View Information Collection Request (ICR) Package

OMB Control No: 1902-0259	ICR Reference No: 201212-1902-003
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201206-1902-004
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-725J
Title: FERC-725J, Definition of the Bulk Electric System (Final Rule; RM12-6 & RM12-7)
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR: No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 05/14/2013
	Date Received in OIRA: 01/07/2013
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three years.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	05/31/2016	36 Months From Approved
Responses	2,193	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	154,960	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

Abstract: Pursuant to section 215(d) of the Federal Power Act (FPA), the Commission approves modifications to the currently-effective definition of "bulk electric system" developed by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Commission-certified Electric Reliability Organization (ERO). The Commission finds that the modified definition of "bulk electric system" improves upon the currently-effective definition by establishing a bright-line threshold that includes all facilities operated at or above 100 kV and removing language that allows for broad regional discretion. The modified definition also provides improved clarity by identifying specific categories of facilities and configurations as inclusions and exclusions to the definition of "bulk electric system." Highlights of the Final Rule include: accepts NERC's revisions to its Rules of Procedure, which creates an exception procedure to add elements to, or remove elements from, the definition of "bulk electric system" on a case-by-case basis; approves NERC's implementation plan for the revised "bulk electric system" definition; approves NERC's form entitled "Detailed Information to Support an Exception Request" that entities will use to support requests for exception from the "bulk electric system" definition; finds that the Commission can designate sub-100 kV facilities, or other facilities, as part of the bulk electric system, provided that the Commission provides opportunity for notice and comment; and establishes a process pursuant to which an entity can seek a determination by the Commission whether facilities are "used in local distribution" as set forth in the Federal Power Act. The Commission received rehearing requests from multiple entities. In the order on rehearing the Commission denies rehearing in part, grants rehearing in part and otherwise reaffirms its determinations in Order No. 773 (Final Rule). The Commission does not alter any of the information collection requirements in the order on rehearing. However, the Commission does modify some of the estimates, as well as include a collection category (local distribution determinations) that it did not include in the final rule burden estimates.

Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 16 USC 824o Name of Law: Energy Policy Act of 2005

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
1902-AE51	Final or interim final rulemaking	78 FR 804	01/04/2013

Federal Register Notices & Comments
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Change Due to Agency Discretion
Annual Number of Responses	2,193	2,193
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	154,960	154,960
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The Commission adopts the modified definition of the nation's bulk electric system which will require an increase in burden. The increase in burden is necessary to ensure that certain facilities needed for the reliable operation of the nation's bulk electric system are subject to mandatory and enforceable Reliability Standards. As previously described in this supporting statement, entities will be required to review their systems and create lists of qualified assets, file exception requests where necessary, and in some instances, develop an implementation plan and begin complying with certain Reliability Standards. In some instances, an entity may choose to file a request for a local distribution determination with the Commission. In regards to the implementation plan and general reliability standard compliance, the Commission has other information collections currently approved by OMB for specific Reliability Standards. Once respondents are in compliance with the Reliability Standards, the Commission will begin counting the responses for this category under the individual collection for the Reliability Standards. The Commission intends to leave the other information collection elements related to this rulemaking under this collection. These tasks are deemed necessary in order to maintain the reliable operation of the nation's bulk electric system.

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $18,813

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? 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? Uncollected

Agency Contact: David O'Conner 202 502-6695

View ICR - OIRA Conclusion