52407
Federal Register
/Vol. 67, No. 155/Monday, August 12, 2002/Rules and Regulations
1
44 U.S.C. 3504 (2002).
2
18 CFR 385.2010(b)(2002).
3
5 U.S.C. 552 (2001).
ACTION
:
Final rule.
SUMMARY
:
The Federal EnergyRegulatory Commission (Commission) isamending its regulations to establish asystem of electronic registration(eRegistration) for persons andcompanies submitting documents to,and receiving documents from, theCommission. This system will enablethe Commission to comply withpaperwork elimination mandates and,combined with other rulemakings totake place in the near future, will resultin cost savings to the Commission andthe public while enhancing theaccessibility of information relating toCommission programs and proceedings.The eRegistration system will becomemandatory on January 7, 2003, but will be operated on a voluntary basis beginning in late August 2002.
EFFECTIVE DATE
:
The rule will becomeeffective on January 7, 2003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
:
Christopher Cook (informationtechnology advisor), Office of the Chief Information Officer, Federal EnergyRegulatory Commission, 888 FirstStreet, NE., Washington, DC 20426,(202) 208
–
1131.Wilbur Miller (legal advisor), Office of General Counsel, Federal EnergyRegulatory Commission, 888 FirstStreet, NE., Washington, DC 20426,(202) 208
–
0953.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
:
Before Commissioners:
Pat Wood, III,Chairman; William L. Massey, LindaBreathitt, and Nora Mead Brownell.
I. Introduction
1. The Federal Energy RegulatoryCommission (Commission) is amendingits regulations to establish a system of electronic registration for persons andcompanies wishing to submitdocuments to or receive documentsfrom the Commission (collectivelycustomers).
II. Background
2. This order initiates a series of measures that will largely eliminate thetransmission of paper documents between the Commission and itscustomers. Collectively, these measureswill ensure the Commission
’
scompliance with the GovernmentPaperwork Elimination Act;
1
result incost savings, such as elimination of mailing costs and courier services, tothe Commission and its customers;facilitate the Commission
’
s managementof information about the persons andentities that do business with it; andmake information submitted to andissued by the Commission availablemore promptly and in more accessibleformats.3. This measure follows severalinitiatives undertaken by theCommission to begin the transition to anelectronic environment. On May 26,1999, the Commission revised its rulesto permit parties to Commissionproceedings to serve documents uponone another electronically. ElectronicService of Documents, 64 FR 31493,FERC Stats. & Regs., RegulationsPreambles
¶
31,074 (June 11, 1999). OnSeptember 14, 2000, the Commissionrevised its rules to permit participantsin Commission proceedings to begin, ona voluntary basis, filing submissions viathe Internet (eFiling). Electronic Filingof Documents, 65 FR 57088, FERC Stats.& Regs., Regulations Preambles
¶
31,107(Sept. 21, 2000). At first, theCommission applied this initiative onlyto a limited range of document types, but has gradually permitted other typesof submissions to be madeelectronically.
See www.ferc.gov/ documents/makeanelectronicfiling/ doorbell.htm
. In addition, electronicsubmission and dissemination of structured data, including FERC Forms1, 2, 6, and 423, are possible through theCommission
’
s web page.4. This order will resolve difficultiesthe Commission has encountered inupdating various lists that it maintainsof customers to whom it sends varioustypes of information. These include, forexample, service lists of persons whoare required to receive documents inconnection with Commissionproceedings
2
and mailing lists of persons who receive informationalcopies of various documents. Many of the entries on the various lists that theCommission maintains are obsolete orduplicative, resulting, among otherproblems, in extensive waste in mailingout unneeded or unwanted copies of documents. The eRegistration systemwill allow the Commission to compile acomprehensive, more accurate list of itscustomers.
III. Discussion
A. General
5. Electronic registration will serve asthe gateway to a number of electronicservices at the Commission that aredesigned to transmit documentselectronically between the Commissionand its customers. These services, someof which are already in use, will permitthe electronic submission of informationto the Commission, including tariffs,forms, and documents submitted indocketed proceedings. Electronicregistration also will apply to servicesthat the Commission will be institutingthat will allow customers to sign up toreceive information about or be notifiedof events in docketed proceedings. Theregistration system implementedpursuant to this rulemaking will enablecustomers to submit necessaryinformation once, rather than having toregister separately to use each system. A brief description of the services towhich electronic registration willpertain is included in Section III. C.6. Electronic registration will applyonly to specified applications; it willnot be required for all submissions tothe Commission. For example, it willnot be required for correspondence thatdoes not relate to docketed proceedingsfrom members of Congress or thegeneral public. It will not be requiredfor a customer searching for documentson the Federal Energy RegulatoryRecords and Information System(FERRIS). It will not apply to requestsunder the Freedom of Information Act.
3
It also will not apply to certaincorrespondence in docketedproceedings that the Office of theSecretary finds to qualify for anexemption because the submissions arefrom members of the public who likelyare one-time submitters.7. The registration process will be brief and simple. Customers will inputa few lines of information, generally aname, address, phone number and faxnumber. They will then input theinformation that the system will use toidentify them: An e-mail address apassword and a password hint. Therewill be a paper registration process forcustomers submitting paper documentsto the Commission as the result of awaiver of electronic filing requirementsfor good cause shown. Customers will be able to access and manipulate theirown data, thus keeping it current toensure reliable service. Separaterulemakings will address other FERCinformation systems.
B. The Registration Process
8. Customers wishing to transact business at the Commission through anyof the electronic services described insection III. C. will register via theInternet at
http://www.ferc.gov.
It will be possible for multiple persons orentities to be associated with oneanother. Thus, for example, a companythat is a participant in a proceeding atthe Commission may be represented byone or more persons or entities, such asattorneys or law firms, so thatCommission issuances will be
VerDate Aug<2,>2002 10:14 Aug 09, 2002Jkt 197001PO 00000Frm 00025Fmt 4700Sfmt 4700E:\FR\FM\12AUR1.SGMpfrm17PsN: 12AUR1
Leave a Comment