[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 29, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38741-38742]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-13817]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC22-18-000]


Commission Information Collection Activity (FERC-715); Comment 
Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or 
FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved 
information collections, FERC-715 (Annual Transmission Planning and 
Evaluation Report).

DATES: Comments on the collections of information are due August 29, 
2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit your comments (identified by Docket No. IC22-
18-000) on FERC-715 by one of the following methods:
    Electronic filing through http://www.ferc.gov is preferred.
     Electronic Filing: Documents must be filed in acceptable 
native applications and print-to-PDF, but not in scanned or picture 
format.
     For those unable to file electronically, comments may be 
filed by USPS mail or by hand (including courier) delivery:
    [cir] Mail via U.S. Postal Service Only: Addressed to: Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First 
Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
    [cir] Hand (including courier) delivery: Deliver to: Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852.
    Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in 
accordance with submission guidelines at: http://www.ferc.gov. For user 
assistance, contact FERC Online Support by email at 
[email protected], or by phone at (866) 208-3676 (toll-free).
    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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at 
[email protected], or by telephone at (202) 502-8663.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: FERC-715, Annual Transmission Planning and Evaluation 
Report.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0171.
    Abstract: Acting under section 213 of the Federal Power Act \1\ and 
18 CFR 141.300, FERC requires each transmitting utility that operates 
integrated transmission system facilities rated above 100 kilovolts 
(kV) to submit annually:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 16 U.S.C. 824l.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Contact information;
     Base case power flow data (if the respondent does not 
participate in the development and use of regional power flow data);
     Transmission system maps and diagrams used by the 
respondent for transmission planning;
     A detailed description of the transmission planning 
reliability criteria used to evaluate system performance for time 
frames and planning horizons used in regional and corporate planning;
     A detailed description of the respondent's transmission 
planning assessment practices (including, but not limited to, how 
reliability criteria are applied and the steps taken in performing 
transmission planning studies); and
     A detailed evaluation of the respondent's anticipated 
system performance as measured against its stated reliability criteria 
using its stated assessment practices.
    FERC-715 enables the Commission to use the information as part of 
their regulatory oversight functions which includes:
     The review of rates and charges;
     The disposition of jurisdictional facilities;
     The consolidation and mergers;
     The adequacy of supply and;
     Reliability of the nation's transmission grid.
    FERC-715 also helps the Commission resolve transmission disputes. 
Additionally, the Office of Electric Reliability (OER) uses the FERC-
715 data to help protect and improve the reliability and security of 
the nation's bulk power system. OER oversees the development and review 
of mandatory reliability and security standards and ensures compliance 
with the approved standards by the users, owners, and operators of the 
bulk power system. OER also monitors and addresses issues concerning 
the nation's bulk power system including assessments of resource 
adequacy and reliability.
    Without the FERC-715 data, the Commission would be unable to 
evaluate planned projects or requests related to transmission.
    Type of Respondent: Integrated transmission system facilities rated 
at or above 100 kilovolts (kV).
    Estimate of Annual Burden: \2\ The Commission estimates the total 
annual burden and cost \3\ for this information collection as follows.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ ``Burden'' is 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, refer to Title 5 Code of Federal Regulations 1320.3.
    \3\ The Commission staff estimates that the industry's hourly 
cost for wages plus benefits is similar to the Commission's $87.00 
FY 2021 average hourly cost for wages and benefits.

[[Page 38742]]



                                              FERC-715--Annual Transmission Planning and Evaluation Report
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Annual number                                              Total annual burden
           Type of response               Number of     of responses    Total number     Average burden & cost     hours & total annual      Cost per
                                         respondents   per respondent   of responses         per response                  cost           respondent ($)
                                                  (1)             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4).....................  (3) * (4) = (5)........       (5) / (1)
                                                                                  (3)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual Transmission Planning and                  111               1             111  160 hrs.; $13,920.......  17,760 hrs.; $1,545,120         $13,920
 Evaluation Report.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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: June 22, 2022.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-13817 Filed 6-28-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


