FERC-516, (Final Policy Statement in PL15-3) Electric Rate Schedules and Tariff Filings

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
PL15-3_516_519_555_FRpub_2016-12426.pdf Supplementary Document	2016-05-26
PL15-3 final supp state_516_519_555_PRA_8-16-2016.docx Supporting Statement A	2016-08-16
CFR-2015-title18-vol1-sec131-52.pdf Supplementary Document	2016-05-25
CFR-2015-title18-vol1-part42.pdf Supplementary Document	2016-05-25
CFR-2015-title18-vol1-part35.pdf Supplementary Document	2016-05-25
PL15-3_FinalPolicy Statement_5-19-16_20160519-3056.docx Supplementary Document	2016-05-23
PL15-3_proposed policy_news release_20150122-3054.pdf Supplementary Document	2016-05-23
PL15-3_proposed policy_20150122-3018.docx Supplementary Document	2016-05-23
16 USC 824d.doc Supplementary Document	2014-09-24
18 CFR 38.pdf Supplementary Document	2014-09-23

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
23073	Electric Rates Schedules and Tariff Filings	Modified
219045	Tariff filing to reflect Primary frequency response services in MBR (RM15-2 Final Rule)	Unchanged
213203	RM05-5-022 (One-time)	Unchanged
206027	One-Time Tariff filing in RM05-5-020	Unchanged
203116	Variable Energy Resource Integration Rule (RM10-11) Mandatory Burden	Unchanged
203115	Variable Energy Resource Integration Rule (RM10-11) Voluntary Burden	Unchanged
199916	Frequency Regulation (RM11-7), one-time tariff filing and system modification	Unchanged
196968	Demand Response (RM10-17) --One-Time and Monthly Filings	Unchanged

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1902-0096	ICR Reference No: 201604-1902-003
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201511-1902-005
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-516
Title: FERC-516, (Final Policy Statement in PL15-3) Electric Rate Schedules and Tariff Filings
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: 08/16/2016
	Date Received in OIRA: 05/26/2016
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	08/31/2019	36 Months From Approved	02/28/2019
Responses	5,807	0	5,806
Time Burden (Hours)	499,907	0	499,804
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The Federal Power Act Section 205 requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to ensure that the rates and charges for the wholesale sale of electric energy are just and reasonable. Section 205 also requires that the rules and regulations affecting or pertaining to the rates and charges for the wholesale sale of electric energy be just and reasonable. Industry-wide business practice standards help the industry achieve increased levels of efficiency. Version 003 builds on the Commission's work in preventing undue discrimination and preference in transmission service (in Order Nos. 890, 890-A, 890-B and 890-C) and its previous work related to incorporating by reference standards for business practices and communication protocols for public utilities (Order Nos. 676, 676-A, 676-E and 717). (The Proposed Policy Statement, issued 1/27/2015, requested public comments on PRA issues and estimates.) FERC issues this Policy Statement (in Docket PL15-3) to provide guidance regarding future implementation of hold harmless commitments offered by applicants as ratepayer protection mechanisms to mitigate adverse effects on rates that may result from transactions that are subject to section 203 of the Federal Power Act (FPA).

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 16 USC 824(d), 824(e) 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:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	80 FR 4231	01/27/2015
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	81 FR 33502	05/26/2016
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 8

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
RM05-5-022 (One-time)
Electric Rates Schedules and Tariff Filings
Demand Response (RM10-17) --One-Time and Monthly Filings
Frequency Regulation (RM11-7), one-time tariff filing and system modification
Variable Energy Resource Integration Rule (RM10-11) Voluntary Burden
Variable Energy Resource Integration Rule (RM10-11) Mandatory Burden
One-Time Tariff filing in RM05-5-020
Tariff filing to reflect Primary frequency response services in MBR (RM15-2 Final Rule)

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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	5,807	5,806	0	1	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	499,907	499,804	0	103	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	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: The Commission adopts the following policies regarding future implementation of hold harmless commitments offered by applicants as ratepayer protection mechanisms to mitigate adverse effects on rates that may result from transactions subject to section 203 of the Federal Power Act (FPA). First, the Commission clarifies the scope and definition of the costs that should be subject to hold harmless commitments. Second, the Commission adopts the proposal that applicants offering hold harmless commitments should implement controls and procedures to track the costs from which customers will be held harmless. The Commission identifies the types of controls and procedures that applicants offering hold harmless commitments should implement. Third, the Commission declines to adopt its proposal to no longer accept hold harmless commitments that are limited in duration. Fourth, the Commission clarifies that, in connection with certain types of FPA section 203 transactions, an applicant may be able to demonstrate that the transaction will not have an adverse effect on rates without the need to make any hold harmless commitment. The majority of the current estimated OMB-approved burdens for FERC-516, -519, and -555 are not affected by the Policy Statement in PL15-3. Below, we discuss the reasons and expected increases in burden as a result of this Policy Statement. FERC-516. Entities that previously recovered costs of their hold harmless commitment without additional scrutiny will now be required to prepare a filing to justify the recovery of such costs. Preparing such a filing will increase the burden on those entities who wish to recover certain transaction-related costs and show the effected rate to be just and reasonable. We estimate one additional FERC-516 filing per year.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $2,856,934

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: 05/26/2016

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