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, 44 USC 3506(c)(2)(A), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved information collection, FERC Form No. 580 (Interrogatory on Fuel and Energy Purchase Practices).
DATES:
Comments on the collections of information are due July 8, 2013.
ADDRESSES:
You may submit comments (identified by Docket No. IC13-13-000) by either of the following methods:
- eFiling at Commission's Web site: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp .
- Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426.
Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in accordance with submission guidelines at: http://www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp . For user assistance contact FERC Online Support by email at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or by phone at: (866) 208-3676 (toll-free), or (202) 502-8659 for TTY.
Docket: Users interested in receiving automatic notification of activity in this docket or in viewing/downloading comments and issuances in this docket may do so at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/docs-filing.asp .
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ellen Brown may be reached by email at DataClearance@FERC.gov, telephone at (202) 502-8663, and fax at (202) 273-0873.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Interrogatory on Fuel and Energy Purchase Practices (FERC Form No. 580).
OMB Control No.: 1902-0131.
Type of Request: Three-year approval of the FERC Form No. 580.
Abstract: FERC Form No. 580 is collected in even numbered years. The Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) amended the Federal Power Act (FPA) and directed the Commission to make comprehensive biennial reviews of certain matters related to automatic adjustment clauses (AACs) in wholesale rate schedules used by public utilities subject to the Commission's jurisdiction. Specifically, the Commission is required to examine whether the clauses effectively provide the incentives for efficient use of resources and whether the clauses reflect only those costs that are either “subject to periodic fluctuations” or “not susceptible to precise determinations” in rate cases prior to the time the costs are incurred.
Enacted November 8, 1978
The Commission is also required to review the practices of each public utility under AACs “to insure efficient use of resources under such clauses.” In response to the PURPA directive, the Commission (Docket Number IN79-6-000) established an investigation. Beginning in 1982, the Commission collected “Interrogatory on Fuel and Energy Purchase Practices” data every other year.
The review requirement is set forth in two paragraphs of Section 208 of PURPA, 49 Stat. 851; 16 U.S.C. 824d.
In 2010, the Commission redesigned the form to collect the information electronically through use of a standard form. Based on filer comments in response to the new electronic form used in the 2010 and 2012 collections, FERC recommends the following changes to the form:
Question 1
—Repair the email field to eliminate error messages.
Question 2
—Add a column labeled “Is this AAC a fuel adjustment clause?”
—Add a column labeled “Tariff volume number containing”. This information will aid staff in locating AACs.
—Remove the column and, thus, the request for information titled:
○ “Type/s of AAC”
○ “Type of costs that were passed through the AAC—if fuel, state fuel type”
There has been an increasing number of AAC-related cost types. This field makes it difficult for Commission staff to repopulate the dropdowns for this column without additional OMB approval. The information otherwise gained from respondents supplying the information collected in these columns will not be lost. Staff will locate and recover the information from Commission rate filings by using the AAC identification information given by respondents in the first three columns of Question 2.
—Rename Question 2 columns as follows to correct typographical errors:
| From | To |
|---|---|
| Identify service agreement within rate schedule containing AAC | Identify service schedule, if any, where the AAC is located within the rate schedule. |
| If rate schedule superseded or abandoned during 2012-2013 | Was rate schedule superseded or abandoned during 2012-2013? |
Additional changes to Question 2 table:
—Add a check box to enable the utility to indicate that it had no non-transmission related AACs during the reporting years, if the situation applies. This box, when checked, clearly indicates that there were no AACs to report.
—Add a “Copy Row” button to facilitate data entry.
We are further reducing the amount of information required for AACs that are not fuel adjustment clauses. Utilities with no fuel adjustment clauses only need to respond to questions 1 and 2. Utilities with a FAC will continue to complete the entire form.
Question 3
—Reword the question from:
| From | To |
|---|---|
| If during the 2010 and 2011 period, the Utility had any contracts or agreements for the purchase of either energy or capacity under which all or any portion of the purchase costs were passed through the AAC, for each purchase provide the information requested in the table below. Provide the information separately for each reporting year 2010 and 2011. Do not report purchased power where none of the costs were recovered through an AAC | If during the 2012-2013 period, the Utility had any contracts or agreements for the purchase of either energy or capacity under which all or any portion of the purchase costs were passed through a fuel adjustment clause (FAC), for each purchase from a PURPA Qualifying Facility (QF) or Independent Power Producer (IPP) provide the information requested in the non-shaded columns of the table below. Provide the information separately for each reporting year 2012 and 2013. Do not report purchased power where none of the costs were recovered through an FAC. For each purchase where costs were flowed through an FAC, fill-in the non-shaded columns and either “Only energy charges” or “The total cost of the purchase of economic power” columns, whichever apply. |
The Commission is only interested in QF and IPP information here and not every power purchase contracts/agreement. The language will be similar to what was used in Form No. 580 interrogatories prior to 2010.
—Remove the request for information and thus the columns titled:
○ Was an after-the-fact comparison made of actual avoided costs against the purchase costs?
○ Were purchases made on an hourly economic dispatch basis?
From the information provided in the 2010 and 2012 filings the Commission has found that it can fully evaluate regulatory compliance without this information.
Question 6
Change the question as follows:
| From | To |
|---|---|
| For each fuel supply contract, where costs were subject to 18 CFR 35.14, (including informal agreements with associated companies), in force at any time during 2012 and/or 2013, of longer than one year in duration, provide the requested information. Report the data individually, for each contract, for each calendar year. [No response to any part of Question 6 for fuel oil no. 2 is necessary.] Report all fuels consumed for electric power generation and thermal energy associated with the production of electricity. Information for only coal, natural gas, and oil should be reported. Information for ALL FUELS e.g. fossil fuels, wood chips), EXCEPT URANIUM, should be reported | For each fuel supply contract, of longer than one year in duration, in force at any time during 2012 and/or 2013, where costs were subject to 18 CFR 35.14, (including informal agreements with associated companies), provide the requested information. Report the data individually for each contract for each calendar year. No response to any part of Question 6 for fuel oil no. 2 is necessary. Report all fuels consumed for electric power generation and thermal energy associated with the production of electricity. Information for only coal, natural gas, and oil should be reported. |
—As with the request for transportation information that was eliminated in 2010, the Commission has found alternative information sources and analytical approaches sufficient to eliminate the request for fuels other than coal, natural gas and oil.
—Add a “Copy Contract” button.
Question 6a
—Add a column labeled “Is contract evergreen?”.
—Add a column labeled “Pipeline quality? (Y/N)”.
Question 6b
—Add a new column to the fuel quantity section labeled: “Coal (x103 tons) not delivered by end of contract year.”
—Add a column labeled “Pipeline quality? (Y/N)”.
Questions 7 and 8. There are no proposed changes.
Glossary: Define Evergreen contracts as follows: Evergreen contract: a contract that is renewed automatically or by notice from year to year until canceled by either party.
Access to the Revised Materials: A copy of the form, desk reference, and glossary are attached to this docket, but they are not included in the Federal Register. Interested parties can see the form electronically as part of this notice in FERC's eLibrary ( http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp ) by searching Docket No. IC13-13-000. Interested parties may also request paper or electronic copies of the form and desk reference by contacting Ellen Brown, by telephone at (202) 502-8663, by fax at (202) 273-0873, or by email at DataClearance@ferc.gov.
The attached form is for illustrative purposes only and does not include all the interactive features of the actual form. For a copy of the actual form, please contact Ellen Brown as indicated in this notice.
Type of Respondents: Large FERC-jurisdictional electric public utilities.
Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the total Public Reporting Burden for this information collection as:
Burden is defined as the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. For further explanation of what is included in the information collection burden, reference 5 CFR 1320.3.
FERC Form No. 580 (IC13-13-000):
Interrogatory on Fuel and Energy Purchase Practices
| Number of respondents (A) | Number of responses per respondent (B) | Total Number of responses (A) × (B) = (C) | Average burden hours per response (D) | Estimated total annual burden (C) × (D) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respondents with FACs | 37 | 0.5 | 18.5 | 103 | 1,905.5 |
| Respondents with AACs, but no FACs | 10 | 0.5 | 5 | 20 | 100 |
| Respondents with no AACs nor FACs | 35 | 0.5 | 17.5 | 2 | 35 |
| Total | 2,040.5 |
Despite the changes to the Form 580, burden estimates per response for each entity will not change from previously approved amounts. The burden estimate may vary by utility depending on whether the utility has or does not have an automatic adjustment clause and depending on whether or not those utilities with adjustment clauses allow automatic adjustment of fuel cost.
The total estimated annual cost burden to respondents is $142,835. [2040.5 hours * $70/hour = $142,835]
FY2013 Estimated Average Hourly Cost per FERC FTE, including salary + benefits.
The estimated annual cost of filing the FERC Form 580 per response is $1,742. [$142,835 ÷ 82 responses = $1,742/response]
Comments: The Commission seeks public comment on and subsequent OMB approval of the proposed revised information collection. Also, the Commission invites comments 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.
Dated: May 2, 2013.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-10946 Filed 5-7-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P