[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 12, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-747]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 12, 1994]


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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

16 CFR Part 305

RIN 3084-AA26

 

Rule Concerning Disclosures of Energy Consumption and Water Use 
Information About Certain Home Appliances and Other Products Required 
Under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: Under the Energy and Water Use Rule, each required label on a 
covered appliance must show a range, or scale, indicating the range of 
energy costs or efficiencies for all models of a size or capacity 
comparable to the labeled model. This notice publishes the new range 
figures, which, under Secs. 305.10, 305.11 and 305.14 of the rule, must 
be used on labels on refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers 
manufactured on and after April 12, 1994, and in advertising of 
refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers in catalogs printed 
after April 12, 1994. Properly labeled refrigerators, refrigerator-
freezers, and freezers manufactured prior to the effective date need 
not be relabeled. Catalogs printed prior to the effective date in 
accordance with 16 CFR 305.14 need not be revised.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 12, 1994.

 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
James Mills, Attorney, 202-326-3035, Division of Enforcement, Federal 
Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 19, 1979, the Commission issued 
a final rule,\1\ pursuant to section 324 of the Energy Policy and 
Conservation Act of 1975,\2\ covering certain appliance categories, 
including refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers. The rule 
requires that energy costs and related information be disclosed on 
labels and in retail sales catalogs for all refrigerators, 
refrigerator-freezers and freezers presently manufactured. Certain 
point-of-sale promotional materials must disclose the availability of 
energy usage information. If a refrigerator, refrigerator-freezer or 
freezer is advertised in a catalog from which it may be purchased by 
cash, charge account or credit terms, then the range of estimated 
annual energy costs for the product must be included on each page of 
the catalog that lists the product. The required disclosures and all 
claims concerning energy consumption made in writing or in broadcast 
advertisements must be based on the results of test procedures 
developed by the Department of Energy, which are referenced in the 
rule.
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    \1\44 FR 66466. On December 10, 1987 (52 FR 46888), the 
Commission amended the Appliance Labeling Rule by extending coverage 
to include central air conditioners and heat pumps. On October 25, 
1993 (58 FR 54955), the Commission extended the Rule's coverage to 
include certain plumbing products (showerheads, faucets, water 
closets and urinals).
    \2\42 U.S.C. 6294.
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    Section 305.8(b) of the rule requires manufacturers, after filing 
an initial report, to report estimated annual operating cost or energy 
efficiency annually by specified dates for each product type.\3\ 
Because the costs for the various types of energy change yearly, and 
because manufacturers regularly add new models to their lines, improve 
existing models and drop others, the data base from which the ranges of 
comparability are calculated is constantly changing.
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    \3\Reports for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers and freezers 
are due by August 1.
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    To keep the required information in line with these changes, the 
Commission is empowered, under Sec. 305.10 of the rule, to publish new 
ranges (but not more often than annually) if an analysis of the new 
data indicates that the upper or lower limits of the ranges have 
changed by more than 15%.
    The new figures for the estimated annual costs of operation for 
refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers, which were 
calculated using the 1993 representative average energy cost for 
electricity (8.30 cents per kilowatt-hour) published by DOE on January 
5, 1993,\4\ have been submitted and have been analyzed by the 
Commission. New ranges based upon them are herewith published.
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    \4\58 FR 345. The Commission published these figures on January 
25, 1993, at 58 FR 5925. The cost for electricity was published as 
8.30 cents per kilowatt-hour; for natural gas: 59.46 cents per 
therm; for propane: 73 cents per gallon; for No. 2 heating oil: 
$1.00 per gallon.
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    In consideration of the foregoing, the Commission amends Appendices 
A-1, A-2 and B of its of its Energy and Water Use Rule as follows 
effective beginning April 12, 1994.

List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 305

    Advertising, Energy conservation, Household appliances, Labeling, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Accordingly, 16 CFR part 305 is amended as follows:

PART 305--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 305 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6294.

    2. In appendices A1, A2 and B, Paragraph 1 of each and the 
introductory text in Paragraph 2 of each are revised to read as 
follows:

Appendix A1 to Part 305--Refrigerators

    1. Range Information:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Ranges of estimated
 Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated volume in   yearly energy costs
                    cubic feet                     ---------------------
                                                       Low        High  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 2.5.....................................        $21        $30
2.5 to 4.4........................................          5         35
4.5 to 6.4........................................         22         34
6.5 to 8.4........................................         31         35
8.5 to 10.4.......................................          9         37
10.5 to 12.4......................................         38         43
12.5 to 14.4......................................         41         46
14.5 to 16.4......................................         19         19
16.5 and over.....................................         37         38
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    2. Yearly Cost Information: Estimates on the scale are based on 
a national average electric rate of 8.30 cents per kilowatt hour.
* * * * *

Appendix A2 to Part 305--Refrigerator-Freezers

    1. Range Information:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Ranges of estimated
 Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated volume in  yearly energy costs 
                    cubic feet                     ---------------------
                                                       Low        High  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 10.5....................................        $17         58
10.5 to 12.4......................................         43         65
12.5 to 14.4......................................         25         71
14.5 to 16.4......................................         31         73
16.5 to 18.4......................................         47         87
18.5 to 20.4......................................         50        108
20.5 to 22.4......................................         52        106
22.5 to 24.4......................................         60        122
24.5 to 26.4......................................         61        116
26.5 to 28.4......................................         71        129
28.5 and over.....................................         73        122
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    2. Yearly Cost Information: Estimates on the scale are based on 
a national average electric rate of 8.30 cents per kilowatt hour.
* * * * *

Appendix B to Part 305--Freezers

    1. Range Information

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Ranges of estimated
 Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated volume in   yearly energy costs
                    cubic feet                     ---------------------
                                                       Low        High  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 5.5.....................................        $14        $42
5.5 to 7.4........................................         23         34
7.5 to 9.4........................................         25         46
9.5 to 11.4.......................................         29         52
11.5 to 13.4......................................         32         80
13.5 to 15.4......................................         35         83
15.5 to 17.4......................................         44         72
17.5 to 19.4......................................         39         92
19.5 to 21.4......................................         42         74
21.5 to 23.4......................................         45         46
23.5 to 25.4......................................         47         47
25.5 to 27.4......................................      (\1\)      (\1\)
27.5 to 29.4......................................      (\1\)      (\1\)
29.5 and over.....................................        140        223
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\No data submitted.                                                   

    2. Yearly Cost Information: Estimates on the scale are based on 
a national average electric rate of 8.30 cents per kilowatt hour.
* * * * *
    By direction of the Commission.
Donald S. Clark,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-747 Filed 1-11-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-M