In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, this renewal request is approved.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
05/31/2022
36 Months From Approved
05/31/2019
75
0
51
37,500
0
2,350
0
0
0
The following list outlines four circumstances under which the FERC-546 information collection requirements for certificated rates must be met:
A company decides to:
1. Construct and operate a new jurisdictional pipeline ;
2. Expand its certificated pipeline capacity by constructing a lateral pipeline, adding compression or providing storage at incremental or cost-based rates;
3. Build a new liquefied natural gas facility; or
4. Provide gas storage and negotiate market based rates.
Under the circumstances 1-3, the company must file its FERC-546 cost data along with an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity under the statutory requirements of NGA Section 7(c). For circumstance 4, the company must file its FERC-546 information with an application under NGA Section 4(f)5.
The FERC-546 includes the following:
⢠Supporting information for proposed initial rates (e.g. cost-based, market based, incremental rates);
⢠Pro forma tariffs;
⢠Motions to put proposed initial rates into effect subject to Commission findings on the related certificate;
⢠Unexecuted precedent agreements; and
Section 16 of the NGA grants the Commission administrative powers including the ability to define accounting, technical and trade terms, prescribe forms, statements, declarations or reports and to prescribe rules and regulations.
Section 403 authorizes the Commission, as delegated through the Department of Energy Organization Act, to establish and review priorities for curtailments under the Natural Gas Act.
The Commission reviews the FERC-546 materials in order to approve rates and tariff changes associated with an application for a certificate under NGA Section 7(c). Additionally, the Commission reviews FERC-546 materials in 4(f) storage applications to evaluate market power and decide whether to grant, deny, or condition market based rate authority for the applicant. The Commission also uses the FERC-546 information to monitor jurisdictional transportation, natural gas storage, and unbundled sales activities of interstate natural gas pipelines and Hinshaw pipelines. In addition to fulfilling the Commissionâs obligations under the NGA, the FERC-546 enables the Commission to monitor activities, evaluate transactions, ensure competitiveness, and improved efficiency of the gas industry's operations. In summary, the Commission uses the FERC-546 information to:
⢠Ensure adequate customer protections under section 4(f) of the NGA;
⢠Review rate and tariff changes by natural gas companies for the transportation of natural gas and natural gas storage services;
⢠Provide general industry oversight; and
⢠Supplement documentation during its audits process.
Failure to collect this information would prevent the Commission from being able to monitor and evaluate transactions and operations of interstate pipelines and perform its regulatory functions.
The Commissionâs goal has been to increase natural gas availability for electric generation, decrease natural gas price volatility, and encourage development of natural gas storage capacity in the United States. These emphases have caused burden projections for the FERC-546 information collection to be significantly higher than previous levels.
The 2015 renewal for the FERC-546 estimated 51 pipeline respondents would (industry-wide) submit 51 applications (across both pipeline respondents and storage operators) with FERC 546 information. While the number of potentially affected entities remains static, actual numbers for the FERC-546 filings and average burden per response were both significantly higher than previously proposed estimates due to increases in the natural gas industryâs infrastructure to transport numerous newly discovered supplies of shale gas. Commission staff, therefore, increased the burden estimates in the currently proposed clearance package in accordance with the aforementioned analysis of actual filings received for the FERC-546 information collection (burden estimate is explained in detail in Question #12). Commission staff made this adjustment to the total estimated burden via increases in both filing numbers (i.e. number of responses) and to the average respondent burden hours/response for both pipeline companies and storage operators (from 46.08 hours/response to 500 hours/response). The large increase in hourly burden per response is due to a recent, more thorough analysis of FERC-546 information collection and its actual affect upon industry respondents.
Thus, the public reporting burden has increased for this information collection. However, the Commission made no program changes regarding burden imposed upon respondents and the FERC-546 requirements remain unchanged from previously approved clearance packages.
$128,546
No
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Michael Ji 202 502-8191
Reginfo record details
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-546 supporting statement.docx
15 USC 3393 (2017).pdf
Certificated Rate Filings: Gas Pipeline Rates