
[Federal Register: January 29, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 18)]
[Notices]               
[Page 5150-5151]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29ja09-30]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC09-585-000]

 
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-585); Comment 
Request; Extension

January 23, 2009.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection and request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(a) 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public comment 
on the specific aspects of the information collection described below.

DATES: Comments in consideration of the collection of information are 
due March 24, 2009.

ADDRESSES: An example of the FERC-585 contingency plan may be obtained 
from the Commission's Web site (at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
elibrary.asp). Comments may be filed either electronically or in paper 
format, and should refer to Docket No. IC09-585-000. Documents must be 
prepared in an acceptable filing format and in compliance with the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission submission guidelines at http://
www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp.
    Comments may be filed electronically via the eFiling link on the 
Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov. First time users will 
have to establish a user name and password (http://www.ferc.gov/docs-
filing/eregistration.asp) before eFiling. The Commission will send an 
automatic acknowledgement to the sender's e-mail address upon receipt 
of comments through eFiling.
    Commenters filing electronically should not make a paper filing. 
Commenters that are not able to file electronically must send an 
original and 14 copies of their comments to: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20426.
    Users interested in receiving automatic notification of activity in 
this docket may do so through eSubscription (at http://www.ferc.gov/
docs-filing/esubscription.asp). In addition, all comments and FERC 
issuances may be viewed, printed or downloaded remotely through FERC's 
Web site using the ``eLibrary'' link and searching on Docket Number 
IC09-585. For user assistance, contact FERC Online Support (e-mail at 
ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or call toll-free at (866) 208-3676, or for 
TTY, contact (202) 502-8659).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Miller may be reached by 
telephone at (202) 502-8415, by fax at (202) 273-0873, and by e-mail at 
michael.miller@ferc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the 
requirements of FERC-585 ``Reporting of Electric Energy Shortages and 
Contingency Plans under PURPA'' (OMB No. 1902-0138) is used by the 
Commission to implement the statutory provisions of section 206 of the 
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1979 (PURPA) Public Law 95-
617, 92 Stat. 3117. Section 206 of PURPA amended the Federal Power Act 
(FPA) by adding a new subsection (g) to section 202, under which the 
Commission by rule, was to require each public utility to (1) report to 
the Commission and appropriate state regulatory authorities of any 
anticipated shortages of electric energy or capacity which would affect 
the utility's capability to serve its wholesale customers; and (2) 
report to the Commission and any appropriate state regulatory authority 
contingency plan that would outline what circumstances might give rise 
to such occurrences.

[[Page 5151]]

    In Order No. 575, the Commission modified the reporting 
requirements in 18 CFR 294.101(b) to provide that, if a public utility 
includes in its rates schedule, provisions that: (a) During electric 
energy and capacity shortages it will treat firm power wholesale 
customers without undue discrimination or preference; and (b) it will 
report any modifications to its contingency plan for accommodating 
shortages within 15 days to the appropriate state regulatory agency and 
to the affected wholesale customers, then the utility need not file 
with the Commission an additional statement of contingency plan for 
accommodating such shortages. This revision merely changed the 
reporting mechanism; the public utility's contingency plan would be 
located in its filed rate rather than in a separate document.
    In Order No. 659, the Commission modified the reporting 
requirements in 18 CFR 294.101(e) to provide that the means by which 
public utilities must comply with the requirements to report shortages 
and anticipated shortages is to submit this information electronically 
using the Office of Electric Reliability's pager system at 
emergency@ferc.gov in lieu of submitting an original and two copies 
with the Secretary of the Commission.
    The Commission uses the information to evaluate and formulate an 
appropriate option for action in the event an unanticipated shortage is 
reported and/or materializes. Without this information, the Commission 
and State agencies would be unable to: (1) Examine and approve or 
modify utility actions, (2) prepare a response to anticipated 
disruptions in electric energy, and (3) ensure equitable treatment of 
all public utility customers under the shortage situations. The 
Commission implements these filing requirements in the Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR Part 294.
    Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the 
current expiration date, with no changes to the existing collection of 
data.
    Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this collection is 
estimated at:


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                                                                                                   Total annual
                                                     Number of       Number of    Average burden   burden hours
         FERC data collection (FERC-585)            respondents    responses per     hours per      (1) x (2) x
                                                   annually (1)   respondent (2)   response (3)         (3)
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Contingency Plan................................               1               1           73              73
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
Capacity Shortage...............................               1               1            0.25            0.25
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    Estimated annual cost to respondents is $4,450.78 (73.25 hours/
2,080 hours per year times $126,384 per year average per employee = 
$4,450.78).
    The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial 
resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, disclose, or provide 
the information including: (1) Reviewing instructions; (2) developing, 
acquiring, installing, and utilizing technology and systems for the 
purposes of collecting, validating, verifying, processing, maintaining, 
disclosing and providing information; (3) adjusting the existing ways 
to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; 
(4) training personnel to respond to a collection of information; (5) 
searching data sources; (6) completing and reviewing the collection of 
information; and (7) transmitting, or otherwise disclosing the 
information.
    The estimate of cost for respondents is based upon salaries for 
professional and clerical support, as well as direct and indirect 
overhead costs. Direct costs include all costs directly attributable to 
providing this information, such as administrative costs and the cost 
for information technology. Indirect or overhead costs are costs 
incurred by an organization in support of its mission. These costs 
apply to activities which benefit the whole organization rather than 
any one particular function or activity.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed 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 of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of 
responses.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-1889 Filed 1-28-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
