00-17329. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Filings and Information Services, Washington, DC 20549.

Extension:

Rules 1(a), 1(b), Forms U5A and U5B—SEC File No. 270-168—OMB Control No. 3235-0170

Rule 3, Form U-3A3-1—SEC File No. 270-77—OMB Control No. 3235-0160

Rule 26—SEC File No. 270-78—OMB Control No. 3235-0183

Rule 44—SEC File No. 270-162—OMB Control No. 3235-0147

Rule 62, Form U-R-1—SEC File No. 270-166—OMB Control No. 3235-0152

Rule 88, Form U-13-1—SEC File No. 270-80—OMB Control No. 3235-0182

Rule 95, Form U-13E-1—SEC File No. 270-74—OMB Control No. 3235-0162

Form U-7D—SEC File No. 270-75—OMB Control No. 3235-0165

Notice is hereby given that, under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.), the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) requests comments on the collections of information summarized below. The Commission plans to submit these existing collections of information to the Office of Management and Budget for extension and approval.

Rules 1(a) and 1(b) [17 CFR 250.1(a), 250.1(b)] and forms U5A and U5B [17 CFR 259.5a, 259.5b] implement Sections 5(a) and 5(b) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended (“Act”) which require any holding company or any person proposing to become a holding company to file with the Commission a notification of registration and registration statement, respectively. The information is necessary for the Commission to determine whether a new registrant is in compliance with the requirements of the Act. The initial burden of this requirement is approximately 80 hours per respondent. Thereafter there is no annual burden. The Commission has been receiving four filings each year, with a total annual burden of 320 hours. Companies filing under this rule are required to retain records for a period of 10 years, and provision of the information is mandatory. The retention time period allows the Commission the opportunity to perform its audit functions. Responses are not kept confidential.

Rule 3 [17 CFR 250.3] permits a bank that is also a public utility holding company to claim an exemption from the requirements of the Act, through the submission of an annual statement on Form U-3A3-1 [17 CFR 259.403]. The rule and the form are used by the Commission staff to expedite its review of compliance with Section 3(a)(4) of the Act. Rule 3 and form U-3A3-1 permit a bank that is also a public utility holding company to avoid the burdens associated with an application for an exemption from the requirements of the Act. An application for an exemption would involve a formal order, which might require an administrative hearing and which otherwise would consume a significant amount of Commission resources. Each year the Commission receives five submissions from banks, each takes about two hours to complete. Thus a total annual burden of ten hours is imposed. Provision of this information is required. Banks that file under this rule are required to retain records for a period of ten years. This retention period is consistent with requirements imposed by federal agencies that regulate banks. Banks are allowed to request confidential treatment of information filed under this rule.

Rule 26 [17 CFR 250.26] sets forth the financial statement and recordkeeping requirements for registered holding companies and their subsidiaries. This information collection is of fundamental importance to the Commission in the review of financial statements of registered public utility holding companies. The Commission reviews financial statements in connection with its review of proposals submitted for approval under several provisions of the Act. Provision of this information is required. The rule imposes no annual burden because there is no form, as such, under Rule 26 and because the information is required for Form U5S, which is subject to separate OMB review. In addition, there is no requirement for record retention under this rule.

Rule 44 [17 CFR 250.44] prohibits sales of utility securities or of utility assets owned by registered public utility holding companies, not otherwise exempt under Commission regulations, except under a declaration that notifies the Commission of the proposed sale and that becomes effective. The information is essential to Commission administration of Section 12(d) of the Act and is not otherwise available. The Commission analyzes the information to determine if the proposed sale is consistent with the public interest. Provision of this information is required. The rule imposes a burden of about 96 hours each year on 4 respondents, each of which makes one submission. There is no requirement for record retention under this rule. Submissions are not kept confidential.

Rule 62 [17 CFR 250.62] prohibits the solicitation of authorization regarding any security of a regulated company in connection with reorganization subject to Commission approval or regarding any transaction which is the subject of an application or declaration, except under a declaration regarding the solicitation which has become effective. The information is necessary to permit the Commission to adequately enforce Sections 12(e) and 11(g) of the Act. The rule and Form U-R-1 [17 CFR 259.221] impose a total annual burden of 35 hours on 7 companies, who each spend 5 hours, and file as necessary.

Rule 88 [17 CFR 250.88] requires the filing of Form U-13-1 [17 CFR 259.113] for a mutual or subsidiary service company performing services for affiliate companies of a holding company system. Twenty-two respondents initially spend a total of approximately eighty-eight hours meeting this requirement. Thereafter, there is no annual burden. Service companies filing under this rule are required to retain records for a period of 10 years, and provision of the information is mandatory. The retention time period allows the Commission the opportunity to perform its audit functions. Responses are not kept confidential.

Rule 95 [17 CFR 250.95] requires service companies to file reports on Form U-13E-1 [17 CFR 259.213] with the Commission prior to their performance of contracts for registered holding companies or their subsidiaries, for services, construction, or sales of goods. The Commission requires this information to enforce the provisions of Section 13(e) and of Section 13(f) of the Act. The enforcement of these statutes would be compromised without the collection of this information, which is not available from other sources. Provision of this information is required. Companies that file under this rule are required to retain records for a period of six years. This retention period allows the Commission to perform its audit functions. One company meets this requirement on an annual basis with an estimated average burden of 2 hours. This information is not kept confidential.

Form U-7D [17 CFR 259.404] establishes the filing company's right to the exemption authorized for financing entities holding title to utility assets leased to a utility company. The information is necessary for the Commission to determine whether a company is exempt from, or governed by, the Act. The form imposes a total annual burden of 72 hours on 24 respondents, who each spend 3 hours annually preparing and filing 1 response. Companies filing under this rule are required to retain records for a period of 10 years, and provision of the information is mandatory. The retention time period allows the Commission the opportunity to perform its audit functions, and generally coincides with companies' obligation period under their respective leases. Responses are not kept confidential.

The estimates of average burden hours are made for the purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act and are not derived from a comprehensive or even a representative survey or study of the costs of Commission rules and forms.

It should be noted that an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number.

Written comments are invited on (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; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted in writing within 60 days of this publication.

Please direct your written comments to Michael E. Bartell, Associate Executive Director, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549.

Dated: June 28, 2000.

Jonathan G. Katz,

Secretary.