Emergency Memo

Department of Energy
Washington, DC 20585

October 28, 2024
MEMORANDUM FOR RICHARD L. REVESZ
ADMINISTRATOR
OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
FROM:

MARIA D. ROBINSON Maria D.
Robinson
DIRECTOR
GRID DEPLOYMENT OFFICE

SUBJECT:

Emergency Information Collection Request - Puerto Rico
Energy Resilience Fund, Household Intake Form

Digitally signed by Maria
D. Robinson
Date: 2024.10.28
09:52:33 -04'00'

Pursuant to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) procedures established in 5
C.F.R Part 1320, Controlling Paperwork Burdens on the Public, the Department of
Energy (DOE) is requesting that the proposed revision of the information collection,
Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund (PR-ERF) Household Intake Form, be processed as
an Emergency Clearance Information Collection Request (ICR) as referenced in 5 C.F.R.
§ 1320.13, Emergency processing.
On May 15, 2024, OMB approved the PR-ERF Household Intake Form collection and
assigned control number 1910-5200. DOE is seeking a revision of the actively approved
collection based on feedback from the public requesting DOE expand options for
vulnerable Puerto Rican households to demonstrate eligibility for the PR-ERF program.
The requested revision to the existing approved form does not represent an increase on
the burden to the public. The revision simply provides alternative options for potential
beneficiaries of the PR-ERF program to demonstrate eligibility.
DOE has determined that the information must be collected prior to the time periods
established under Part 1320 of the regulation, and that this information is essential to
GDO’s implementation of the PR-ERF.
DOE requires emergency approval for this collection of information to comply with its
legal obligations under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, Public Law 117328. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, Public Law 117-328, 1 directs the
Department of Energy to improve the resilience of the Puerto Rican electric grid,
including grants for low-and-moderate-income households and households that include
individuals with disabilities for the purchase and installation of renewable energy, energy
storage, and other grid technologies. Specifically, DOE requires emergency approval for
this collection to address the urgent need to accelerate the provision of solar PV and
FY23 Summary of Appropriations Provisions.pdf (house.gov), Title IV – Energy and Water Development, and Related
Agencies
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battery storage systems to ensure reliable electric service is available to vulnerable
residents of Puerto Rico. Collection of this information is essential to the mission of
DOE.
DOE plans to continue installations of solar PV and battery storage systems to address
the harm and risk represented by the fragility of the island’s power system. However,
DOE has received significant public input from program awardees and potential
beneficiaries2 to expand the types of information that may be submitted to verify
eligibility under the program. Many awardees and potential beneficiaries of this program
have requested DOE expand the definition “very low-income single-family household” to
consider additional income qualifying programs and allow potential beneficiaries to
submit this information as verification of eligibility to the program. As a result, it is
necessary for DOE to modify the program information collection practices in response to
this public feedback.
Failure to collect the information necessary to verify eligibility in a timely manner will
cause unacceptable delays in providing assistance necessary to reestablish the reliability
of electric service to these vulnerable residents. As such, public harm is reasonably likely
to result in the absence of emergency approval of this request.
DOE submits an emergency request due to the exigent need for a diligent verification
process to demonstrate to Congress, agency and administration leadership, and the public
that the Puerto Rican households most vulnerable to extreme weather events with the
highest energy burden have been served. PR-ERF supports DOE’s mission to advance
equity and justice priorities, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create quality jobs.
DOE is therefore requesting an Emergency Clearance for the revision of the PR-ERF
Household Intake Form. GDO intends to publish a 30-day FRN to run concurrently with
the Emergency approval, if granted.
We would appreciate if you could please provide an approval determination of this
request to collect information under an emergency clearance by November 8, 2024.

This includes responses to a Request for Information on the program design issued February 21, 2023, as well as
through negotiations with program awardees.
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