In accordance
with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three
years.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
11/30/2015
36 Months From Approved
01/31/2015
5,403
0
4,723
497,398
0
472,134
0
0
143,556
The Commission has a statutory
obligation under Sections 205 and 206 of the Federal Power Act
(FPA) to prevent unduly discriminatory practices in transmission
access. FPA section 205 specifies that all rates and charges, and
related contracts and service conditions, for wholesale sales and
transmission of energy in interstate commerce must be filed with
the Commission and must be "just and reasonable". In addition, FPA
section 206 requires the Commission, upon complaint or its own
motion, to modify existing rates or services that are found to be
unjust, unreasonable, unduly discriminatory or preferential. FPA
section 207 further requires the Commission, upon complaint by a
state commission and a finding of insufficient interstate service,
to order the rendering of adequate interstate service by public
utilities, the rates for which would be filed in accordance with
FPA sections 205 and 206. Through this Final Rule in RM10-11, we
conclude that the practice of hourly scheduling and the lack of VER
power production forecasting are contributing to undue
discrimination and unjust and unreasonable rates in light of the
entry and increasing presence of VERs on the transmission grid.
Specifically, we find that requiring transmission customers to
adhere to hourly schedules is unduly discriminatory and
theoretically results in the inefficient use of transmission and
generation resources to the detriment of consumers. We further find
that a lack of VER power production forecasts theoretically
increases the volume of regulation reserves held by public utility
transmission providers, resulting in rates that are unjust and
unreasonable. Moreover, public utility transmission providers that
wish to engage in power production forecasting currently lack the
means by which to require VERs to provide basic information on
meteorological and operational conditions for use in developing
power production forecasts. We correct these deficiencies by
implementing the following two reforms: (1) amend the pro forma
OATT to require intra-hourly transmission scheduling; and (2) amend
the pro forma LGIA to incorporate provisions requiring
interconnection customers whose generating facilities are VERs to
provide meteorological and operational data to public utility
transmission providers for the purpose of improved power production
forecasting. These reforms are intended to protect against unjust
and unreasonable rates, terms, and conditions, and undue
discrimination in the provision of Commission-jurisdictional
services. Without this information, the Commission would be unable
to discharge its responsibility to approve or modify electric
utility tariff filings and ensure that all rates charged for the
transmission or sale of electric energy in interstate commerce are
just, reasonable, and not unduly discriminatory or
preferential.
The proposed reforms will
remove barriers to the integration of VERs. The Commission deems it
necessary to require the information collection requirement
described above in order to remove unduly discriminatory practices
and to ensure just and reasonable rates for
Commission-jurisdictional services and to remove barriers to the
integration of VERs. The Commission estimates that total average
increase in burden to be 26,356 hours. After the first year this
figure should be reduced to 22,380 hours. FERC is also removing
1,092 hours associated with one-time information collection
requirements, in other unrelated Dockets RM05-5-013 and RM05-5-017,
that have been completed.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
RM10-11 Final Rule Supporting Statement_Clean 11-20-12update.doc
eTariff implementation-guide.pdf
Electric Rates Schedules and Tariff Filings