In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three years.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
10/31/2014
36 Months From Approved
10/31/2011
112
0
134
44,257
0
52,950
0
0
6,142,320
FERC is obligated by statute to regulate key economic aspects of the electric, natural gas and oil industries. The law requires the Commission's economic regulatory activity because the transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil has often been a natural monopoly. In enacting Part II of the Federal Power Act (FPA) in 1935, one of the primary Congressional goals was to protect electric ratepayers from abuses of market power. To accomplish this goal, Congress directed the FERC to oversee sales for resale and transmission service provided by public utilities in interstate commerce. Under Section 203 of the FPA, the FERC must review proposed mergers, acquisitions and dispositions of jurisdictional facilities by public utilities, if the value of facilities exceeded $10 million for certain transactions and must approve such transactions if they are consistent with the public interest. Today, one of FERC's overarching goals is to promote competition in wholesale power markets, having determined that effective competition, as opposed to traditional forms of price regulation, can best protect the interests of ratepayers. Market power, however, can be exercised to the detriment of effective competition and exercise of market power in bulk power markets.
There is a decrease from 134 responses annually in 2008 to 112 currently. The Commission considers this a normal fluctuation of market activities. This decrease is reflected as an agency adjustment 8,693 hours [(134 responses per year minus 112 responses per year) multiplied by 395.15 hours per filing equals 8,693 (rounded)].
The 2008 respondent cost burden was calculated using a different methodology than that which is being used here. It resulted in a cost per respondent of $45,832 (rounded). This is $18,785 higher than the cost per respondent estimated in this current clearance. The Commission believes the methodology used in this package yields a more accurate assessment.
In ROCIS metadata, the Commission had included the respondent cost figure in the previous submission. This figure is being removed from ROCIS because the costs are all associated with burden hours and it is not current practice for the Commission to report these costs in ROCIS. However, all costs are reported in the supporting statement.
$3,418,503
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Patricia Morris 202 208-6990
No
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.
FERC-519_Supp_Stmt_(2011)_v5.doc
Application Under Federal Power Act Section 203,