In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for 3 years.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
06/30/2014
36 Months From Approved
06/30/2011
470
0
250
141,000
0
75,000
55,800
0
0
The three FAC Reliability Standards require planning authorities and reliability coordinators to establish methodologies to determine system operating limits (SOLs) for the bulk-power system in the planning and operation horizons.
The three Reliability Standards do not require responsible entities to file information with the Commission. With the exception of a three year self-certification of compliance, the Reliability Standards do not require responsible entities to file information with the ERO or Regional Entities. However, the Reliability Standards do require responsible entities to develop and maintain certain information for a specified period of time, subject to inspection by the ERO or Regional Entities.
The information generated or maintained is used by the ERO or Regional Entities to verify compliance with the standards. Without being able to verify compliance, the ERO or Regional Entitles would have no method for oversight of these standards. This could lead to a lack of compliance with the standard and degradation in the reliability of the bulk electric system.
Reliability Standard FAC-010-2 requires the planning authority to have a documented methodology for use in developing SOLs and must retain evidence that it issued its SOL methodology to relevant reliability coordinators, transmission operators and adjacent planning authorities. Likewise, the planning authority must respond to technical comments on the methodology within 45 days of receipt. Further, each planning authority must self-certify its compliance to the compliance monitor once every three years. Reliability Standard FAC-011-2 requires similar documentation by the reliability coordinator. Reliability Standard FAC-014-2 requires the reliability coordinator, planning authority, transmission operator, and transmission planner to verify compliance through self-certification submitted to the compliance monitor annually. These entities must also document that they have developed SOLs consistent with the applicable SOL methodology and that they have provided SOLs to entities identified in Requirement 5 of the Reliability Standard. Further, the planning authority must maintain a list of multiple contingencies and their associated stability limits.
These three Reliability Standards serve an important reliability purpose in ensuring that SOLs used in the reliable planning and operation of the Bulk-Power System are determined based on an established methodology. Moreover, they clearly identify the entities to which they apply and contain clear and enforceable requirements.
The burden has increased due to an increase in the number of entities who are registered for the Planning Authority, Reliability Coordinator, Transmission Planner, and Transmission Operator functions. The change in applicable entities reported here is also due to the Commission now having a more accurate estimate of the number of entities that must comply with these standards. The "new" cost figure is due to our current policy of reporting in ROCIS all costs not associated with burden hours. In this case, the cost is associated with records storage.
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.
725D Justification 2011 Final.doc
FERC-725D, Facilities Design, Connections and Maintenance Reliability Standards