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OMB Control No: 1902-0259	ICR Reference No: 202604-1902-006
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202212-1902-001
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-725J
Title: FERC-725J, Definition of the Bulk Electric System
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR: No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 06/26/2026

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	09/30/2026
Responses	168	168
Time Burden (Hours)	20,160	56,242
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

Abstract: On December 20, 2012, the Commission issued Order No. 773, a Final Rule approving NERC’s modifications to the definition of “bulk electric system” and the Rules of Procedure exception process to be effective July 1, 2013. On April 18, 2013, in Order No. 773-A, the Commission largely affirmed its findings in Order No. 773. In Order Nos. 773 and 773-A, the Commission directed NERC to modify the definition of bulk electric system in two respects: (1) modify the local network exclusion (exclusion E3) to remove the 100 kV minimum operating voltage to allow systems that include one or more looped configurations connected below 100 kV to be eligible for the local network exclusion; and (2) modify the exclusions to ensure that generator interconnection facilities at or above 100 kV connected to bulk electric system generators identified in inclusion I2 are not excluded from the bulk electric system. Each year the Regions and NERC may need to act on exception requests submitted by transmission owners, generator owners and distribution providers. We have revised the estimate for exception requests from 20 exception requests to 10, which is more accurate to the volume of received exception requests. Regarding Implementation Plans and Compliance, FERC estimates that 10% of the US registered entities may have to perform this task on a continuing basis.

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:
	Not associated with rulemaking

Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	91 FR 10387	03/03/2026
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	91 FR 31445	05/27/2026
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate
Annual Number of Responses	168	168	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	20,160	56,242	-36,082
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: There is a change in burden due to a reduction in the estimated number of respondents for the portions of FERC-725J that pertain to exception requests and implementation plans and compliance. These estimates are being updated for accuracy. There is no change in exception requests (submitted by generator owners, distribution providers, and transmission) hours. There is a decrease in implementation plans and compliance (submitted by all registered entities) from 350 hrs. to 120 hrs. The total change in estimates resulted in a total decrease in 39 responses and 36,082 burden hours.

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $114,905

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: David O'Conner 202 502-6695

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