Generic Testing Clearance EIA-882T_BIL Cognitive Testing

Request for Approval under the “Generic Clearance for Questionnaire Testing and Research” (OMB Control Number: 1905-0186)

Cognitive Testing Activities for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)

PURPOSE:

Overview

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) contains language that requires cognitive interviews to determine the feasibility of meeting the requirements outlined in the law. Specifically, the law states that the U.S. Energy Information Administration should:

1. “…require each load-serving entity to submit additional information as needed to determine the delivered generation resource mix of the load-serving entity, including financial or contractual agreements for power generation resource type attributes with respect to power owned by or tired by the load-serving entity.”

“For any portion of the generation resource mix of a load-serving entity that is otherwise unaccounted for, develop a methodology to assign to the load-serving entity a share of the otherwise unaccounted for resource mix of the relevant balancing authority.”

2. “…develop and implement measures to expand data collection with respect to electric vehicle integration with the electricity grids. The sources of the data pursuant to subjection may include:

   1. Host-owned or charging-network-owned electric vehicle charging stations;

   2. Aggregators of charging-network electricity demand;

   3. Electric utilities offering managed-charging programs;

   4. Individual, corporate, or public owners of electric vehicles; and

   5. Balancing authority analyses of transformer loading congestion and distribution-system congestion.”

1. Researching the feasibility of collecting emissions data

EIA has been tasked in the BIL to explore the feasibility of collecting the delivered generation resource mix from Load Serving Entities (LSEs). This could be accomplished by understanding the sources of each LSE’s electric power generation and their net purchases or sales of energy by fuel/resource used. For example, if this information is identified on the electricity sale, it may be possible to calculate carbon emissions associated with electricity generation at a national, balancing authority or state level based on this sector of the United States economy.   

 

The EIA-861 annual survey collects data on the amount of electric power generated, purchased, resold or sold by an LSE. However, it does not collect data on the fuel used to produce that energy. EIA-923 collects data on power generated by individual plants and the fuel/resource used but does not collect data on the amount LSEs may have purchased from individual power plants. Cognitive interviews are needed to determine if LSEs can report the amount and source of fuel/resource used to produce electricity either generated or purchased by the LSE, as well as the amount and type of power sold. Balancing Authorities may be able to provide this type of information as well, but research is needed to determine if this is possible.  

 

This research will investigate the time frame for collecting this information and attempt to determine the feasibility of collecting it annually, monthly or hourly to determine the practicality of providing this information on a near real-time basis. 

 

Additionally, accounting for carbon emissions associated with electricity generation may require a matching of an hourly demand value with an hourly supply of electricity and calculating the resultant emissions per kilo-watthour of electricity consumed.  LSEs, Balancing Authorities, and suppliers all may have pieces of these data elements but none may have the full picture.   

2. Developing options to add sales of electricity for vehicles to EIA’s survey forms

Currently, the U.S Energy Information Administration is not collecting data on the sales of electricity to power electric vehicles. Cognitive interviews are needed to understand and explore the possibility of obtaining data on EVs electrical grid consumption (electric sales by aggregated state level data).  As outlined in the BIL, EIA will be contacting four different target populations to conduct cognitive interviews: load-serving entities, EV manufacturers, EV charging companies, and household respondents.

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONDENTS:

For this research, EIA will be conducting cognitive interviews with five populations:

1. Load-serving entities

2. Balancing authorities

3. Electric vehicle manufacturers

4. Electric vehicle charging companies

5. Household respondents

Contact information for load-serving entities will be from the existing list frame for the EIA-861 Annual Electric Power Industry Report. Contact information for balancing authorities will be from the existing list frame for the EIA-930 Hourly and Daily Balancing Authority Operations Report. Contact information for electric vehicle manufacturers and charging companies will be developed using existing public information on the Internet. Household respondents will be asked to participate in the research using social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, etc.)

TYPE OF COLLECTION: (Check one)

[ ] Field Testing [X] Cognitive Interviews

[ ] Usability Testing [ ] Focus Groups

[ ] Pilot Surveys [ ] Other: ______________________

[ ] Respondent Debriefings

CERTIFICATION:

I certify the following to be true regarding the proposed collection of information:

1. It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions.

2. It avoids unnecessary duplication.

3. It reduces burden on small entities.

4. It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents.

5. Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices.

6. It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements.

7. It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

   1. Why the information is being collected;

   2. Use of information;

   3. Burden estimate;

   4. Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

   5. Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

   6. Need to display currently valid OMB control number

8. 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.

9. It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable).

10. It makes appropriate use of information technology.

Name: Kenneth M. Pick

To assist review, please provide answers to the following questions:

Personally Identifiable Information:

1. Is personally identifiable information (PII) collected? [ ] Yes [X] No

2. If Yes, will any information that is collected be included in records that are subject to the Privacy Act of 1974? [ ] Yes [ ] No

3. If Yes, has an up-to-date System of Records Notice (SORN) been published? [ ] Yes [ ] No

Gifts or Payments:

Is an incentive (e.g., money or reimbursement of expenses, token of appreciation) provided to participants? [ ] Y [X] No

BURDEN HOURS

Category of Respondent	No. of Respondents	Participation Time	Burden
Load serving entities	100	1 hour each	100 hours
Balancing authorities	20	1 hour each	20 hours
Electric vehicle manufacturers	10	1 hour each	10 hours
Electric vehicle charging companies	10	1 hour each	10 hours
Household respondents	90	10 minutes	15 hours
Totals	230	4 hours and 10 minutes	155 hours

ESTIMATE OF RESPONDENT BURDEN HOURS AND COST – The burden to respondents is 155 hours and the cost to the respondents is estimated to be ($83.38 * 155 hours) = $12,923.90.

FEDERAL COST: The estimated annual cost to the Federal government is:

Activity	Hours
Drafting Protocols	40 hours
Conducting Interviews	155 hours
Analyzing Results / Report Writing	120 hours

315 hours * $83.38 (FTE hourly pay rate) = $26,264.70

If you are conducting a focus group, survey, or plan to employ statistical methods, please provide answers to the following questions:

The selection of your targeted respondents

1. Do you have a customer list or something similar that defines the universe of potential respondents?

[X] Yes [ ] No

If the answer is yes, please provide a description of both below (or attach the sampling plan)? If the answer is no, please provide a description of how you plan to identify your potential group of respondents and how you will select them?

2. Do you have a sampling plan for selecting from this universe?

[X] Yes [ ] No

Contact information for load-serving entities will be from the existing list frame for the EIA-861 Annual Electric Power Industry Report. Contact information for balancing authorities will be from the existing list frame for the EIA-930 Hourly and Daily Balancing Authority Operations Report. Contact information for electric vehicle manufacturers and charging companies will be developed using existing public information on the Internet. Household respondents will be asked to participate in the research using social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, etc.)

Administration of the Instrument

1. How will you collect the information? (Check all that apply)

[X] Web-based or other forms of Social Media

[ ] Telephone

[X] In-person

[ ] Mail

[X] Other, Explain: Video Conferencing

2. Will interviewers or facilitators be used? [X] Yes [ ] No

EIA survey methodologists will moderate the cognitive interviews.

Please make sure that all instruments, instructions, and scripts are submitted with the request.

Instructions for completing Request for Approval under the

“Generic Clearance for Questionnaire Testing and Research”

(OMB Control Number: 1905-0186)

TITLE OF INFORMATION COLLECTION: Provide the name of the collection that is the subject of the request. (e.g. Comment card for soliciting feedback on xxxx)

PURPOSE: Provide a brief description of the purpose of this collection and how it will be used. If this is part of a larger study or effort, please include this in your explanation.

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONDENTS: Provide a brief description of the targeted group or groups for this collection of information. These groups must have experience with the program.

TYPE OF COLLECTION: Check one box. If you are requesting approval of other instruments under the generic, you must complete a form for each instrument.

CERTIFICATION: Please read the certification carefully. If you incorrectly certify, the collection will be returned as improperly submitted or it will be disapproved.

Personally Identifiable Information: Provide answers to the questions. Note: Agencies should only collect PII to the extent necessary, and they should only retain PII for the period of time that is necessary to achieve a specific objective.

Gifts or Payments: If you answer yes to the question, please describe the incentive and provide a justification for the amount.

BURDEN HOURS:

Category of Respondents: Identify who you expect the respondents to be in terms of the following categories: (1) Individuals or Households; (2) Private Sector; (3) State, local, or tribal governments; or (4) Federal Government. Only one type of respondent can be selected per row.

No. of Respondents: Provide an estimate of the Number of respondents.

Participation Time: Provide an estimate of the amount of time required for a respondent to participate (e.g. fill out a survey or participate in a focus group)

Burden: Provide the Annual burden hours: Multiply the Number of responses and the participation time and divide by 60.

FEDERAL COST: Provide an estimate of the annual cost to the Federal government.

If you are conducting a focus group, survey, or plan to employ statistical methods, please provide answers to the following questions:

The selection of your targeted respondents. Please provide a description of how you plan to identify your potential group of respondents and how you will select them. If the answer is yes, to the first question, you may provide the sampling plan in an attachment.

Administration of the Instrument: Identify how the information will be collected. More than one box may be checked. Indicate whether there will be interviewers (e.g. for surveys) or facilitators (e.g., for focus groups) used.

Submit all instruments, instructions, and scripts are submitted with the request.

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