30-day notice (Issued)

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. RD26-5-000]

COMMISSION INFORMATION COLLECTION ACTIVITIES (FERC-725E);
COMMENT REQUEST; EXTENSION

(August 20, 2026)

AGENCY:  Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION:  Notice of information collection and request for comments.
SUMMARY:  In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved information collection FERC-725E (1902-0246), (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Western Electric Coordinating Council) for the retirement of Regional Reliability Standard BAL-002-WECC-3 (Contingency Reserves). The comment period ended on July 6, 2026, with no comments received.
DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due [INSERT DATE 30 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. 
ADDRESSES:  Send written comments on FERC-725E to OMB through https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRA/icrPublicCommentRequest?ref_nbr=202608-1902-005.  You can also visit https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain and use the drop-down under “Currently under Review” to select the “Federal Energy Regulatory Commission” where you can see the open opportunities to provide comments. Comments should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice. 
Please submit a copy of your comments to the Commission via email to [email protected]. You must specify Docket No. (RD26-5-000) and the FERC Information Collection number (FERC-725E) in your email. If you are unable to file electronically, comments may be filed by USPS mail or by hand (including courier) delivery: 
    • Mail via U.S. Postal Service Only: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20426. 
    • All other delivery methods: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852. 
Docket:  To view comments and issuances in this docket, please visit https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/search. Once there, you can also sign up for automatic notification of activity in this docket.  
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:  Contact: Kayla Williams at [email protected], telephone at (202) 502-6468.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  
Title: FERC-725E, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Western Electric Coordinating Council, Retirement of BAL-002-WECC-3.
OMB Control No.: 1902-0246
Type of Request: Retirement of BAL-002-WECC-3 from the FERC-725E information collection requirements
Abstract:  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).  Reliability Standards that the ERO proposes to the Commission may include Reliability Standards that are proposed to the ERO by a Regional Entity.1  A Regional Entity is an entity that has been approved by the Commission to enforce Reliability Standards under delegated authority from the ERO.2  On June 8, 2008, the Commission approved eight regional Reliability Standards submitted by the ERO that were proposed by WECC.3
	WECC promotes bulk electric system reliability in the Western Interconnection and 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 RD26-5-000, FERC is retiring Regional Reliability Standard BAL-002-WECC-3 (Contingency Reserve), which requires balancing authorities and reserve sharing groups to document compliance with the contingency reserve requirements.  NERC and WECC explain that “Regional Reliability Standard BAL-002-WECC-3 requires applicable WECC entities to maintain reserves at levels that exceed those required under the continent-wide Reliability Standard BAL-002-3 – Disturbance Control Standard – Contingency Reserve for Recovery from a Balancing Contingency Event.  Following a recent review of the regional standard, WECC identified that no technical basis supports the continued applicability of the standard, and that rather than advance reliability in the Western Interconnection, the regional standard may be presenting unnecessary challenges.
Type of Respondents: Balancing authorities and reserve sharing groups.

Estimate of Annual Burden:4  Our estimates for a reduction in burden under 725E are specific to just BAL-002-WECC-3 entities no longer needing to be compliant with the applicable Requirements.  Additionally, the estimate used information from the NERC Compliance Registry Summary of Entities as of February 9, 2026.  
	The individual burden estimates include the time needed to gather data, run studies, and analyze study results.  These are consistent with estimates for similar tasks in other Commission-approved standards.  Estimates for the additional average annual burden and cost5 as follows:
FERC-725E, Mandatory Reliability Standards for the
Western Electric Coordinating Council, Retirement of BAL-002-WECC-3
Changes in Docket No. RD26-5-000

Reliability Standard or Process
Type and Number of Entities6
(1)
Annual Number of Responses per Entity
(2)
Total Number of Responses (1)*(2)=(3)
Average Burden Hrs. & Cost) ($) Per Response
(4)
Total Annual Burden Hours & Cost ($) (rounded)
(3)*(4)=(5)
Annual review and record retention
34
(BA)
1
34
12 hrs.; 
$762.24
            408 hrs.;
        $25,916.00 

1 
(RSG)
1
1
1 hrs.; 
$63.52
1 hrs.;
$64.00 
TOTAL for retirement BAL-002-WECC-3

35

409 hrs;
$25,980.00

Comments:  Comments are invited on:  (1) whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden and cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and 
clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.  







Carlos D. Clay,
Deputy Secretary.