# Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-551) Comment Request; Extension
**AGENCY:**
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
**ACTION:**
Notice of information collection and request for comments.
**SUMMARY:**
In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on a renewal of currently approved information collection FERC-551: Reporting of Flow Volume and Capacity by Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines which will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. There are no proposed changes to the record retention requirements.
**DATES:**
Comments on the collection of information are due April 13, 2026.
**ADDRESSES:**
Send written comments on FERC-551 to OMB through *https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRA/icrPublicCommentRequest?ref_nbr=202601-1902-006.* 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 *[email protected].* You must specify the Docket No. (IC26-4-000) and the FERC Information Collection number (FERC-551) 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 information related to this docket, please visit *https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/search.*
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Kayla Williams, (202) 502-6468. *[email protected]* .
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
*Title:* FERC-551, Reporting of Flow Volume and Capacity by Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines.
*OMB Control No.:* 1902-0243.
*Type of Request:* Three-year extension of the FERC-551 information collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting requirements.
*Abstract:* The Commission is authorized to facilitate price transparency in markets for the sale or transportation of natural gas in interstate commerce, regarding the public interest, the integrity of those markets, fair competition, and the protection of consumers. FERC-551 uses the information provided by pipelines as part of its overall implementation of the statutory provisions of section 23 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), 16 U.S.C. 717t-2. More specifically, the Commission relies, in part, on section 23(a)(1) of the NGA, for authority to collect this information and uses the pipelines' FERC-551 postings as part of fulfilling the transparency provisions of section 23(a)(1) of the NGA. The data requirements for pipelines are listed the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR 284.13, reporting requirements for interstate pipelines. The Commission has directed that the data requirements under FERC-551 are to be posted on interstate pipelines' websites and provided in downloadable file formats, in conformity with 18 CFR 284.12.
The posting requirements are based on the Commission's authority under section 23 of the NGA (as added by the Energy Policy Act of 2005), which provides, in relevant part, that the Commission may issue such rules as necessary and appropriate to provide for the dissemination of “information about the availability and prices of natural gas at wholesale and in interstate commerce.” [^1] This provision enhances the Commission's authority to ensure confidence in the Nation's natural gas markets. The Commission's market-oriented policies for the wholesale natural gas industry require that interested persons have broad confidence that reported market prices accurately reflect the interplay of legitimate market forces. Without confidence in the efficiency of price formation, the true value of transactions is very difficult to determine. Further, price transparency facilitates ensuring that jurisdictional prices are “just and reasonable.” [^2]
[^1] Section 23(a)(2) of the NGA, 15 U.S.C. 717t-2(a)(2) (2000 & Supp. V 2005).
[^2]*See* sections 4 and 5 of the NGA, 15 U.S.C. 717c and 717d.
The posting of FERC-551 information occurs on a daily basis. The data must be available for download for not less than 90 days from the date of posting and must be retained by the pipeline for three years.
*Type of Respondents:* Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines.
*Estimate of Annual Burden:*[^3] The Commission estimates the total public reporting burden and cost for this information collection as follows:
[^3] 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 CFR 1320.3.
[^4] The hourly figure (wages plus benefits) is based on the average of the occupational categories for 2025 found on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website ( *http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm* and *http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm* ):
—Management (Occupation Code: 11-0000): $83.41
—Business (Occupation Code: 13-0000): $55.13
—Financial (Occupation Code: 13-2051): $68.56
These various occupational categories' wage (and benefits) figures are averaged and weighted equally, giving an average of $69.03/hour. The resulting wage figure is rounded to $69/hour for use in calculating wage figures in the FERC-551 renewal.
| Number of respondents | Annual | Total number of responses | Average burden & cost per | Total annual burden hours & total annual cost | Burden hours & cost per |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| (1) | (2) | (1) * (2) = (3) | (4) | (3) * (4) = (5) | (5) ÷ (1) |
| 178 | 365 | 64,970 | 0.5 hours; $34.50 | 32,485 hrs.; 2,241,465 | 182.5 hrs.; $12,593. |
*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 9, 2026.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.