[Federal Register: April 21, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 76)] [Notices] [Page 19522-19523] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr21ap99-38] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. IC99-582-000; FERC-582] Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments April 15, 1999. AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(a) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described below. DATES: Consideration will be given to comments submitted by June 21, 1999. ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be obtained from and written comments may be submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Attn: Michael Miller, Office of the Chief Information Officer, CI-1, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Miller may be reached by telephone at (202) 208-1415, by fax at (202) 208-2425, and by e-mail at mike.miller@ferc.fed.us. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Abstract: The information collected under the requirements of FERC- 582 ``Electric Annual Charges'' (OMB No. 1902-0132) is used by the Commission to implement the statutory provisions of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986, (Pub. L. 99-509) Title III, Subtitle E, Section 3401. Congress directed the Commission ``to assess and collect fees and annual charges in any fiscal year in amount equal to all of the costs incurred by the Commission in that fiscal year.'' The Commission implements a program of annual charges to be assessed against power marketing agencies, electric utilities and electric cooperatives. The Commission computes annual charges based on information of adjusted sales for resale and adjusted coordination of sales data. In calculating annual charges, the Commission first determines the total costs of its electric regulatory program and subtracts all electric regulatory filing fee collections to determine total collectible electric regulatory program costs. The Commission then uses the data submitted under FERC-582 to determine the total volume of long-term [[Page 19523]] firm sales and transmission, and short-term sales and transmission and exchanges for all public utilities, including power marketers. The Commission divides these volumes into its collectible program costs to determine the unit charge per megawatt-hour for each category of sales. Finally, the Commission multiplies the sales volume in each category for each public utility by the relevant unit charge per megawatt-hour to determine the annual charges for public utilities, including power marketers. In addition the Commission uses company financial information filed under the waiver provisions to evaluate a company's request for a waiver, or exemption, of the obligation to pay a fee for an annual charge. The Commission implements these filing requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR Part 381 Sections 381.108 and 381.302 and Part 382 Section 382.201(b). Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the current expiration date, with no changes to the existing collection of data. Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated as: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Average burden Number of respondents annually responses per hours per Total annual respondent response hours burden hours ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) (2) (3) (1) x (2) x (3) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 242.......................................................... 1 2 484 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Estimated cost burden to respondents: 484 hours / 2,080 hours per year x $109,889 per year = $25,570. The cost per respondent = $106. The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, disclose, or provide the information including: (1) reviewing instructions; (2) developing, acquiring, installing, and utilizing technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, verifying, processing, maintaining, disclosing and providing information; (3) adjusting the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; (4) training personnel to respond to a collection of information; (5) searching data sources; (6) completing and reviewing the collection of information; and (7) transmitting, or otherwise disclosing the information. The estimate of cost for respondents is based upon salaries for professional and clerical support, as well as direct and indirect overhead costs. Direct costs include all costs directly attributable to providing this information, such as administrative costs and the cost of information technology. Indirect or overhead costs are costs incurred by an organization in support of its mission. These costs apply to activities which benefit the whole organization rather than any one particular function or activity. Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed 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 of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technologies collection techniques or other forms of information technology e.g. permitting electronic submission of responses. Linwood A. Watson, Jr. Acting Secretary. [FR Doc. 99-9917 Filed 4-20-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-M