FERC-542, Gas Pipeline Rates: Rate Tracking

OMB Control No: 1902-0070	ICR Reference No: 201602-1902-005
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201303-1902-009
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-542
Title: FERC-542, Gas Pipeline Rates: Rate Tracking
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 06/09/2016
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 03/22/2016
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three years.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	06/30/2019	36 Months From Approved	06/30/2016
Responses	185	0	653
Time Burden (Hours)	370	0	20,397
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The FERC-542 contains the following information collections: (1) Research, development, and deployment expenditures; (2) annual charge adjustments (ACA) and (3) periodic rate adjustments. The Natural Gas Act (NGA) requires FERC to regulate the transmission and sale of natural gas for resale in interstate commerce and to ensure the rates jurisdictional natural gas pipelines charge are just and reasonable. It provides FERC with authority to implement NGA mandates through its rules and regulations. FERC allows jurisdictional pipelines to flow through to their customers such costs as fuel or electric power costs necessary to operate compressor stations as well as the costs of storage services; research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) expenditures and FERC annual charge adjustment (ACA) assessments. To ensure these charges result in just and reasonable rates, FERC requires jurisdictional pipelines to file detailed and summary information on these flowed costs in the FERC-542. Analyses of FERC-542 data helps the Commission evaluate the charges to ensure compliance with NGA rate requirements.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 15 USC 3301-3432 Name of Law: Natural Gas Policy Act    US Code: 15 USC 717c, 717d, 717o Name of Law: Natural Gas Act

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	80 FR 79322	12/21/2015
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	81 FR 15300	03/22/2016
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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

IC Title Form No. Form Name FERC-542, Gas Pipeline Rates: Rate Tracking FERC-542: One-Time Burden from RM12-14 (3 year span)

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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	185	653	0	-445	-23	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	370	20,397	0	-19,026	-1,001	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	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: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Short Statement: FERC estimates that about 95% (or 19,026 hours) of the reduction of hours associated with FERC 542 results from the one-time filings and the decreased number of ACA filings required by the regulations put in place with the final rule in Docket RM12-14. Pipelines now reference the annual charge posted on ferc.gov in their tariff and have no need to make a separate filing to pass through the annual charge. The remainder of the reduction is due to industry fluctuations and/or better estimates.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $453,660

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: Norma McOmber 202 502-8022

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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: 03/22/2016

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