New
collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)
No
Emergency
02/11/2026
02/11/2026
Requested
Previously Approved
6 Months From Approved
56
0
280
0
26,597
0
Data collection comprising the air
permitting offices of states, the District of Columbia, and the
five major U.S. territories to supplement the EIA-860 Sampling
Frame. EIA has a critical need to enhance the completeness and
accuracy of the frame for the EIA-860. This proposed information
collection request addresses these gaps by acquiring existing
backup generator data from all 50 states, the District of Columbia,
and five U.S. territories via air permitting offices, which
regulate generators under the Clean Air Act, rather than imposing
new direct reporting burdens on operators. This administrative data
acquisition will enhance the EIA-860 frame's completeness and
accuracy through reconciliation and validation, without altering
the survey's fundamental purpose and structure in any way.
EIA is making this
emergency request at a time of unprecedented increases in
electricity demand. In January 2026, we forecasted that electricity
demand would increase in both 2026 and 2027, which would mark “the
first four years of consecutive growth since 2005–07, and the
strongest four-year period of growth since the turn of the
century.” President Donald J. Trump has issued three executive
orders with direct bearing on questions of urgency, public harm,
and unanticipated events related to this demand growth. Because of
these reasons, EIA has a critical need to enhance the completeness
and accuracy of the frame for the EIA-860. While the survey
generally excludes smaller distributed generation, backup
generators are included if they meet the 1 MW threshold within a
surveyed facility. However, many backup generators are often
excluded or inconsistently captured due to capacity limitations or
intermittent operation, revealing data gaps. The current sampling
frame is unlikely to represent a complete enumeration of backup
generators. Our assessment indicates a potential underestimation of
the generator population, possibly by several hundred to over a
thousand units. The current lack of comprehensive data on backup
generators, particularly smaller emergency units, represents a
significant gap in our understanding of total U.S. grid capacity
and resilience. This gap could hinder effective emergency response
and grid management during periods of stress, potentially leading
to widespread power outages, economic disruption, and the loss of
human life.
US Code:
15
USC 772(b) Name of Law: Federal Energy Administration Act
US Code: 15
USC 754(b) Name of Law: Federal Energy Administration Act
US Code: 15
USC 790(a) Name of Law: Federal Energy Administration Act
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.
02/11/2026
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EIA-860S