FERC-725E, [RM09-09, Final Rule], Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Western Electric Coordinating Council

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
RM09-9 Fin rule draft5_26_11.doc Supporting Statement A	2011-05-26
links to public comments.doc Supplementary Document	2011-05-25
Statutes and Regs.doc Supplementary Document	2011-03-25

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
180804	FERC-725E, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Western Electricity Coordinating Council	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1902-0246	ICR Reference No: 201105-1902-008
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201103-1902-005
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-725E
Title: FERC-725E, [RM09-09, Final Rule], Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Western Electric Coordinating Council
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: 08/09/2011
	Date Received in OIRA: 05/26/2011
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for 3 years.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	08/31/2014	36 Months From Approved	05/31/2014
Responses	478	0	478
Time Burden (Hours)	10,145	0	8,377
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: Under section 215 of the Federal Power Act (FPA), the Commission hereby approves four revised regional Reliability Standards developed by the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) and approved by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), which the Commission has certified as the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) responsible for developing and enforcing mandatory Reliability Standards. These regional Reliability Standards have been designated by WECC as FAC-501-WECC-1 – Transmission Maintenance, PRC-004-WECC-1 – Protection System and Remedial Action Scheme Misoperation, VAR-002-WECC-1 – Automatic Voltage Regulators, and VAR-501-WECC-1 – Power System Stabilizer. Reliability Standard FAC-501-WECC-1 addresses transmission maintenance for specified transmission paths in the Western Interconnection. Reliability Standard PRC-004-WECC-1 addresses the analysis of misoperations that occur on transmission and generation protection systems and remedial action schemes in the Western Interconnection. Reliability Standard VAR-002-WECC-1 is meant to ensure that automatic voltage regulators remain in service on synchronous generators and condensers in the Western Interconnection. Reliability Standard VAR-501-WECC-1 is meant to ensure that power system stabilizers remain in service on synchronous generators in the Western Interconnection. In addition, the Commission approves five new regional definitions applicable within the Western Interconnection.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 16 USC 824(o) 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:
1902-AE19	Final or interim final rulemaking	76 FR 23690	04/28/2011

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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-725E, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Western Electricity Coordinating Council

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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	478	478	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	10,145	8,377	0	1,768	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 four new regional Reliability Standards (FAC-501-WECC-1, PRC-004-WECC-1, VAR-002-WECC-1, and VAR-501-WECC-1) replace existing regional Reliability Standards PRC-STD-001-1, PRC-STD-003-1, PRC-STD-005-1, VAR-STD-002a-1, and VAR-STD-002b-1, which were approved by the Commission in its June 2007 Order. In addition, the new regional Reliability Standards introduce five new regional definitions for the NERC Glossary: Functionally Equivalent Protection System, Functionally Equivalent Remedial Action Scheme, Security-Based Misoperations, Dependability-Based Misoperations, and Commercial Operation. We find that the requirements of these revised regional Reliability Standards may result in minor changes in burden to applicable entities but, overall, these requirements will not substantially add to or increase burden to entities that must already comply with the existing regional Reliability Standards and the corresponding NERC Reliability Standards. There are, however, two differences with respect to the applicability of the new versus the existing regional Reliability Standards. First, existing regional Reliability Standard WECC PRC-STD-005-1 is applicable to transmission owners or operators that maintain transmission paths indicated in the WECC Transfer Path Table. By contrast, new Reliability Standard FAC-501-WECC-1 is applicable only to transmission owners that maintain transmission paths indicated in the WECC Transfer Path Table. Thus, transmission operators no longer must comply with these regional requirements. Second, existing regional Reliability Standard WECC VAR-STD-002a-1 is applicable only to generator operators of synchronous generators whereas new regional Reliability Standard VAR-002-WECC-1 is applicable to both generator operators and transmission operators of synchronous condensers. Thus, Reliability Standard VAR-002-WECC-1 creates a new burden for transmission operators of synchronous condensers. This change to the Reliability Standard was deemed necessary by those participating in the standards drafting process in order to maintain reliability of the Bulk-Power System.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $37,422

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: 05/26/2011

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