FERC-725E: Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Western Electric Coordinating Council (RD25-6) (BAL-004-WECC-4)
No material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved collection
No
Regular
Approved with change
02/17/2026
07/29/2025
In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the non-substantive change request is approved.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
09/30/2027
09/30/2027
09/30/2027
1,244
0
1,244
2,358
0
2,358
0
0
0
FERC-725E is the information collection that is required to implement the statutory provisions of section 215 of the Federal Power Act (FPA) (16 U.S.C. 824o). Section 215 of the FPA buttresses the Commission's efforts to strengthen the reliability of the interstate grid through the grant of new authority by providing for a system of mandatory Reliability Standards developed by the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO). The FERC 725E information collection pertains specifically to the Western Electric Coordinating Council (WECC). WECC promotes bulk electric system reliability in the Western Interconnection. WECC is the Regional Entity responsible for compliance monitoring and enforcement. In addition, WECC provides an environment for the development of Reliability Standards and the coordination of the operating and planning activities of its members as set forth in the WECC Bylaws.
There are several regional Reliability Standards in the WECC region. These regional Reliability Standards generally require entities to document compliance with substantive requirements, retain documentation, and submit reports to WECC. In RD24-2-000, standard VAR-501-WECC-3.1 is being updated for syntax and the proposed changes have been deemed non-substantive. The currently approved VAR-501-WECC-3.1 is being replaced by VAR-501-WECC-4. The changes include updates to document numbering, the removal and replacement of obsolete language, and removal of redundant language.
For the purposes of the extension, the following standards will remain unchanged:
BAL-002-WECC-3 (Contingency Reserve)â- requires balancing authorities and reserve sharing groups to document compliance with the contingency reserve requirements described in the standard.
BAL-004-WECC-3 (Automatic Time Error Correction)â- requires balancing authorities to document that time error corrections and primary inadvertent interchange payback were conducted according to the requirements in the standard.
FAC-501-WECC-2 (Transmission Maintenance)â- requires transmission owners with certain transmission paths to have a transmission maintenance and inspection plan and to document maintenance and inspection activities according to the plan.
IRO-006-WECC-3 (Qualified Transfer Path Unscheduled Flow (USF) Relief)â- requires balancing authorities and reliability coordinators to document actions taken to mitigate unscheduled flow.
VAR-501-WECC-4 (Power System Stabilizers (PSS)) requires the Western Interconnection is operated in a coordinated manner under normal and abnormal conditions by establishing the performance criteria for WECC power system stabilizers.
The modification from the VAR-501-WECC-3.1 to VAR-501-WECC-4 were edits to the syntax of the standard. This update did not change the requirements in material. However, during this modification, the Commission reviewed the burden estimates and updated according to changes due to normal adjustments in the industry (i.e., firms entering and exiting the industry). Thus, decreasing the number of respondents by 1 and increasing the hours by 440 total.
$8,396
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
David O'Conner 202 502-6695
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.
BAL-004-WECC-4.pdf
Justification Summary RD25-6-Final 2.17.docx
FERC-725E (WECC Reliability Standards)