This Information Collection Request is approved for 2 years to allow FERC to better address the issues raised in the public comments. When it resubmits this ICR for renewal, FERC should include in its supporting statement a discussion of the merits of publicly disclosing the FERC 580 information in an evolving competitive market. FERC should discuss potential options to its current practice of providing information to the public on a contract-by-contract and plant-by-plant basis. As stated in the current supporting statement, "the information received in the FERC Form 580 collection is used by the Commission staff to conduct a review, mandated by statute, of fuel purchase and cost recovery practices to insure efficient use of resources, including economical purchase and use of fuel and electric energy, under FACs on file with the Commission." FERC should provide a detailed justification as to how the Agency's ability to fulfill this mandate under the FPA would be affected by the following: (1) confidential treatment of the 580 data, or (2) consolidation of the 580 information or masking of the individual company identity before release of the information.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
12/31/2003
12/31/2003
12/31/2001
5
0
65
3,808
0
6,031
214,000
0
302,000
The information collected under FERC form 580 is used by FERC to implement statutory provisions governed by Section 205(f) of the Federal Power Act as amended by Section 208 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978. Form 580 interrogatory is conducted every other year and collects information from public utilities that own or operate power plants that generate a minimum of 50 MW. The information received from 580 is used by FERC to conduct a review, mandated by statute, of fuel purchase and cost recovery practices to insure efficient use of resources, including economical purchase and use of fuel and...
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:
(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;
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.