EIA-860S: Backup Generator Data Integration

Forms and Documents

Forms and supporting documents for this ICR

Document	Type	Status	Availability
Form EIA-860S State Level Generator Air Permit Inventory	Form and Instruction	Modified	Available
Nonsubstantive Change Request_EIA-860S_02192026.docx	Justification for No Material/Nonsubstantive Change	Uploaded 2026-02-19	Available
EIA-860S Letters.docx	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2026-02-11	Available
Emergency Survey_Supporting Statement B_FINAL_V1.docx	Supporting Statement B	Uploaded 2026-02-11	Available
Emergency Survey_Supporting Statement A_FINAL_V1.docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2026-02-11	Repair queued
OMB Memo EIA860 Emergency Survey Memo_FINAL_02112026.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2026-02-11	Available

IC Document Collections

Information collection document groups

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
279053	EIA-860S	Form and Instruction	Modified	State Level Generator Air Permit Inventory
279053	EIA-860S	Form and Instruction	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1905-0215	ICR Reference No: 202602-1905-002
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 202602-1905-001
Agency/Subagency: DOE/EIA	Agency Tracking No: EIA-860S
Title: EIA-860S: Backup Generator Data Integration
Type of Information Collection: No material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Emergency	Approval Requested By: 02/11/2026
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 02/19/2026
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 02/19/2026
Terms of Clearance: Minor changes to emergency package wording for clarification, approved 19 Feb 2026, with no effect on previous Terms of Clearance.

table that charts list comparision

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	08/31/2026	08/31/2026	08/31/2026
Responses	56	0	56
Time Burden (Hours)	280	0	280
Cost Burden (Dollars)	26,597	0	26,597

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Abstract: 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.

Emergency Justfication: 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.

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Authorizing Statute(s): 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
  

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

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

table that charts list of burden

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
EIA-860S	EIA-860S	State Level Generator Air Permit Inventory

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ICR Summary of Burden

table that charts list of burden

	Total Approved	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	56	56	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	280	280	0	0	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	26,597	26,597	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:

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $193,152

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? Yes Part B of Supporting Statement

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: 02/19/2026

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