96-20435. Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments (FERC Form No. 423)

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 156 (Monday, August 12, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41778-41779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20435]


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[[Page 41779]]


DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission


Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments (FERC 
Form No. 423)

August 6, 1996.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection and request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(a) 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public comment 
on the specific aspects of the information collection described below.

DATES: Consideration will be given to comments submitted on or before 
October 11, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be 
obtained from and written comments may be submitted to the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, Attn: Michael P. Miller, Information 
Services Division, ED-12.4, 888 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 
20426.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael P. Miller may be reached by telephone at [phone], by fax 
at [phone], and by e-mail at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the 
requirements of FERC Form No. 423 ``Monthly Report of Cost and Quality 
of Fuels for Electric Plants'' (OMB No. 1902-0024) is used by the 
Commission to implement the statutory provisions of Section 205 of the 
Federal Power Act (FPA), 16 U.S.C. 824d as amended by Section 208 of 
the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA). Under Section 
205, the Commission is required to conduct a review every two years of 
utility fuel procurement practices under automatic adjustment clauses 
to assure economic purchase of fuels. Most jurisdictional utilities 
include in their wholesale rate structures automatic fuel adjustment 
clauses or other automatic clauses under which changes in fuel costs 
are permitted to be passed on to customers as they occur, without the 
regulatory review that would occur with the filing of new rates. 
Section 205 of the FPA also includes the requirement that such rates be 
just and reasonable. To determine just and reasonable rates for 
electric service it is necessary to investigate and analyze the various 
costs, including fuel costs, incurred in providing the service. The 
Commission implements these filing requirements in the Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR Part 141.61.
    Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the 
current expiration date, with no changes to the existing collection of 
data.
    Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this collection is 
estimated as:

                                                                        
    Number of          Number of       Average burden                   
   respondents       responses per        hours per       Total annual  
     annually          respondent         response        burden hours  
(1)                       (2)                (3)         (1) x (2) x (3)
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735..............             12                  2            17,640   

    Estimated cost burden to respondents: 17,640 hours/2,087 hours per 
year  x  $102,000 per year=$862,137.
    The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial 
resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, 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.
    The estimate of cost for respondents is based upon salaries for 
professional and clerical support, as well as direct and indirect 
overhead costs. Direct costs include all costs directly attributable to 
providing this information, such as administrative costs and the cost 
for information technology. Indirect or overhead costs are costs 
incurred by an organization in support of its mission. These costs 
apply to activities which benefit the whole organization rather than 
any one particular function or activity.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is 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 estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology e.g. permitting electronic submission of 
responses.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-20435 Filed 8-9-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M