FERC-725, Certification of Electric Reliability Organization; Procedures for Electric Reliability Standards

Forms and Documents

Forms and supporting documents for this ICR

Document	Type	Status	Availability
FERC-725 supporting statement 1-12-2022.docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2022-01-13	Repair queued
FERC-725 30-day notice (published) 1.12.2022.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2022-01-12	Repair queued
FERC-725 30-day notice (Issued).docx	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2022-01-12	Repair queued
FERC-725 60-day notice (published) 11.03.2021.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2022-01-12	Repair queued
FERC-725 60-day notice Final (Issued) 10.28.21.docx	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2022-01-12	Repair queued
16 USC 824o.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2022-01-13	Repair queued
EPAct 2005 (109 PL 58).pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2022-01-12	Repair queued
18 CFR Part 39.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2022-01-12	Missing upstream

IC Document Collections

Information collection document groups

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
23273	Registered Entities		Modified
203074	Regional Entities		Modified
203073	Electric Reliability Organization (ERO)		Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1902-0225	ICR Reference No: 202201-1902-001
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 201908-1902-003
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-725
Title: FERC-725, Certification of Electric Reliability Organization; Procedures for Electric Reliability Standards
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 01/13/2022

table that charts list comparision

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	02/28/2022
Responses	1,829	1,730
Time Burden (Hours)	1,134,938	1,117,730
Cost Burden (Dollars)	65,000	65,000

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Abstract: FERC-725 (General Information) The FERC-725 contains the following information collection elements: -Self Assessment and ERO (Electric Reliability Organization) Application: The Commission requires the ERO to submit to FERC a performance assessment report every five years. The next assessment is due in 2019. Each Regional Entity submits a performance assessment report to the ERO. Submitting an application to become an ERO is also part of this collection. -Reliability Assessments: 18 CFR 39.11 requires the ERO to assess the reliability and adequacy of the Bulk-Power System in North America. Subsequently, the ERO must report to the Commission on its findings. Regional entities perform similar assessments within individual regions. Currently the ERO submits to FERC three assessments each year: long term, winter, and summer. In addition, NERC also submits various other assessments as needed. -Reliability Standards Development: Under Section 215 of the FPA, the ERO is charged with developing Reliability Standards. Regional Entities may also develop regional specific standards. Reliability Standards are one of the three principal mechanisms provided to FERC to ensure reliability on the Bulk-Power System. -Reliability Compliance: Reliability Standards are mandatory and enforceable upon approval by FERC. In addition to the specific information collection requirements contained in each standard (cleared under other information collections), there are general compliance, monitoring and enforcement information collection requirements imposed on applicable entities. Audits, spot checks, self-certifications, exception data submittals, violation reporting, and mitigation plan confirmation are included in this area. -Stakeholder Survey: The ERO uses a stakeholder survey to solicit feedback from registered entities in preparation for its three year and five year self-performance assessment. The Commission assumes that the ERO will perform another survey prior to the 2019 self- assessment. -Other Reporting: This category refers to all other reporting requirements imposed on the ERO or regional entities in order to comply with the Commission’s regulations. For example, FERC may require NERC to submit a special reliability assessment. This category captures these types of one-time filings required of NERC or the Regional Entities. The Commission implements its responsibilities through 18 CFR Part 39.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 16 USC 824o Name of Law: Energy Policy Act of 2005
  

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:
	86 FR 60626	11/03/2021
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	87 FR 1744	01/12/2022
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 3

table that charts list of burden

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Electric Reliability Organization (ERO)
Regional Entities
Registered Entities

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ICR Summary of Burden

table that charts list of burden

	Total Request	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	1,829	1,730	0	0	99	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	1,134,938	1,117,730	0	0	17,208	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	65,000	65,000	0	0	0	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: There was a decrease from seven to six in the number of Regional Entities because the Florida Reliability Coordinating Council (FRCC) dissolved in July 2019. The decrease changed the number of responses from 29.4 to 25.2 Regional entities. • Other changes from previous estimates come from new data in the proposed NERC 2022 Business Plan and Budget to reflect changes in the number of FTEs working in applicable areas. • Reviewing the NERC Compliance database, we determined the number of unique U.S. entities was updated from 1,409 to 1,496. • Lastly, in several instances, the amount of time an FTE devotes to a given function may have been increased or decreased.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $4,525,854

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? No

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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: 01/13/2022

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