[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 244 (Thursday, December 19, 2019)] [Notices] [Pages 69739-69740] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2019-27322] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. IC19-31-000] Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-547); Comment Request; Extension AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comments on the currently approved information collection, FERC-547 (Gas Pipeline Rates: Refund Report Requirements) and submitting the information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. Any interested person may file comments directly with OMB and should address a copy of those comments to the Commission as explained below. DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due by January 21, 2020. ADDRESSES: Comments filed with OMB, identified by the OMB Control No. 1902-0084, should be sent via email to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs: [email protected]. Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Desk Officer. A copy of the comments should also be sent to the Commission, in Docket No. IC19-31-000, by either of the following methods:eFiling at Commission's Website: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in accordance with submission guidelines at http://www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp. For user assistance contact FERC Online Support by email at [email protected], or by phone at: (866) 208-3676 (toll-free), or (202) 502-8659 for TTY. Docket: Users interested in receiving automatic notification of activity in this docket or viewing/downloading comments and issuances in this docket may do so at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/docs-filing.asp. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at [email protected], by telephone at (202) 502-8663, and by fax at (202) 273-0873. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: FERC-547, Gas Pipeline Rates: Refund Report Requirements. OMB Control No.: 1902-0084. Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-547 information collection requirements with no changes to the reporting requirements. Abstract: The Commission uses FERC-547 (Gas Pipeline Rates: Refund Report Requirements) to implement the statutory refund provisions governed by sections 4, 5 and 16 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA).\1\ Sections 4 and 5 authorize the Commission to order a refund (with interest) for any portion of a natural gas company's increased rate or charge found to be unjust or unreasonable. Refunds may also be instituted by a natural gas company as a stipulation to a Commission- approved settlement agreement or a provision under the company's tariff. Section 16 of the NGA authorizes the Commission to prescribe rules and regulations necessary to administer its refund mandates. The Commission's refund reporting requirements are in 18 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) 154.501 and 154.502. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ 15 U.S.C. 717-717w. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Commission uses the data to monitor refunds owed by natural gas companies to ensure that the flow-through of refunds owed by these companies are made as expeditiously as possible and to assure that refunds are made in compliance with the Commission's regulations. [[Page 69740]] On July 30, 2019 (84 FR 41708), the Commission published a Notice in the Federal Register in Docket No. IC19-31-000 requesting public comments. The Commission received no comments and is noting that in the related submittal to OMB. Type of Respondents: Jurisdictional natural gas companies. Estimate of Annual Burden: 2 The Commission estimates the annual public reporting \3\ burden and cost \4\ for the information collection as: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ ``Burden'' is defined as the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. For further explanation of what is included in the information collection burden, refer to 5 Code of Federal Regulations 1320.3. \3\ The change in number of respondents is an update due to normal industry fluctuations. The changes to the estimated numbers for frequency of filing and burden per filing are due to improved estimates. \4\ The Commission staff estimates that industry is similarly situated in terms of hourly cost (for wages plus benefits). Based on the Commission's FY (Fiscal Year) 2019 average cost (for wages plus benefits), $80.00/hour is used. FERC-547--Gas Pipeline Rates: Refund Report Requirements -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total annual Number of Annual number Total number of Average burden burden hours & Cost per respondents of responses responses hrs. & cost ($) total annual cost respondent ($) per respondent per response ($) (1) (2) (1) * (2) = (3) (4) (3) * (4) = (5) (5) / (1) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Natural Gas Pipelines.................... 19 2 38 2 hrs.; $160 76 hrs.; $6,080 $160 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the 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 and cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Dated: December 12, 2019. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2019-27322 Filed 12-18-19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P