[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 25, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54673-54675]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-26408]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Energy Information Administration
Solicitation of Comments on Form EIA-898A/B, ``Solar Thermal
Installers Survey'' and ``Photovoltaic Systems Installers Survey''
AGENCY: Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of the proposed new forms and solicitation of comments.
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SUMMARY: The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is soliciting
comments concerning the proposed new Forms (EIA-898A/B), ``Solar
Thermal Systems Installers Survey'' and ``Photovoltaic Systems
Installers Survey''.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before December 26,
1995. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find
it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice,
you should advise the contact listed below of your intention to do so
as soon as possible.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Peter Holihan, (EI-522) Energy Information
Administration, Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, U. S.
Department of Energy, Washington, D. C. 20585 (telephone number 202-
254-5432) (e mail address [email protected]) (fax 202-254-6233).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the form(s) and instructions should be directed to Peter
Holihan at the address listed above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
II. Current Actions
III. Request for Comments
I. Background
In order to fulfill its responsibilities under the Federal Energy
Administration Act of 1974 (Pub. L. No. 93-275) and the Department of
Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. No. 95-91), the Energy Information
Administration (EIA) is obliged to carry out a central, comprehensive,
and unified energy data and information program. As part of this
program, EIA collects, evaluates, assembles, analyzes, and disseminates
data and information related to energy resource reserves, production,
demand, and technology, and related economic and statistical
information relevant to the adequacy of energy resources to meet
demands in the near and longer term future for the Nation's economic
and social needs.
The Energy Information Administration, as part of its continuing
effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden (required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13)), conducts a presurvey
consultation program to provide the general public and other Federal
agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing
reporting forms. This program helps to ensure that requested data can
be provided in the desired format, reporting burden is minimized,
reporting forms are clearly understood, and the impact of collection
requirements on respondents can be properly assessed.
Form EIA-898A will collect data on the installation of solar
thermal collectors from installers consisting of manufacturers who also
install solar devices, distributors who are also installers, building
contractors, and trade professionals (e.g., plumbers and electricians).
Data requested will be: the number and types of solar devices
installed; the total energy output; the type of energy sources
replaced; final State destination of solar devices installed; average
costs and uses of installed solar devices as well as original versus
retrofit percentages of revenue for solar systems installers;
maintenance costs, and warranty data.
Form EIA-898B will collect data on the installation of photovoltaic
devices from installers consisting of manufacturers who also install
photovoltaic devices, distributors who are also installers, building
contractors, and trade professionals (e.g., plumbers and electricians).
Data requested will be: the number and types of photovoltaic devices
installed; the total energy output of the photovoltaic systems
installed; the types of energy sources displaced; final State
destination of photovoltaic devices installed; average costs and uses
of installed systems as well as original verses retrofit percentages of
revenue for photovoltaic devices installed; maintenance costs, and
warranty data.
II. Current Actions
The EIA is proposing two new surveys, Forms 898A/B, to collect data
from installers of solar thermal collectors and photovoltaic devices. A
pretest survey of a number of installers who were representative of the
installers' industry has been conducted, with any recommendations being
incorporated into the final survey forms. The purpose of the pretest
survey was to identify potential survey respondents, pretest the
questionnaire, and assess the availability of installation data. The
EIA plans to meet with solar industry companies, DOE personnel, and
other interested parties to discuss Forms EIA-898A/B. EIA will also
consult with the Solar Energy Industry Association to review any
comments the industry has.
III. Request for Comments
Prospective respondents and other interested parties should comment
on the actions discussed in item II. The following guidelines are
provided to assist in the preparation of responses. Please indicate to
which form(s) your comments apply.
General Issues
EIA is interested in receiving comments from persons regarding:
A. Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have practical utility. Practical utility
is the actual usefulness of information to or for an agency, taking
into account its accuracy, adequacy, reliability, timeliness, and the
agency's ability to process the information it collects.
B. What enhancements can EIA make to the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be collected?
As a potential respondent
A. Are the instructions and definitions clear and sufficient? If
not, which instructions require clarification?
B. Can data be submitted in accordance with the due date specified
in the instructions?
C. Public reporting burden for each form is estimated to average 3
hours. Burden includes the total time, effort, or financial resources
expended to generate, maintain, retain, or 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.
Please comment on (1) the accuracy of our estimate and (2) how the
agency could minimize the burden of the collection of information,
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other
forms of information technology.
D. In addition to the burden costs, are there any capital or start-
up cost components or any operational and maintenance components? The
estimates should take into account costs
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associated with generating, maintaining, and disclosing or providing
information. Capital and start-up costs include, among other items,
preparations for collecting information such as purchasing computers,
software; monitoring, sampling, drilling, testing equipment; and record
storage facilities.
E. Do you know of any other Federal, State, or local agency that
collects similar data? If you do, specify the agency, the data
element(s), and the methods of collection.
As a Potential User
A. Can you use data at the levels of detail indicated on the form?
B. For what purpose would you use the data? Be specific.
C. Are there alternate sources of data and do you use them? If so,
what are their deficiencies and/or strengths?
D. For the most part, information is published by EIA in U.S.
customary units, e.g., cubic feet of natural gas, short tons of coal,
and barrels of oil. Would you prefer to see EIA publish more
information in metric units, e.g., cubic meters, metric tons, and
kilograms? If yes, please specify what information (e.g., coal
production, natural gas consumption, and crude oil imports), the metric
unit(s) of measurement preferred, and in which EIA publication(s) you
would like to see such information.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the form. They also
will become a matter of public record.
Statutory Authority
Section 3506 (c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(Pub. L. No. 104-13).
Issued in Washington, D.C. October 18, 1995.
John Gross,
Acting Director, Office of Statistical Standards, Energy Information
Administration.
[FR Doc. 95-26408 Filed 10-24-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
