OMB files this
comment in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.11(c) of the Paperwork
Reduction Act and is withholding approval of this collection at
this time. This OMB action is not an approval to conduct or sponsor
an information collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995. The agency shall examine public comment in response to the
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and will include in the supporting
statement of the next ICR, to be submitted to OMB at the final rule
stage, a description of how the agency has responded to any public
comments on the ICR. This action has no effect on any current
approvals.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
08/31/2016
36 Months From Approved
08/31/2016
2,151
0
2,151
280,445
0
280,445
0
0
0
The NOPR in Docket RM14-2 affects
subsets of two OMB Control Nos. (FERC-545, 1902-0154; and
FERC-549C, 1902-0174). FERC is submitting this consolidated
supporting statement to OMB with one ICR for each of the 2 separate
OMB Control Numbers. This NOPR states that the Commission is
proposing certain revisions to its regulations, but also providing
the natural gas and electric industries, through NAESB, with a
period of 180 days after publication in the Federal Register to
reach consensus on any revisions to these proposals. Although we
present specific proposed reforms to existing natural gas industry
scheduling practices in this Proposed Rule, we continue to
recognize that the natural gas and electricity industries are best
positioned to work out the details of how changes in scheduling
practices can most efficiently be made and implemented, consistent
with the policies discussed in the NOPR. Therefore, participants in
the NAESB process should explore whether consensus can be reached
on any reforms to these practices that would address the policy
concerns identified. In addition, while the proposals in this
Proposed Rule focus on natural gas industry regulations, we expect
the electric industry (particularly the ISOs and RTOs) to
participate in these efforts to help ensure that the resulting
consensus reasonably accommodates the interests of both industries.
Comments on any consensus proposals, as well as comments on the
Commission's proposals, are to be filed 240 days after publication
in the Federal Register. General background on the collection:
FERC-545, Gas Pipeline Rates: Rate Change Non-Formal is required to
implement sections 4, 5, and 16 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), (15
USC 717c 717o, PL 75 688, 52 Stat. 822 and 830). NGA Sections 4, 5,
and 6 authorize the Commission to inquire into rate structures and
methodologies and to set rates at a just and reasonable level.
Specifically, a natural gas company must obtain Commission
authorization for all rates and charges made, demanded, or received
in connection with the transportation or sale of natural gas in
interstate commerce. Under the NGA, a natural gas company's rates
must be just and reasonable and not unduly discriminatory or
preferential. When a natural gas company decides to construct and
operate a jurisdictional pipeline, it files an application with the
Commission and receives a certificate of public convenience and
necessity from FERC. In the certificate proceeding, the Commission
authorizes initial rates for the transportation service to be
provided by the pipeline. Initial rates are established for new
services authorized in certificate proceedings and must meet a
public convenience and necessity standard. Initial rates
established in the certificate proceeding remain in effect until
the rates are changed by a Commission order. After the pipeline has
been in operation for a set period, it files a cost and revenue
study justifying the continuation of its initial rates or for a
rate change under NGA section 4. Pipelines adjust their tariffs to
meet market and customer needs. Commission review of these proposed
changes is required to ensure rates remain just and reasonable and
that services are not provided in an unduly discriminatory or
preferential manner. The Commission's regulations in 18 C.F.R. Part
154, Subparts C, E and G specify what changes are allowed and the
procedures for requesting Commission approval. The Commission uses
the FERC-545 information to examine service and tariff provisions
related to natural gas transportation and storage services. The
following information is the subject of the FERC-545: (1) tariff
filings and any related compliance filings; (2) rate case filings
and any related compliance filings; (3) informational reports; (4)
negotiated rates (5) non-conforming agreement filings and (6) North
American Energy Standards Board (NAESB) Activity (tariff portion
only).
In this NOPR in RM14-2, FERC
proposes to amend its regulations at 18CFR section 284.12 relating
to the scheduling of transportation service on interstate natural
gas pipelines to better coordinate the scheduling practices of the
natural gas and electricity industries (in light of increased
reliance on natural gas for electric generation), as well as to
provide additional scheduling flexibility to all shippers on
interstate natural gas pipelines. The proposed revisions deal
principally with revision of the operating day and scheduling
practices used by interstate pipelines to schedule natural gas
transportation service. These proposed revisions affect the
business practices of the natural gas industry, which the industry
has developed through the North American Energy Standards Board
(NAESB), and which the Commission has incorporated by reference
into its regulations. The Commission, therefore, is providing the
natural gas and electric industries with 180 days to reach
consensus on detailed standards, consistent with the Commission's
guidance, including any revisions or modifications to these
proposals. FERC's NOPR includes specific proposed reforms to
existing natural gas industry scheduling practices, but we continue
to recognize that the natural gas and electricity industries are
best positioned to work out the details of how changes in
scheduling practices can most efficiently be made and implemented,
consistent with the policies discussed in the proposed rule.
Therefore, stakeholders in the NAESB process should explore whether
consensus can be reached on any reforms to these practices that
would address the identified policy concerns. In addition, while
the proposals in this Proposed Rule focus on natural gas industry
regulations, FERC expects the electric industry (particularly the
ISOs and RTOs) to participate in these efforts to help ensure that
the resulting consensus reasonably accommodates the interests of
both industries. Comments on any consensus proposals, as well as
comments on the Commission's proposals, are to be filed 240 days
after publication of the NOPR in the Federal Register. This NOPR
would require a one-time tariff filing (FERC-545) to reflect the
proposed changes (e.g., process, timing, and frequency of the
nomination cycle) .
$2,914,431
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Norma McOmber 202
502-8022
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.
RM14-2NOPR_supp state 3_28_2014_549C_545.docx
RM14-2-Norris Statement-20140320-3093.pdf
Gas Pipeline Rates: Rate Change (Non-formal)