Why is FERC asking again about pipeline and grid operator data sharing?

The form that isn't a form

FERC-923 has no fixed questionnaire. The Commission does not prescribe content, medium, format, or frequency for the information sharing. Those decisions are made by the industry entities, depending on their needs and the situation. The data never reaches FERC. It moves directly between a natural gas pipeline and an electric transmission operator. Both sides decide what operational details help them keep their systems reliable.

The 2013 rule change

Before that, actual or perceived prohibitions blocked communication between the two industries.

The revision gave explicit authority to share non-public operational information voluntarily. The goal was promoting reliable service and operational planning on either system. Nothing in the current notice changes that framework.

Who gets counted and how

The burden table in the notice lists two respondent groups. Public Utility Transmission Operators: 156 entities. Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines: 189 entities. Each group files 12 responses per year. Every response is estimated at 0.5 hours and $51.00. Total annual burden: 2,070 hours and $211,140. Cost per respondent: $612 for both groups. The utility count comes from the NERC Compliance Registry as of March 31, 2026, minus Transmission Operators within ERCOT. The pipeline count comes from respondents to the 2024 FERC Forms 2 and 2A. FERC staff values the industry skill set at the Commission's own 2026 average: $213,003 per full-time equivalent, or $102 per hour rounded.

The comment window that already closed once

A 60-day notice ended July 13, 2026. No comment was received.

Now a 30-day window runs until September 18, 2026. Comments go to OMB through reginfo.gov or by email to DataClearance@FERC.gov with Docket No. IC26-31-000 and FERC-923 in the subject. Paper mail goes to 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426 or 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852. Kayla Williams handles questions at (202) 502-6468.

What the notice asks

The notice invites input on four points. Whether the collection is necessary for the Commission's functions. Whether the burden and cost estimates are accurate. Ways to improve quality, utility, and clarity. Ways to minimize burden through automation or other technology. The Commission will forward all comments to OMB with its submission for the three-year extension.

What the notice does not address

How many of the listed entities actually exchange data today. The notice only counts potential respondents.

Whether the voluntary sharing has prevented specific reliability events. The document describes the regulatory purpose but cites no incidents. Whether the $51 per response reflects real labor costs for pipeline controllers or grid operators. The figure derives from FERC's internal salary benchmark, not industry payroll data. Whether ERCOT operators face different sharing incentives. They are excluded from the utility count but the notice does not explain the operational impact.