FERC-725X, Mandatory Reliability Standards: Voltage and Reactive (VAR) Standards

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
FERC-725X supporting statement 10.23.24.docx Supporting Statement A	2024-10-31
16 USC 824(o).pdf Supplementary Document	2021-06-14
18 CFR 40.pdf Supplementary Document	2021-06-14
FERC-725X 30 day notice-10.23.24 (Issued).docx Supplementary Document	2024-10-31
FERC-725X 60 day notice (Issued).docx Supplementary Document	2024-10-23
FERC-725X 30-day notice (Published).pdf Supplementary Document	2024-10-31
FERC-725X 60-day notice (Published).pdf Supplementary Document	2024-10-23
VAR-001-5.pdf Supplementary Document	2024-10-09
Reliability Standard VAR-002-4.1.pdf Supplementary Document	2021-06-14

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
231231	VAR-002-4.1 Reliability Standard	Modified
213219	VAR-001-5 Reliability Standard	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1902-0278	ICR Reference No: 202410-1902-002
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202105-1902-003
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-725X
Title: FERC-725X, Mandatory Reliability Standards: Voltage and Reactive (VAR) 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: 11/01/2024

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	12/31/2024
Responses	1,193	2,041
Time Burden (Hours)	232,000	214,120
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: NERC established the Voltage and Reactive (“VAR”) group of Reliability Standards, which consists of two continent-wide Reliability Standards, VAR-001-4.2 and VAR-002-4.1. These two standards were designed to maintain voltage stability on the Bulk-Power System, protect transmission, generation, distribution, and customer equipment, and support the reliable operation of the Bulk-Power System. Voltage stability is the ability of a power system to maintain acceptable voltage levels throughout the system under normal operating conditions and following a disturbance. Failure to maintain acceptable voltage levels (i.e., voltage levels become too high or too low) may cause violations of System Operating Limits (“SOLs”) and Interconnection Reliability Operating Limits (“IROLs”), resulting in damage to Bulk-Power System equipment, and thereby threaten the reliable operation of the Bulk-Power System.

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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:
	89 FR 67079	08/19/2024
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	89 FR 86336	10/30/2024
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
VAR-001-5 Reliability Standard
VAR-002-4.1 Reliability Standard

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ICR Summary 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	1,193	2,041	0	0	-848	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	232,000	214,120	0	0	17,880	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	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: The Burden responses for FERC 725X was adjusted by agency estimate due to fluctuations. VAR-001-5 decreased by 2 burden responses. VAR-002-4.1 decreased by 846 burden responses. The burden for the FERC-725X information collection has decreased in the number of entities and burden hours. There was a difference in burden hours and cost by +17,880 hours (adjusted the burden per response and reduced how many times it occurs per year to 1 for VAR-002-4.1) due to normal industry fluctuations and correction of an accounting error. These industry fluctuations (e.g. companies merging/splitting, companies entering or leaving the industry) caused the number of respondents to decrease and their associated annual burden to increase.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $8,396

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: 11/01/2024

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