FERC-725A, [RM11-20 NOPR] Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
RM11-20 NOPR OMBjust v3.doc Supporting Statement A	2011-12-14
EPACT 2005 Section 215 (16 USC 824o).pdf Supplementary Document	2011-12-13
EOP-003-2.pdf Supplementary Document	2011-12-13
PRC-006-1.pdf Supplementary Document	2011-12-13

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
45896	FERC-725A, Mandatory Reliability Standards for Bulk-Power System	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1902-0244	ICR Reference No: 201112-1902-003
Status: Historical Inactive	Previous ICR Reference No: 201109-1902-009
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-725A
Title: FERC-725A, [RM11-20 NOPR] Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Comment filed on proposed rule and continue	Conclusion Date: 01/18/2012
	Date Received in OIRA: 12/15/2011
Terms of Clearance: Pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.11(c), OMB files this comment on this information collection request (ICR) associated with the RM 11-20 proposed rule. In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, OMB is withholding approval at this time. The agency shall examine public comment in response to the proposed rule and will include in the supporting statement of the ICR, to be submitted to OMB at the final rule stage, a description of how the agency has responded to any public comments received on the ICR.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	12/31/2014	36 Months From Approved	12/31/2014
Responses	1,940	0	1,940
Time Burden (Hours)	1,797,530	0	1,797,530
Cost Burden (Dollars)	126,725	0	126,725

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Abstract: In the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005), Congress entrusted the Commission with a major new responsibility to oversee mandatory, enforceable Reliability Standards for the Nation's Bulk-Power System (excluding Alaska and Hawaii). This authority is in section 215 of the Federal Power Act (FPA). Section 215 requires the Commission to select an ERO that is responsible for proposing, for Commission review and approval, Reliability Standards or modifications to existing Reliability Standards to help protect and improve the reliability of the Nation's Bulk-Power System. The Commission has certified NERC as the ERO. The Reliability Standards apply to the users, owners and operators of the Bulk-Power System and become mandatory and enforceable in the United States only after Commission approval. The ERO also is authorized to impose, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, penalties for violations of the Reliability Standards, subject to Commission review and approval. The ERO may delegate certain responsibilities to Regional Entities, subject to Commission approval. In this NOPR the Commission proposes to approve Reliability Standards PRC-006-1 (Automatic Underfrequency Load Shedding) and EOP-003-2 (Load Shedding Plans), developed and submitted to the Commission for approval by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) certified by the Commission. The proposed Reliability Standards establish design and documentation requirements for automatic underfrequency load shedding programs that arrest declining frequency and assist recovery of frequency following system events leading to frequency degradation. Proposed Reliability Standard PRC-006-1 applies to planning coordinators and underfrequency load shedding entities (UFLS entities). This standard requires planning coordinators to design and document a UFLS program to arrest declining frequency, assist recovery of frequency following underfrequency events and provide last resort system preservation measures. Planning coordinators must maintain documentation, notify UFLS entities within its area, coordinate with other planning coordinators when necessary, and generally maintain a UFLS program. UFLS entities are required to provide necessary data to the planning coordinators. Proposed Reliability Standard EOP-003-2 applies to transmission operators and balancing authorities. Under this standard each transmission operator that has or directs the deployment of undervoltage load shedding facilities, shall have and provide upon request, its automatic load shedding plans. Further, each transmission operator and balancing authority shall have and provide upon request its manual load shedding plans. Under both standards the information is used to ensure compliance with requirements associated with load shedding plans and programs. Without this information it would be difficult to enforce compliance with the standards. A lack of compliance with these standards may lead to uncontrolled failure of the Interconnection.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 109 - 58 1211 Name of Law: Energy Policy Act of 2005
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
1902-AE45	Proposed rulemaking	76 FR 66220	10/26/2011

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
FERC-725A, Mandatory Reliability Standards for Bulk-Power System

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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 modifications to the Reliability Standard proposed in the NOPR, if adopted, are estimated to result in a net 11,286 hour increase (due to agency discretion) in the burden. The purposes of the proposed Reliability Standards are to establish UFLS programs to preserve reliability on the system and to provide balancing authorities and transmission operators the capability and authority to shed load rather than risk an uncontrolled failure of the Interconnection. The increase in burden is necessary to ensure that this purpose is maintained.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $1,575

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: 12/15/2011

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