[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 31, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5880-5881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-2348]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 430
Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products; Energy
Efficiency Standards for Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts, Television Sets,
and Electric Water Heaters
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Rulemaking determination.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: On March 4, 1994, the Department proposed standards for room
air conditioners, water heaters, direct heating equipment, mobile home
furnaces, kitchen ranges and ovens, pool heaters, fluorescent lamp
ballasts and television sets. This notification discusses the
Department of Energy's decision to proceed with separate rulemakings
for fluorescent lamp ballasts, televisions, and heat pump water
heaters. For all three products, the Department will publish revised
notices of proposed rulemaking.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Terry Logee, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Forrestal Building, Mail Station EE-431, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585. (202) 586-1689
Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General
Counsel, Forrestal Building, Mail Station GC-72, 1000 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9507
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Background
As directed by the National Energy Conservation Policy Act, P.L.
95-619, the Department published an advance notice of proposed
rulemaking for the eight products. 55 FR 39624, September 28, 1990. On
March 4, 1994, the Department published a notice of proposed
rulemaking. 59 FR 10464, March 4, 1994.
2. Discussion
The Department received over 8,000 comments on the proposed rule,
including comments from manufacturers, consumers, members of Congress,
retailers, broadcasters, national trade associations, national energy
advocates, utilities and other Federal agencies. The Department is
presently reviewing and evaluating the comments. DOE believes the
record is sufficient for room air conditioners, gas and oil-fired water
heaters, direct heating equipment, mobile home furnaces, kitchen ranges
and ovens and [[Page 5881]] pool heaters to proceed to a final rule and
will use the data and useful information contained in the comments in
developing that rulemaking. However, based on the Department's review
of the comments on the proposed standards for fluorescent lamp
ballasts, television sets and electric water heaters, the Department
has concluded that a number of significant issues exist which require
additional data and/or analysis to address. The Department believes
that because of the resulting changes to the data and analyses
underlying the proposed standards for these products, it would be
appropriate to publish revised notices of proposed rulemaking. If the
results of the analysis do not support a change in the standards, then
the Department will propose that the levels in the Act remain unchanged
or, regarding television sets, the Department may propose that
standards are not justified.
(a) Fluorescent lamp ballasts. Based on the comments in the record,
the Department has determined that revised data from a larger sample of
fluorescent lamp ballast types is needed. Data from sources identified
in the record, data from manufacturers, and data from other independent
sources will be used in the reanalysis.
(b) Televisions. Based on the comments in the record, the
Department has determined that new data from television sets with
current features and from a larger sample of television manufacturers
is needed. The Department is planning to test television sets to
develop such data. These new data, together with data and other
information obtained from the comments submitted on the proposed
standard, will be used to reanalyze whether efficiency standards are
warranted for television sets and, if so, at what level.
(c) Electric water heaters. The Department received comments on a
wide range of issues regarding the proposed standard for electric water
heaters, including the Department's estimates of average household hot
water use, the costs of heat pump water heaters and the extent to which
the proposed standard would result in fuel switching. In addition, the
comments addressed the impacts of standards on consumers, including low
income households, households with small electric water heaters
installed in confined spaces, and those with large water heaters which
take advantage of reduced off-peak electric utility rates. The
Department agrees that these issues need to be reassessed. DOE will
gather additional data on the costs and other impacts of the standards
and will explore options for reducing or eliminating possible adverse
impacts, including the possible establishment of distinct classes of
electric waster heaters. Because fully addressing these issues may
require substantial changes in the analysis of the impacts of water
heater standards, the Department will issue a new proposed rule.
Issued in Washington, D.C., January 25, 1995.
Christine A. Ervin,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 95-2348 Filed 1-30-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P