Notice

Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-552, FERC-549E); Consolidated Comment Request; Extension

A Notice by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on 03/31/2026

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• Public Inspection Published Document: 2026-06203 (91 FR 15987) Document Headings ###### Department of Energy

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

1. [Docket No. IC26-5-000]

AGENCY:

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION:

Request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved information collections, FERC-552, Annual Report of Natural Gas Transactions, and FERC-549E, Price Index Data Providers and Developers. There is no change to the information collection requirements for FERC-552 or FERC-549E. The Commission received one comment on the 60-day notice.

DATES:

Comments on the collection of information are due April 30, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

Send written comments on FERC-552 or FERC-549E to OMB through https://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRA/​icrPublicCommentRequest?​ref_​nbr=​202601-1902-004 (FERC-552) or https://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRA/​icrPublicCommentRequest?​ref_​nbr=​202601-1902-005 (FERC-549E). You can also visit https://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain and use the drop-down under “Currently under Review” to select the “Federal Energy Regulatory Commission” where you can see the open opportunities to provide comments. Comments should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice.

Please submit a copy of your comments to the Commission via email to DataClearance@FERC.gov. You must specify the Docket No. (IC26-5-000) and the FERC Information Collection number (FERC-552 or FERC-549E) in your email. If you are unable to file electronically, comments may be filed by USPS mail or by hand (including courier) delivery:

• Mail via U.S. Postal Service Only: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
• All other delivery methods: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852. Docket: To view comments and issuances in this docket, please visit https://elibrary.ferc.gov/​eLibrary/​search.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kayla Williams, (202) 502-6468. DataClearance@FERC.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: FERC-552, Annual Report of Natural Gas Transactions; FERC-549E, Price Index Data Providers and Developers.

OMB Control No.: 1902-0242, 1902-0328.

Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-549E and FERC-552 information collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting requirements.

Abstract:

FERC-552: The Commission uses the information collected in FERC Form No. 552 [1 ] to provide greater transparency into the size of the physical natural gas market and the use of physical fixed-price and index-based natural gas transactions. This information assists the Commission and the public in assessing whether index prices are the result of a robust market of fixed-price transactions.

FERC Form No. 552 had its genesis in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, [2 ] which added section 23 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA). Section 23 of the NGA, among other things, directs the Commission “to facilitate price transparency in markets for the sale or transportation of physical natural gas in interstate commerce, having due regard for the public interest, the integrity of those markets, and the protection of consumers.” [3 ]

FERC-549E: Price indices are commonly used in natural gas and electricity wholesale markets. These indices are used by market participants to price their commodities. The Commission set forth standards for price index developers to demonstrate that their internal processes were sufficient to qualify as a Commission-approved price index developer and, thus, have their price indices referenced in Commission-jurisdictional tariffs in its Initial Policy Statement. [4 ] Price index developers seeking approval voluntarily provide written statements to the Commission to explain how they met these standards. Approval of a price index developer is a factor in whether the Commission approves the use of their indices in Commission-jurisdictional tariffs. After the Initial Policy Statement was issued, thirteen price index developers sought and received approval. The Commission issued a Revised Policy Statement on April 21, 2022, effective on December 31, 2022. [5 ] Under the Revised Policy Statement, interstate natural gas pipelines and public utilities proposing to use price indices in jurisdictional tariffs are no longer entitled to the rebuttable presumption that a price index developer's price indices produce just and reasonable rates unless the price index developer has obtained approval or re-approval from the Commission within the last seven years. The FERC-549E information collection represents the burden for price index developers to comply with Commission requirements pertaining to information collection and data publication and to seek approval of their index with the Commission and for data providers that submit information to price index developers. Data providers that submit information to price index developers must meet minimum reporting standards, set forth in the Commission's ( printed page 15988) Initial Policy Statement and Revised Policy Statement, to benefit from a rebuttable presumption that they have submitted their transactions accurately, timely, and in good faith (also known as the safe harbor policy). [6 ]

Type of Respondents: Wholesale natural gas market participants (FERC-552), price index data providers and developers (FERC-549E).

Estimate of Annual Burden: [7 ] The Commission estimates the annual public reporting burden for the information collection as:

| | Number of
respondents | Annual
number of

responses per

respondent | Total number
of responses | Average burden
& cost

                            per response 8 | Total annual burden 
                         hours & total  
                         annual cost | Cost per 
                         respondent 
                         ($) |

| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | (1) | (2) | (1) * (2) = (3) | (4) | (3) * (4) = (5) | (5) ÷ (1) |
| FERC-552: Annual Report of Natural Gas Transactions 9 | | | | | | |
| Wholesale natural gas market participants | 671 | 1 | 671 | 20 hrs.; $2,060 | 13,420 hrs.; $1,382,260 | $2,060 |
| FERC 549E: Price Index Data Providers 10 and Developers 11 | | | | | | |
| Data providers (and their affiliates) report Next Day Transactions | 76 | 249 | 18,924 | 4 hrs.; $412 | 75,696 hrs.; $7,796,688 | 102,588 |
| Data Providers-perform biennial self-audit (not annual) | 96 | .5 | 48 | 80 hrs.; $8,240 | 3,840 hrs.; $395,520 | 4,120 |
| Data Providers (and their affiliates) report Next Month Transactions | 70 | 12 | 840 | 4 hrs.; $412 | 3,360 hrs.; $346,080 | 4,944 |
| Price Index Developers—code of conduct & confident.; & inform customers | 6 | 1 | 6 | 80 hrs.; $8,240 | 480 hrs.; $49,440 | 8,240 |
| Price Index Developers—identify assessed index price vs. calculated | 6 | 1 | 6 | 80 hrs.; $8,240 | 480 hrs.; $49,440 | 8,240 |
| Price Index Developers—re-certify every 7 yrs. | 6 | .14 | 1 | 269 hrs.; $27,707 | 269 hrs.; $27,707 | 4,618 |
| TOTAL FERC 549E | | | 19,825 | | 84,125; $8,664,875 | 132,750 |

Comments Received on 60 Day Comment Period

The Commission received one comment from Public Citizen, Inc. (Public Citizen) regarding FERC-552 and FERC-549E. Public Citizen suggests what it describes as “needed enhancements” to reporting under FERC-552 and FERC-549E to address increasing price volatility. Public Citizen proposes revisions to the FERC-552 to increase transparency into the natural gas price index formation process. Specifically, Public Citizen recommends that the Commission: shift from annual to quarterly reporting with geographic hub-level data; require respondents to clearly identify affiliates filing separate reports; and create a publicly accessible electronic information system based on actual transactions.

The requirements related to the FERC-552 and FERC-549E information collections are governed by 18 CFR 260.401 and the Commission's Revised Policy Statement, which include the frequency, content, scope, and availability of the collections. [12 ] In this information collection renewal proceeding, the Commission is not currently considering changes to these regulations or to the Revised Policy Statement. Because Public Citizen's comment proposes changes to those regulations and/or the Revised Policy Statement, its comments are outside of the scope of this information collection renewal process.

30 Day Notice Comments

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: March 26, 2026.

Debbie-Anne A. Reese,

Secretary.

Footnotes

1.

                     FERC Form No. 552 is prescribed in [18 CFR 260.401](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-18/section-260.401).

Back to Citation 2.

                     Energy Policy Act of 2005, [Public Law 109-58](https://www.govinfo.gov/link/plaw/109/public/58), sections 1261 *et seq.,* 119 Stat. 594 (2005).

Back to Citation 3. 15 U.S.C. 717t-2(a)(1)(2006).

Back to Citation 4.

                     104 FERC ¶ 61,121 (Initial Policy Statement), *clarified, Order on Clarification of Policy Statement on Natural Gas and Electric Price Indices,* 105 FERC ¶ 61,282 (2003) (2003 Clarification Order), *clarified, Order Further Clarifying Policy Statement on Natural Gas and Electric Price Indices,* 112 FERC ¶ 61,040 (2005) (2005 Clarification Order).

Back to Citation 5. Actions Regarding the Commission's Policy on Price Index Formation and Transparency, and Indices Referenced in Natural Gas and Electric Tariffs (PL20-3-000) (Revised Policy Statement), April 21, 2022.

Back to Citation 6.

                     Initial Policy Statement, 104 FERC ¶ 61,121 at P 37 and Revised Policy Statement, 179 FERC ¶ 61,036 at P 45.

Back to Citation 7.

                     The Commission defines burden 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, reference [5 Code of Federal Regulations 1320.3](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-5/section-1320.3).

Back to Citation 8.

                     The estimates for cost per response are derived using the following formula: Average Burden Hours per Response * $103 per Hour = Average Cost per Response. The hourly cost figure comes from FERC's average annual cost of salary plus benefits in FY25 of $214,093. We believe this estimate is comparable to respondents salaries.

9.

                     The number of natural gas market participants is based on CY 2024 FERC Form 552 data.

10.

                     The number of price index data providers is based on CY 2024 FERC Form 552 data.

11.

                     The number of price index developers is based on the number of entities that received FERC approval after the issuance of the 2022 Revised Policy Statement.

Back to Citation 12.

                     Revised Policy Statement, 179 FERC ¶ 61,036.

Back to Citation [FR Doc. 2026-06203 Filed 3-30-26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

Published Document: 2026-06203 (91 FR 15987)