81 FR 67343 - Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC Form Nos. 1, 1-F, and 3-Q); Comment Request
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 190 (September 30, 2016)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 190 (September 30, 2016)
| Page Range | 67343-67345 | |
| FR Document | 2016-23681 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 190 (Friday, September 30, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 67343-67345] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-23681] [[Page 67343]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. IC16-11-000] Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC Form Nos. 1, 1-F, and 3-Q); Comment Request AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Comment request. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Commission previously issued a 60-day Notice in the Federal Register (81 FR 38169, 6/13/2016) requesting public comments on FERC Form Nos. 6, 580, 1, 1-F, and 3-Q. The Commission received no comments regarding FERC Form Nos. 6 and 580 and issued a separate 30- day Notice on those collections (81 FR 62112, 9/8/2016). The Commission did receive comments (responding to the 60-day Notice) regarding FERC Form Nos. 1, 1-F, and 3-Q. This Notice addresses those comments and solicits additional comments on FERC Form Nos. 1, 1- F, and 3-Q. In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is submitting the FERC Form No. 1 (Annual Report of Major Electric Utilities, Licensees, and Others), FERC Form No. 1-F (Annual Report for Nonmajor Public Utilities and Licensees), and FERC Form No. 3-Q (Quarterly Financial Report of Electric Utilities, Licensees, and Natural Gas Companies) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review of the information collection requirements. Any interested person may file comments directly with OMB and should address a copy of those comments to the Commission as explained below. DATES: Comments on the FERC Form Nos. 1, 1-F, and 3-Q are due by October 31, 2016. ADDRESSES: Comments filed with OMB, identified by the OMB Control Nos. 1902-0021 (FERC Form No. 1), 1902-0029 (FERC Form No. 1-F), and 1902- 0205 (FERC Form No. 3-Q) should be sent via email to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs: [email protected], Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Desk Officer. A copy of the comments should also be sent to the Commission, in Docket No. IC16-11-000, 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 [email protected], 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 [email protected], by telephone at (202) 502-8663, and by fax at (202) 273-0873. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Type of Request: Three-year extension of the information collection requirements for FERC Form Nos. 1, 1-F, and 3-Q, with no changes to the current reporting requirements. Please note that each collection is distinct from the next. Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the collections of information are 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 estimates of the burden and cost of the collections of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collections; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collections of information on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. FERC Form No. 1, Annual Report of Major Electric Utilities, Licensees, and Others OMB Control No.: 1902-0021. Abstract: The FERC Form No. 1 (Form No. 1) is a comprehensive financial and operating report submitted annually for electric rate regulation, market oversight analysis, and financial audits by Major electric utilities, licensees and others. Major pertains to utilities and licensees having in each of the three previous calendar years, sales or transmission services that exceed one of the following: (1) One million megawatt hours of total annual sales; (2) 100 megawatt hours of annual sales for resale; (3) 500 megawatt hours of annual power exchanges delivered; or (4) 500 megawatt hours of annual wheeling for others (deliveries plus losses).\1\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ As detailed in 18 CFR 101 (Uniform System of Accounts Prescribed for Public Utilities and Licensees Subject to the Provision of the Federal Power Act, General Instructions) and 18 CFR 141.1. Nonoperating entities formerly designated as Major and new entities that expect to be in the Major category should file as detailed in 18 CFR 101. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Form No. 1 is designed to collect financial and operational information and is considered to be a non-confidential public use form. The Form No. 1 includes a basic set of financial statements: Comparative Balance Sheet, Statement of Income, Statement of Retained Earnings, Statement of Cash Flows, Statements of Accumulated Comprehensive Income, Comprehensive Income, and Hedging Activities; and Notes to Financial Statements. Supporting schedules contain supplementary information and outlines of corporate structure and governance; information on formula rates; and description of important changes during the year. Other schedules provide information on revenues and the related quantities of electric sales and electricity transmitted; account balances for all electric operation and maintenance expenses; selected plant cost data; and other statistical information. Type of Respondent: Major electric utilities. Comments: In response to the 60-day Notice, the Commission received comments from The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) collectively on Forms 1 and 1-F.\2\ A summary of the comments and the Commission's responses follow. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ The submittals are posted at http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=14318233 and http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=14318200. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) submitted comments on 7/28/2016 on Forms 1 and 1-F.\3\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ Id. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- BEA Comments: BEA uses data from Forms 1 and 1-F in estimating the national income and product account (NIPA) structures investment estimate. BEA states: ``While BEA uses this information indirectly through the [U.S. Census Bureau's Construction Value Put-In Place] program, it is considered an indispensable data source to the NIPA estimates.'' \4\ BEA would like to explore receiving data directly from the Commission with aggregated industry [[Page 67344]] totals of particular line items from Forms 1 and 1-F. BEA also suggests that the Commission expand the Form 1 and 1-F collection to include additional information regarding details on capital expenditures. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \4\ Id. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- FERC Response: BEA may access Form 1 and 1-F data directly: (1) Using the Form 1 viewer and historical data that is accessible via the Commission's Web site at www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/forms.asp; or (2) by searching for individual filings in eLibrary at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp. The Commission is not presently considering modifications to collect additional information on the Forms 1 and 1-F. Separately, the Commission is looking at modernizing data collection in Docket No. AD15-11, but that is an activity not addressed here.\5\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \5\ When FERC makes changes to the forms, instructions, and/or reporting platform system, that information will be submitted to OMB, as appropriate, for review under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). More information on the Forms Refresh project is posted at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/forms/eforms-refresh.asp. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Estimate of Annual Burden: The estimated annual burden \6\ and cost \7\ follow: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \6\ The one-time implementation burden (of 3 hours per respondent for the Forms 1 and 1-F) for the Final Rule in Docket No. RM11-24 (issued 7/18/2013) was administratively averaged over Years 1-3 giving an additional 1 hour annually for Years 1-3. Because the implementation period and that 3-year period (of averaging the implementation burden) have been completed, the additional 1 hour of burden is removed here and for the FERC Form 1-F, below. These changes were inadvertently omitted from the 60-day Notice in Docket No. IC16-11. \7\ The cost estimate (wages plus benefits) is $78.66/hour and is used for the Form Nos. 1, 1-F, and 3-Q. The $78.66/hour (wages plus benefits) is based on figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics National Industry--Specific Occupational and Employment Wage Estimates (May 2015 estimates at http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm, and benefits information for December 2015 at http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm) and is an average of the following: (a) Management (code 11-0000) of $88.94/hour; (b) business and financial operations occupations (code 13-0000) of $56.86/hour; (c) legal (code 23-0000) of $128.94/hour; and (d) office and administrative support (code 43-0000) of $39.91/hour. Form No. 1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total annual Annual number Total number Average burden burden hours & Cost per Number of respondents of responses of responses hours & cost per total annual respondent ($) per respondent response cost (1) (2) (1) * (2) = (4)............. (3) * (4) = (5) (5) / (1) (3) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 210.......................... 1 210 1,168 hrs.; 245,280 hrs.; $91,874.88 $91,874.88. $19,293,724.80. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The instructions to the Form 1 will be updated to reflect the current burden estimate and email addresses for FERC and OMB. FERC Form No. 1-F, Annual Report for Nonmajor Public Utilities and Licensees OMB Control No.: 1902-0029. Abstract: The FERC Form No. 1-F (Form No. 1-F) is a financial and operating report submitted annually for electric rate regulation, market oversight analysis, and financial audits by Nonmajor electric utilities and licensees. Nonmajor pertains to utilities and licensees having total annual sales of 10,000 megawatt-hours or more in the previous calendar year and not classified as Major.\8\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \8\ As detailed in 18 CFR 101 (Uniform System of Accounts Prescribed for Public Utilities and Licensees Subject to the Provision of the Federal Power Act, General Instructions) and 18 CFR 141.2. Nonoperating entities formerly designated as Nonmajor and new entities that expect to be in the Nonmajor category should file as detailed in 18 CFR 101. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Form No. 1-F is designed to collect financial and operational information and is considered to be a non-confidential public use form. The Form No. 1-F includes a basic set of financial statements: Comparative Balance Sheet, Statement of Retained Earnings, Statement of Cash Flows, Statement of Comprehensive Income and Hedging Activities, and Notes to Financial Statements. Supporting schedules contain supplementary information and include revenues and the related quantities of electric sales and electricity transmitted; account balances for all electric operation and maintenance expenses; selected plant cost data; and other statistical information. Type of Respondent: Nonmajor electric utilities. Comments: In response to the 60-day Notice, the Commission received comments from the BEA on 7/28/2016. As indicated above, these comments were submitted collectively for both Forms 1 and 1-F; a summary of the comments and the Commission's responses are provided above under Form 1. Estimate of Annual Burden: The estimated annual burden and cost follow. (The estimated hourly cost used for the Form No. 1-F is $78.66 (wages plus benefits) and is described above, under the Form No. 1.): Form No. 1-F ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Annual number Total annual of responses Total number Average burden burden hours & Cost per Number of respondents per of responses hours & cost per total annual respondent ($) respondent response cost (1) (2) (1) * (2) = (4)............. (3) * (4) = (5) (5) / (1) (3) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5............................ 1 5 122 hrs.; 610 hrs.; $9,596.52 $9,596.52. $47,982.60. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The instructions to the Form 1-F will be updated to reflect the current burden estimate and email addresses for FERC and OMB. FERC Form No. 3-Q, Quarterly Financial Report of Electric Utilities, Licensees, and Natural Gas Companies OMB Control No.: 1902-0205. Abstract: The FERC Form No. 3-Q (Form No. 3-Q) is a quarterly financial and operating report for rate regulation, market oversight analysis, and financial audits which supplements the (a) Form [[Page 67345]] Nos. 1 and 1-F for the electric industry, or the (b) Form No. 2 (Major Natural Gas Pipeline Annual Report; OMB Control No. 1902-0028) and Form No. 2-A (Nonmajor Natural Gas Pipeline Annual Report; OMB Control No. 1902-0030) (for the natural gas industry). The Form No. 3-Q is submitted for all Major and Nonmajor electric utilities and licensees; and natural gas companies.\9\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \9\ 18 CFR 260.1(b) states that for natural gas companies, Major, as defined by the Natural Gas Act, pertains to a company whose combined gas transported or stored for a fee exceed 50 million Dth in each of the three previous calendar years. 18 CFR 260.2(b) states that for natural gas companies, Nonmajor as defined by the Natural Gas Act, pertains to a company not meeting the filing threshold for Major, but having total gas sales or volume transactions exceeding 200,000 Dth in each of the three previous calendar years. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Form No. 3-Q includes a basic set of financial statements: Comparative Balance Sheet, Statement of Income and Statement of Retained Earnings, Statement of Cash Flows, Statement of Comprehensive Income and Hedging Activities and supporting schedules containing supplementary information. Electric respondents report revenues and the related quantities of electric sales and electricity transmitted; account balances for all electric operation and maintenance expenses; selected plant cost data; and other statistical information. Natural gas respondents include monthly and quarterly quantities of gas transported and associated revenues; storage, terminaling and processing services; natural gas customer accounts and details of service; and operational expenses, depreciation, depletion and amortization of gas plant. Type of Respondent: Major and nonmajor electric utilities and natural gas pipelines. Comments: In response to the 60-day Notice, the Commission received comments from two parties on Form 3-Q. A summary of the comments and the Commission's responses follow. BEA submitted comments on 7/28/2016 on Form 3-Q.\10\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \10\ The submittal is posted at http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=14318234. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- BEA Comments: BEA relies heavily on data from Forms 3-Q to calculate components of both the industry and national economic accounts to estimate gross output, intermediate input, and value added to the U.S. economy from the utilities industry. Similar to BEA's comments on Forms 1 and 1-F, BEA is interested in the inclusion of additional information in Form 3-Q regarding details related to capital expenditures. BEA suggests expansions to the Form 3-Q such as adding ``new versus replacement capital expenditures for certain line items''; including ``annual payments for equipment, software, and structures leased under operating leases from others''; and improving ``questions to help identify plants producing services in the current period (in service) versus plant not in service or off-line''. FERC Response: The Commission is not presently considering modifications to collect additional information on the Form 3-Q but as noted above is looking at modernizing data collection, which is a separate activity not addressed here. EEI submitted comments on 8/12/2016 on the Form 3- Q.\11\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \11\ The submittal is posted at http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=14328920. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- EEI Comments: In its comments, EEI proposes eliminating the Form 3-Q or reducing its frequency. EEI claims that the Form 3-Q has little to no value to the Commission's objective to achieve vigilant oversight of reporting entities. EEI states that it is unclear exactly how and to what extent the Commission uses the quarterly data and that no EEI member has ever been contacted about a Form 3-Q filing. EEI poses that Form 3-Q does not lend itself to identification of emerging trends or the economic effects of significant transactions and events and that Form 3-Q has no bearing on formula rate determination. As such EEI recommends that the Commission eliminate Form 3-Q or alternately adopt a mid-year frequency. Regarding the accuracy of the Commission's burden and cost estimates, EEI comments that the Commission's estimates are reasonable, but that EEI does not believe the burden and costs are warranted. FERC Response: The Commission currently uses the Form 3-Q report to perform oversight analysis and make timely evaluations of current financial information submitted to the Commission. Additionally, Form 3-Q is used to validate the debt and equity information of filings under Part 34 of the Commission's regulations when the most recent 12-month filing occurred more than 4 months prior to the application under Part 34. The Commission is not presently considering modifications to the collection or frequency of collection of the Form 3-Q, but may consider doing so in the future, at which time EEI will be able to submit comments on this issue. Estimate of Annual Burden: The estimated annual burden and cost (as rounded) follow. (The estimated hourly cost used for the Form No. 3-Q is $78.66 (wages plus benefits) and is described above, under the Form No. 1.) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \12\ The estimated number of electric filers of the Form No. 3-Q is 213 (rather than the 215 total for the number of filers of the Form Nos. 1 and 1-F) due to waivers granted by the Commission in Docket No. AC04-105. Form No. 3-Q -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Annual number Total annual burden Number of of responses Total number of Average burden hours & hours & total annual Annual cost per respondents per respondent responses cost per response cost respondent ($) ........... (1) (2)(1) * (2) = (4)................... (3) * (4) = (5)....... (5) / (1) (3) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FERC 3-Q (electric)................. \12\ 213 3 639 168 hrs.; $13,214.88.. 107,352 hrs.; $39,644.64 $8,444,308. FERC 3-Q (gas)...................... 167 3 501 167 hrs.; $13,136.22.. 83,667 hrs.; 39,408.66 $6,581,246. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total for FERC 3-Q.............. 1,140 191,019 hrs.; $15,025,554. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The instructions to the Form 3-Q will be updated to reflect the current burden estimate and email addresses for FERC and OMB. Dated: September 26, 2016. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016-23681 Filed 9-29-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 190 / Friday, September 30, 2016 / Notices 67343
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY • eFiling at Commission’s Web site: following: (1) One million megawatt
http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ hours of total annual sales; (2) 100
Federal Energy Regulatory efiling.asp megawatt hours of annual sales for
Commission • Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: resale; (3) 500 megawatt hours of annual
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, power exchanges delivered; or (4) 500
[Docket No. IC16–11–000]
Secretary of the Commission, 888 First megawatt hours of annual wheeling for
Commission Information Collection Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. others (deliveries plus losses).1
Activities (FERC Form Nos. 1, 1–F, and Instructions: All submissions must be The Form No. 1 is designed to collect
3–Q); Comment Request formatted and filed in accordance with financial and operational information
submission guidelines at: http:// and is considered to be a non-
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory www.ferc.gov/help/submission- confidential public use form. The Form
Commission. guide.asp. For user assistance, contact No. 1 includes a basic set of financial
ACTION: Comment request. FERC Online Support by email at statements: Comparative Balance Sheet,
ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or by phone Statement of Income, Statement of
SUMMARY: The Commission previously at: (866) 208–3676 (toll-free), or (202) Retained Earnings, Statement of Cash
issued a 60-day Notice in the Federal 502–8659 for TTY. Flows, Statements of Accumulated
Register (81 FR 38169, 6/13/2016) Docket: Users interested in receiving Comprehensive Income, Comprehensive
requesting public comments on FERC automatic notification of activity in this Income, and Hedging Activities; and
Form Nos. 6, 580, 1, 1–F, and 3–Q. The docket or in viewing/downloading Notes to Financial Statements.
Commission received no comments comments and issuances in this docket Supporting schedules contain
regarding FERC Form Nos. 6 and 580 may do so at http://www.ferc.gov/docs- supplementary information and outlines
and issued a separate 30-day Notice on filing/docs-filing.asp. of corporate structure and governance;
those collections (81 FR 62112, 9/8/ FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: information on formula rates; and
2016). Ellen Brown may be reached by email description of important changes during
The Commission did receive at DataClearance@FERC.gov, by the year. Other schedules provide
comments (responding to the 60-day telephone at (202) 502–8663, and by fax information on revenues and the related
Notice) regarding FERC Form Nos. 1, at (202) 273–0873. quantities of electric sales and
1–F, and 3–Q. This Notice addresses electricity transmitted; account balances
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
those comments and solicits additional for all electric operation and
Type of Request: Three-year extension
comments on FERC Form Nos. 1, 1–F, maintenance expenses; selected plant
of the information collection
and 3–Q. cost data; and other statistical
requirements for FERC Form Nos. 1,
In compliance with the requirements information.
1–F, and 3–Q, with no changes to the
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Type of Respondent: Major electric
current reporting requirements. Please
44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D), the Federal utilities.
note that each collection is distinct from Comments: In response to the 60-day
Energy Regulatory Commission
the next. Notice, the Commission received
(Commission or FERC) is submitting the
Comments: Comments are invited on: comments from The Bureau of
FERC Form No. 1 (Annual Report of
(1) Whether the collections of Economic Analysis (BEA) collectively
Major Electric Utilities, Licensees, and
information are necessary for the proper on Forms 1 and 1–F.2 A summary of the
Others), FERC Form No. 1–F (Annual
performance of the functions of the comments and the Commission’s
Report for Nonmajor Public Utilities and
Commission, including whether the responses follow.
Licensees), and FERC Form No. 3–Q
information will have practical utility; • The Bureau of Economic Analysis
(Quarterly Financial Report of Electric
(2) the accuracy of the agency’s (BEA) submitted comments on 7/28/
Utilities, Licensees, and Natural Gas
estimates of the burden and cost of the 2016 on Forms 1 and 1–F.3
Companies) to the Office of
collections of information, including the BEA Comments: BEA uses data from
Management and Budget (OMB) for
validity of the methodology and Forms 1 and 1–F in estimating the
review of the information collection
assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance national income and product account
requirements. Any interested person
the quality, utility and clarity of the (NIPA) structures investment estimate.
may file comments directly with OMB
information collections; and (4) ways to BEA states: ‘‘While BEA uses this
and should address a copy of those
minimize the burden of the collections information indirectly through the [U.S.
comments to the Commission as
of information on those who are to Census Bureau’s Construction Value
explained below.
respond, including the use of automated Put-In Place] program, it is considered
DATES: Comments on the FERC Form collection techniques or other forms of an indispensable data source to the
Nos. 1, 1–F, and 3–Q are due by October information technology. NIPA estimates.’’ 4 BEA would like to
31, 2016.
FERC Form No. 1, Annual Report of explore receiving data directly from the
ADDRESSES: Comments filed with OMB, Commission with aggregated industry
identified by the OMB Control Nos. Major Electric Utilities, Licensees, and
1902–0021 (FERC Form No. 1), 1902– Others
1 As detailed in 18 CFR 101 (Uniform System of
0029 (FERC Form No. 1–F), and 1902– OMB Control No.: 1902–0021. Accounts Prescribed for Public Utilities and
0205 (FERC Form No. 3–Q) should be Abstract: The FERC Form No. 1 (Form Licensees Subject to the Provision of the Federal
sent via email to the Office of No. 1) is a comprehensive financial and Power Act, General Instructions) and 18 CFR 141.1.
Nonoperating entities formerly designated as Major
Information and Regulatory Affairs: operating report submitted annually for
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
and new entities that expect to be in the Major
oira_submission@omb.gov, Attention: electric rate regulation, market oversight category should file as detailed in 18 CFR 101.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission analysis, and financial audits by Major 2 The submittals are posted at http://
Desk Officer. electric utilities, licensees and others. elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/
opennat.asp?fileID=14318233 and http://
A copy of the comments should also Major pertains to utilities and licensees elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/
be sent to the Commission, in Docket having in each of the three previous opennat.asp?fileID=14318200.
No. IC16–11–000, by either of the calendar years, sales or transmission 3 Id.
following methods: services that exceed one of the 4 Id.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:49 Sep 29, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\30SEN1.SGM 30SEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_67533/page/1.svg)
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 190 / Friday, September 30, 2016 / Notices 67345
Nos. 1 and 1–F for the electric industry, Comments: In response to the 60-day oversight of reporting entities. EEI states that
or the (b) Form No. 2 (Major Natural Gas Notice, the Commission received it is unclear exactly how and to what extent
Pipeline Annual Report; OMB Control comments from two parties on Form 3– the Commission uses the quarterly data and
Q. A summary of the comments and the that no EEI member has ever been contacted
No. 1902–0028) and Form No. 2–A
about a Form 3–Q filing. EEI poses that Form
(Nonmajor Natural Gas Pipeline Annual Commission’s responses follow. 3–Q does not lend itself to identification of
Report; OMB Control No. 1902–0030) • BEA submitted comments on 7/28/2016 emerging trends or the economic effects of
(for the natural gas industry). The Form on Form 3–Q.10 significant transactions and events and that
No. 3–Q is submitted for all Major and BEA Comments: BEA relies heavily on data Form 3–Q has no bearing on formula rate
Nonmajor electric utilities and from Forms 3–Q to calculate components of determination. As such EEI recommends that
licensees; and natural gas companies.9 both the industry and national economic the Commission eliminate Form 3–Q or
accounts to estimate gross output, alternately adopt a mid-year frequency.
Form No. 3–Q includes a basic set of intermediate input, and value added to the Regarding the accuracy of the
financial statements: Comparative U.S. economy from the utilities industry. Commission’s burden and cost estimates, EEI
Balance Sheet, Statement of Income and Similar to BEA’s comments on Forms 1 and comments that the Commission’s estimates
Statement of Retained Earnings, 1–F, BEA is interested in the inclusion of are reasonable, but that EEI does not believe
Statement of Cash Flows, Statement of additional information in Form 3–Q the burden and costs are warranted.
Comprehensive Income and Hedging regarding details related to capital FERC Response: The Commission currently
Activities and supporting schedules expenditures. BEA suggests expansions to the uses the Form 3–Q report to perform
Form 3–Q such as adding ‘‘new versus oversight analysis and make timely
containing supplementary information. replacement capital expenditures for certain
Electric respondents report revenues evaluations of current financial information
line items’’; including ‘‘annual payments for submitted to the Commission. Additionally,
and the related quantities of electric equipment, software, and structures leased Form 3–Q is used to validate the debt and
sales and electricity transmitted; under operating leases from others’’; and equity information of filings under Part 34 of
account balances for all electric improving ‘‘questions to help identify plants the Commission’s regulations when the most
operation and maintenance expenses; producing services in the current period (in recent 12-month filing occurred more than 4
selected plant cost data; and other service) versus plant not in service or off- months prior to the application under Part
statistical information. Natural gas line’’.
34. The Commission is not presently
FERC Response: The Commission is not
respondents include monthly and considering modifications to the collection or
presently considering modifications to
quarterly quantities of gas transported frequency of collection of the Form 3–Q, but
collect additional information on the Form
and associated revenues; storage, may consider doing so in the future, at which
3–Q but as noted above is looking at
terminaling and processing services; time EEI will be able to submit comments on
modernizing data collection, which is a
this issue.
natural gas customer accounts and separate activity not addressed here.
details of service; and operational • EEI submitted comments on 8/12/2016 Estimate of Annual Burden: The
expenses, depreciation, depletion and on the Form 3–Q.11
EEI Comments: In its comments, EEI
estimated annual burden and cost (as
amortization of gas plant. rounded) follow. (The estimated hourly
proposes eliminating the Form 3–Q or
Type of Respondent: Major and reducing its frequency. EEI claims that the cost used for the Form No. 3–Q is
nonmajor electric utilities and natural Form 3–Q has little to no value to the $78.66 (wages plus benefits) and is
gas pipelines. Commission’s objective to achieve vigilant described above, under the Form No. 1.)
FORM NO. 3–Q
Annual Annual cost
Number of number of Total number Average burden hours Total annual burden hours & per respondent
respondents responses per of responses & cost per response total annual cost ($)
respondent
(1) (2)(1) * (2) = (3) (4) (3) * (4) = (5) (5) ÷ (1)
FERC 3–Q (electric) .......... 12 213 3 639 168 hrs.; $13,214.88 .......... 107,352 hrs.; $8,444,308 ....... $39,644.64
FERC 3–Q (gas) ............... 167 3 501 167 hrs.; $13,136.22 .......... 83,667 hrs.; $6,581,246 ......... 39,408.66
Total for FERC 3–Q ... 1,140 191,019 hrs.; $15,025,554.
The instructions to the Form 3–Q will DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Pipeline, Inc. (Southern Star), 4700
be updated to reflect the current burden State Highway 56, Owensboro,
estimate and email addresses for FERC Federal Energy Regulatory Kentucky 42301, filed in Docket No.
and OMB. Commission CP16–502–000 a prior notice request
[Docket No. CP16–502–000]
pursuant to sections 157.205 and
Dated: September 26, 2016.
157.216(b) of the Commission’s
Kimberly D. Bose, regulations under the Natural Gas Act
Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline,
Secretary. Inc.; Notice of Request Under Blanket (NGA), as amended, requesting
[FR Doc. 2016–23681 Filed 9–29–16; 8:45 am] Authorization authorization to abandon in place Units
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P 1, 2, 3, and 4, each compressor unit
Take notice that on September 16, rated at 170 horsepower, and associated
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
2016, Southern Star Central Gas appurtenances at its Atchison
9 18 CFR 260.1(b) states that for natural gas pertains to a company not meeting the filing 11 The submittal is posted at http://elibrary.ferc.
companies, Major, as defined by the Natural Gas threshold for Major, but having total gas sales or gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=14328920.
Act, pertains to a company whose combined gas volume transactions exceeding 200,000 Dth in each 12 The estimated number of electric filers of the
transported or stored for a fee exceed 50 million Dth of the three previous calendar years. Form No. 3–Q is 213 (rather than the 215 total for
in each of the three previous calendar years. 18 CFR 10 The submittal is posted at http://elibrary.ferc. the number of filers of the Form Nos. 1 and 1–F)
260.2(b) states that for natural gas companies, due to waivers granted by the Commission in
gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=14318234.
Nonmajor as defined by the Natural Gas Act, Docket No. AC04–105.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:49 Sep 29, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\30SEN1.SGM 30SEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_67533/page/3.svg)
Document Created: 2018-02-09 13:34:08
Document Modified: 2018-02-09 13:34:08
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Comment request. | |
| Dates | Comments on the FERC Form Nos. 1, 1-F, and 3-Q are due by October 31, 2016. | |
| Contact | Ellen Brown may be reached by email at [email protected], by telephone at (202) 502-8663, and by fax at (202) 273-0873. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 67343 |
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