[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] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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