[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 31, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 78736-78738]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-30572]
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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
16 CFR Part 305
RIN 3084-AB15
Energy and Water Use Labeling for Consumer Products Under the
Energy Policy and Conservation Act (``Energy Labeling Rule'')
AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission).
ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: The Commission seeks comments on labeling for several
miscellaneous refrigeration products not covered by existing labeling
requirements. The Commission seeks comments on whether labels for these
products would assist consumers in their purchasing decisions.
Preliminary DOE analysis suggests labeling would benefit consumers and
be economically and technologically feasible.
DATES: Comments must be received by March 3, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties may file a comment at https://ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/miscrefrigerator online or on paper, by
following the instructions in the Request for Comment part of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. Write ``Miscellaneous
Refrigeration Products, Matter No. R611004'' on your comment, and file
your comment online at https://ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/miscrefrigerator by following the instructions on the web-based form.
If you prefer to file your comment on paper, write ``Miscellaneous
Refrigeration Products, Matter No. R611004'' on your comment and on the
envelope, and mail your comment to the following address: Federal Trade
Commission, Office of the Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Suite
CC-5610 (Annex N), Washington, DC 20580, or deliver your comment to the
following address: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary,
Constitution Center, 400 7th Street SW., 5th Floor, Suite 5610 (Annex
N), Washington, DC 20024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hampton Newsome, (202) 326-2889,
Attorney, Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection,
Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC
20580.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Commission's Energy Labeling Rule (Rule) (16 CFR part 305),
issued pursuant to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) (42
U.S.C. 6291), requires energy labeling for major household appliances
and other consumer products to help consumers compare competing models.
The Commission implements its labeling program in conjunction with the
Department of Energy's efficiency standards program for consumer
products, which is also instituted pursuant to EPCA. When first
published in 1979, the Rule applied to eight product categories:
Refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, freezers, dishwashers, water
heaters, clothes washers, room air conditioners, and furnaces. The
Commission has since expanded the Rule's coverage to include central
air conditioners, heat pumps, plumbing products, lighting products,
ceiling fans, certain types of water heaters, and televisions.
The Rule requires manufacturers to attach yellow EnergyGuide labels
on many of these products, and prohibits retailers from removing the
labels or rendering them illegible. In addition, the Rule directs
sellers, including retailers, to post label information on Web sites
and in paper catalogs from which consumers can order products.
EnergyGuide labels for covered products must contain three key
disclosures: Estimated annual energy cost (for most products); a
product's energy consumption or energy efficiency rating as determined
based on Department of Energy (DOE) test procedures; and a
comparability range displaying the highest and lowest energy costs or
efficiency ratings for all similar models. The Rule requires
manufacturers to use
[[Page 78737]]
national average costs for applicable energy sources (e.g.,
electricity, natural gas, and oil) as calculated by DOE. The Rule sets
a five-year schedule for updating comparability ranges and average unit
energy cost information.\1\ The Commission updates the range
information based on manufacturer data submitted pursuant to the Rule's
reporting requirements.
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\1\ 16 CFR 305.10.
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II. DOE Authority To Add New Covered Products
EPCA gives DOE authority to add product categories to its energy
conservation program beyond those already listed under the statute.\2\
DOE may classify additional consumer product types upon a determination
that: (1) Product coverage is either necessary or appropriate to carry
out EPCA's purposes; and (2) the average annual per-household energy
use by products of such type is likely to exceed 100 kWh per year.\3\
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\2\ 42 U.S.C. 6292.
\3\ 42 U.S.C. 6292(b)(1).
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III. DOE Proposed Coverage of Miscellaneous Refrigeration Products
Pursuant to this authority, DOE recently proposed to cover several
types of refrigeration products excluded by existing DOE definitions,
including cooled cabinets, non-compressor refrigerators, hybrid
refrigerators, compact hybrid refrigerators, hybrid freezers, and
residential ice makers.\4\ In DOE's view, coverage of these products is
both necessary and appropriate to carry out EPCA's goals for conserving
energy supplies and improving consumer product energy efficiency.\5\
DOE proposed to consolidate these various product groups into a single,
new refrigeration product type distinct from the existing product type
that includes refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers.\6\
DOE concluded that minimum efficiency standards for these products
should lead to efficiency improvements. Table 1 contains detailed
information from DOE about the products included in the new proposed
refrigeration category.
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\4\ DOE began this rulemaking proceeding in November 2011, when
DOE proposed to add non-compression-equipped residential
refrigerators to the list of products covered by its conservation
programs. 76 FR 69147 (Nov. 8, 2011). On February 13, 2012, DOE
published an additional notice discussing potential energy
conservation standards and test procedures for other refrigeration
products not currently covered by DOE requirements. 77 FR 7547 (Feb.
13, 2012). Late last year, DOE issued a formal proposal to cover the
new types of refrigeration products (78 FR 65223, Oct. 31, 2013). On
December 16, 2014 (79 FR 74894), DOE published proposed test
procedures for these products. In that test procedure notice, DOE
clarified the scope of the products to include those listed above.
\5\ 78 FR 65223, 65224 (citing 42 U.S.C. 6201).
\6\ Id.
Table 1--DOE Energy Estimates for Miscellaneous Refrigeration Products \7\
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Estimated Estimated
Estimated annual cost National stock lifetime in Annual sales Range of energy use (per year)
annual kWh (12[cent]/kWh) estimate years in units
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Cooled Cabinets........................ 336 $40 12,300,000 4.3 2,900,000 104 to 803 kWh.
Non-Compressor Refrigerators........... 669 80 4,900,000 4.3 1,100,000 451 to 832 kWh.
Hybrid Refrigerators................... 516 62 2,200,000 17 130,000 No estimate.
Compact Hybrid Refrigerators........... 429 51 1,400,000 5.6 250,000 365 to 445 kWh.
Hybrid Freezers........................ 413 50 900,000 22 40,000 No estimate.
Residential Ice Makers................. 363 44 5,500,000 1.7 3,200,000 89 to 1075 kWh.
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IV. FTC Proposed Labeling
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\7\ See 78 FR at 65224-65228, 79 FR 74894, and DOE's
``Preliminary Technical Support Document'' at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EERE-2011-BT-STD-0043-0024.
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In conjunction with DOE's proposal, the Commission seeks comments
on proposed labeling requirements. Under EPCA, the Commission has
discretion to require labeling for new covered products designated by
DOE if it determines such labeling will likely assist consumers in
making purchasing decisions and be economically and technologically
feasible.\8\ Although this labeling authority is discretionary, EPCA
directs the Commission to publish a proposed rule 30 days after DOE
issues a proposed test procedure.\9\
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\8\ 42 U.S.C. 6294(a)(3)&(b)(3).
\9\ See 42 U.S.C. 6294(b)(1)(B) (labeling for new products DOE
designates pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 6292(b)). EPCA also grants the
Commission authority to require labeling or other disclosures for
any consumer product not specified in the statute or designated by
DOE if the Commission determines that ``labeling for the product is
likely to assist consumers in making decisions.'' 42 U.S.C.
6294(a)(6).
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Thus, the Commission now seeks comments on whether labels for these
products would assist consumers in their purchasing decisions.
Preliminary DOE analysis suggests labeling would benefit consumers and
be economically and technologically feasible. According to DOE, the
various types of refrigerators under consideration are available to
residential consumers in stores and online, and use a significant
amount of energy. Moreover, DOE's estimates suggest that competing
models for most of these product categories exhibit variable amounts of
energy use.\10\ In addition, because these products resemble
refrigerators already covered by the Rule (16 CFR 305.11), labeling is
likely to be economically or technologically feasible.
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\10\ 78 FR at 65224-65228.
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The Commission has not proposed specific rule amendments in this
Notice. However, should the Commission determine labeling is
appropriate, any final requirements will likely resemble those
applicable to currently covered refrigeration products, including
requirements relating to testing (section 305.5), EnergyGuide labeling
(section 305.11), recordkeeping (section 305.21), reporting (section
305.8), and catalog/Web site disclosures (section 305.20). Accordingly,
the Commission seeks comments on the application of these existing
labeling requirements to the new refrigerator products. The Commission
seeks comments on all aspects of this proposal. In particular, the
Commission requests that commenters address the following questions:
a. Benefits: Should the Commission require labeling or other energy
disclosures for the miscellaneous refrigeration products described in
this notice? Would labeling or other energy disclosures assist
consumers in making purchasing decisions? What benefits, if any, would
labeling or other energy disclosures for the products in question
provide for consumers and businesses (including small businesses)?
Would labeling promote the introduction of more energy-efficient
products? What are the potential energy savings for consumers?
b. Costs: Is there any evidence that labeling or other energy
disclosures for these products would not assist
[[Page 78738]]
consumers in making purchasing decisions? Would labeling for these
products be economically feasible? Would it be technologically
feasible? What are the costs of testing these products? What costs
would such labeling or other energy disclosures impose on consumers and
businesses (including small businesses)?
c. Energy Use Data: Is there energy use data regarding these
refrigeration products beyond the information already provided by DOE?
If so, is there data that shows a significant difference in the energy
use of competing models? If so, is there a significant difference in
the energy use of such models? What are the annual energy costs of
these products?
d. Format, Content, and Placement: If the Commission considers
labeling or other energy disclosures for one or more of these products,
what should the format, content, and placement be of such information?
Should the labeling requirements for these products differ in any
significant way from the EnergyGuide labels currently applicable to
refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers? How do consumers
purchase these products (e.g., in stores, online, or otherwise)? Are
consumers likely to see the label for these products before purchase?
Should disclosures appear on the products themselves, on packaging, in
other point-of-purchase material, or through some other means?
e. Internet and Catalog Disclosures: Should internet and other
catalog disclosures for these products be any different than those for
other covered products, such as refrigerators already covered by the
Rule?
f. Content: If labeling or other energy disclosures should be
required, what types of information should such labels include? Should
labeling provide the same information as the EnergyGuide label for
other refrigerators (i.e., yearly operating costs, energy use, and
comparative information)? Should the label require something different
or additional?
V. Request for Comments
You can file a comment online or on paper. For the Commission to
consider your comment, we must receive it on or before March 3, 2015.
Write ``Miscellaneous Refrigeration Products, Matter No. R611004'' on
your comment. Your comment--including your name and your state--will be
placed on the public record of this proceeding, including, to the
extent practicable, on the public Commission Web site, at http://www.ftc.gov/os/publiccomments.shtm. As a matter of discretion, the
Commission tries to remove individuals' home contact information from
comments before placing them on the Commission Web site.
Because your comment will be made public, you are solely
responsible for making sure that your comment does not include any
sensitive personal information, such as anyone's Social Security
number, date of birth, driver's license number or other state
identification number or foreign country equivalent, passport number,
financial account number, or credit or debit card number. You are also
solely responsible for making sure that your comment does not include
any sensitive health information, such as medical records or other
individually identifiable health information. In addition, do not
include any ``[t]rade secret or any commercial or financial information
which is . . . privileged or confidential,'' as discussed in Sec. 6(f)
of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. 46(f), and FTC Rule 4.10(a)(2), 16 CFR
4.10(a)(2). In particular, do not include competitively sensitive
information such as costs, sales statistics, inventories, formulas,
patterns, devices, manufacturing processes, or customer names.
If you want the Commission to give your comment confidential
treatment, you must file it in paper form, with a request for
confidential treatment, and you have to follow the procedure explained
in FTC Rule 4.9(c), 16 CFR 4.9(c). Your comment will be kept
confidential only if the FTC General Counsel, in his or her sole
discretion, grants your request in accordance with the law and the
public interest.
Postal mail addressed to the Commission is subject to delay due to
heightened security screening. As a result, we encourage you to submit
your comments online. To make sure that the Commission considers your
online comment, you must file it at https://ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/miscrefrigeration, by following the instruction on the web-based
form. If this Notice appears at http://www.regulations.gov, you also
may file a comment through that Web site.
If you file your comment on paper, write ``Miscellaneous
Refrigeration Products, Matter No. R611004'' on your comment and on the
envelope, and mail your comment to the following address: Federal Trade
Commission, Office of the Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Suite
CC-5610 (Annex N), Washington, DC 20580, or deliver your comment to the
following address: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary,
Constitution Center, 400 7th Street SW., 5th Floor, Suite 5610 (Annex
N), Washington, DC 20024. If possible, submit your paper comment to the
Commission by courier or overnight service.
Visit the Commission Web site at http://www.ftc.gov to read this
NPRM and the news release describing it. The FTC Act and other laws
that the Commission administers permit the collection of public
comments to consider and use in this proceeding, as appropriate. The
Commission will consider all timely and responsive public comments that
it receives on or before March 3, 2015. You can find more information,
including routine uses permitted by the Privacy Act, in the
Commission's privacy policy, at http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/privacy.htm.
By direction of the Commission.
Janice Podoll Frankle,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-30572 Filed 12-30-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-P