
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 171 (Tuesday, September 4, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 53878]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21665]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC12-17-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-714); Comment 
Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, 44 USC 3506(c)(2)(A), the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the 
currently approved information collection, Annual Electric Balancing 
Authority Area and Planning Area Report.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due November 5, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments (identified by Docket No. [IC12-17-
000]) by either of the following methods:
     eFiling at Commission's Web Site: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp.
     Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20426.
    Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in 
accordance with submission guidelines at: http://www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp. For user assistance contact FERC Online Support 
by email at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or by phone at: (866) 208-3676 
(toll-free), or (202) 502-8659 for TTY.
    Docket: Users interested in receiving automatic notification of 
activity in this docket or in viewing/downloading comments and 
issuances in this docket may do so at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/docs-filing.asp.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at 
DataClearance@FERC.gov, telephone at (202) 502-8663, and fax at (202) 
273-0873.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: FERC-714: Annual Electric Balancing Authority Area and 
Planning Area Report.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0140.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-714 information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting 
requirements.
    Abstract: The Federal Power Act authorizes the Commission to 
collect information from electric utility balancing authorities and 
planning areas in the United States. 18 CFR 141.51 mandates the data 
collection.
    The Commission uses the collected data to analyze power system 
operations along with its regulatory functions. These analyses estimate 
the effect of changes in power system operations resulting from the 
installation of a new generating unit or plant, transmission 
facilities, energy transfers between systems, and/or new points of 
interconnections. Also, these analyses serve to correlate rates and 
charges, assess reliability and other operating attributes in 
regulatory proceedings, monitor market trends and behaviors, and 
determine the competitive impacts of proposed mergers, acquisitions, 
and dispositions.
    Type of Respondents: Electric utilities operating balancing 
authority areas and planning areas with annual peak demand over 200 MW.
    Estimate of Annual Burden \1\: The Commission estimates the total 
Public Reporting Burden for this information collection as:
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    \1\ The Commission defines burden as the total time, effort, or 
financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, 
retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal 
agency. For further explanation of what is included in the 
information collection burden, reference 5 Code of Federal 
Regulations 1320.3.

           FERC--714 (IC12-17-000)--Annual Electric Balancing Authority Area and Planning Area Report
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                                       Number of        Total number of     Average burden      Estimated total
    Number of respondents (A)        responses per      responses (A) x        hours per      annual  burden (C)
                                    respondent (B)         (B) = (C)         response (D)            x (D)
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219.............................                  1                 219                  87              19,053
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    The total estimated annual cost burden to respondents is 
$1,314,839.32 [19,053 hours / 2080 hours/year \2\ = 9.16009 * $143,540/
year \3\ = $1,314,839.32]
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    \2\ 2080 hours = 52 weeks * 40 hours per week (i.e. 1 year of 
full-time employment).
    \3\ Average salary plus benefits per full-time equivalent 
employee.
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    Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the 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 and 
cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.

    Dated: August 28, 2012.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-21665 Filed 8-31-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


