In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for one year with the following terms of clearance: 1) OMB requests the agency to continue to work with stakeholders on the refinement of the questionnaire for this collection and 2) OMB requests the agency to consolidate the RTO/ISO collection with this collection for the non-RTO/non-ISOs.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
03/31/2014
36 Months From Approved
7
0
0
1,797
0
0
0
0
0
In September 2008, the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report titled Electricity Restructuring: FERC Could Take Additional Steps to Analyze Regional Transmission Organizations Benefits and Performance, GAO-08-987. This report recommended that the Chairman of the Commission, among other actions, work with regional transmission organizations (RTO), independent system operators (ISO), stakeholders and other experts to develop standardized measures that track the performance of ISO/RTO operations and markets and report the results to Congress and the public annually, including (1) an interpretation of what the measures indicate about the benefits of ISOs and RTOs and (2) where appropriate, changes that need to be made to address any performance concerns. Consistent with the goals outlined in GAOs report, the Commissions Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2009-2014 outlined a multi-year process for developing and implementing a common set of performance measures for markets both within and outside of ISOs and RTOs.
As recommended by GAO, Commission Staff worked with representatives from all of the jurisdictional ISOs and RTOs to develop a set of performance metrics. Commission Staff and ISO/RTO representatives met with interested stakeholders to solicit their perspectives and comments on the proposed performance metrics. Commission Staff then released the proposed metrics for public comment in Docket No. AD10-5-000. In October 2010, Commission Staff issued a report addressing the comments received and recommending a final list of metrics for ISOs and RTOs. In December 2010, the ISOs and RTOs submitted information for the 2005-2009 period addressing the final metrics developed by Commission Staff. This information, along with a Commission Staff analysis, was included in a report sent to Congress in April 2011. The ISOs and RTOs subsequently submitted a report providing data for the 2006-2010 period.
Now, Commission Staff has developed metrics to measure performance in regions outside of ISOs and RTOs. Consistent with the process used in developing metrics for ISO/RTO markets, Commission Staff has worked with the Edison Electric Institute and its members to develop a set of performance metrics for regions outside of ISOs and RTOs. Commission Staff, along with the Edison Electric Institute and its members, met with interested stakeholders to solicit their perspectives and comments on the proposed performance metrics. These metrics are based on the metrics previously selected in Docket No. AD10-5, but have been tailored to fit markets outside of ISOs and RTOs.
As stated in the report to Congress in April 2011, the long-term purpose of developing and analyzing performance metrics is to assist the utility industry, stakeholders, and the Commission in evaluating industry trends and best practices. This stems from GAOs recommendation to measure market performance in ISOs and RTOs and to recommend changes to enhance performance. Commission Staff has already worked to develop metrics to track performance in ISO and RTO markets. Utilizing metrics for regions outside of ISOs and RTOs will assist the Commission in evaluating market performance both within ISOs and RTOs and outside of such regions, identifying challenges, and developing best practices.
Commission Staff notes that the Commission is not requiring entities to report on the metrics. On the contrary, like in the ISO and RTO context, Commission Staff is engaged in a voluntary and collaborative process with utilities and other stakeholders to report on the metrics.
Staff expects responses from 11 respondents and plans to collect data bi-annually.
The estimated 1,797 burden hours annually are due to the time it will require to compile, review and submit the information requested. This is a new collection of information and there is no increase or decrease from a previously approved amount. The burden is necessary in order to collect the information and to be able to assess the performance of non-ISOs/RTOs. Please note that the collection is done every two years and that the total burden and number of responses have been averaged over the next three years to correspond to the clearance that FERC is requesting for this collection.
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.
RTO Metrics FERC Staff Report 2010.pdf
Links to Report to Congress and Appendices.docx
updatedSupporting_State12_20_12.doc
Non-RTO/ISO Reporting Requirements