition encompasses all facilities necessary for operating an interconnected electric transmission network. FERC believes that the best way to accomplish these goals is to eliminate the regional discretion in the current definition, maintain a bright-line threshold that includes all facilities operated at or above 100 kV except defined radial facilities, and establish an exemption process and criteria for excluding facilities that are not necessary for operating the interconnected transmission network. However, this Final Rule allows the ERO, in accordance with FERC's Order No. 693, to develop an alternative proposal for addressing FERC’s concerns with the present definition with the understanding that any such alternative must be as effective as, or more effective than, FERC’s proposed approach in addressing the identified technical and other concerns, and may not result in a reduction in reliability.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 109 - 58 1211, amneds section 215 FPA Name of Law: Energy Policy Act

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: PL: Pub.L. 109 - 58 1211 Name of Law: Energy Policy Act of 2005

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
1902-AD76	Final or interim final rulemaking	73 FR 64884	12/08/2009

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title Form No. Form Name Mandatory Reliability Standards for Bulk-Power System

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	1,439	1,439	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	1,281,450	1,281,450	0	0	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	134,766,955	134,766,955	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The changes to the reporting burden are due to revisions to the MOD Reliability Standards. FERC believes that the Reliability Standards proposed in this Final Rule address the potential for undue discrimination by requiring industry-wide transparency and increased consistency regarding all components of the available transfer capability calculation methodology and certain definitions, data, and modeling assumptions. Specifically, the proposed Reliability Standards contain methodologies for the consistent and transparent calculation of available transfer capability or available flowgate capability. As noted in the submission, FERC found in Order No. 890, that the lack of a consistent and transparent methodology for calculating available transfer capability is a significant problem because the calculation of available transfer capability, which varies greatly depending on the criteria and assumptions used, may allow the transmission service provider to discriminate in subtle ways against its competitors. The calculation of available transfer capability is one of the most critical functions under the open access transmission tariff (OATT) because it determines whether transmission customers can access alternative power supplies. Improving transparency and consistency of available transfer capability calculation methodologies will eliminate transmission service providers’ wide discretion in calculating available transfer capability and ensure that customers are treated fairly in seeking alternative power supplies.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $323,308

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

Agency Contact: Mindi Sauter 202 502-6830 [email protected]

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:
		(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
		(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
		(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
		(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
		(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
		(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
		(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
			(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;
		(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
		(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
		(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
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.
Certification Date: 11/29/2010

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