FERC-725, Certification of Electric Reliability Organization; Procedures for Electric Reliability Standards

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
FINAL_IC12-11(FERC-725)_Supporting_Statement Revised Submittal.docx Supporting Statement A	2012-10-24
CFR-2012-title18-vol1-part39.pdf Supplementary Document	2012-07-09
16 USC 824o.pdf Supplementary Document	2012-07-09

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
23273	Registered Entities	Modified
203074	Regional Entities	New
203073	Electric Reliability Organization	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1902-0225	ICR Reference No: 201207-1902-002
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 200907-1902-002
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-725
Title: FERC-725, Certification of Electric Reliability Organization; Procedures for Electric Reliability Standards
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 11/06/2012
	Date Received in OIRA: 07/10/2012
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three years.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	11/30/2015	36 Months From Approved	11/30/2012
Responses	2,213	0	1,809
Time Burden (Hours)	1,202,428	0	972,305
Cost Burden (Dollars)	65,000	0	59,390,474

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Abstract: The FERC-725 contains the following information collection elements: Self Assessment and ERO Application: The Commission requires the ERO to submit to FERC a performance assessment report every five years. The next assessment is due in 2015. Each of regional entity submits a performance assessment report to the ERO. Submitting an application to become an ERO is also part of this collection. Reliability Assessments: 18 CFR 39.11 requires the ERO to assess the reliability and adequacy of the Bulk-Power System in North America. Subsequently, the ERO must report to the Commission on its findings. Regional entities perform similar assessments within individual regions. Currently the ERO submits to FERC three assessments each year: long term, winter, and summer. Reliability Standards Development: Under Section 215 of the FPA the ERO is charged with developing Reliability Standards. Regional entities may also develop regional specific standards. Reliability Standards are the principal mechanism provided FERC to ensure reliability on the Bulk-Power System. Reliability Compliance: Reliability Standards are mandatory and enforceable upon approval by FERC. In addition to the specific information collection requirements contained in each standard (cleared under other information collections), there are general compliance, monitoring and enforcement information collection requirements imposed on applicable entities. Audits, spot checks, self-certifications, exception data submittals, violation reporting, and mitigation plan confirmation are included in this area. Stakeholder Survey: The ERO used a stakeholder survey to solicit feedback from registered entities in preparation for its three year performance assessment. The Commission assumes that the ERO will perform another survey prior to the 2014 performance assessment. Other Reporting: This category refers to all other reporting requirements imposed on the ERO or regional entities in order to comply with the Commission's regulations. For example, FERC may require NERC to submit a special reliability assessment. This category is mention to capture these types of one-time filings required of NERC or the Regions. The Commission implements its responsibilities through 18 CFR Part 39. Without the FERC-725 information, the FERC, ERO, and Regional Entities will not have the data needed to determine whether sufficient and appropriate measures are being taken to ensure the reliability of the nation's electric grid.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 16 USC 824o Name of Law: Energy Policy Act of 2005
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	77 FR 24189	04/23/2012
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	77 FR 39691	07/05/2012
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
Electric Reliability Organization
Regional Entities
Registered Entities

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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	2,213	1,809	0	0	404	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	1,202,428	972,305	0	0	230,123	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	65,000	59,390,474	0	0	-59,325,474	0

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

Burden Increase Due to:

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

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The Commission first estimated the burden for this collection in 2006, at a time when the Reliability program was not yet established. In 2009 the Commission sought renewal of this collection and was able to estimate the burden more accurately than in 2006. In preparing the current renewal request package, the Commission closely examined the current Reliability program and corresponding data. Based on this research, the Commission found that it is necessary to adjust the previous burden estimate. The data show that in the area of Reliability Compliance the number of audits, self-certifications, spot checks, and mitigation plans has increased. The ERO generally decides what Reliability Standard requirements will be audited and which standards will be subject to self-certification. Some of the increase can be accounted for by NERC's decisions on what to include and not include for compliance activities in a given year. The Commission also found that the area of Reliability Standards development was not included in prior estimates and is including the associated burden in this renewal. It is important to note that the Commission does not directly control many of the variables that cause the burden hours to need adjustment. NERC, in its role as ERO is charged with the Reliability Standard development, compliance, enforcement, and monitoring. Each year NERC issues updated information regarding the focus of audits and other compliance and monitoring activities. The regional entities also have some autonomy over compliance activities in their respective regions, subject to NERC/Commission oversight. The increase (adjustment) in burden is necessary in order for FERC, NERC and the Regional Entities to continue to improve the reliability of the bulk-power system.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $384,840

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: 07/10/2012

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