[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 30, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52951-52952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-18652]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC22-33-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-547); 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 collection, FERC-547 (Gas Pipeline Rates: Refund Report 
Requirements).

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due October 31, 
2022.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC-547 (IC22-33-000) to the 
Commission. You may submit copies of your comments by one of the 
following methods:
    Electronic filing through https://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 to: Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852.
    Instructions: FERC submissions must be formatted and filed in 
accordance with submission guidelines at: https://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 https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Gas Pipeline Rates: Refund Report Requirements.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0084.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-547 information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting 
requirements.
    Abstract: The Commission uses FERC-547 (Gas Pipeline Rates: Refund 
Report Requirements) to implement the statutory refund provisions 
governed by Sections 4, and 16 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA).\1\ Section 
4 authorizes the Commission to order a refund (with interest) for any 
portion of a natural gas company's increased rate or charge found to be 
unjust or unreasonable. Refunds may also be instituted by a natural gas 
company as a stipulation to a Commission-approved settlement agreement 
or a provision under the company's tariff. Section 16 of the NGA 
authorizes the Commission to prescribe rules and regulations necessary 
to administer its refund mandates. The Commission's refund reporting 
requirements are located in 18 CFR 154.501 (Refund Obligations) and 
154.502 (Reports).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 717-717w.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission uses the data collected in FERC-547 to monitor 
refunds owed by natural gas companies to ensure that the flow-through 
of refunds owed by these companies are made as expeditiously as 
possible and to assure that refunds are made in compliance with the 
Commission's regulations.
    Type of Respondents: Natural gas companies.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: \2\ Refund obligations occur following a 
Commission determination of unjust or unreasonable rates. Due to the 
nature of determinations on an ad hoc basis, the Commission estimate is 
based on the average number of refund obligations. The Commission 
estimates the annual public reporting burden for the information 
collection as:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Burden is defined 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 CFR 1320.3.

[[Page 52952]]



                                                FERC-547: Gas Pipeline Rates: Refund Report Requirements
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Average burden      Total annual
                                                                    Number of     Total number of   hours & average     burden hours &       Cost per
                     Number of respondents                        responses per      responses        cost \3\ per    total annual cost  respondent  ($)
                                                                    respondent                       response  ($)            ($)
(1)                                                                         (2)   (1) x (2) = (3)               (4)    (3) x (4) = (5)   (5) / (1) = (6)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22.............................................................               2               44       2 hrs.; $182    88 hrs.; $8,008             $364
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ FERC staff estimates that industry costs for salary plus 
benefits are similar to Commission costs. The cost figure is the 
FY2022 FERC average annual salary plus benefits ($188,992/year or 
$91/hour).

    Dated: August 24, 2022.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-18652 Filed 8-29-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


