Commission Collection Activities, Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Extension & Reinstatement

AGENCY:

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c) (2) (a) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No.104-13), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described below.

DATES:

Comments on the collection of information are due by April 16, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Copies of the proposed collection of information can be obtained from Michael Miller, Office of the Executive Director, ED-30, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. Comments on the proposed collection of information may be filed either in paper format or electronically. Those parties filing electronically do not need to make a paper filing. For paper filings, the original and 14 copies of such comments should be submitted to the Office of the Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426 and should refer to Docket No. IC 04-547-000.

Documents filed electronically via the Internet can be prepared in a variety of formats, including WordPerfect, MS Word, Portable Document Format, Rich Text Format or ASCII format. To file the document, access the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov and click on “Make an E-filing,” and then follow the instructions for each screen. First time users will have to establish a user name and password. The Commission will send an automatic acknowledgment to the sender's E-mail address upon receipt of comments. User assistance for electronic filings is available at 202-502-8258 or by E-mail to efiling@ferc.gov. Comments should not be submitted to this E-mail address.

All comments may be viewed, printed or downloaded remotely via the Internet through FERC's homepage using the eLibrary link. For user assistance, contact FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at (866) 208-3676 or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michael Miller may be reached by telephone at (202) 502-8415, by fax at (202)273-0873 and by E-mail at michael.miller@ferc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The information collected under the requirements of FERC-547, “Gas Pipeline Rates: Refund Report Requirements” (OMB No. 1902-0084) is used by the Commission to implement the statutory refund provisions governed by sections 4, 5, and 16 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) (15 U.S.C. 717-717w). Sections 4 and 5 authorize the Commission to order a refund, with interest, on any portion of a natural gas company's increased rate or charge found to be not just or reasonable. Refunds may also be instituted by a natural gas company as stipulation to a Commission-approved settlement agreement or provision under the company's tariff. Section 16 authorizes the Commission to prescribe the rules and regulations necessary to administer its refund mandates. The Commission's refund and reporting requirements are set forth at Sections 154.501 and 154.502 of the Commission's regulations (18 CFR 154.501 and 154.502). The data collected thereunder allows the Commission to monitor the refunds owed by the Natural gas companies and to ensure the flow through of the refunds, with applicable interest, to the appropriate customers and ultimately to the residential customers and end users.

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 information collection is estimated as:

Estimated cost to respondents: 5,625 hours ( 2,080 per year × $107,185 = $289,863. The cost per respondent = $3,865 (rounded off). The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial resources to generate, maintain, retain, disclose, or provide the information including: (1) Reviewing instructions; (2) developing, acquiring, installing, and utilizing technology and systems for the purpose 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 anyone 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.