FERC-547, Gas Pipeline Rates: Refund Report Requirements

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Final FERC-547 Supporting statement 10-25-13.docx Supporting Statement A	2013-10-25
547regs statutes.docx Supplementary Document	2013-10-25
FERC-547 Filing (2013).pdf Supplementary Document	2013-10-25
FR10_25_2013__2013-25046.pdf Supplementary Document	2013-10-25

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
23038	FERC-547, Gas Pipeline Rates: Refund Report Requirements	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1902-0084	ICR Reference No: 201309-1902-007
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201009-1902-002
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-547
Title: FERC-547, Gas Pipeline Rates: Refund Report Requirements
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 11/25/2013
	Date Received in OIRA: 10/25/2013
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three years.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	11/30/2016	36 Months From Approved	12/31/2013
Responses	11	0	30
Time Burden (Hours)	825	0	2,250
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	149,143

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Abstract: FERC-547 is required to implement the statutory refund provisions governed by sections 4, 5, and 16 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) (15 U.S.C. 717-717w). Sections 4 and 5 authorize the Commission to order a refund, with interest, for any portion of a natural gas company increased rate or charge found to be unjust or unreasonable. Refunds may also be instituted by a natural gas company as a stipulation to a Commission-approved settlement agreement or a provision under the company’ tariff. Section 16 authorizes the Commission to prescribe the rules and regulations necessary to administer its refund mandates. The Commission’ refund reporting requirements are set forth in 18 CFR 154.501 and 154.502.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 15 USC 717-717w Name of Law: Natural Gas Act
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	78 FR 43186	07/19/2013
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	78 FR 63974	10/25/2013
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-547, Gas Pipeline Rates: Refund Report Requirements

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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	11	30	0	0	-19	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	825	2,250	0	0	-1,425	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	149,143	0	0	-149,143	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The FERC-547 reporting requirements and the estimated burden hours per response are unchanged. There is a decrease in the total burden hours due to a decrease in the number of filers and filings per year. The decrease in the number of refund reports filed seems most likely to be the result of more accurate pricing dynamics in national gas markets and a resulting decrease in the need to calculate and issue refunds to customers. The Commission is removing the annual cost burden figure that appears in ROCIS because it is associated with labor hours. The Commission only reports in ROCIS costs not associated with labor hours.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $75,159

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: 10/25/2013

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