FERC-717, (Final Rule in RM05-5-025, -026, & -027) Open Access Same-Time Information System and Standards for Business Practices & Communication Protocols

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
RM05-5-025_26_27_516E_717 Supporting Statement4-9-2020.docx Supporting Statement A	2020-04-09
516E-717-RM05-5_18 CFR Parts 37 and 38.docx Supplementary Document	2020-02-26
NAESB-links to docs-RM05-5-025-026-027.docx Supplementary Document	2020-02-26
16 USC 824(d) (e).pdf Supplementary Document	2017-09-29

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
240115	RM05-5-025, -026, & -027 Final RUle (one-time averaged over Years 1-3)	New
23197	Open Access Same-Time Information System (OASIS)	Unchanged

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1902-0173	ICR Reference No: 202002-1902-006
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201708-1902-004
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-717
Title: FERC-717, (Final Rule in RM05-5-025, -026, & -027) Open Access Same-Time Information System and Standards for Business Practices & Communication Protocols
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 04/09/2020
	Date Received in OIRA: 03/02/2020
Terms of Clearance: Because the agency sought comments only on the changes associated with the regulation, the existing expiration date remains the same for this collection. In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	01/31/2021	36 Months From Approved	01/31/2021
Responses	335	0	170
Time Burden (Hours)	6,750	0	5,100
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: Docket RM05-5-025, -026, & -027. FERC is amending its regulations under the Federal Power Act (FPA) to incorporate by reference into its regulations as mandatory enforceable requirements, with certain enumerated exceptions, the latest version (Version 003.2) of the Standards for Business Practices and Communication Protocols for Public Utilities adopted by the Wholesale Electric Quadrant (WEQ) of the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB), filed with the Commission as a package on December 8, 2017 (December 8 Filing), and includes minor clarifications and updates submitted by NAESB on June 5, 2019, and July 23, 2019. The WEQ Version 003.2 Standards build upon the standards included in the WEQ Version 003.1 Standards and include, in their entirety, the modifications submitted to the Commission in WEQ Version 003.1, which were the subject of an earlier notice of proposed rulemaking, with the addition of certain revisions and corrections. In this final rule, the Commission will not adopt the NOPR proposal to incorporate by reference NAESB’s latest version of the WEQ-006 Manual Time Error Correction Business Practice Standards. Version 003.2 of NAESB’s WEQ-006 Manual Time Error Correction Business Practice Standards proposes to retire the Time Error Correction Business Practice Standard, which have been the subject of a separate notice of proposed rulemaking. Additionally, this final rule updates NAESB’s Smart Grid Standards (set out in Standards WEQ-018 and WEQ-019) that the Commission listed for informational purposes in Part 2 of the Commission’s Regulations, to match the latest iteration of those standards. These revisions update earlier versions of the WEQ-018 and WEQ-019 Standards that the Commission previously listed in Part 2 of our regulations as non-mandatory guidance at 18 CFR 2.27 in Order No. 676-H. Finally, the Commission is incorporating by reference the WEQ-022 Electric Industry Registry (EIR). In general. The Federal Power Act Section 205 requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to ensure that the rates and charges for the wholesale sale of electric energy are just and reasonable. Section 205 also requires that the rules and regulations affecting or pertaining to the rates and charges for the wholesale sale of electric energy be just and reasonable. Industry-wide business practice standards help the industry achieve increased levels of efficiency. Version 003 builds on the Commission's work in preventing undue discrimination and preference in transmission service (in Order Nos. 890, 890-A, 890-B and 890-C) and its previous work related to incorporating by reference standards for business practices and communication protocols for public utilities (Order Nos. 676, 676-A, 676-E and 717).

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 16 USC 824d,e Name of Law: Federal Power Act
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
1902-AF65	Final or interim final rulemaking	85 FR 10571	02/25/2020

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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: 2

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
RM05-5-025, -026, & -027 Final RUle (one-time averaged over Years 1-3)
Open Access Same-Time Information System (OASIS)

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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	335	170	0	165	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	6,750	5,100	0	1,650	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

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 Commission is amending its regulations under the Federal Power Act (FPA) to incorporate by reference into its regulations as mandatory enforceable requirements, with certain enumerated exceptions, the latest version (Version 003.2) of the Standards for Business Practices and Communication Protocols for Public Utilities adopted by the Wholesale Electric Quadrant (WEQ) of the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB), filed with the Commission as a package on December 8, 2017 (December 8 Filing), and includes minor clarifications and updates submitted by NAESB on June 5, 2019, and July 23, 2019.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $173,478

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     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: 03/02/2020

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