[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 125 (Tuesday, June 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35582-35583]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17371]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Energy Information Administration
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
AGENCY: Energy Information Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Agency information collection activities: proposed collection;
comment request.
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SUMMARY: The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is soliciting
comments concerning the proposed modifications and extensions of the
following Electric Power Forms:
EIA-411, ``Coordinated Bulk Power Supply Program Report;''
EIA-412, ``Annual Report of Public Electric Utilities;''
EIA-417R, ``Electric Power Systems Emergency Report;''
EIA-759, ``Monthly Power Plant Report;''
EIA-767, ``Steam-Electric Plant Operation and Design Report;''
EIA-826, `` Monthly Electric Utility Sales and Revenue Report with
State
Distributions;''
EIA-860, ``Annual Electric Generator Report;''
EIA-861, ``Annual Electric Utility Report;''
EIA-867, ``Annual Nonutility Power Producer Report;'' and
EIA-900, ``Monthly Nonutility Sales for Resale Report.''
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before August 31, 1998.
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 DOE contact listed below of your intention to do
so as soon as possible.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to John G. Colligan, Energy Information
Administration, Electric Power Division, EI-53, U.S. Department of
Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0650;
telephone (202) 426-1174; e-mail jcolliga@eia.doe.gov; and FAX (202)
426-1311.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of forms and instruction sets should be directed to John
Colligan 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. 93-275) and the Department of
Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. 95-91), the 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 EIA, 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. Also, EIA will later seek approval by the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the collections under Section
3507(h) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, Title
44, U.S.C. Chapter 35).
Confidentiality Notice
The issue of the confidential treatment of data collected on any of
the forms listed above is being addressed and will be resolved as a
separate matter under other Federal Register notices. Whatever final
confidentiality procedures are implemented will be applied to each of
the EIA survey forms above as appropriate.
II. Current Actions
The EIA will request (a) a 3-year extension, through December 31,
2001, for all forms listed, and (b) modifications to the specific forms
as described below. The proposed changes the EIA is requesting through
this action reflect the current state of the electric power industry.
Additional changes may be required, prior to the new expiration
date, in order to be up-to-date with the rapidly changing industry.
Form EIA-411, ``Coordinated Bulk Power Supply Program,'' Propose
changing planning projections period (Items 1, 2, and 4) from 10 years
to 5 years. The form and instructions will be modified to show this
changes.
Form EIA-412, ``Annual Report of Public Electric Utilities,''
Propose changing the reporting threshold from 120,000 MWh to 150,000
MWh. The instructions will be modified to show this change.
Form EIA-417R, ``Annual Summary of Emergency Occurrences,'' no
change.
Form EIA-759, ``Monthly Power Plant Report,'' no change.
Form EIA-767, ``Steam-Electric Plant Operation and Design Report,''
no change.
Form EIA-826, ``Monthly Electric Utility Sales and Revenue Report
with State Distributions.'' Propose adding
[[Page 35583]]
two new data tables: (1) the distribution company will be asked to
provide data about the monthly bill if they are billing the consumer
for another energy service provider; and (2) the energy service
provider will report data if billing is done by them or a third party
other than the distribution company. The form and instructions will be
modified to show these changes.
Form EIA-860, ``Annual Electric Generator Report,'' two changes are
proposed: (1) the survey form designation and name will be altered to,
Form EIA-860-A, ``Annual Electric Generator Report--Utility;'' and (2)
the planning projection period (Schedule II and Schedule III) will be
changed from 10 years to 5 years. The form and instructions will be
modified to show these changes.
Form EIA-861, ``Annual Electric Utility Report.'' Three changes are
proposed: (1) Item 5 on Schedule II indicating new plant intention(s)
will be deleted; (2) Schedule IV will require energy service providers
to report the total dollars paid by the consumer(s) whether or not the
energy service provider issues the bill; and (3) the Demand Side
Management (Schedule V) threshold will be raised from 120,000 MWh to
150,000 MWh. The form and instructions will be modified to show these
changes.
Form EIA-867, ``Annual Nonutility Power Producer Report.'' Three
changes are proposed: (1) the form name and number will be changed to,
Form EIA-860-B ``Annual Electric Generator Report--Nonutility''; (2)
Item 3(a) estimated useful thermal output and 3(b) thermal output used
will be added to Schedule IVB. The form and instructions will be
modified to show these changes.
Form EIA-900, ``Monthly Nonutility Sales for Resale Report.'' Six
changes are proposed: (1) the survey name will be changed to ``Monthly
Nonutility Power Report;'' three new data elements on (2) fuel type,
(3) gross generation (kWh), and (4) fossil fuel consumption will be
added; and (5) sales for resale and (6) sales to other end users will
be deleted. The form and instructions will be modified to show these
changes.
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
A. Are the proposed collections of information necessary for the
proper performance of the functions of the agency? Does the information
have practical utility? Practical utility is defined as 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 by the due date?
C. Public reporting burden estimates for each form collection are
shown below. Burden includes the total time, effort, or financial
resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or
provide the information.
EIA-411, ``Coordinated Bulk Power Supply Program Report,''--15.50 hrs.
per response (previous estimate was 20.7 hrs.)
EIA-412, ``Annual Report of Public Electric Utilities,''--30.3 hrs. per
response (no change from previous estimate)
EIA-417R, ``Electric Power Systems Emergency Report and Annual Summary
of Emergency Occurrences,''--2.89 hrs. per response (no change from
previous estimate). Note: The frequency, magnitude, and duration of
emergency occurrences are hard to predict, therefore making reporting
times hard to predict.
EIA-759, ``Monthly Power Plant Report,''--1.4 hrs. per response (no
change from previous estimate)
EIA-767, ``Steam-Electric Plant Operation and Design Report,'' 84 hrs.
per response for plants of 100 MW or more, and 4 hrs. for plants from
10 MW but less than 100 MW. (no change from previous estimate)
EIA-826, ``Monthly Electric Utility Sales and Revenue Report with State
Distributions,''--1.5 hrs. per response (previous estimate was 1.4
hrs.)
EIA-860, ``Annual Electric Generator Report,''--15.0 hrs. per response
(previous estimate was 15.3 hrs)
EIA-861, ``Annual Electric Energy Industry Report,''--7.5 hrs per
response (previous estimate was 7.9 hrs.)
EIA-867, ``Annual Nonutility Power Producer Report,''--2.12 hrs. per
response (no change from previous estimate)
EIA-900, ``Monthly Nonutility Sales for Resale Report,''--.25 hrs. per
response (no change from previous estimate).
Please comment on (1) the accuracy of our estimates and (2) how the
agency could minimize the burden of the collections of information,
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
D. EIA estimates that respondents will incur no additional costs
for reporting other than the hours required to complete the
collections. What is the estimated: (1) total dollar amount annualized
for capital and start-up costs, and (2) recurring annual costs of
operating and maintaining and purchasing service costs associated with
these data collections?
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 forms?
B. For what purpose would you use the data? Be specific.
C. Identify any alternate sources of data. Do you use them? If so,
what are their deficiencies and/or strengths?
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, DC, June 24, 1998.
Lynda T. Carlson,
Director, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy Information
Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-17371 Filed 6-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
