[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 218 (Monday, November 13, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56945-56949]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-27889]
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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 (``Commission'') amends its
Appliance Labeling rule by publishing new ranges of comparability to be
used on required labels for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and
freezers, and by issuing corrections to its ranges of comparability for
room air conditioners, which were published on August 21, 1995.\1\ The
Commission also announces that the ranges of comparability for central
air conditioners and heat pumps, which were published on August 5,
1994,\2\ will remain in effect until further notice. Finally, the
Commission is amending the portions of Appendices H (Cooling
Performance and Cost for Central Air Conditioners) and I (Heating
Performance and Cost for Central Air Conditioners) to part 305 that
contain cost calculation formulas. These amendments change the figures
in the formulas to reflect the current Representative Average Unit Cost
of electricity that was published in January by the Department of
Energy (``DOE'').
\1\ 60 FR 43367.
\2\ 59 FR 39951.
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EFFECTIVE DATE: February 12, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Mills, Attorney, Division of
Enforcement, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, D.C. 20580 (202-326-
3035).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 324 of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975
(``EPCA'') \3\ requires the Commission to consider labeling rules for
the disclosure of estimated annual energy cost or alternative energy
consumption
[[Page 56946]]
information for at least thirteen categories of appliances.
Refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, room air conditioners, central
air conditioners, and heat pumps are included in those categories. The
statute also requires DOE to develop test procedures that measure how
much energy the appliances use, and to determine the representative
average cost a consumer pays for the different types of energy
available.
\3\ 42 U.S.C. 6294.
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On November 19, 1979, the Commission issued the Appliance Labeling
Rule (``Rule''), which covered seven of the thirteen appliance
categories that were then covered by DOE test procedures: refrigerators
and refrigerator-freezers, freezers, dishwashers, clothes washers,
water heaters, room air conditioners and furnaces (this category
includes boilers).\4\ The Commission has extended the coverage of the
Rule five times since it originally issued the Rule: in 1987 (central
air conditioners, heat pumps, and pulse combustion and condensing
furnaces \5\); 1989 (fluorescent lamp ballasts \6\); 1993 (certain
plumbing products \7\ and certain lighting products \8\), and in 1994
(pool heaters, instantaneous water heaters, and heat pump water heaters
\9\).
\4\ 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.
\5\ 52 FR 46888 (Dec. 10, 1987).
\6\ 54 FR 28031 (July 5, 1989).
\7\ 58 FR 54955 (Oct. 25, 1993).
\8\ 59 FR 25176 (May 13, 1994).
\9\ 59 FR 49556 (Sept. 28, 1994).
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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.\10\
The amendment prescribing a new label format affects the labels for all
products. Labels for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers
also are affected by the amendments requiring a new energy use
descriptor and revised product sub-categories. More specifically, the
amendments change the principal energy usage descriptor on labels for
refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers from an estimated
annual operating cost to an estimated annual energy consumption. In
addition, the amendments eliminate the cost grid from the labels and
add a secondary disclosure of energy usage in the form of an estimated
annual operating cost in a box at the bottom of the label, with an
expanded disclosure of the usage assumptions and electrical cost upon
which the operating cost is based. The original effective date of these
amendments was December 28, 1994, but, on December 8, 1994, the
Commission granted a partial delay of compliance dates for these
products.\11\ The Commission announces today that manufacturers of
refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers must begin using the
new labels (and ranges of comparability published herein) on all
covered products manufactured on or after the effective date of today's
notice.
\10\ 59 FR 34014.
\11\ 59 FR 63688.
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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.\12\ These reports 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 on labels up to date, the Commission is empowered,
under Section 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.
\12\ Reports for central air conditioners and heat pumps are due
July 1; reports for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and
freezers are due August 1.
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New Ranges of Comparability for Refrigerators, Refrigerator-freezers,
and Freezers
The Commission has analyzed annual submissions of data for
refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers. The submissions
have resulted in new ranges of comparability figures for these
products. In compiling these ranges of comparability, the Commission
did not include the estimated annual energy consumption of models with
energy consumption in excess of DOE's current maximum energy use
standards for this category, which became effective on January 1,
1993.\13\ After that date, it became illegal to distribute in commerce
products that exceed those standards. Because the standards have been
in place for almost three years, the number of legally produced, but
nonconforming, products still in the marketplace is likely to be small.
Therefore, it is no longer appropriate to include those products in the
ranges. The new ranges will supersede the current ranges for
refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers, which were
published on January 12, 1994.\14\
\13\ 16 CFR 430.32(a) (1995).
\14\ 59 FR 1626.
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Corrections to Ranges of Comparability for Room Air Conditioners That
Were Published on August 21, 1995
Energy efficiency figures for 1995 for room air conditioners were
submitted earlier this year by manufacturers and analyzed by the
Commission. New ranges of comparability based upon them were published
in the Federal Register on August 21, 1995.\15\ The Commission staff
has learned since publication that there were inadvertent errors in the
ranges. The new ranges published today contain the corrected numbers.
In preparing these corrections and in compiling the earlier ranges of
comparability for these products, the Commission did not include the
energy efficiency of models with efficiencies below DOE's current
minimum efficiency standards for room air conditioners, which became
effective on January 1, 1990.\16\ The Commission's reasoning is the
same as in the case of the new ranges for refrigeration products,
discussed above. For the sake of clarity, the Commission is
republishing the complete set of ranges for room air conditioners in
their corrected form.
\15\ See note 1, above.
\16\ 16 CFR 430.32(b) (1995).
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Although these corrected ranges of comparability for room air
conditioners are being published prior to the effective date of the
August 21, 1995 notice, which is hereby rescinded, manufacturers need
not relabel any room air conditioners already labeled and may use any
labels that were ordered or printed before the date of this notice in
good faith reliance on the August 21 notice. After this initial stock
of labels is exhausted, however, manufacturers must use labels based on
today's notice.
Changes Applicable to Disclosures for Central Air Conditioner and Heat
Pumps
The 1995 data submission for central air conditioners and heat
pumps has been completed, and the Commission has determined that the
upper and lower limits of the ranges of comparability for these
products, which
[[Page 56947]]
were published on August 5, 1994,\17\ have not changed by more than
15%. Therefore, the Commission is announcing that those ranges will
remain in effect until further notice.
\17\ See note 2, above.
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The Commission is amending in this Notice, however, the cost
calculation formulas appearing in the Appendices (H and I) to Part 305
that contain, for central air conditioners and heat pumps, heating and
cooling performance costs and the ranges of comparability. These
formulas must be provided on fact sheets and in directories so
consumers can calculate their own costs of operation for the central
air conditioners and heat pumps that they are considering purchasing.
This amendment changes the figures in the formulas to reflect the
current Representative Average Unit Cost of Electricity--8.67 cents per
kilowatt-hour--that was published on January 5, 1995, by DOE \18\ and
by the Commission on February 17, 1995.\19\
\18\ 60 FR 1773. This figure, along with national average cost
figures for natural gas, propane, heating oil and kerosene, is
published annually by DOE for the industry's use in calculating,
among other figures, the cost figures required by the Commission's
Rule.
\19\ 60 FR 9295.
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Amendments
In consideration of the foregoing, the Commission amends Appendices
A1 through A8, B1 through B3, E, H, and I of its Appliance Labeling
Rule by publishing the following ranges of comparability for use in the
labeling and catalog sales of refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and
freezers, the following corrected ranges of comparability for room air
conditioners, and the following amendments to the cost calculation
formulas that manufacturers of central air conditioners and heat pumps
and must include on fact sheets and in directories, beginning February
12, 1996.
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 A1 to Part 305 is revised to read as follows:
Appendix A1 to Part 305--Refrigerators With Automatic Defrost
Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Range of
estimated annual
energy
Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated volume in consumption
cubic feet (kWh/yr.)
-----------------
Low High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 2.5......................................... 327 331
2.5 to 4.4............................................ 331 369
4.5 to 6.4............................................ 331 457
6.5 to 8.4............................................ (*) (*)
8.5 to 10.4........................................... (*) (*)
10.5 to 12.4.......................................... (*) (*)
12.5 to 14.4.......................................... (*) (*)
14.5 to 16.4.......................................... 588 588
16.5 and over......................................... 438 668
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* No data submitted for units meeting Federal Maximum Energy Use
Standards effective January 1, 1993.
3. Appendix A2 to Part 305 is revised to read as follows:
Appendix A2 to Part 305--Refrigerators and Refrigerator--Freezers With
Manual Defrost
Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Range of
estimated annual
energy
Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated volume in consumption
cubic feet (kWh/yr.)
-----------------
Low High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 2.5......................................... 285 321
2.5 to 4.4............................................ 270 351
4.5 to 6.4............................................ 270 381
6.5 to 8.4............................................ 378 407
8.5 to 10.4........................................... 376 431
10.5 to 12.4.......................................... 433 457
12.5 to 14.4.......................................... 496 496
14.5 to 16.4.......................................... (*) (*)
16.5 to 18.4.......................................... (*) (*)
18.5 to 20.4.......................................... (*) (*)
20.5 to 22.4.......................................... (*) (*)
22.5 to 24.4.......................................... (*) (*)
24.5 to 26.4.......................................... (*) (*)
26.5 to 28.4.......................................... (*) (*)
28.5 and over......................................... (*) (*)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* No data submitted for units meeting Federal Maximum Energy Use
Standards effective January 1, 1993.
4. Appendix A3 to Part 305 is revised to read as follows:
Appendix A3 to Part 305--Refrigerators--Freezers With Partial Automatic
Defrost
Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Range of
estimated annual
energy
Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated volume in consumption
cubic feet (kWh/yr.)
-----------------
Low High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 10.5........................................ 419 489
10.5 to 12.4.......................................... 454 522
12.5 to 14.4.......................................... 562 562
14.5 to 16.4.......................................... 573 573
16.5 to 18.4.......................................... (*) (*)
18.5 to 20.4.......................................... (*) (*)
20.5 to 22.4.......................................... (*) (*)
22.5 to 24.4.......................................... (*) (*)
24.5 to 26.4.......................................... (*) (*)
26.5 to 28.4.......................................... (*) (*)
28.5 and over......................................... (*) (*)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* No data submitted for units meeting Federal Maximum Energy Use
Standards effective January 1, 1993.
5. Appendix A4 to Part 305 is revised to read as follows:
Appendix A4 to Part 305--Refrigerator-Freezers With Automatic Defrost
With Top-Mounted Freezer Without Through-the-Door Ice Service
Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Range of
estimated annual
energy
Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated volume in consumption
cubic feet (kWh/yr.)
-----------------
Low High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 10.5........................................ 511 741
10.5 to 12.4.......................................... 525 572
12.5 to 14.4.......................................... 496 624
14.5 to 16.4.......................................... 514 653
16.5 to 18.4.......................................... 518 697
18.5 to 20.4.......................................... 533 732
20.5 to 22.4.......................................... 555 767
22.5 to 24.4.......................................... 680 800
24.5 to 26.4.......................................... 609 834
26.5 to 28.4.......................................... (*) (*)
28.5 and over......................................... (*) (*)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* No data submitted for units meeting Federal Maximum Energy Use
Standards effective January 1, 1993.
6. Appendix A5 to Part 305 is revised to read as follows:
[[Page 56948]]
Appendix A5 to Part 305--Refrigerator-Freezers With Automatic Defrost
With Side-Mounted Freezer Without Through-the-Door Ice Service
Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Range of
estimated annual
energy
Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated volume in consumption
cubic feet (kWh/yr.)
-----------------
Low High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 10.5........................................ 579 579
10.5 to 12.4.......................................... (*) (*)
12.5 to 14.4.......................................... (*) (*)
14.5 to 16.4.......................................... (*) (*)
16.5 to 18.4.......................................... (*) (*)
18.5 to 20.4.......................................... 702 796
20.5 to 22.4.......................................... 724 821
22.5 to 24.4.......................................... 750 848
24.5 to 26.4.......................................... 776 876
26.5 to 28.4.......................................... (*) (*)
28.5 and over......................................... 920 950
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* No data submitted for units meeting Federal Maximum Energy Use
Standards effective January 1, 1993.
7. Appendix A6 to Part 305 is revised to read as follows:
Appendix A6 to Part 305--Refrigerator-Freezers With Automatic Defrost
With Bottom-Mounted Freezer Without Through-the-Door Ice Service
Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Range of
estimated annual
energy
Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated volume in consumption
cubic feet (kWh/yr.)
-----------------
Low High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 10.5........................................ 463 463
10.5 to 12.4.......................................... (*) (*)
12.5 to 14.4.......................................... (*) (*)
14.5 to 16.4.......................................... 666 666
16.5 to 18.4.......................................... 709 709
18.5 to 20.4.......................................... 612 612
20.5 to 22.4.......................................... 524 789
22.5 to 24.4.......................................... (*) (*)
24.5 to 26.4.......................................... (*) (*)
26.5 to 28.4.......................................... (*) (*)
28.5 and over......................................... (*) (*)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* No data submitted for units meeting Federal Maximum Energy Use
Standards effective January 1, 1993.
8. Appendix A7 to Part 305 is revised to read as follows:
Appendix A7 to Part 305--Refrigerator-Freezers With Automatic Defrost
With Top-Mounted Freezer With Through-the-Door Ice Service
Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Range of
estimated annual
energy
Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated volume in consumption
cubic feet (kWh/yr.)
-----------------
Low High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 10.5........................................ (*) (*)
10.5 to 12.4.......................................... (*) (*)
12.5 to 14.4.......................................... (*) (*)
14.5 to 16.4.......................................... 557 557
16.5 to 18.4.......................................... 769 769
18.5 to 20.4.......................................... (*) (*)
20.5 to 22.4.......................................... 727 840
22.5 to 24.4.......................................... 789 915
24.5 to 26.4.......................................... 814 917
26.5 to 28.4.......................................... (*) (*)
28.5 and over......................................... (*) (*)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* No data submitted for units meeting Federal Maximum Energy Use
Standards effective January 1, 1993.
9. Appendix A8 to Part 305 is revised to read as follows:
Appendix A8 to Part 305--Refrigerator-Freezers With Automatic Defrost
With Side-Mounted Freezer With Through-the-Door Ice Service
Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Range of
estimated annual
energy
Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated volume in consumption
cubic feet (kWh/yr.)
-----------------
Low High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 10.5........................................ (*) (*)
10.5 to 12.4.......................................... (*) (*)
12.5 to 14.4.......................................... (*) (*)
14.5 to 16.4.......................................... (*) (*)
16.5 to 18.4.......................................... (*) (*)
18.5 to 20.4.......................................... 710 935
20.5 to 22.4.......................................... 561 967
22.5 to 24.4.......................................... 750 1008
24.5 to 26.4.......................................... 641 1041
26.5 to 28.4.......................................... 658 1059
28.5 and over......................................... 956 1144
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* No data submitted for units meeting Federal Maximum Energy Use
Standards effective January 1, 1993.
10. Appendix B1 to Part 305 is revised to read as follows:
Appendix B1 to Part 305--Upright Freezers With Manual Defrost
Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Range of
estimated annual
energy
Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated volume in consumption
cubic feet (kWh/yr.)
-----------------
Low High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 5.5......................................... 250 347
5.5 to 7.4............................................ (*) (*)
7.5 to 9.4............................................ 322 414
9.5 to 11.4........................................... 459 459
11.5 to 13.4.......................................... 469 474
13.5 to 15.4.......................................... 509 534
15.5 to 17.4.......................................... 562 565
17.5 to 19.4.......................................... (*) (*)
19.5 to 21.4.......................................... 615 627
21.5 to 23.4.......................................... (*) (*)
23.5 to 25.4.......................................... (*) (*)
25.5 to 27.4.......................................... (*) (*)
27.5 to 29.4.......................................... (*) (*)
29.5 and over......................................... (*) (*)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* No data submitted for units meeting Federal Maximum Energy Use
Standards effective January 1, 1993.
11. Appendix B2 to Part 305 is revised to read as follows:
Appendix B2 to Part 305--Upright Freezers With Automatic Defrost
Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Range of
estimated annual
energy
Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated volume in consumption
cubic feet (kWh/yr.)
-----------------
Low High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 5.5......................................... 504 516
5.5 to 7.4............................................ (*) (*)
7.5 to 9.4............................................ (*) (*)
9.5 to 11.4........................................... (*) (*)
11.5 to 13.4.......................................... 704 704
13.5 to 15.4.......................................... 738 774
15.5 to 17.4.......................................... 791 821
17.5 to 19.4.......................................... 876 876
19.5 to 21.4.......................................... 896 909
21.5 to 23.4.......................................... (*) (*)
23.5 to 25.4.......................................... (*) (*)
25.5 to 27.4.......................................... (*) (*)
27.5 to 29.4.......................................... (*) (*)
29.5 and over......................................... (*) (*)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* No data submitted for units meeting Federal Maximum Energy Use
Standards effective January 1, 1993.
12. Appendix B3 to Part 305 is revised to read as follows:
[[Page 56949]]
Appendix B3 to Part 305--Chest Freezers and All Other Freezers
Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Range of
estimated annual
energy
Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated volume in consumption
cubic feet (kWh/yr.)
-----------------
Low High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 5.5......................................... 250 260
5.5 to 7.4............................................ 291 293
7.5 to 9.4............................................ 322 322
9.5 to 11.4........................................... 347 347
11.5 to 13.4.......................................... 369 399
13.5 to 15.4.......................................... 431 437
15.5 to 17.4.......................................... (*) (*)
17.5 to 19.4.......................................... 493 493
19.5 to 21.4.......................................... 529 529
21.5 to 23.4.......................................... 552 588
23.5 to 25.4.......................................... 629 629
25.5 to 27.4.......................................... (*) (*)
27.5 to 29.4.......................................... (*) (*)
29.5 and over......................................... (*) (*)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* No data submitted for units meeting Federal Maximum Energy Use
Standards effective January 1, 1993.
13. Appendix E to Part 305 is revised to read as follows:
Appendix E to Part 305--Room Air Conditioners
Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Range of Energy
Efficiency
Manufacturer's rated cooling capacity in Btu's/yr. Ratios (EERs)
-----------------
Low High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Without Reverse Cycle and with Louvered Sides:
Less than 6,000 Btu............................... 8.0 10.0
6,000 to 7,999 Btu................................ 8.5 10.3
8,000 to 13,999 Btu............................... 9.0 12.0
14,000 to 19,999 Btu.............................. 8.8 10.7
20,000 and more Btu............................... 8.2 10.0
Without Reverse Cycle and without Louvered Sides:
Less than 6,000 Btu............................... (*) (*)
6,000 to 7,999.................................... 8.5 9.6
8,000 to 13,999 Btu............................... 8.5 9.2
14,000 to 19,999 Btu.............................. (*) (*)
20,000 and more Btu............................... (*) (*)
With Reverse Cycle and with Louvered Sides............ 8.5 11.5
With Reverse Cycle, without Louvered Sides............ 8.0 9.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* No data submitted for units meeting Federal Minimum Efficiency
Standards effective January 1, 1990.
14. In section 2 of Appendix H of Part 305, the text and formulas
are amended by removing the figure ``8.41 cents'' wherever it appears
and by adding, in its place, the figure ``8.67 cents''. In addition,
the text and formulas are amended by removing the figure
``12.62 cents'' wherever it appears and by adding, in its place, the
figure ``13.01 cents''.
15. In section 2 of Appendix I of Part 305, the text and formulas
are amended by removing the figure ``8.41 cents'' wherever it appears
and by adding, in its place, the figure ``8.67 cents''. In addition,
the text and formulas are amended by removing the figure
``12.62 cents'' wherever it appears and by adding, in its place, the
figure ``13.01 cents''.
By direction of the Commission.
Donald S. Clark,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-27889 Filed 11-9-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-M