FERC-717, Standards for Business Practices and Communication Protocols for Public Utilities:

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
internal spreadsh for supplemental with costs3 9 2010 commentbehind.xls Supplementary Document	2010-03-10
explanation of cost increase 3 9 2010.doc Supplementary Document	2010-03-10
Suplemental Statement.doc Supplementary Document	2010-03-04
public spreadsh for supplemental package.xls Supplementary Document	2010-03-03
revised3_2_2010_RM05-5-013Final_Rule_SUPP_STATE accept change.doc Supporting Statement A	2010-03-09
SNL Interactive Article.mht Supplementary Document	2009-12-07
NAESB Filing.doc Supplementary Document	2009-05-04
OMB Just RM07-1-000 Final Rule 2008.doc Justification for No Material/Nonsubstantive Change	2008-12-03
Chairman's Statement RM07-1-000 FR(2008).doc Supplementary Document	2008-12-03
NAESB Fact Sheet.doc Supplementary Document	2007-07-23

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
46550	Standards for Business Practices and Communication Protocols Instruction	Modified
23197	Standards for Business Practices and Communication Protocols for Public Utilities: RM05-5-000 Final Rule: Standards for Business Practices and Communication Protocols for Public Utilities Instruction	Modified
189035	RM05-5-013 Standards for Business Practices and Communication Protocols for Public Utilites	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1902-0173	ICR Reference No: 200912-1902-003
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 200905-1902-002
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-717
Title: FERC-717, Standards for Business Practices and Communication Protocols for Public Utilities:
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 03/12/2010
	Date Received in OIRA: 12/07/2009
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for 3 years. Upon resubmission, it is suggested the agency update the supporting statement to incorporate both changes and corrections. Further, supporting statements for other collections should include these explanations when applicable (e.g. FERC-516).

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	03/31/2013	36 Months From Approved	10/31/2011
Responses	528	0	440
Time Burden (Hours)	183,644	0	222,955
Cost Burden (Dollars)	27,405,734	0	1,089,000

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Abstract: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is incorporating by reference in its regulations at 18 CFR 38.2 the latest version (Version 002.1) of certain business practice standards adopted by the Wholesale Electric Quadrant (WEQ) of the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB). NAESB’s Version 002.1 Standards mainly modify NAESB’s Version 001 Standards in response to Order Nos. 890, 890-A, and 890-B.al NAESB’s standards include business practices that streamline the transactional processes of the natural gas and electric industries, as well as communication protocols and related standards designed to improve the efficiency of communication within each industry. NAESB supports all four quadrants of the gas and electric industries – wholesale gas, wholesale electric, retail gas, and retail electric. All participants in the gas and electric industries are eligible to join NAESB and participate in standards development. NAESB develops its standards under a consensus process so that the standards draw support from a wide range of industry members. NAESB’s procedures are designed to ensure that all industry members can have input into the development of a standard, whether or not they are members of NAESB. Furthermore, each standard the WEQ adopts is supported by a consensus of the six industry segments: transmission, generation, marketer/brokers, distribution/load serving entities, end users, and independent grid operators/planners. FERC-717 covers the standards for business practices and electronic communications of public utilities.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 16 USC 824d Name of Law: Federal Power Act
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
1902-AD79	Final or interim final rulemaking	74 FR 63288	12/03/2009

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 3

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
RM05-5-013 Standards for Business Practices and Communication Protocols for Public Utilites
Standards for Business Practices and Communication Protocols
Standards for Business Practices and Communication Protocols for Public Utilities: RM05-5-000 Final Rule: Standards for Business Practices and Communication Protocols for Public Utilities

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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	528	440	0	176	-88	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	183,644	222,955	0	5,280	-44,591	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	27,405,734	1,089,000	0	651,182	25,665,552	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Changing Regulations

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: FERC issued a Final Rule incorporating by reference in its regulations at 18 CFR 38.2 the latest version (Version 002.1) of certain business practice standards adopted by the Wholesale Electric Quadrant (WEQ) of the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB). In addition, FERC is proposing, consistent with its regulations at 18 CFR 35.28(c)(1)(vii), to require each public utility to revise its OATT to include Version 002.1 WEQ standards. For standards that do not require implementing tariff provisions, FERC is permitting the public utility to incorporate the WEQ standard by reference in its OATT. FERC's estimates for the annual reporting burden in the Standards for Business Practices and Communication Protocols for Public Utilities Final Rule are anticipated to be 6,336 hours. This increase is attributable to the implementation of business standards and communication protocols. This burden increase is partially offset by a decrease in the number of respondents who have to post the information on their OASIS sites. The industry burden and cost estimates were corrected on 3/3/2010 (per discussion with OMB on 3/2). All 3 of the IC's now reflect the estimated 176 respondents, and industry cost figures are included. For more details, see the supporting statement and the spreadsheet attached under "Supplemental Documents".

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $66,101

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]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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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: 12/07/2009

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