FERC-725A, [RM09-25, Final Rule] Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
RM09-25-000 JUST for Final Rule.doc Supporting Statement A	2011-01-07
Statutes and Regs.doc Supplementary Document	2011-01-04

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
45896	FERC-725A, Mandatory Reliability Standards for Bulk-Power System	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1902-0244	ICR Reference No: 201012-1902-005
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201011-1902-005
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-725A
Title: FERC-725A, [RM09-25, Final Rule] Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 02/24/2011
	Date Received in OIRA: 01/07/2011
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for 3 years. Upon resubmission, in the supporting statement burden change explanation, the agency should distinguish in the supporting statement burden changes specific to the rulemaking (here only 2,415 hours) against aggregate burden changes for the overall collection when periodic updates to the number of respondents drive the change(here 444,716 hours).

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	02/28/2014	36 Months From Approved	03/31/2013
Responses	1,940	0	1,439
Time Burden (Hours)	1,728,581	0	1,281,450
Cost Burden (Dollars)	126,725	0	134,766,955

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Abstract: FERC implemented the Electricity Modernization Act of 2005 which added a new section 215 to the Federal Power Act. FERC approved 83 of 107 proposed Reliability Standards, including six of the eight regional differences, and the Glossary of Terms Used in Reliability Standards as developed by the North American Electric Reliability Council, on behalf of its wholly-owned subsidiary, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). FERC certified NERC as the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) responsible for developing and enforcing mandatory reliability standards. Bulk-Power System means facilities and control systems necessary for operating an interconnected electric energy transmission network and electric energy from generating facilities needed to maintain transmission system reliability. In Docket RM09-25-000 (Final Rule) the Commission approves two new Reliability Standards, PER-004-2 and PER-005-1 governing training. These standards replace currently effective Reliability Standards PER-002-0 and PER-004-1 approved by the Commission in Order No. 693. Rather than creating entirely new training requirements, the Reliability Standard PER-005-1 instead modifies and improves the existing Reliability Standards governing personnel training. This rulemaking does not impose entirely new burdens on the affected entities. For example, the currently effective training Reliability Standard, PER-002-0, requires transmission operators and balancing authorities to create training program objectives, develop a plan for the initial and continued training, and maintain training records. Similarly, approved training Reliability Standard, PER-005-1, which supersedes PER-002-0, requires transmission operators, balancing authorities and reliability coordinators to establish a training program (using a systematic approach to training), verify the trainee’s capabilities to perform task for which they receive training, and maintain training records. Accordingly, the recordkeeping requirements imposed by approved Reliability Standard PER-005-1, are more specific but not necessarily more expansive than previously effective Reliability Standard PER-002-0’s recordkeeping requirements. However, approved Reliability Standard PER-005-1 does enlarge the scope of the affected entities to include reliability coordinators. These recordkeeping requirements are necessary to ensure an effective training program is in place and occurring.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 109 - 58 1211 Name of Law: Energy Policy Act
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
1902-AD76	Final or interim final rulemaking	75 FR 72664	11/26/2010

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
FERC-725A, Mandatory Reliability Standards for Bulk-Power System

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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	1,940	1,439	0	0	501	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	1,728,581	1,281,450	0	2,415	444,716	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	126,725	134,766,955	0	0	-134,640,230	0

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

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

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

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: Personnel training is important to ensuring the reliability of the Bulk-Power System, as recognized in Order No. 693 and the Blackout Report. NERC states that the proposed Reliability Standards “are a significant improvement over the existing Reliability Standards” and recommends Commission approval of the standards as a “significant step in strengthening the quality of operator training programs as necessary for the reliability of the [B]ulk-[P]ower [S]ystem.” (NERC Petition at 5). In addition to increasing the burden (by 2,415 hrs.) due to the approved reliability standards, the Commission is also increasing the burden (by 444,716 hrs.) due to a reevaluation of the total number of respondents under FERC-725A. In Order 693, issued March 16, 2007, the Commission estimate 1,439 entities would have to comply. As of November 16, 2010, the NERC Registry included a total of 1,940 entities that are subject to FERC-725A. In this supporting statement, the Commission is also adjusting the burden in line with this new estimate of applicable entities. Finally, the Commission is also standardizing the manner in which it addresses the cost burden in ROCIS/Reginfo. Only those costs not associated with burden hours will be reported in ROCIS. In terms of this collection, it means only the costs for the record storage facilities will be reported in ROCIS/Reginfo. The supporting statement will continue to detail all the costs.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $484,087

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]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

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: 01/07/2011

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