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OMB Control No: 1902-0154	ICR Reference No: 202201-1902-003
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 202108-1902-003
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-545
Title: FERC-545, Gas Pipeline Rates: Rate Change (Non-formal)
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR: No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 05/18/2022
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 02/04/2022
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	05/31/2025	36 Months From Approved	05/31/2022
Responses	1,363	0	1,410
Time Burden (Hours)	305,812	0	283,931
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

Abstract: FERC-545 is required to implement sections 4, 5, and 16 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), (15 USC 717c-717o, PL 75 688, 52 Stat. 822 and 830). NGA Sections 4, 5, and 16 authorize the Commission to inquire into rate structures and methodologies and to set rates at a just and reasonable level. Specifically, a natural gas company must obtain Commission authorization for all rates and charges made, demanded, or received in connection with the transportation or sale of natural gas in interstate commerce. Under the NGA, a natural gas company’s rates must be just and reasonable and not unduly discriminatory or preferential. The Commission may act under different sections of the NGA to effect a change in a natural gas company’s rates. When the Commission reviews changes in rates that a natural gas company has proposed, it is subject to the requirement of section 4(e) of the NGA. Under section 4(e), the natural gas company bears the burden of proving that its proposed rates are just and reasonable. For example, when a pipeline files to increase its rates, it makes a filing with the Commission under section 4 of the NGA. These types of filings are referred to as general section 4 rate cases. In the proceedings, the Commission reviews all of a pipeline’s rates and services. A pipeline can file a general section 4 rate case anytime it wishes, provided the pipeline did not agree otherwise in a settlement. A pipeline must demonstrate that the new rates it proposes to charge are just and reasonable. When a rate increase filing is made pursuant to section 4, the application is typically suspended and set for hearing by a Commission Order. On the other hand, when the Commission seeks to impose its own rate determination, it must do so in compliance with section 5(a) of the NGA. Under section 5, the Commission must first establish that its alternative rate proposal is both just and reasonable. The Final Rule in RM96-1-041 requires interstate gas pipelines to make a one-time tariff filing to reflect the changes in the updated NAESB standards. Interstate natural gas pipelines are required to conduct their transactions in accordance with the stated terms of their tariffs. The compliance tariff filings made in accordance with the final rule ensure that the pipelines acknowledge their obligation to conduct their business transactions in accordance with Commission requirements, which now include a requirement to comply with the business practice standards incorporated by reference into the Commission’s regulations as enforceable, mandatory requirements. The tariff filing also provides transparency for customers, as the business practice standards to be followed by the pipeline are specifically identified in the pipeline’s tariff. In the Final Rule, the Commission amends its regulations at 18 CFR 284.12(a) to incorporate by reference the latest version (Version 3.1) of certain business practice standards adopted by the Wholesale Gas Quadrant (WGQ) of the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB) applicable to natural gas pipelines. To implement these standards, natural gas pipelines will be required to file tariff sheets to reflect the changed standards. The FERC-545 accounts for the preparation and filing of tariff sheets. Information collection requirements contained within the standards are under FERC-549C, which the Commission is submitting concurrently with this package in a separate ICR.

Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 15 USC 717-717z Name of Law: Natural Gas Act

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	86 FR 63010	11/15/2021
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	87 FR 4009	01/26/2022
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate
Annual Number of Responses	1,363	1,410	-47
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	305,812	283,931	21,881
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	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: ******Correction to Final Rule RM96-1-42 average of one-time burden spread over years 1-3. NAESB (Version 3.2) • The PRA aspects of this final rule were approved by OMB. However we are correcting here the no. of responses in the previously approved ICR Reference No: 202108-1902-003. Correction made to the number of responses of the originally stated 178 should actually be 59 (or 178 averaged over 3 years; 178/3=59.333 *rounded). This created a decrease in responses by -119.16 Changes in estimate for the following: (The changes in estimate are due normal market fluctuations.) • Tariff Filings There was a decrease of 20 responses, from 322 to 302 responses.and a decrease of 4,281 hours, from 67,942 to 63,661. • Rate Filings There was an increase of 40 responses, from 24 to 64 responses and an increase of 14,160 hours, from 8,496 to 22,656. • Informational Reports There was a decrease of 60 responses, from 237 to 177 and a decrease of 14,100 hours, from 55,695 to 41,595. • Negotiated Rates & Non-Conforming Agreement Filings There was an increase of respondents from 65 to 69 (645 to 759 responses) creating an increase of 114 responses overall. The total hours increased 26,562, from 150,285 to 176,847. • Market-Base Rates for Storage Filings There was a decrease of 2 responses, from 4 to 2 responses and a decrease of 460 hours, from 920 to 460. Overall Net Change Due to All Adjustments in Estimates Described above. These changes results in a net decrease of 47 responses and an increase of 21,881 hours for all FERC-545 components due to correcting, adjusting for a more accurate estimate, and to reflect normal industry adjustments.

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $143,806

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

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

Agency Contact: Tracy DeMarr 202 502-8187

View ICR - OIRA Conclusion