[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 77 (Friday, April 21, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19845-19846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9930]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents.
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Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 77 / Friday, April 21, 1995 / Rules
and Regulations
[[Page 19845]]
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
16 CFR Part 305
Rule Concerning Disclosures Regarding Energy Consumption and
Water Use of Certain Home Appliances and Other Products Required Under
the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (``Appliance Labeling Rule'')
AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Trade Commission amends its Appliance Labeling
Rule by publishing new ranges of comparability to be used on required
labels for clothes washers.
effective date: July 20, 1995.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Mills, Attorney, Division of
Enforcement, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, D.C. 20580 (202-326-
3035).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 324 of the Energy Policy and
Conservation Act of 1975 (``EPCA'')\1\ requires the Federal Trade
Commission to consider labeling rules for the disclosure of estimated
annual energy cost or alternative energy consumption information for at
least thirteen categories of appliances. Clothes washers are included
in those categories. The statute also requires the Department of Energy
(``DOE'') to develop test procedures that measure how much energy the
appliances use. In addition, DOE is required to determine the
representative average cost a consumer pays for the different types of
energy available.
\1\42 U.S.C. 6294.
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On November 19, 1979, the Commission issued a final rule covering
seven of the thirteen appliance categories that were then covered by
DOE test procedures: refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers, freezers,
dishwashers, water heaters, clothes washers, room air conditioners and
furnaces (this category includes boilers).\2\ The Commission has
extended the coverage of the Appliance Labeling Rule (``Rule'') four
times since it originally issued the Rule: in 1987 (central air
conditioners, heat pumps, and pulse combustion and condensing
furnaces);\3\ 1989 (fluorescent lamp ballasts);\4\ and, 1993 (certain
plumbing products\5\ and certain lighting products\6\). On July 1,
1994, the Commission amended the Rule to make certain improvements,
including making the label format more ``user-friendly,'' changing the
energy usage descriptors required on labels, and adopting new product
sub-categories for ranges of comparability purposes.\7\ In addition to
the new format, which applies to labels for all products, the changes
for clothes washer labels are the requirement to disclose kilowatt-hour
use per year (instead of estimated annual operating cost) for the
primary energy usage disclosure and ranges of comparability, and the
addition of the ``front-loading'' and ``top-loading'' sub-categories to
the ``standard'' and ``compact'' categories.
\2\44 FR 66466, 16 CFR Part 305 (Nov. 19, 1979). The Statement
of Basis and Purpose for the final Rule describes the reasons the
Commission declined to cover the other categories of covered
products. Id. at 66467-69.
\3\52 FR 46888 (Dec. 10, 1987).
\4\54 FR 28031 (July 5, 1989).
\5\58 FR 54955 (Oct. 25, 1993).
\6\59 FR 25176 (May 13, 1993).
\7\59 FR 34014. The effective date of the amendments was
December 28, 1994. On December 8, 1994, however, the Commission
published a partial delay of compliance dates for certain covered
products, including clothes washers. 59 FR 63688. As a result of
this second notice, manufacturers of clothes washers were given
extra time to prepare the new labels. They must begin using the new
labels, however, on all covered products manufactured on or after
the effective date of today's notice.
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Section 305.8(b) of the Rule requires manufacturers, after filing
an initial report, to report annually by specified dates for each
product type.\8\ These reports, which are to assist the Commission in
preparing the ranges of comparability, contain the estimated annual
energy consumption or energy efficiency ratings for the appliances
derived from tests performed pursuant to the DOE test procedures.
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. 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 information
indicates that the upper or lower limits of the ranges have changed by
more than 15%. Otherwise, the Commission must publish a statement that
the prior ranges remain in effect for the next year.
\8\Reports for clothes washers are due March 1.
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The annual submissions of data for clothes washers have been made
and have been analyzed by the Commission. These submissions of data
were made by the affected manufacturers in compliance with the new
requirements for new energy usage descriptors and sub-categories in the
amendments published on July 1, 1994. These ranges will supersede the
current ranges for clothes washers, which were published on April 16,
1991.\9\
\9\56 FR 15274.
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In consideration of the foregoing, the Commission revises Appendix
F of its Appliance Labeling Rule by publishing the following ranges of
comparability for use in required disclosures (including labeling) for
clothes washers manufactured on or after July 20, 1995.
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. Appendix F to Part 305 is revised to read as follows:
Appendix F to Part 305--Clothes Washers
Range Information:
``Compact'' includes all household clothes washers with a tub
capacity of less than 1.6 cu. ft. or 13 gallons of water.
``Standard'' includes all household clothes washers with a tub
capacity of 1.6 cu. ft. or 13 gallons of water or more.
[[Page 19846]]
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Range of
estimated annual
energy
Capacity consumption(kWh/
yr.)
-----------------
Low High
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Compact:
Top Loading......................................... 607 1,226
Front Loading....................................... (\1\) (\1\)
Standard:
Top Loading......................................... 603 1,818
Front Loading....................................... 306 395
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\1\No data submitted.
By direction of the Commission.
Benjamin I. Berman,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-9930 Filed 4-20-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-M