[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 171 (Friday, September 2, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60784-60876]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20721]



[[Page 60783]]

Vol. 81

Friday,

No. 171

September 2, 2016

Part II





Department of Energy





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10 CFR Parts 429 and 430





Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for 
Residential Conventional Cooking Products; Proposed Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 81 , No. 171 / Friday, September 2, 2016 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 60784]]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Parts 429 and 430

[Docket Number EERE-2014-BT-STD-0005]
RIN 1904-AD15


Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for 
Residential Conventional Cooking Products

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of 
Energy.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNOPR).

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SUMMARY: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), as 
amended, prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer 
products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including 
residential conventional cooking products. EPCA also requires the U.S. 
Department of Energy (DOE) to determine whether more-stringent, amended 
standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified, 
and would save a significant amount of energy. In this SNOPR, DOE 
proposes new and amended energy conservation standards for residential 
conventional cooking products, specifically conventional cooking tops 
and conventional ovens.

DATES: Comments: DOE will accept comments, data, and information 
regarding this supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNOPR) no 
later than October 3, 2016. See section VII, ``Public Participation'' 
for details.
    Comments regarding the likely competitive impact of the proposed 
standard should be sent to the Department of Justice contact listed in 
the ADDRESSES section before October 3, 2016.

ADDRESSES: 
    Instructions: Any comments submitted must identify the SNOPR for 
Energy Conservation Standards for residential conventional cooking 
products, and provide docket number EERE-2014-BT-STD-0005 and/or 
regulatory information number (RIN) number 1904-AD15. Comments may be 
submitted using any of the following methods:
    1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    2. Email: [email protected]. 
Include the docket number and/or RIN in the subject line of the 
message.
    3. Mail: Mr. John Cymbalsky, U.S. Department of Energy, Building 
Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20585-0121. If possible, please submit all items on a 
CD. It is not necessary to include printed copies.
    4. Hand Delivery/Courier: Mr. John Cymbalsky, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Building Technologies Program, 950 L'Enfant Plaza SW., Room 
6094, Washington, DC 20024. Telephone: (202) 586-6636. If possible, 
please submit all items on a CD, in which case it is not necessary to 
include printed copies.
    No telefacsimilies (faxes) will be accepted. For detailed 
instructions on submitting comments and additional information on the 
rulemaking process, see section VII of this document (``Public 
Participation'').
    Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other 
aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this 
proposed rule may be submitted to Office of Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy through the methods listed above and by email to 
[email protected].
    EPCA requires the Attorney General to provide DOE a written 
determination of whether the proposed standard is likely to lessen 
competition. The U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division invites 
input from market participants and other interested persons with views 
on the likely competitive impact of the proposed standard. Interested 
persons may contact the Division at [email protected] before 
October 3, 2016. Please indicate in the ``Subject'' line of your email 
the title and Docket Number of this SNOPR.
    Docket: The docket, which includes Federal Register notices, public 
meeting attendee lists and transcripts, comments, and other supporting 
documents/materials, is available for review at www.regulations.gov. 
All documents in the docket are listed in the www.regulations.gov 
index. However, some documents listed in the index may not be publicly 
available, such as those containing information that is exempt from 
public disclosure.
    A link to the docket Web page can be found at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2014-BT-STD-0005. This Web 
page will contain a link to the docket for this document on the 
www.regulations.gov site. The regulations.gov Web page will contain 
simple instructions on how to access all documents, including public 
comments, in the docket. See section VII, ``Public Participation,'' for 
further information on how to submit comments through 
www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
Mr. John Cymbalsky, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Program, EE-2J, 
1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: 
(202) 287-1692. Email: [email protected].
Ms. Celia Sher, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General 
Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-
0121. Telephone: (202) 287-6122. Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents

I. Synopsis of the Proposed Rule
    A. Benefits and Costs to Consumers
    B. Impact on Manufacturers
    C. National Benefits and Costs
    D. Conclusion
II. Introduction
    A. Authority
    B. Background
    1. Current Standards
    2. History of Standards Rulemaking for Residential Conventional 
Cooking Products
III. General Discussion
    A. Scope of Coverage
    B. Prescriptive Standard for Conventional Ovens
    C. Test Procedure
    D. Technological Feasibility
    1. General
    2. Maximum Technologically Feasible Levels
    E. Energy Savings
    1. Determination of Savings
    2. Significance of Savings
    F. Economic Justification
    1. Specific Criteria
    2. Rebuttable Presumption
    G. Changes to 10 CFR 429.23 Addressing the Certification, 
Compliance and Enforcement Criteria for Conventional Cooking 
Products
    H. Other Issues
IV. Methodology and Discussion of Comments
    A. Market and Technology Assessment
    1. General
    2. Product Classes
    3. Technology Options
    B. Screening Analysis
    1. Screened-Out Technologies
    2. Remaining Technologies
    C. Engineering Analysis
    1. Methodology
    2. Product Testing and Reverse Engineering
    3. Efficiency Levels
    4. Incremental Manufacturing Production Cost Estimates
    5. Consumer Utility
    D. Markups Analysis
    E. Energy Use Analysis
    F. Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period Analysis
    1. Product Costs
    2. Installation Costs
    3. Unit Energy Consumption

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    4. Energy Prices
    5. Repair and Maintenance Costs
    6. Product Lifetime
    7. Discount Rates
    8. Compliance Date
    9. No-New-Standards Case Efficiency Distribution
    10. Inputs to Payback Period Analysis
    11. Rebuttable-Presumption Payback Period
    G. Shipments Analysis
    H. National Impact Analysis
    1. Efficiency Trends
    2. National Energy Savings
    3. Net Present Value of Customer Benefit
    I. Consumer Subgroup Analysis
    J. Manufacturer Impact Analysis
    1. Overview
    2. GRIM Analysis and Key Inputs
    3. Discussion of Comments
    4. Manufacturer Interviews
    K. Emissions Analysis
    L. Monetizing Carbon Dioxide and Other Emissions Impacts
    1. Social Cost of Carbon
    2. Social Cost of Other Air Pollutants
    M. Utility Impact Analysis
    N. Employment Impact Analysis
V. Analytical Results
    A. Trial Standard Levels
    B. Economic Justification and Energy Savings
    1. Economic Impacts on Individual Consumers
    2. Economic Impacts on Manufacturers
    3. National Impact Analysis
    4. Impact on Utility or Performance of Products
    5. Impact of Any Lessening of Competition
    6. Need of the Nation To Conserve Energy
    7. Other Factors
    8. Summary of National Economic Impacts
    C. Conclusion
    1. Benefits and Burdens of TSLs Considered for Conventional 
Cooking Products
    2. Summary of Annualized Benefits and Costs of the Proposed 
Standards
VI. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review
    A. Review Under Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
    B. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act
    1. Description and Estimated Number of Small Entities Regulated
    2. Description and Estimate of Compliance Requirements
    3. Duplication, Overlap, and Conflict With Other Rules and 
Regulations
    4. Significant Alternatives to the Rule
    C. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction Act
    D. Review Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
    E. Review Under Executive Order 13132
    F. Review Under Executive Order 12988
    G. Review Under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
    H. Review Under the Treasury and General Government 
Appropriations Act, 1999
    I. Review Under Executive Order 12630
    J. Review Under the Treasury and General Government 
Appropriations Act, 2001
    K. Review Under Executive Order 13211
    L. Review Under the Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review
VII. Public Participation
    A. Submission of Comments
    B. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Comment
VIII. Approval of the Office of the Secretary

I. Synopsis of the Proposed Rule

    Title III, Part B \1\ of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 
1975 (EPCA or the Act), Public Law 94-163 (42 U.S.C. 6291-6309, as 
codified), established the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer 
Products Other Than Automobiles.\2\ These products include residential 
conventional cooking products, and specifically conventional cooking 
tops \3\ and conventional ovens,\4\ the subject of this document.
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    \1\ For editorial reasons, upon codification in the U.S. Code, 
Part B was redesignated Part A.
    \2\ All references to EPCA in this document refer to the statute 
as amended through the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015, 
Public Law 114-11 (Apr. 30, 2015).
    \3\ Conventional cooking top means a class of kitchen ranges and 
ovens which is a household cooking appliance consisting of a 
horizontal surface containing one or more surface units which 
include either a gas flame or electric resistance heating. (10 CFR 
430.2) This includes any conventional cooking top component of a 
combined cooking product.
    \4\ Conventional oven means a class of kitchen ranges and ovens 
which is a household cooking appliance consisting of one or more 
compartments intended for the cooking or heating of food by means of 
either a gas flame or electric resistance heating. It does not 
include portable or countertop ovens which use electric resistance 
heating for the cooking or heating of food and are designed for an 
electrical supply of approximately 120 volts. (10 CFR 430.2) This 
includes any conventional oven(s) component of a combined cooking 
product.
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    Pursuant to EPCA, any new or amended energy conservation standard 
must be designed to achieve the maximum improvement in energy 
efficiency that is technologically feasible and economically justified. 
(42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(A)) Furthermore, the new or amended standard must 
result in a significant conservation of energy. (42 U.S.C. 
6295(o)(3)(B)) EPCA also provides that not later than 6 years after 
issuance of any final rule establishing or amending a standard, DOE 
must publish either a notice of determination that standards for the 
product do not need to be amended, or a notice of proposed rulemaking 
including new proposed energy conservation standards. (42 U.S.C. 
6295(m)(1))
    In accordance with these and other statutory provisions discussed 
in this document, DOE proposes new and amended energy conservation 
standards for residential conventional cooking products. Per its 
authority in 42 U.S.C. 6295(h)(2), DOE proposes to remove the existing 
prescriptive standard for gas cooking tops prohibiting a constant 
burning pilot light. Instead, for conventional cooking tops, DOE 
proposes performance standards only, shown in Table I.1, which are the 
maximum allowable integrated annual energy consumption (IAEC). The IAEC 
includes active mode, standby mode, and off mode energy use. These 
proposed standards for conventional cooking tops, if adopted, would 
apply to all product classes listed in Table I.1 and manufactured in, 
or imported into, the United States starting on the date 3 years after 
the publication of any final rule for this rulemaking. The proposed 
standards correspond to trial standard level (TSL) 2, which is 
described in section V.A. DOE notes that constant burning pilot lights, 
which are currently prohibited under the existing prescriptive standard 
for gas cooking tops (10 CFR 430.32(j)), consume approximately 2,000 
kilo British thermal units (kBtu) per year. While DOE's proposal would 
remove this prescriptive requirement from its regulations, DOE notes 
that, based on its review of the existing prescriptive standard 
prohibiting constant burning pilots for gas cooking tops and the 
proposed efficiency levels presented in section IV.C.3.b, the proposed 
performance standards of 924.4 kBtu per year for gas cooking tops would 
not be achievable by products if they were to incorporate a constant 
burning pilot.

           Table I.1--Proposed Energy Conservation Performance Standards for Conventional Cooking Tops
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                       Product class                         Maximum integrated annual energy consumption (IAEC)
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Electric Open (Coil) Element Cooking Tops..................  113.2 kWh/yr.
Electric Smooth Element Cooking Tops.......................  121.2 kWh/yr.
Gas Cooking Tops...........................................  924.4 kBtu/yr.
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    For conventional ovens, the proposed standard is a prescriptive 
design requirement for the control system of the oven. Conventional 
electric ovens shall not be equipped with a control system that uses a 
linear power supply. Conventional gas ovens shall be equipped with a 
control system that uses an intermittent/interrupted ignition or 
intermittent pilot ignition and does not use a linear power supply (See 
Table I.2). These proposed standards for conventional ovens, if 
adopted, would apply to all conventional ovens manufactured in, or 
imported into, the United States starting on the date 3 years after the 
publication of any final rule for this rulemaking. DOE considered a 
combination of factors in developing its proposal to prescribe a 
control system design requirement for conventional ovens, rather than 
proposing to regulate IAEC with a performance standard. The rationale 
for this tentative decision is further explained in sections IV.C.5 and 
V.B.8 of this SNOPR. DOE also notes that the current prescriptive 
standards for conventional gas ovens prohibiting constant burning pilot 
lights would continue to be applicable. (10 CFR 430.32(j)). Table I.2 
provides a summary of the proposed standards for conventional ovens.

   Table I.2--Proposed Prescriptive Energy Conservation Standards for
                           Conventional Ovens
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                                                        Current SNOPR
     Oven product class         Current standard     proposed standards
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Electric Standard,            None................  Shall not be
 Freestanding.                                       equipped with a
Electric Standard, Built-In/                         control system that
 Slide-In.                                           uses linear power
                                                     supply.*
Electric Self-Clean,
 Freestanding.
Electric Self-Clean, Built-
 In/Slide-In.
Gas Standard, Freestanding..  No constant burning   The control system
Gas Standard, Built-In/Slide-  pilot light.          for gas ovens
 In.                                                 shall:
Gas Self-Clean, Freestanding                        (1) Not be equipped
Gas Self-Clean, Built-In/                            with a constant
 Slide-In.                                           burning pilot
                                                     light;
                                                    (2) Be equipped with
                                                     an intermittent/
                                                     interrupted
                                                     ignition or
                                                     intermittent pilot
                                                     ignition; and
                                                    (3) Not be equipped
                                                     with a linear power
                                                     supply.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* A linear power supply produces unregulated as well as regulated power.
  The unregulated portion of a linear power supply typically consists of
  a transformer that steps alternating current (AC) line voltage down, a
  voltage rectifier circuit for AC to direct current (DC) conversion,
  and a capacitor to produce unregulated, direct current output. Linear
  power supplies are described in section IV.A.3 of this SNOPR.

A. Benefits and Costs to Consumers

    Table I.3 presents DOE's evaluation of the economic impacts of the 
proposed standards on consumers of residential conventional cooking 
products, as measured by the average life-cycle cost (LCC) savings and 
the simple payback period (PBP).\5\ The average LCC savings are 
positive for all product classes, and the PBP is less than the average 
lifetime of the equipment, which is estimated to be 16 years for 
electric cooking tops and 13 years for gas cooking products (see 
section IV.F.6 for additional detail).
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    \5\ The average LCC savings are measured relative to the no-new-
standards-case efficiency distribution, which depicts the market in 
the compliance year (see section IV.F.9 of this notice) and is the 
savings achieved over the average lifetime of the product. The 
simple PBP, which is designed to compare specific efficiency levels, 
is measured relative to the baseline model.

  Table I.3--Impacts of Proposed Energy Conservation Standards (TSL2) on Consumers of Residential Conventional
                                                Cooking Products
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                                                                    Average LCC                       Average
                          Product class                               savings     Simple payback     lifetime
                                                                      (2015$)     period (years)      (years)
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Electric Open (Coil) Element Cooking Tops.......................               3             0.5              16
Electric Smooth Element Cooking Tops............................              24             1.0              16
Gas Cooking Tops................................................               1             9.1              13
Electric Standard Oven, Free-standing...........................               6             0.9              16
Electric Standard Oven, Built-in/Slide-in.......................               6             0.9              16
Electric Self-Clean Oven, Free-Standing.........................               7             0.9              16
Electric Self-Clean Oven, Built-in/Slide-in.....................               7             0.9              16
Gas Standard Oven, Free-Standing................................              44             1.1              13
Gas Standard Oven, Built-in/Slide-in............................              44             1.1              13
Gas Self-Clean Oven, Free-Standing..............................              48             1.1              13
Gas Self-Clean Oven, Built-In/Slide-in..........................              48             1.1              13
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    DOE's analysis of the impacts of the proposed standards on 
consumers is described in section IV.F of this SNOPR.

B. Impact on Manufacturers

    The industry net present value (INPV) is the sum of the discounted 
cash flows to the industry from the reference year through the end of 
the analysis period (2016 to 2048). Using a real discount rate of 9.1 
percent, DOE estimates that the INPV for manufacturers of residential 
conventional cooking products is $1,238.1 million in 2015$. Under the 
proposed standards, DOE expects that manufacturers may lose up to 7.2 
percent of their INPV, which is approximately $89.6 million in 2015$. 
Additionally, based on DOE's interviews with the manufacturers of 
residential conventional cooking

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products, DOE does not expect any plant closings or significant loss of 
employment.
    Table I.4 and Table I.5 show the financial impacts (represented by 
changes in INPV) of new and amended energy conservation standards on 
residential conventional cooking product manufacturers as well as the 
conversion costs that DOE estimates manufacturers would incur under the 
preservation of gross margin and preservation of operating profit 
markup scenarios (described in section IV.J.2). As noted above, the 
proposed standards correspond to TSL 2.

           Table I.4--Manufacturer Impact Analysis for Residential Conventional Cooking Products--Preservation of Gross Margin Markup Scenario
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                                                                                                               Trial standard level
                                                        Units                 No-new-    ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          standards case         1               2               3               4
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INPV......................................  (2015$ millions)............         1,238.1         1,200.1         1,156.7           868.0           511.1
Change in INPV............................  (2015$ millions)............  ..............          (38.0)          (81.4)         (370.1)         (727.1)
                                            (%).........................  ..............           (3.1)           (6.6)          (29.9)          (58.7)
Product Conversion Costs..................  (2015$ millions)............  ..............            19.9            71.3           261.8           525.4
Capital Conversion Costs..................  (2015$ millions)............  ..............            29.9            47.9           248.2           580.2
Total Conversion Costs....................  (2015$ millions)............  ..............            49.8           119.2           510.0         1,105.7
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* Numbers in parentheses indicate negative numbers.


         Table I.5--Manufacturer Impact Analysis for Residential Conventional Cooking Products--Preservation of Operating Profit Markup Scenario
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                                                                                                               Trial standard level
                                                        Units                 No-new-    ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          standards case         1               2               3               4
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INPV......................................  (2015$ millions)............         1,238.1         1,198.3         1,148.5           844.7           314.6
Change in INPV............................  (2015$ millions)............  ..............          (39.8)          (89.6)         (393.5)         (923.6)
                                            (%).........................                           (3.2)           (7.2)          (31.8)          (74.6)
Product Conversion Costs..................  (2015$ millions)............  ..............            19.9            71.3           261.8           525.4
Capital Conversion Costs..................  (2015$ millions)............  ..............            29.9            47.9           248.2           580.2
Total Conversion Costs....................  (2015$ millions)............  ..............            49.8           119.2           510.0         1,105.7
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    DOE's analysis of the impacts of the proposed standards on 
manufacturers is described in section IV.J of this SNOPR.

C. National Benefits and Costs \6\
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    \6\ All monetary values in this document are expressed in 2015 
dollars, and where appropriate, are discounted to 2016 unless 
explicitly stated otherwise. Energy savings in this section refer to 
the full-fuel-cycle savings (see section IV.H of this SNOPR for 
discussion).
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    DOE's analyses indicate that the proposed standards would save a 
significant amount of energy. The lifetime energy savings from 
residential conventional cooking products purchased in the 30-year 
period that begins in the assumed year of compliance with the proposed 
standards (2019-2048), relative to the no-new-standards case without 
the proposed standards, amount to 0.76 quadrillion British thermal 
units (quads).\7\ This represents a savings of 5.9 percent relative to 
the energy use of these products in the no-new-standards case.
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    \7\ A quad is equal to 10\15\ British thermal units (Btu). The 
quantity refers to full-fuel-cycle (FFC) energy savings. FFC energy 
savings includes the energy consumed in extracting, processing, and 
transporting primary fuels (i.e., coal, natural gas, petroleum 
fuels), and thus presents a more complete picture of the impacts of 
energy efficiency standards. For more information on the FFC metric, 
see section IV.H.2 of this SNOPR.
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    The cumulative net present value (NPV) of total consumer costs and 
savings of the proposed standards for residential conventional cooking 
products ranges from $2.72 billion (at a 7-percent discount rate) to 
$6.24 billion (at a 3-percent discount rate). This NPV expresses the 
estimated present value of future operating-cost savings minus the 
estimated increased product costs for products purchased in 2019-2048.
    In addition, the proposed standards are projected to yield 
significant environmental benefits. The energy savings described above 
are estimated to result in cumulative emission reductions of 45.3 
million metric tons (Mt) \8\ of carbon dioxide (CO2), 6,369 
thousand tons of methane, 23.6 thousand tons of sulfur dioxide 
(SO2), 88.0 thousand tons of nitrogen oxides 
(NOX), 0.50 thousand tons of nitrous oxide (N2O), 
and 0.09 tons of mercury (Hg).\9\ The cumulative reduction in 
CO2 emissions through 2030 amounts to 9.057 Mt, which is 
equivalent to the emissions resulting from the annual electricity use 
of 0.826 million homes.
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    \8\ A metric ton is equivalent to 1.1 short tons. Results for 
emissions other than CO2 are presented in short tons.
    \9\ DOE calculated emissions reductions relative to the no-new-
standards case, which reflects key assumptions in the Annual Energy 
Outlook 2015 (AEO 2015) Reference case. AEO 2015 generally 
represents current legislation and environmental regulations for 
which implementing regulations were available as of October 31, 
2014.
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    The value of the CO2 reductions is calculated using a 
range of values per metric ton of CO2 (otherwise known as 
the ``Social Cost of Carbon'', or SCC) developed by a Federal 
interagency working group.\10\ The derivation of the SCC values is 
discussed in section IV.L of this SNOPR. Using discount rates 
appropriate for each set of SCC values (see Table I.7), DOE estimates 
the present monetary value of the CO2 emissions reduction 
(not including CO2 equivalent emissions of other gases with 
global warming potential) is between $0.3 billion and $4.5 billion, 
with a value of $1.5 billion using the central SCC case represented by 
$40.6/t in 2015. DOE also estimates the present monetary value of the 
NOX emissions reduction to be $0.08 billion at a 7-percent 
discount rate and $0.19 billion

[[Page 60788]]

at 3-percent discount rate.\11\ DOE is investigating appropriate 
valuation of the reduction in methane and other emissions, and did not 
include any values in this rulemaking.
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    \10\ Technical Update of the Social Cost of Carbon for 
Regulatory Impact Analysis Under Executive Order 12866, Interagency 
Working Group on Social Cost of Carbon, United States Government 
(May 2013; revised July 2015) (Available at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/inforeg/scc-tsd-final-july-2015.pdf).
    \11\ DOE estimated the monetized value of NOX 
emissions reductions associated with electricity savings using 
benefit per ton estimates from the Regulatory Impact Analysis for 
the Clean Power Plan Final Rule, published in August 2015 by EPA's 
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards. (Available at: http://www.epa.gov/cleanpowerplan/clean-power-plan-final-rule-regulatory-impact-analysis.) See section IV.L.2 of this SNOPR for further 
discussion. The U.S. Supreme Court has stayed the rule implementing 
the Clean Power Plan until the current litigation against it 
concludes. Chamber of Commerce, et al. v. EPA, et al., Order in 
Pending Case, 577 U.S._(2016). However, the benefit-per-ton 
estimates established in the Regulatory Impact Analysis for the 
Clean Power Plan are based on scientific studies that remain valid 
irrespective of the legal status of the Clean Power Plan. DOE is 
primarily using a national benefit-per-ton estimate for 
NOX emitted from the Electricity Generating Unit sector 
based on an estimate of premature mortality derived from the ACS 
study (Krewski et al., 2009). If the benefit-per-ton estimates were 
based on the Six Cities study (Lepuele et al., 2011), the values 
would be nearly two-and-a-half times larger.
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    Table I.6 summarizes the national economic costs and benefits 
expected to result from the proposed standards for residential 
conventional cooking products.

 Table I.6--Summary of National Economic Benefits and Costs of Proposed
    Energy Conservation Standards (TSL2) for Residential Conventional
                           Cooking Products *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Present value
          Category               (billion 2015$)      Discount rate (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Benefits
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consumer Operating Cost                        3.2                     7
 Savings....................                   7.0                     3
CO2 Reduction Monetized                        0.3                     5
 Value ($12.4/t case) **....
CO2 Reduction Monetized                        1.5                     3
 Value ($40.6/t case) **....
CO2 Reduction Monetized                        2.4                   2.5
 Value ($63.2/t case) **....
CO2 Reduction Monetized                        4.5                     3
 Value ($118/t case) **.....
NOX Reduction Monetized                       0.08                  0.19
 Value [dagger].............                     7                     3
Total Benefits                                 4.8                     7
 [dagger][dagger]...........                   8.7                     3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Costs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consumer Incremental                           0.5                     7
 Installed Costs............                   0.8                     3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Total Net Benefits
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Including CO2 and NOX                          4.3                     7
 Reduction Monetized Value                     7.9                     3
 [dagger][dagger]...........
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* This table presents the costs and benefits associated with residential
  conventional cooking products shipped in 2019-2048. These results
  include impacts to consumers which accrue after 2048 from the products
  purchased in 2019-2048. The results account for the incremental
  variable and fixed costs incurred by manufacturers due to any final
  standard, some of which may be incurred in preparation for the rule.
** The CO2 values represent global monetized values of the SCC, in
  2015$, in 2015 under several scenarios of the updated SCC values. The
  first three cases use the averages of SCC distributions calculated
  using 5%, 3%, and 2.5% discount rates, respectively. The fourth case
  represents the 95th percentile of the SCC distribution calculated
  using a 3% discount rate. The SCC time series incorporate an
  escalation factor.
[dagger] DOE estimated the monetized value of NOX emissions reductions
  associated with electricity savings using benefit per ton estimates
  from the Regulatory Impact Analysis for the Clean Power Plan Final
  Rule, published in August 2015 by EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning
  and Standards. (Available at:http://www.epa.gov/cleanpowerplan/clean-power-plan-final-rule-regulatory-impact-analysis.) See supra note 11
  and accompanying text.
[dagger][dagger] Total Benefits for both the 3% and 7% cases are derived
  using the series corresponding to average SCC with 3-percent discount
  rate ($40.6/t case).

    The benefits and costs of the proposed standards, for products sold 
in 2019-2048, can also be expressed in terms of annualized values. The 
annualized monetary values are the sum of: (1) The national economic 
value of the benefits in reduced consumer operating costs, minus (2) 
the increase in product purchase prices and installation costs, plus 
(3) the value of the benefits of CO2 and NOX 
emission reductions, all annualized.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ To convert the time-series of costs and benefits into 
annualized values, DOE calculated a present value in 2015, the year 
used for discounting the NPV of total consumer costs and savings. 
For the benefits, DOE calculated a present value associated with 
each year's shipments in the year in which the shipments occur 
(e.g., 2020 or 2030), and then discounted the present value from 
each year to 2015. The calculation uses discount rates of 3 and 7 
percent for all costs and benefits except for the value of 
CO2 reductions, for which DOE used case-specific discount 
rates, as shown in Table I.7. Using the present value, DOE then 
calculated the fixed annual payment over a 30-year period, starting 
in the compliance year, that yields the same present value.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Although the values of operating cost savings and CO2 
emission reductions are both important, two issues are relevant. First, 
the national operating savings are domestic U.S. consumer monetary 
savings that occur as a result of market transactions, whereas the 
value of CO2 reductions is based on a global value. Second, 
the assessments of operating cost savings and CO2 savings 
are performed with different methods that use different time frames for 
analysis. The national operating cost savings is measured for the 
lifetime of residential conventional cooking products shipped in 2019-
2048. Because CO2 emissions have a very long residence time 
in the atmosphere,\13\ the SCC values in future years reflect future 
climate-related impacts resulting from the emission of CO2 
that continue well beyond 2100.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ The atmospheric lifetime of CO2 is estimated of 
the order of 30-95 years. Jacobson, MZ (2005). ``Correction to 
``Control of fossil-fuel particulate black carbon and organic 
matter, possibly the most effective method of slowing global 
warming.'' '' J. Geophys. Res. 110. pp. D14105.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimates of annualized benefits and costs of the proposed 
standards are

[[Page 60789]]

shown in Table I.7. The results under the primary estimate are as 
follows.
    Using a 7-percent discount rate for benefits and costs other than 
CO2 reductions (for which DOE used a 3-percent discount rate 
along with the average SCC series corresponding to a value of $40.6/ton 
in 2015 (2015$)), the estimated cost of the proposed standards for 
cooking products is $42.6 million per year in increased equipment 
costs, while the benefits are $293 million per year in reduced 
equipment operating costs, $80.8 million in CO2 reductions, 
and $7.4 million in reduced NOX emissions. In this case, the 
net benefit amounts to $339 million per year.
    Using a 3-percent discount rate for all benefits and costs and the 
average SCC series corresponding to a value of $40.6/ton in 2015 
(2015$), the estimated cost of the proposed standards for cooking 
products is $42.3 million per year in increased equipment costs, while 
the benefits are $380 million per year in reduced operating costs, 
$80.8 million in CO2 reductions, and $10.1 million in 
reduced NOX emissions. In this case, the net benefit amounts 
to $429 million per year.

           Table I.7--Annualized Benefits and Costs of Proposed Amended Standards (TSL 2) for Conventional Cooking Products Sold in 2019-2048
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Million 2015$/year
                                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Discount rate                                        Low net benefits estimate  High net benefits estimate
                                                                          Primary estimate *                   *                           *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        Benefits
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consumer Operating Cost Savings...  7%..............................  293.......................  262.......................  332.
                                    3%..............................  380.......................  336.......................  439.
CO2 Reduction Value ($12.4/t case)  5%..............................  23.8......................  21.7......................  26.5.
 **.
CO2 Reduction Value ($40.6/t case)  3%..............................  80.8......................  73.6......................  90.5.
 **.
CO2 Reduction Value ($63.2/t case)  2.5%............................  118.6.....................  107.9.....................  132.8.
 **.
CO2 Reduction Value ($118/t case)   3%..............................  246.3.....................  224.1.....................  275.6.
 **.
NOX Reduction Value [dagger]......  7%..............................  7.4.......................  6.8.......................  18.2.
                                    3%..............................  10.1......................  9.2.......................  25.6.
                                   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Benefits                  7% plus CO2 range...............  325 to 547................  290 to 493................  377 to 626.
     [dagger][dagger].
                                    7%..............................  382.......................  342.......................  441.
                                    3% plus CO2 range...............  414 to 637................  367 to 569................  491 to 740.
                                    3%..............................  471.......................  418.......................  555.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consumer Incremental Installed      7%..............................  42.6......................  41.6......................  45.3.
 Product Costs.                     3%..............................  42.3......................  41.3......................  45.2.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Net Benefits
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total [dagger][dagger]........  7% plus CO2 range...............  282 to 504................  249 to 451................  332 to 581.
                                    7%..............................  339.......................  301.......................  396.
                                    3% plus CO2 range...............  372 to 594................  325 to 528................  446 to 695.
                                    3%..............................  429.......................  377.......................  510.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* This table presents the annualized costs and benefits associated with cooking products shipped in 2019-2048. Note that the benefits and costs may not
  exactly sum to the net benefits due to rounding. These results include benefits to consumers which accrue after 2048 from the products purchased in
  2019-2048. The results account for the incremental variable and fixed costs incurred by manufacturers due to the standard, some of which may be
  incurred in preparation for the rule. The Primary, Low Benefits, and High Benefits Estimates utilize projections of energy prices from the AEO 2015
  Reference case, Low Economic Growth case, and High Economic Growth case, respectively. In addition, incremental product costs reflect a medium decline
  rate in the Primary Estimate, a low decline rate in the Low Benefits Estimate, and a high decline rate in the High Benefits Estimate. The methods used
  to derive projected price trends are explained in section IV.F.1 of this SNOPR.
** The CO2 values represent global monetized values of the SCC, in 2015$, in 2015 under several scenarios of the updated SCC values. The first three
  cases use the averages of SCC distributions calculated using 5%, 3%, and 2.5% discount rates, respectively. The fourth case represents the 95th
  percentile of the SCC distribution calculated using a 3% discount rate. The SCC time series incorporate an escalation factor.
[dagger] DOE estimated the monetized value of NOX emissions reductions associated with electricity savings using benefit per ton estimates from the
  Regulatory Impact Analysis for the Clean Power Plan Final Rule, published in August 2015 by EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
  (Available at: http://www.epa.gov/cleanpowerplan/clean-power-plan-final-rule-regulatory-impact-analysis.) See section IV.L.2 of this SNOPR for further
  discussion. For DOE's Primary Estimate and Low Net Benefits Estimate, the agency used a national benefit-per-ton estimate for NOX emitted from the
  Electric Generating Unit sector based on an estimate of premature mortality derived from the ACS study (Krewski et al., 2009). For DOE's High Net
  Benefits Estimate, the benefit-per-ton estimates were based on the Six Cities study (Lepuele et al., 2011), which are nearly two-and-a-half times
  larger than those from the ACS study.
[dagger][dagger] Total Benefits for both the 3% and 7% cases are derived using the series corresponding to the average SCC with a 3-percent discount
  rate ($40.6/t case). In the rows labeled ``7% plus CO2 range'' and ``3% plus CO2 range,'' the operating cost and NOX benefits are calculated using the
  labeled discount rate, and those values are added to the full range of CO2 values.

    DOE's analysis of the national impacts of the proposed standards is 
described in sections IV.H, IV.K and IV.L of this SNOPR.

D. Conclusion

    DOE has tentatively concluded that the proposed standards represent 
the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that is technologically 
feasible and economically justified, and would result in the 
significant conservation of energy. DOE further notes that products 
achieving these standard levels are already commercially available for 
at least some,

[[Page 60790]]

if not most, product classes covered by this proposal. Based on the 
analyses described above, DOE has tentatively concluded that the 
benefits of the proposed standards to the Nation (energy savings, 
positive NPV of consumer benefits, consumer LCC savings, and emission 
reductions) would outweigh the burdens (loss of INPV for manufacturers 
and LCC increases for some consumers).
    DOE also considered more-stringent energy efficiency levels as 
TSLs, and is considering them in this rulemaking. However, DOE has 
tentatively concluded that the potential burdens of the more-stringent 
energy efficiency levels would outweigh the projected benefits. Based 
on consideration of the public comments DOE receives in response to 
this SNOPR and related information collected and analyzed during the 
course of this rulemaking effort, DOE may adopt energy efficiency 
levels presented in this SNOPR that are either higher or lower than the 
proposed standards, or some combination of level(s) that incorporate 
the proposed standards in part.

II. Introduction

    The following section briefly discusses the statutory authority 
underlying this proposal, as well as some of the relevant historical 
background related to the establishment of standards for residential 
conventional cooking products.

A. Authority

    Title III, Part B of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 
(EPCA or the Act), Public Law 94-163 (codified as 42 U.S.C. 6291-6309) 
established the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other 
Than Automobiles, a program covering most major household appliances 
(collectively referred to as ``covered products''), which includes 
residential cooking products,\14\ and specifically residential 
conventional cooking tops and conventional ovens that are the subject 
of this rulemaking. (42 U.S.C. 6292(a)(10)) EPCA prescribed energy 
conservation standards for these products (42 U.S.C. 6295(h)(1)), and 
directs DOE to conduct rulemakings to determine whether to amend these 
standards. (42 U.S.C. 6295(h)(2)) Under 42 U.S.C. 6295(m), the agency 
must periodically review its already established energy conservation 
standards for a covered product. Under this requirement, the next 
review that DOE would need to conduct must occur no later than 6 years 
from the issuance of a final rule establishing or amending a standard 
for a covered product.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ DOE's regulations define kitchen ranges and ovens, or 
``cooking products'', as consumer products that are used as the 
major household cooking appliances. They are designed to cook or 
heat different types of food by one or more of the following sources 
of heat: Gas, electricity, or microwave energy. Each product may 
consist of a horizontal cooking top containing one or more surface 
units and/or one or more heating compartments. Based on this 
definition, in this SNOPR, DOE interprets kitchen ranges and ovens 
to refer more generally to all types of cooking products including, 
for example, microwave ovens.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Pursuant to EPCA, DOE's energy conservation program for covered 
products consists essentially of four parts: (1) Testing; (2) labeling; 
(3) the establishment of Federal energy conservation standards; and (4) 
certification and enforcement procedures. The Federal Trade Commission 
(FTC) is primarily responsible for labeling, and DOE implements the 
remainder of the program. Subject to certain criteria and conditions, 
DOE is required to develop test procedures to measure the energy 
efficiency, energy use, or estimated annual operating cost of each 
covered product. (42 U.S.C. 6293) Manufacturers of covered products 
must use the prescribed DOE test procedure as the basis for certifying 
to DOE that their products comply with the applicable energy 
conservation standards adopted under EPCA and when making 
representations to the public regarding the energy use or efficiency of 
those products. (42 U.S.C. 6293(c) and 6295(s)) Similarly, DOE must use 
these test procedures to determine whether the products comply with 
standards adopted pursuant to EPCA. Id. The DOE test procedures for 
residential conventional cooking products, including conventional 
cooking tops and ovens, currently appear at title 10 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) part 430, subpart B, appendix I (Appendix I).
    DOE must follow specific statutory criteria for prescribing new or 
amended standards for covered products. As indicated above, any new or 
amended standard for a covered product must be designed to achieve the 
maximum improvement in energy efficiency that is technologically 
feasible and economically justified. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(A)) 
Furthermore, DOE may not adopt any standard that would not result in 
the significant conservation of energy. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(3)) 
Moreover, DOE may not prescribe a standard: (1) For certain products, 
including residential conventional cooking products, if no test 
procedure has been established for the product, or (2) if DOE 
determines by rule that the standard is not technologically feasible or 
economically justified. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(3)(A)-(B)) In deciding 
whether a standard is economically justified, DOE must determine 
whether the benefits of the standard exceed its burdens. (42 U.S.C. 
6295(o)(2)(B)(i)) DOE must make this determination after receiving 
comments on the proposed standard, and by considering, to the greatest 
extent practicable, the following seven statutory factors:
    1. The economic impact of the standard on manufacturers and 
consumers of the products subject to the standard;
    2. The savings in operating costs throughout the estimated average 
life of the covered products in the type (or class) compared to any 
increase in the price, initial charges, or maintenance expenses for the 
covered products that are likely to result from the imposition of the 
standard;
    3. The total projected amount of energy, or as applicable, water, 
savings likely to result directly from the imposition of the standard;
    4. Any lessening of the utility or the performance of the covered 
products likely to result from the imposition of the standard;
    5. The impact of any lessening of competition, as determined in 
writing by the Attorney General, that is likely to result from the 
imposition of the standard;
    6. The need for national energy and water conservation; and
    7. Other factors the Secretary of Energy (Secretary) considers 
relevant. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i)(I)-(VII))
    EPCA, as codified, also contains what is known as an ``anti-
backsliding'' provision, which prevents the Secretary from prescribing 
any amended standard that either increases the maximum allowable energy 
use or decreases the minimum required energy efficiency of a covered 
product. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(1)) Also, the Secretary may not prescribe 
an amended or new standard if interested persons have established by a 
preponderance of the evidence that the standard is likely to result in 
the unavailability in the United States of any covered product type (or 
class) of performance characteristics (including reliability), 
features, sizes, capacities, and volumes that are substantially the 
same as those generally available in the United States. (42 U.S.C. 
6295(o)(4))
    Further, EPCA, as codified, establishes a rebuttable presumption 
that a standard is economically justified if the Secretary finds that 
the additional cost to the consumer of purchasing a product complying 
with an energy conservation standard level will be less than three 
times the value of the energy

[[Page 60791]]

savings during the first year that the consumer will receive as a 
result of the standard, as calculated under the applicable test 
procedure. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(iii))
    Additionally, EPCA specifies requirements when promulgating a 
standard for a type or class of covered product that has two or more 
subcategories. DOE must specify a different standard level than that 
which applies generally to such type or class of products for any group 
of covered products that have the same function or intended use if DOE 
determines that products within such group (A) consume a different kind 
of energy from that consumed by other covered products within such type 
(or class); or (B) have a capacity or other performance-related feature 
which other products within such type (or class) do not have and such 
feature justifies a higher or lower standard. (42 U.S.C. 6295(q)(1)) In 
determining whether a performance-related feature justifies a different 
standard for a group of products, DOE must consider such factors as the 
utility to the consumer of the feature and other factors DOE deems 
appropriate. Id. Any rule prescribing such a standard must include an 
explanation of the basis on which such higher or lower level was 
established. (42 U.S.C. 6295(q)(2))
    Federal energy conservation requirements generally supersede State 
laws or regulations concerning energy conservation testing, labeling, 
and standards. (42 U.S.C. 6297(a)-(c)) DOE may, however, grant waivers 
of Federal preemption for particular State laws or regulations, in 
accordance with the procedures and other provisions set forth under 42 
U.S.C. 6297(d)).
    Finally, pursuant to the amendments contained in the Energy 
Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007), Public Law 110-140, 
any final rule for new or amended energy conservation standards 
promulgated after July 1, 2010, is required to address standby mode and 
off mode energy use. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(3)) Specifically, when DOE 
adopts a standard for a covered product after that date, it must, if 
justified by the criteria for adoption of standards under EPCA (42 
U.S.C. 6295(o)), incorporate standby mode and off mode energy use into 
the standard, or, if that is not feasible, adopt a separate standard 
for such energy use for that product. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(3)(A)-(B)) 
DOE's current test procedures for residential conventional cooking tops 
address standby mode and off mode energy use. In this rulemaking, DOE 
intends to incorporate such energy use into any new or amended energy 
conservation standards it adopts in the final rule. As discussed in 
section III.C, DOE is proposing to repeal the test procedures for 
conventional ovens. As a result, a performance standard that addresses 
standby mode and off mode energy use is not feasible for conventional 
ovens. However, as discussed in section III.B, DOE is proposing in this 
SNOPR to adopt prescriptive design requirements for the control system 
of conventional ovens that would address standby mode and off mode 
energy use.

B. Background

1. Current Standards
    In a final rule published on April 8, 2009 (April 2009 Final Rule), 
DOE prescribed the current energy conservation standards for 
residential cooking products to prohibit constant burning pilots for 
all gas cooking products (i.e., gas cooking products both with or 
without an electrical supply cord) manufactured on or after April 9, 
2012. 74 FR 16040, 16041-16044. DOE's regulations, codified at 10 CFR 
430.2, define conventional cooking tops and conventional ovens as 
classes of cooking products. As noted in the April 2009 Final Rule, DOE 
considered standards for conventional cooking tops and conventional 
ovens separately, and noted that any cooking top or oven standard would 
apply to the individual components of a conventional range. 74 FR 
16040, 16053.
2. History of Standards Rulemaking for Residential Conventional Cooking 
Products
    The National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987 (NAECA), 
Public Law 100-12, amended EPCA to establish prescriptive standards for 
gas cooking products, requiring gas ranges and ovens with an electrical 
supply cord that are manufactured on or after January 1, 1990, not to 
be equipped with a constant burning pilot light. NAECA also directed 
DOE to conduct two cycles of rulemakings to determine if more stringent 
or additional standards were justified for kitchen ranges and ovens. 
(42 U.S.C. 6295 (h)(1)-(2))
    DOE undertook the first cycle of these rulemakings and published a 
final rule on September 8, 1998, which found that no standards were 
justified for conventional electric cooking products at that time. In 
addition, partially due to the difficulty of conclusively demonstrating 
that elimination of standing pilots for conventional gas cooking 
products without an electrical supply cord was economically justified, 
DOE did not include amended standards for conventional gas cooking 
products in the final rule. 63 FR 48038. For the second cycle of 
rulemakings, DOE published the April 2009 Final Rule amending the 
energy conservation standards for conventional cooking products to 
prohibit constant burning pilots for all gas cooking products (i.e., 
gas cooking products both with or without an electrical supply cord) 
manufactured on or after April 9, 2012. DOE decided to not adopt energy 
conservation standards pertaining to the cooking efficiency of 
conventional electric cooking products because it determined that such 
standards would not be technologically feasible and economically 
justified at that time. 74 FR 16040, 16041-16044.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ As part of the April 2009 Final Rule, DOE decided not to 
adopt energy conservation standards pertaining to the cooking 
efficiency of microwave ovens. DOE also published a final rule on 
June 17, 2013 adopting energy conservation standards for microwave 
oven standby mode and off mode. 78 FR 36316. DOE is not considering 
energy conservation standards for microwave ovens as part of this 
rulemaking.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    EPCA also requires that, not later than 6 years after the issuance 
of a final rule establishing or amending a standard, DOE publish a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) proposing new standards or a 
notice of determination that the existing standards do not need to be 
amended. (42 U.S.C. 6295(m)(1)) Based on this provision, DOE was 
required to publish by March 31, 2015, either a NOPR proposing new 
standards for conventional electric cooking products and/or amended 
standards for conventional gas cooking products \16\ or a notice of 
determination that the existing standards do not need to be amended. 
Consequently, DOE initiated a rulemaking to determine whether to adopt 
new or amended standards for conventional cooking products.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ As discussed in section III.A of this SNOPR, DOE is also 
tentatively planning to consider new energy conservation standards 
for commercial-style gas cooking products with higher burner input 
rates, for which DOE did not previously consider energy conservation 
standards.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On February 12, 2014, DOE published a request for information (RFI) 
notice (the February 2014 RFI) to initiate the mandatory review process 
imposed by EPCA. As part of the RFI, DOE sought input from the public 
to assist with its determination on whether new or amended standards 
pertaining to conventional cooking products are warranted. 79 FR 8337. 
In making this determination, DOE must evaluate whether new or amended 
standards would (1) yield a significant savings in energy use and (2) 
be both technologically feasible and economically justified. (42 U.S.C. 
6295(o)(3)(B))

[[Page 60792]]

    On June 10, 2015, DOE published a NOPR (the June 2015 NOPR) 
proposing new and amended energy conservation standards for residential 
conventional ovens. 80 FR 33030. The June 2015 NOPR also announced that 
a public meeting would be held on July 14, 2015 at DOE headquarters in 
Washington, DC. At this meeting, DOE presented the methodologies and 
results of the analyses set forth in the NOPR, and interested parties 
that participated in the public meeting discussed a variety of topics. 
DOE received a number of comments from interested parties in response 
to the June 2015 NOPR. DOE considered these comments, as well as 
comments from the public meeting, in preparing this SNOPR. The 
commenters are summarized in Table II.1. Relevant comments, and DOE's 
responses, are provided in the appropriate sections of this SNOPR.

 Table II.1--Interested Parties Providing Comments on the June 2015 NOPR
                         for Conventional Ovens
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Name                    Acronyms         Commenter type *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air-conditioning, Heating, &     AHRI..............  TA
 Refrigeration Institute.
Appliance Standards Awareness    Joint Efficiency    EA
 Project (ASAP), Alliance to      Advocates.
 Save Energy (ASE), American
 Council for an Energy-
 Efficient Economy (ACEEE),
 Consumer Federation of America
 (CFA), Consumers Union (CU),
 National Consumer Law Center
 (NCLC), Natural Resources
 Defense Council (NRDC), and
 Northwest Energy Efficiency
 Alliance (NEEA).
Arizona Senator................  ..................  CM
Arizona Congressional            ..................  CM
 Delegation.
Arizona Congress Member........  ..................  CM
Association of Home Appliance    AHAM..............  TA
 Manufacturers.
BSH Home Appliances............  BSH...............  M
California Congress Member.....  ..................  CM
Cato Institute Center for the    Cato..............  RO
 Study of Science.
Edison Electric Institute......  EEI...............  UA
Electrolux North America.......  Electrolux........  M
Environmental Defense Fund,      EDF, IPI, NRDC,     EA
 Institute for Policy Integrity   UCS.
 at New York University School
 of Law, Natural Resources
 Defense Council, and Union of
 Concerned Scientists.
GE Appliances..................  GE................  M
Haier America..................  Haier.............  M
Miele, Inc.....................  Miele.............  M
National Propane Gas             NPGA..............  TA
 Association.
Pacific Gas and Electric.......  PG&E..............  U
Sub-Zero Group, Inc............  Sub-Zero..........  M
Tennessee Congress Member......  ..................  TM
U.S. Chamber of Commerce,        The Associations..  TA
 American Chemistry Council,
 American Coke and Coal
 Chemicals Institute, American
 Forest & Paper Association,
 American Fuel & Petrochemical
 Manufacturers, American
 Petroleum Institute, Brick
 Industry Association, Council
 of Industrial Boiler Owners,
 National Association of Home
 Builders, National Association
 of Manufacturers, National
 Mining Association, National
 Oilseed Processors
 Association, Portland Cement
 Association.
Whirlpool Corporation..........  Whirlpool.........  M
Wisconsin Senators.............  ..................  CM
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* CM: Congress Member; EA: Efficiency Advocate; GA: Government Agency;
  IR: Industry Representative; M: Manufacturer; RO: Research
  Organization; TA: Trade Association; U: Utility.

    As part of the June 2015 NOPR, DOE also noted that it was deferring 
its decision regarding whether to adopt amended energy conservation 
standards for conventional cooking tops, pending further study. 80 FR 
33030, 33038-33040. In both the test procedure NOPR published on 
January 30, 2013 (78 FR 6232, the January 2013 TP NOPR) and the test 
procedure SNOPR published on December 3, 2014 (79 FR 71894, the 
December 2014 TP SNOPR), DOE proposed amendments to the cooking 
products test procedure in Appendix I that would allow for the testing 
of active mode energy consumption of induction cooking tops. After 
reviewing public comments on the December 2014 TP SNOPR, conducting 
further discussions with manufacturers, and performing additional 
analyses, DOE decided that further study was required before an updated 
cooking top test procedure could be established that produces test 
results which measure energy use during a representative average use 
cycle for all types of cooking tops, is repeatable and reproducible, 
and is not unduly burdensome to conduct. 80 FR 37954 (July 2, 2015).
    As discussed in section III.C, on August 22, 2016, DOE published in 
the Federal Register a SNOPR proposing amendments to the test 
procedures for conventional cooking tops and ovens that include, among 
other things, test methods for induction cooking tops and gas cooking 
tops with high burner input rates. 81 FR 57374. DOE is publishing this 
document to propose new and amended energy conservation standards for 
conventional cooking tops based on the proposed amendments to the test 
procedure. As discussed in section III.C, DOE also proposed to repeal 
the test procedure for conventional ovens in the August 2016 TP SNOPR. 
As a result, DOE has also revised its proposal from the June 2015 NOPR 
for conventional ovens from a performance-based standard to a 
prescriptive standard.

III. General Discussion

A. Scope of Coverage

    As discussed in section II.A of this SNOPR, 42 U.S.C. 6292(a)(10) 
of EPCA covers kitchen ranges and ovens, or ``cooking products.'' DOE's 
regulations define ``cooking products'' as consumer products that are 
used as the major household cooking appliances. They are designed to 
cook or heat different types of food by one or more of the following

[[Page 60793]]

sources of heat: Gas, electricity, or microwave energy. Each product 
may consist of a horizontal cooking top containing one or more surface 
units \17\ and/or one or more heating compartments. (10 CFR 430.2) In 
this SNOPR, DOE is considering energy conservation standards for 
certain residential conventional cooking products, namely, conventional 
cooking tops and conventional ovens.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ The term surface unit refers to burners for gas cooking 
tops, electric resistance heating elements for electric cooking 
tops, and inductive heating elements for induction cooking tops.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE proposed in the August 2016 TP SNOPR to define a combined 
cooking product as a household cooking appliance that combines a 
conventional cooking top and/or conventional oven with other appliance 
functionality, which may or may not include another cooking product. 81 
FR 57374, 57378. In this rulemaking, DOE is not considering combined 
cooking products as a distinct product category and is not basing its 
product classes on that category. Instead, DOE is considering energy 
conservation standards for conventional cooking tops and conventional 
ovens separately. Because combined cooking products consist, in part, 
of a cooking top and/or oven, any potential cooking top or oven 
standards would apply to the individual components of the combined 
cooking product.
    As part of the 2009 standards rulemaking for conventional cooking 
products, DOE did not consider energy conservation standards for 
residential conventional gas cooking products with higher burner input 
rates, including products marketed as ``commercial-style'' or 
``professional-style,'' due to a lack of available data for determining 
efficiency characteristics of those products. DOE considered such 
products to be gas cooking tops with burner input rates greater than 
14,000 British thermal units (Btu)/hour (h) and gas ovens with burner 
input rates greater than 22,500 Btu/h. 74 FR 16040, 16054 (Apr. 8, 
2009); 72 FR 64432, 64444-64445 (Nov. 15, 2007). DOE also stated that 
the DOE cooking products test procedures at that time may not 
adequately measure performance of gas cooking tops and ovens with 
higher burner input rates. 72 FR 64432, 64444-64445 (Nov. 15, 2007).
    As part of the February 2014 RFI, DOE stated that it tentatively 
planned to consider energy conservation standards for all residential 
conventional cooking products, including commercial-style gas cooking 
products with higher burner input rates. In addition, DOE stated that 
it may consider developing test procedures for these products and 
determine whether separate product classes are warranted. 79 FR 8337, 
8340 (Feb. 12, 2014).
    As discussed in section III.C of this SNOPR, DOE is proposing to 
amend the conventional cooking top test procedure in Appendix I to, in 
part, measure the energy use of commercial-style gas cooking tops with 
high burner input rates. See 81 FR 57374, 57385-57386. As discussed in 
section III.B of this SNOPR, DOE proposed to repeal the conventional 
oven test procedure in the August 2016 TP SNOPR. Due to the 
uncertainties in analyzing a performance-based standard using oven 
testing provisions that DOE is proposing to remove from the test 
procedure, DOE is proposing to adopt prescriptive design requirements 
for the control system of conventional ovens, including commercial-
style ovens with higher burner input rates.
    DOE notes that the current definitions for ``conventional cooking 
top'' and ``conventional oven'' in 10 CFR 430.2 already cover 
commercial-style gas cooking products with higher burner input rates, 
as these products are household cooking appliances with surface units 
or compartments intended for the cooking or heating of food by means of 
a gas flame. As a result, DOE is proposing energy conservation 
standards for all residential conventional cooking tops and 
conventional ovens, including commercial-style products with higher 
burner input rates. As discussed in section IV.A.2 of this SNOPR, DOE 
is not proposing to establish a separate product class for gas cooking 
tops and ovens with higher burner input rates that are marketed as 
``commercial-style'' and, as a result, DOE is not proposing separate 
definitions for these products.
    In response to the June 2015 NOPR, AHAM and GE commented that DOE 
should revise the definition of conventional ovens to make it clear 
that the definition encompasses the primary cooking product in a home 
and does not include ancillary cooking products that do not fit 
conventional cooking product use patterns (i.e., intermittent use 
products). Specifically, AHAM and GE stated that the definition should 
specify that conventional ovens include a thermostat setting that can 
be set to control the internal temperature of the oven to 325 degrees 
Fahrenheit ([deg]F) higher than room ambient air temperature. (AHAM, 
No. 29 at p. 7; \18\ GE, No. 32 at p. 2)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ A notation in the form ``AHAM, No. 29 at p. 7'' identifies 
a written comment (1) made by AHAM; (2) recorded in document number 
29 that is filed in the docket of this energy conservation standards 
rulemaking (Docket No. EERE-2014-BT- STD-0005) and maintained in the 
Resource Room of the Building Technologies Program; and (3) which 
appears on page 7 of document number 29.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE notes that the change to the conventional oven definition 
proposed by AHAM and GE could result unintentionally in certain 
products not being covered. DOE currently defines ``conventional 
ovens'' in 10 CFR 430.2 as cooking products that are used as the major 
household cooking appliance and consist of one or more compartments 
intended for the cooking or heating of food by means of either a gas 
flame or electric resistance heating. DOE notes that the means of 
heating and description of the product are clearly specified in the 
current definition. DOE's definition relates to the functionality of 
the product, not its intended use, so a conventional oven would be 
considered a covered product whether it serves a primary or ancillary 
application. DOE is not proposing to define conventional ovens based on 
their intended use and a product that meets the existing definition 
would be considered a covered product. If a manufacturer is unable to 
test a product in accordance with the provisions in the test procedure 
(e.g., setting the oven thermostat), a manufacturer may apply for a 
waiver from the test procedure, in accordance with 10 CFR 430.27, if it 
is able to provide an explanation for why its product design is unique 
and would require different considerations for the test conditions. DOE 
welcomes comments on whether there are products that would meet the 
definition of a conventional oven, but that could not be tested 
according to the DOE test procedure.

B. Prescriptive Standard for Conventional Ovens

    This SNOPR proposes to adopt a prescriptive design requirement for 
the control system of conventional ovens. DOE considered a combination 
of factors in developing its proposal to prescribe a control design 
requirement for conventional ovens, rather than proposing to regulate 
IAEC with a performance standard. The rationale for this tentative 
decision is explained below.
    DOE's analysis determined that the baseline efficiency level for 
conventional ovens corresponds to a linear power supply control design. 
For conventional gas ovens, DOE's analysis showed that the baseline 
control design also uses an ``intermittent ignition'' system with a 
glo-bar (also referred to as a hot surface) igniter. As discussed in 
section V.A of this SNOPR, the design

[[Page 60794]]

options analyzed to achieve the proposed standard level for 
conventional ovens involved changing from a control design that uses a 
linear power supply to one that incorporates a switch-mode power supply 
(SMPS). In addition, for gas ovens, the proposed standard level 
corresponds to switching from an intermittent glo-bar ignition system 
to an ``intermittent/interrupted ignition'' or ``intermittent pilot 
ignition'' (e.g., electronic spark ignition). Descriptions of these 
design options are discussed further in section IV.A.3.b of this SNOPR. 
DOE notes that the currently applicable prescriptive standards for gas 
ovens prohibit constant burning pilot lights, which are a type of 
continuous ignition system that would be precluded by the proposed 
standards.
    DOE conducted the analysis for conventional ovens for this SNOPR 
based on the test procedure adopted in the July 2, 2015 final rule (80 
FR 37954, hereinafter referred to as the July 2015 TP Final Rule), 
which was the current test procedure at the time the standards analysis 
was conducted. After reviewing public comments and considering 
additional feedback and test data from manufacturers, DOE concluded 
that commercial-style ovens have inherently lower efficiencies than for 
residential-style ovens with comparable cavity sizes when measured 
using the previous version of the test procedure adopted in the July 
2015 TP Final Rule, due to the greater thermal mass of the cavity and 
racks in commercial-style ovens. Due to uncertainty regarding such 
efficiency measurement, DOE is proposing to repeal the conventional 
oven test procedure, as described in the August 2016 TP SNOPR, and 
determined that further investigation would be required to develop test 
methods that appropriately account for the effects of certain 
commercial-style oven design features (e.g., heavier-gauge cavity 
construction, high input rate burners, extension racks, etc.). 81 FR 
57374, 57378-57379. The uncertainties in analyzing a performance-based 
standard using oven testing provisions that DOE proposed to remove from 
the test procedure in the August 2016 TP SNOPR have led DOE to propose 
prescriptive design requirements for the control system of conventional 
ovens.
    As discussed in section II.B.1 of this SNOPR, manufacturers are not 
currently required to conduct testing to certify compliance with 
standards because DOE has promulgated only prescriptive standards for 
gas cooking products. The prescriptive-based standard for conventional 
ovens proposed in this SNOPR would continue to minimize burden on 
manufacturers because it would not require manufacturers to test, rate, 
and label conventional ovens.
    For the reasons cited above, DOE is proposing a prescriptive 
requirement for conventional ovens that would require conventional 
electric ovens to not be equipped with a control system that uses a 
linear power supply. The proposed standards would also require that 
conventional gas ovens be equipped with a control system that uses 
intermittent/interrupted ignition or intermittent pilot ignition and 
does not use a linear power supply.

C. Test Procedure

    EPCA sets forth generally applicable criteria and procedures for 
DOE's adoption and amendment of test procedures. (42 U.S.C. 6293) 
Manufacturers of covered products must use these test procedures to 
certify to DOE that their product complies with energy conservation 
standards and to quantify the efficiency of their product. DOE's test 
procedures for conventional cooking tops, conventional ovens, and 
microwave ovens are codified at appendix I to subpart B of Title 10 of 
the CFR part 430.
    DOE established the test procedures in a final rule published in 
the Federal Register on May 10, 1978. 43 FR 20108, 20120-20128. DOE 
revised its test procedures for cooking products to more accurately 
measure their efficiency and energy use, and published the revisions as 
a final rule in 1997. 62 FR 51976 (Oct. 3, 1997). These test procedure 
amendments included: (1) A reduction in the annual useful cooking 
energy; (2) a reduction in the number of self-clean oven cycles per 
year; and (3) incorporation of portions of International 
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Standard 705-1988, ``Methods for 
measuring the performance of microwave ovens for household and similar 
purposes,'' and Amendment 2-1993 for the testing of microwave ovens. 
Id. The test procedures for conventional cooking products establish 
provisions for determining estimated annual operating cost, cooking 
efficiency (defined as the ratio of cooking energy output to cooking 
energy input), and energy factor (defined as the ratio of annual useful 
cooking energy output to total annual energy input). 10 CFR 430.23(i); 
Appendix I. These provisions for conventional cooking products are not 
currently used for compliance with any energy conservation standards 
because the present standards are design requirements; in addition, 
there is no EnergyGuide \19\ labeling program for cooking products.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ For more information on the EnergyGuide labeling program, 
see: www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_00/16cfr305_00.html.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE subsequently conducted a rulemaking to address standby and off 
mode energy consumption, as well as certain active mode (i.e., fan-only 
mode) testing provisions, for residential conventional cooking 
products. DOE published a final rule on October 31, 2012 (77 FR 65942, 
the October 2012 TP Final Rule), adopting standby and off mode 
provisions that satisfy the EPCA requirement that DOE include measures 
of standby mode and off mode power in its test procedures for 
residential products, if technically feasible. (42 U.S.C. 
6295(gg)(2)(A))
    On January 30, 2013, DOE published a NOPR (78 FR 6232, the January 
2013 TP NOPR) proposing amendments to Appendix I that would allow for 
testing the active mode energy consumption of induction cooking 
products; i.e., conventional cooking tops equipped with induction 
heating technology for one or more surface units on the cooking top. 
DOE proposed to incorporate induction cooking tops by amending the 
definition of ``conventional cooking top'' to include induction heating 
technology. Furthermore, DOE proposed to require for all cooking tops 
the use of test equipment compatible with induction technology. 
Specifically, DOE proposed to replace the solid aluminum test blocks 
currently specified in the test procedure for cooking tops with hybrid 
test blocks comprising two separate pieces: An aluminum body and a 
stainless steel base. 78 FR 6232, 6234 (Jan. 30, 2013).
    In response to the February 2014 RFI, AHAM commented that DOE 
should rely on the finalized version of the test procedure (i.e., the 
October 2012 TP Final Rule) and not a proposed test procedure when 
evaluating energy conservation standards, particularly given the 
significant comments opposing the proposed test procedure (as discussed 
in AHAM's comments on the January 2013 TP NOPR). Accordingly, AHAM 
stated that DOE should finalize amendments to the test procedure before 
conducting any analysis for the standards rulemaking, or else proceed 
without addressing induction cooking products in this round of 
standards rulemaking. (AHAM, No. 9 at pp. 3-4, 6, 7)
    AHAM and Whirlpool commented that a test procedure should be 
developed to address commercial-style cooking products if DOE plans to

[[Page 60795]]

evaluate them in a standards analysis. (AHAM, No. 9 at p. 2; Whirlpool, 
No. 13 at p. 1) AHAM also commented that DOE should either proceed 
without addressing commercial-style products as it did for the April 
2009 Final Rule or delay the rulemaking analysis until there is a 
finalized test procedure that can measure commercial-style products. 
(AHAM, No. 9 at p. 4, 6, 7) AHAM added that it could not provide data 
regarding the differences between residential-style and commercial-
style gas cooking products without a test procedure to measure higher 
input rate burners. (AHAM, No. 9 at p. 7) The California IOUs supported 
amending the test procedure to measure the energy use of residential 
commercial-style gas cooking products with higher burner input rates. 
(California IOUs, No. 11 at p. 2)
    On December 3, 2014, DOE published an SNOPR (the December 2014 TP 
SNOPR), in which DOE modified its proposal from the January 2013 TP 
NOPR to specify different test equipment that would allow for measuring 
the energy efficiency of induction cooking tops, and would include an 
additional test block size for electric surface units with large 
diameters (both induction and electric resistance). 79 FR 71894. In 
addition, DOE proposed methods to test non-circular electric surface 
units, electric surface units with flexible concentric cooking zones, 
and full-surface induction cooking tops. Id. In the December 2014 TP 
SNOPR, DOE also proposed amendments to add a larger test block size to 
test gas cooking top burners with higher input rates. Id.
    In the December 2014 TP SNOPR, DOE also proposed methods for 
measuring conventional oven volume, clarification that the existing 
oven test block must be used to test all ovens regardless of input 
rate, and a method to measure the energy consumption and efficiency of 
conventional ovens equipped with an oven separator. 79 FR 71894 (Dec. 
3, 2014). DOE published the July 2015 TP Final Rule adopting the test 
procedure amendments discussed above for conventional ovens only. 80 FR 
37954.
    AHAM and Electrolux commented that DOE did not provide sufficient 
time after finalizing the test procedure for conventional ovens for 
stakeholders to evaluate the proposed conventional oven standards. AHAM 
and Electrolux stated that manufacturers do not regularly conduct 
energy tests because there is no current standard for conventional 
ovens. As a result, they stated that more time was needed for 
manufacturers to fully understand the impact of the final test 
procedure and evaluate the proposed standards for conventional ovens. 
(AHAM, No. 29 at pp. 4-5; Electrolux, No. 27 at pp. 2-3)
    AHRI commented that DOE states in its regulations that it will 
finalize amended test procedures before introducing applicable amended 
standards.\20\ AHRI noted that for conventional ovens, DOE published a 
final rule to amend the test procedure more than 3 weeks after the 
publication of the June 2015 NOPR which introduced amended standards 
and thus did not comply with the codified procedures noted above. AHRI 
believes that the comment period did not provide manufacturers with 
sufficient time to fully evaluate the proposed standards with the 
amended test procedure. (AHRI, No. 34 at p. 2)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ AHRI made this comment in reference to 10 CFR part 430, 
subpart C, appendix A(7)(c).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Sub-Zero expressed concern that limitations in the test procedures 
and available data might unfairly impact commercial-style products in a 
rulemaking establishing energy conservation standards. (Sub-Zero, No. 
25 at p. 2)
    AHAM submitted an additional comment after the end of the June 2015 
NOPR comment period to discuss additional industry product testing. As 
part of this comment, AHAM reiterated its concern that manufacturers 
were unable to adequately analyze DOE's proposed rule during the 
comment period because DOE did not provide sufficient time after 
finalizing the conventional oven test procedure for stakeholders to 
evaluate the proposed standards. (AHAM, No. 38 at p. 2)
    DOE has considered these comments as part of this rulemaking and 
notes that this SNOPR provides additional opportunity for interested 
parties to provide comment based on the proposed cooking product test 
procedure discussed below. With respect to the process of establishing 
test procedures and standards for a given product, DOE notes that, 
while not legally obligated to do so, it generally follows the approach 
laid out in guidance found in 10 CFR part 430, subpart C, Appendix A 
(Procedures, Interpretations and Policies for Consideration of New or 
Revised Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Products). That 
guidance provides, among other things, that, when necessary, DOE will 
issue final, modified test procedures for a given product prior to 
publication of the NOPR proposing energy conservation standards for 
that product. While DOE strives to follow the procedural steps outlined 
in its guidance, there may be circumstances in which it may be 
necessary or appropriate to deviate from it. In such instances, the 
guidance indicates that DOE will provide notice and an explanation for 
the deviation. Accordingly, DOE is providing notice that it continues 
to develop the final test procedure for conventional cooking products. 
As discussed below, DOE has carefully considered the significant 
comments regarding the test procedures for both induction cooking tops 
and commercial-style cooking products, which led to DOE publishing an 
additional SNOPR on August 22, 2016. DOE believes proposed amendments 
in the August 2016 TP SNOPR address the significant concerns regarding 
the conventional cooking products test procedure and will issue the 
final test procedure before the standards final rule. Furthermore, as 
discussed in section IV.C.5 of this SNOPR, DOE is proposing to adopt a 
prescriptive design requirement for conventional ovens. Because this 
proposed standard is a design requirement and not a performance 
standard (i.e., minimum efficiency or maximum energy consumption), 
manufacturers would not be required to test using the DOE test 
procedure for conventional ovens to certify products to the proposed 
standards in this SNOPR.
    As discussed in the June 2015 NOPR for conventional ovens, DOE 
received a significant number of comments regarding the proposed hybrid 
test block test method for cooking tops in response to the December 
2014 TP SNOPR and in separate interviews conducted with conventional 
cooking product manufacturers in February and March of 2015. AHAM and 
manufacturers commented that the hybrid test block method, as proposed, 
presented many issues with the construction and configuration of the 
test block which had not yet been addressed, and which left the 
repeatability and reproducibility of the test procedure in question. 80 
FR 33030, 33039-33040 (June 10, 2015). A number of manufacturers that 
produce and sell products in Europe supported the use of a water-
heating test method and harmonization with International 
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Standard 60350-2 Edition 2, 
``Household electric appliances--Part 2: Hobs--Method for measuring 
performance'' (IEC Standard 60350-2) for measuring the energy 
consumption of electric cooking tops. These manufacturers noted the 
test methods in IEC Standard 60350-2 are compatible with all electric 
cooking top types, specify additional cookware diameters

[[Page 60796]]

to account for the variety of surface unit sizes on the market, and use 
test loads that represent real-world cooking top loads. Efficiency 
advocates also recommended that DOE require water-heating test methods 
to produce a measure of cooking efficiency for conventional cooking 
tops that is more representative of actual cooking performance than the 
hybrid test block method. 80 FR 33030, 33039-33040 (June 10, 2015).
    For these reasons, DOE decided to defer its decision regarding 
adoption of energy conservation standards for conventional cooking tops 
until a representative, repeatable and reproducible test method for 
cooking tops was finalized. 80 FR 33030, 33040 (June 10, 2015).
    AHAM, GE, and Electrolux commented in response to the June 2015 
NOPR supporting DOE's decision to not propose standards for cooking 
tops because there was not yet a representative, repeatable, 
reproducible test procedure for this product category. (AHAM, No. 29 at 
p. 2; GE, No. 32 at p. 1; Electrolux, No. 27 at p. 2) AHAM stated that 
in addition to the time required to identify an appropriate test method 
for cooking tops, manufacturers will need time to obtain test 
equipment, verify that the test method is repeatable and reproducible, 
test their full product lines, and provide data to DOE to form the 
basis for any energy conservation standards. Therefore, AHAM believed 
that consideration of energy conservation standards for cooking tops 
would only be possible and appropriate in the next standards rulemaking 
cycle for conventional cooking products. (AHAM, No. 29 at p. 3)
    AHAM, GE and Electrolux commented that 42 U.S.C. 6295(m)(4)(B), 
which specifies that a manufacturer shall not be required to apply new 
standards to a product with respect to which other new standards have 
been required during the prior 6-year period, prohibits DOE from 
proceeding with cooking tops on a different schedule than conventional 
ovens if DOE decides to proceed with standards for conventional ovens. 
(AHAM, No. 29 at pp. 2,3; GE, No. 32 at p. 2; Electrolux, No. 27 at p. 
2) GE added that, regardless of when standards for cooking tops are 
proposed or finalized, the compliance date must not be until at least 6 
years after the compliance date for the proposed standards for 
conventional ovens. (GE, No. 32 at p. 2)
    Whirlpool commented that, although the FTC has not ruled on whether 
EnergyGuide labels will be justified for conventional ranges, Natural 
Resources Canada requires a comprehensive label that declares the 
energy consumption of the combined product. Whirlpool stated that DOE 
should consider this possibility when evaluating whether to align the 
compliance dates for conventional cooking tops and ovens. (Whirlpool, 
No. 33 at p. 4)
    EEI commented that if DOE adopts new standards for both 
conventional cooking tops and ovens, the compliance dates for both 
products should be as close as possible to be market neutral. (EEI, 
Public Meeting Transcript, No. 35 at p. 18) \21\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ A notation in the form ``EEI, Public Meeting Transcript, 
No. 35 at p. 18'' identifies an oral comment that DOE received 
during the July 14, 2015, residential conventional oven energy 
conservation standards NOPR public meeting. Oral comments were 
recorded in the public meeting transcript and are available in the 
residential conventional cooking products energy conservation 
standards rulemaking docket (Docket No. EERE-2014-BT-STD-0005). This 
particular notation refers to a comment: (1) Made by Edison Electric 
Institute during the public meeting; (2) recorded in document number 
35, which is the public meeting transcript that is filed in the 
docket of this energy conservation standards rulemaking; and (3) 
which appears on page 18 of document number 35.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE published an additional test procedure SNOPR on August 22, 2016 
(81 FR 57374) that proposes to amend the test procedures for 
conventional cooking tops. Given the feedback from interested parties 
discussed above and based on the additional testing and analysis 
conducted for the test procedure rulemaking, in the August 2016 TP 
SNOPR, DOE withdrew its proposal for testing conventional cooking tops 
with a hybrid test block. Instead, DOE is proposing to amend its test 
procedure to incorporate by reference the relevant sections of European 
Standard EN 60350-2:2013 ``Household electric cooking appliances Part 
2: Hobs--Methods for measuring performance'' 22 23 (EN 
60350-2:2013), which provide a water-heating test method to measure the 
energy consumption of electric cooking tops. The test method specifies 
the quantity of water to be heated in a standardized test vessel whose 
size is selected based on the diameter of the surface unit under test. 
The test vessels specified in EN 60350-2:2013 are compatible with all 
cooking top technologies and surface unit diameters available on the 
U.S. market. 81 FR 57374, 57381-57384.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ Hob is the British English term for cooking top.
    \23\ On April 25, 2014, IEC made available the draft version of 
IEC Standard 60350-2 Edition 2.0 Committee Draft (IEC 60350-2 CD). 
DOE notes that the draft amendment to IEC 60350-2 on which testing 
for the January 2013 NOPR was based includes the same basic test 
method as the 2014 IEC 60350-2 CD. DOE also notes that the European 
standard EN 60350-2:2013 is based on the draft amendment to IEC 
60350-2. DOE believes that the IEC procedure, once finalized, will 
retain the same basic test method as currently contained in EN 
60350-2:2013.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE is also proposing to extend the test methods provided in EN 
60530-2:2013 to gas cooking tops by correlating the burner input rate 
and test vessel diameters specified in EN 30-2-1:1998 ``Domestic 
cooking appliances burning gas--Part 2-1: Rational use of energy--
General'' (EN 30-2-1) to the test vessel diameters and water loads 
already included in EN 60350-2:2013. The range of gas burner input 
rates covered by EN 30-2-1 includes surface units with burners 
exceeding 14,000 Btu/h, and thus EN 30-2-1 provides a method to test 
gas surface units with high input rate burners, which previously had 
not been addressed in the DOE test procedure or energy conservation 
standards. 81 FR 57374, 57385-57386.
    In the August 2016 TP SNOPR, DOE proposed to amend the conventional 
cooking top test procedure to specify that the test energy consumptions 
measured for each surface unit be averaged together and then normalized 
to a representative load size to determine the total per-cycle energy 
consumption of the cooking top. The annual active mode energy 
consumption of the cooking top would be calculated by multiplying the 
total per-cycle energy consumption of the cooking top by the ``adjusted 
cooking frequency.'' 81 FR 57374, 57387-57388. As discussed in the 
August 2016 TP SNOPR, DOE determined the adjusted cooking frequency by 
comparing the energy use determined based on cooking frequency data 
from 2009 DOE Energy Information Administration (EIA) Residential 
Energy Consumption Survey (RECS 2009) \24\ and the water heating test 
method, to recent field use data for cooking products.25 26 
Based on this review, DOE determined that the estimated annual active 
mode cooking top energy consumption using the cooking frequency based 
on RECS 2009 data and the water heating test method did not adequately 
represent consumer use. As a result, DOE proposed in the August 2016 TP 
SNOPR

[[Page 60797]]

to normalize the cooking frequency to account for differences between 
the duration of a cooking event represented in the RECS data and the 
water heating test method. DOE also proposed to calculate the 
integrated annual energy consumption for the cooking top as the sum of 
the annual active mode energy consumption and the combined low-power 
mode energy consumption. Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Information 
Administration, Residential Energy Consumption Survey: 2009 RECS 
Survey Data (2013) (Available at: http://www.eia.gov/consumption/residential/data/2009/).
    \25\ California Energy Commission. 2009 California Residential 
Appliance Saturation Study, October 2010. Prepared for the 
California Energy Commission by KEMA, Inc. Contract No. 200-2010-
004. <http://www.energy.ca.gov/2010publications/CEC-200-2010-004/CEC-200-2010-004-V2.PDF>.
    \26\ FSEC 2010. Updated Miscellaneous Electricity Loads and 
Appliance Energy Usage Profiles for Use in Home Energy Ratings, the 
Building America Benchmark and Related Calculations. Published as 
FSEC-CR-1837-10, Florida Solar Energy Center, Cocoa, FL.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Because DOE has proposed test procedures for conventional cooking 
tops that produce representative, repeatable, reproducible test 
results, DOE is now combining the rulemaking to consider energy 
conservation standards for conventional cooking tops and ovens and is 
correspondingly aligning the compliance dates for both product 
categories. For this SNOPR, DOE evaluated its proposed energy 
conservation standards for conventional cooking tops based on the 
proposed cooking top test procedure discussed above.
    As discussed in section III.B, DOE is proposing to repeal the 
conventional oven test procedure as discussed in the August 2016 TP 
SNOPR and is proposing to adopt prescriptive design requirements for 
the control system of conventional ovens. As a result, manufacturers 
would not need to test, rate, and label conventional ovens to 
demonstrate compliance with the proposed prescriptive design 
requirements.
    Whirlpool and EEI support the use of an IAEC metric that includes 
cooking energy, standby energy, and self-clean energy because it allows 
manufacturers flexibility in incorporating cost-effective design 
options that improve energy efficiency. Whirlpool also believes it 
would allow manufacturers to consider tradeoffs between consumer 
utility and energy efficiency improvements. (Whirlpool, No. 33 at p. 5; 
EEI, No. 30 at p. 3) EEI added that an integrated metric would 
facilitate the development of ``smart'' ovens that are more interactive 
with energy supply grids to allow consumers to determine the most 
energy-efficient and cost-effective times to operate them. EEI stated 
that a smart oven may need to communicate with an energy grid on a 
continuous basis, but the communication function may require a very 
small increase in the energy used in the standby mode or off mode. 
According to EEI, a separate standard for standby mode or off mode 
could result in appliances that are not able to have the ``smart'' 
functionality. (EEI, No. 30 at p. 3)
    In this SNOPR, DOE performed its analysis for both ovens and 
cooking tops using the IAEC metric to account for both active mode and 
standby mode design options. As described in section V.C.1 of this 
SNOPR, DOE is proposing a prescriptive standard for conventional ovens 
and a performance standard using the IAEC metric for conventional 
cooking tops. For conventional ovens, DOE tentatively determined that a 
prescriptive requirement would be a more effective means of achieving 
energy savings for all oven product types (i.e., residential-style and 
commercial-style ovens) due to uncertainties in the methods used to 
measure conventional oven IAEC that DOE is proposing to remove from the 
test procedure in the August 2016 TP SNOPR. DOE also notes that the 
proposed prescriptive standards for conventional ovens would not 
preclude the introduction of connected products because the 
prescriptive design requirements for the control systems does not 
directly affect the design of the connected feature. Moreover, because 
DOE is not proposing a separate standby mode and off mode performance 
standard for conventional cooking tops, connected cooking tops would 
not be precluded.
    In response to the June 2015 NOPR, Whirlpool also questioned the 
energy use metric for conventional ranges in light of the potentially 
separate standards schedule for conventional cooking tops and 
conventional ovens. Whirlpool stated that an integrated metric would 
allow manufacturers to pursue the most technically-feasible and/or 
economically-justifiable design options to meet the relevant standard 
while still achieving the same national energy conservation had they 
been separate. (Whirlpool, No. 33 at p. 3) Whirlpool noted that since 
standby power is included in the oven and cooking top test procedures, 
and that standby power for conventional ranges cannot be separated into 
oven and cooking top portions of standby energy, it is unclear how 
manufacturers would test and certify the oven and cooking top portions 
of conventional ranges separately. (Whirlpool, No. 33 at p. 3)
    As discussed above, DOE is now proposing standards for both 
conventional cooking tops and ovens with the same compliance date. As 
noted in section III.A of this SNOPR, any potential cooking top or oven 
standard would apply to the individual components of the combined 
cooking product. As a result, DOE does not foresee any issues with 
compliance for combined cooking products, such as conventional ranges, 
that include both a conventional cooking top and conventional oven. The 
test procedure amendments proposed in the August 2016 TP SNOPR include 
provisions for measuring the standby power of combined cooking products 
and calculating the IAEC for the conventional cooking top component of 
combined cooking products. In addition, as discussed above, because DOE 
is proposing prescriptive standards for conventional ovens, 
manufacturers would not be required to conduct testing according to 
Appendix I to demonstrate compliance with standards.

D. Technological Feasibility

1. General
    In each energy conservation standards rulemaking, DOE conducts a 
screening analysis based on information gathered on all current 
technology options and prototype designs that could improve the 
efficiency of the products or equipment that are the subject of the 
rulemaking. As the first step in such an analysis, DOE develops a list 
of technology options for consideration in consultation with 
manufacturers, design engineers, and other interested parties. DOE then 
determines which of those means for improving efficiency are 
technologically feasible. DOE considers technologies incorporated in 
commercially available products or in working prototypes to be 
technologically feasible. 10 CFR part 430, subpart C, appendix A, 
section 4(a)(4)(i).
    After DOE has determined that particular technology options are 
technologically feasible, it further evaluates each technology option 
in light of the following additional screening criteria: (1) 
Practicability to manufacture, install, and service; (2) adverse 
impacts on product utility or availability; and (3) adverse impacts on 
health or safety. 10 CFR part 430, subpart C, appendix A, section 
4(a)(4)(ii)-(iv). Section IV.B of this SNOPR discusses the results of 
the screening analysis for residential conventional cooking products, 
particularly the designs DOE considered, those it screened out, and 
those that are the basis for the TSLs in this rulemaking. For further 
details on the screening analysis for this rulemaking, see chapter 4 of 
the SNOPR Technical Support Document (TSD).
2. Maximum Technologically Feasible Levels
    When DOE proposes to adopt an amended standard for a type or class 
of covered product, it must determine the maximum improvement in energy 
efficiency or maximum reduction in energy use that is technologically 
feasible for such product. (42 U.S.C. 6295(p)(1)) Accordingly, in the

[[Page 60798]]

engineering analysis, DOE determined the maximum technologically 
feasible (``max-tech'') improvements in energy efficiency for 
residential conventional cooking tops, using the design parameters for 
the most efficient products available on the market or in working 
prototypes, and information from the previous rulemaking. The max-tech 
levels that DOE determined for this rulemaking are described in section 
IV.C.3 of this proposed rule and in chapter 5 of the SNOPR TSD.

E. Energy Savings

1. Determination of Savings
    For each TSL, DOE projected energy savings from the products that 
are the subject of this rulemaking purchased in the 30-year period that 
begins in the year of compliance with new and amended standards (2019 
to 2048).\27\ The savings are measured over the entire lifetime of 
products purchased in the 30-year analysis period. DOE quantified the 
energy savings attributable to each TSL as the difference in energy 
consumption between each standards case and the no-new-standards case. 
The no-new-standards case represents a projection of energy consumption 
in the absence of new and amended efficiency standards, and it 
considers market forces and policies that affect demand for more 
efficient products.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ Each TSL is comprised of specific efficiency levels for 
each product class. The TSLs considered for this SNOPR are described 
in section V.A of this SNOPR. DOE conducted a sensitivity analysis 
that considers impacts for products shipped in a 9-year period.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE uses its national impact analysis (NIA) spreadsheet models to 
estimate national energy savings (NES) from potential new and amended 
standards. The NIA spreadsheet model (described in section IV.H of this 
SNOPR) calculates energy savings in terms of site energy, which is the 
energy directly consumed by products at the locations where they are 
used. Based on the site energy, DOE calculates NES in terms of primary 
energy savings at the site or at power plants, and also in terms of 
full-fuel-cycle (FFC) energy savings. The FFC metric includes the 
energy consumed in extracting, processing, and transporting primary 
fuels (i.e., coal, natural gas, petroleum fuels), and thus presents a 
more complete picture of the impacts of energy conservation 
standards.\28\ DOE's approach is based on the calculation of an FFC 
multiplier for each of the energy types used by covered products or 
equipment. For more information on FFC energy savings, see section 
IV.H.2 of this SNOPR. For natural gas, the primary energy savings are 
considered to be equal to the site energy savings.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ The FFC metric is discussed in DOE's statement of policy 
and notice of policy amendment. 76 FR 51282 (Aug. 18, 2011), as 
amended at 77 FR 49701 (Aug. 17, 2012).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Significance of Savings
    To adopt any new or amended standards for a covered product, DOE 
must determine that such action would result in ``significant'' energy 
savings. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(3)(B)) Although the term ``significant'' is 
not defined in the Act, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of 
Columbia Circuit, in Natural Resources Defense Council v. Herrington, 
768 F.2d 1355, 1373 (D.C. Cir. 1985), opined that Congress intended 
``significant'' energy savings in the context of EPCA to be savings 
that were not ``genuinely trivial.'' The energy savings for the 
proposed standards (presented in section IV.H.2 of this SNOPR) are 
nontrivial, and, therefore, DOE considers them ``significant'' within 
the meaning of section 325 of EPCA.

F. Economic Justification

1. Specific Criteria
    As noted above, EPCA provides seven factors to be evaluated in 
determining whether a potential energy conservation standard is 
economically justified. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i)) The following 
sections discuss how DOE has addressed each of those seven factors in 
this rulemaking.
a. Economic Impact on Manufacturers and Consumers
    In determining the impacts of a potential amended standard on 
manufacturers, DOE conducts a manufacturer impact analysis (MIA), as 
discussed in section IV.J of this SNOPR. DOE first uses an annual cash-
flow approach to determine the quantitative impacts. This step includes 
both a short-term assessment--based on the cost and capital 
requirements during the period between when a regulation is issued and 
when entities must comply with the regulation--and a long-term 
assessment over a 30-year period. The industry-wide impacts analyzed 
include (1) INPV, which values the industry on the basis of expected 
future cash flows; (2) cash flows by year; (3) changes in revenue and 
income; and (4) other measures of impact, as appropriate. Second, DOE 
analyzes and reports the impacts on different types of manufacturers, 
including impacts on small manufacturers. Third, DOE considers the 
impact of standards on domestic manufacturer employment and 
manufacturing capacity, as well as the potential for standards to 
result in plant closures and loss of capital investment. Finally, DOE 
takes into account cumulative impacts of various DOE regulations and 
other regulatory requirements on manufacturers. For individual 
consumers, measures of economic impact include the changes in LCC and 
PBP associated with new or amended standards. These measures are 
discussed further in the following section. For consumers in the 
aggregate, DOE also calculates the national net present value of the 
economic impacts applicable to a particular rulemaking. DOE also 
evaluates the LCC impacts of potential standards on identifiable 
subgroups of consumers that may be affected disproportionately by a 
national standard.
b. Savings in Operating Costs Compared to Increase in Price (LCC and 
PBP)
    EPCA requires DOE to consider the savings in operating costs 
throughout the estimated average life of the covered product in the 
type (or class) compared to any increase in the price of, or in the 
initial charges for, or maintenance expenses of, the covered product 
that are likely to result from a standard. (42 U.S.C. 
6295(o)(2)(B)(i)(II)) DOE conducts this comparison in its LCC and PBP 
analysis.
    The LCC is the sum of the purchase price of a product (including 
its installation) and the operating expense (including energy, 
maintenance, and repair expenditures) discounted over the lifetime of 
the product. The LCC analysis requires a variety of inputs, such as 
product prices, product energy consumption, energy prices, maintenance 
and repair costs, product lifetime, and consumer discount rates 
appropriate for consumers. To account for uncertainty and variability 
in specific inputs, such as product lifetime and discount rate, DOE 
uses a distribution of values, with probabilities attached to each 
value.
    The PBP is the estimated amount of time (in years) it takes 
consumers to recover the increased purchase cost (including 
installation) of a more-efficient product through lower operating 
costs. DOE calculates the PBP by dividing the change in purchase cost 
due to a more-stringent standard by the change in annual operating cost 
for the year that standards are assumed to take effect.
    For its LCC and PBP analysis, DOE assumes that consumers will 
purchase the covered products in the first year of compliance with 
amended standards. The LCC savings for the considered efficiency levels 
are calculated relative

[[Page 60799]]

to the case that reflects projected market trends in the absence of 
amended standards. DOE's LCC and PBP analysis is discussed in further 
detail in section IV.F of this SNOPR.
c. Energy Savings
    Although significant conservation of energy is a separate statutory 
requirement for adopting an energy conservation standard, EPCA requires 
DOE, in determining the economic justification of a standard, to 
consider the total projected energy savings that are expected to result 
directly from the standard. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i)(III)) As 
discussed in section III.E of this SNOPR, DOE uses the NIA spreadsheet 
models to project national energy savings.
d. Lessening of Utility or Performance of Products
    In establishing product classes and in evaluating design options 
and the impact of potential standard levels, DOE evaluates potential 
standards that would not lessen the utility or performance of the 
considered products. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i)(IV)) Based on data 
available to DOE, the standards proposed in this SNOPR would not reduce 
the utility or performance of the products under consideration in this 
rulemaking.
e. Impact of Any Lessening of Competition
    EPCA directs DOE to consider the impact of any lessening of 
competition, as determined in writing by the Attorney General, that is 
likely to result from a proposed standard. (42 U.S.C. 
6295(o)(2)(B)(i)(V)) It also directs the Attorney General to determine 
the impact, if any, of any lessening of competition likely to result 
from a proposed standard and to transmit such determination to the 
Secretary within 60 days of the publication of a proposed rule, 
together with an analysis of the nature and extent of the impact. (42 
U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(ii)) DOE will transmit a copy of this proposed 
rule to the Attorney General with a request that the Department of 
Justice (DOJ) provide its determination on this issue. DOE will publish 
and respond to the Attorney General's determination in the final rule. 
DOE invites comment from the public regarding the competitive impacts 
that are likely to result from this proposed rule. In addition, 
stakeholders may also provide comments separately to DOJ regarding 
these potential impacts. See ADDRESSES section for information to send 
comments to DOJ.
f. Need for National Energy Conservation
    DOE also considers the need for national energy conservation in 
determining whether a new or amended standard is economically 
justified. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i)(VI)) The energy savings from new 
or amended standards are likely to provide improvements to the security 
and reliability of the nation's energy system. Reductions in the demand 
for electricity also may result in reduced costs for maintaining the 
reliability of the nation's electricity system. DOE conducts a utility 
impact analysis to estimate how standards may affect the nation's 
needed power generation capacity, as discussed in section IV.M of this 
SNOPR.
    The proposed standards also are likely to result in environmental 
benefits in the form of reduced emissions of air pollutants and 
greenhouse gases (GHGs) associated with energy production and use. DOE 
conducts an emissions analysis to estimate how standards may affect 
these emissions, as discussed in section IV.K of this SNOPR; the 
emissions impacts are reported in section V.B of this SNOPR. DOE also 
estimates the economic value of emissions reductions resulting from the 
considered TSLs, as discussed in section IV.L of this proposed rule.
g. Other Factors
    EPCA allows the Secretary of Energy, in determining whether a 
standard is economically justified, to consider any other factors that 
the Secretary deems to be relevant. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i)(VII)) 
To the extent interested parties submit any relevant information 
regarding economic justification that does not fit into the other 
categories described above, DOE could consider such information under 
``other factors.''
2. Rebuttable Presumption
    As set forth in 42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(iii), EPCA creates a 
rebuttable presumption that an energy conservation standard is 
economically justified if the additional cost to the consumer of a 
product that meets the standard is less than three times the value of 
the first year's energy savings resulting from the standard, as 
calculated under the applicable DOE test procedure. DOE's LCC and PBP 
analyses generate values used to calculate the effects that proposed 
energy conservation standards would have on the payback period for 
consumers. These analyses include, but are not limited to, the 3-year 
payback period contemplated under the rebuttable-presumption test. In 
addition, DOE routinely conducts an economic analysis that considers 
the full range of impacts to consumers, manufacturers, the Nation, and 
the environment, as required under 42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i). The 
results of this analysis serve as the basis for DOE's evaluation of the 
economic justification for a potential standard level (thereby 
supporting or rebutting the results of any preliminary determination of 
economic justification). The rebuttable presumption payback calculation 
is discussed in section IV.F.10 of this proposed rule.

G. Changes to 10 CFR 429.23 Addressing the Certification, Compliance 
and Enforcement Criteria for Conventional Cooking Products

    In this SNOPR, DOE is proposing to update the certification 
requirements for cooking products in 10 CFR 429.23 to include the 
annual energy use and integrated annual energy use metrics for 
conventional gas and electric cooking tops in the sampling plan 
requirements. Additionally, DOE is proposing to update the reporting 
requirements for conventional ovens to reflect the proposed 
prescriptive design requirements. DOE notes that the certification and 
reporting requirements for conventional cooking tops and conventional 
ovens also apply to the conventional cooking top component and 
conventional oven component of combined cooking products.

H. Other Issues

    AHAM submitted a late comment discussing additional industry 
product testing, and provided a recommendation regarding the proposed 
standard levels selected for electric self-clean ovens. In this 
comment, AHAM stated that DOE did not analyze a sufficient sample size 
of electric standard ovens and, as a result, the efficiency levels for 
electric standard ovens presented in the June 2015 NOPR are 
significantly stricter than for electric self-clean ovens. (AHAM, No. 
39 at pp. 2-4) AHAM claimed that the standard levels proposed in the 
June 2015 NOPR could result in manufacturers adding a self-clean cycle 
to electric standard ovens instead of improving the oven's efficiency 
to meet the proposed standard for electric standard ovens, thus 
eliminating or reducing the availability of electric standard ovens 
from the market. AHAM further stated that electric standard ovens are 
the lowest-priced conventional ovens in the retail market, so 
eliminating them would provide a hardship for low-

[[Page 60800]]

income and other consumers who rely on low purchase prices. (AHAM, No. 
39 at pp. 4-5)
    AHAM recommended standards for electric standard ovens that are 
based on subtracting the average self-clean energy consumption from the 
corresponding standard for electric self-clean ovens. AHAM believes 
this approach would mitigate the uncertainties of the analysis, avoid 
discriminating against consumers of electric standard ovens, and have a 
negligible effect on the total energy savings compared to the standard 
levels proposed in the June 2015 NOPR. (AHAM, No. 39 at pp. 7-8)
    For the reasons discussed in section III.B of this SNOPR, DOE is 
proposing a prescriptive design requirement for the control system for 
conventional ovens in this SNOPR. This prescriptive standard would 
require the same design changes for both standard and self-clean ovens. 
As a result, DOE expects that the standards proposed in this SNOPR 
would not impose stricter requirements on electric standard ovens than 
on electric self-clean ovens, and would not eliminate or reduce the 
availability of electric standard ovens.

IV. Methodology and Discussion of Comments

    DOE used several analytical tools to estimate the impact of the 
proposed standards. The first tool is a spreadsheet that calculates the 
LCC and PBP of potential energy conservation standards. The national 
impacts analysis uses a spreadsheet set that provides shipments 
forecasts and calculates national energy savings and net present value 
resulting from potential energy conservation standards. DOE uses the 
third spreadsheet tool, the Government Regulatory Impact Model (GRIM), 
to assess manufacturer impacts of potential standards. These three 
spreadsheet tools are available at the Web site for this rulemaking: 
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/rulemaking.aspx?ruleid=85. Additionally, DOE used output from the EIA's 
AEO 2015, a widely known energy forecast for the United States, for the 
emissions and utility impact analyses.

A. Market and Technology Assessment

1. General
    For the market and technology assessment, DOE develops information 
that provides an overall picture of the market for the products 
concerned, including the purpose of the products, the industry 
structure, and market characteristics. This activity includes both 
quantitative and qualitative assessments, based primarily on publicly 
available information. Chapter 3 of the SNOPR TSD contains additional 
discussion of the market and technology assessment.
2. Product Classes
    When evaluating and establishing energy conservation standards, DOE 
divides covered products into product classes by the type of energy 
used or by capacity or other performance-related features that 
justifies a different standard. In making a determination whether a 
performance-related feature justifies a different standard, DOE must 
consider such factors as the utility to the consumer of the feature and 
other factors DOE determines are appropriate. (42 U.S.C. 6295(q))
a. Conventional Cooking Tops
    During the previous energy conservation standards rulemaking for 
cooking products, DOE evaluated product classes for conventional 
cooking tops based on energy source (i.e., gas or electric). These 
distinctions initially yielded two conventional cooking product 
classes: (1) Gas cooking tops; and (2) electric cooking tops. For 
electric cooking tops, DOE determined that the ease of cleaning smooth 
elements provides enhanced consumer utility over coil elements. Because 
smooth elements typically use more energy than coil elements, DOE 
defined two separate product classes for electric cooking tops. DOE 
defined the following product classes in the TSD for the April 2009 
Final Rule (2009 TSD) \29\ for conventional cooking tops:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ The technical support document from the previous 
residential cooking products standards rulemaking is available at: 
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EERE-2006-STD-0127-
0097.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Electric cooking tops--low or high wattage open (coil) 
elements;
     Electric cooking tops--smooth elements; and
     Gas cooking tops--conventional burners.
Induction Heating
    As part of the February 2014 RFI, DOE stated that it tentatively 
planned to maintain the product classes for conventional cooking tops 
from the previous standards rulemaking, as presented above. DOE also 
stated that it planned to consider induction heating as a technology 
option for electric smooth cooking tops rather than as a separate 
product class. DOE noted that induction heating provides the same basic 
function of cooking or heating food as heating by gas flame or electric 
resistance, and that the installation options available to consumers 
are also the same for both cooking products with induction and electric 
resistance heating. DOE stated that it might consider whether separate 
product classes are warranted for commercial-style gas cooking products 
with higher burner input rates. 79 FR 8337, 8341-8342 (Feb. 12, 2014).
    In response to the February 2014 RFI, Laclede Gas Company (Laclede) 
claimed that the two product classes for electric cooking tops are 
based solely on aesthetics, which is not a sufficient reason for 
establishing separate product classes. (Laclede, No. 8 at p. 5) As 
noted above, DOE determined that the ease of cleaning smooth elements 
provides enhanced consumer utility over coil elements. Because smooth 
elements typically use more energy than coil elements, DOE defined two 
separate product classes for electric cooking tops. DOE maintains this 
determination that electric smooth cooking tops provide enhanced 
utility while using more energy than coil elements, and as a result, 
proposes to consider separate product classes for this SNOPR.
    Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) agreed with DOE that 
induction heating should not be considered a separate product class, 
and further recommended classifying all electric cooking tops in a 
single product class. NRDC commented that DOE determined in the 
previous standards rulemaking that smooth element cooking tops 
warranted a separate product class because they consume more energy 
than open coil element cooking tops and provide the consumer utility of 
ease of cleaning. NRDC stated, however, that electric cooking tops 
using induction technology are now available that provide both high 
energy efficiency and ease of cleaning. NRDC believes that open coil 
elements do not provide any additional benefit to consumers and 
therefore may not necessitate a separate product class. (NRDC, No. 12 
at p. 2) DOE recognizes that smooth cooking tops with induction 
technology can achieve higher energy efficiency than electric coil 
cooking tops while providing ease of cleaning, as suggested by NRDC. 
However, DOE notes that the electric resistance heating technology more 
commonly found in smooth element cooking tops are typically less 
efficient than coil elements. As a result, DOE is not proposing to 
establish a single product class for all electric cooking tops.
    In response to the February 2014 RFI, AHAM and Whirlpool commented 
that induction cooking tops should be considered a separate product 
class and

[[Page 60801]]

not a technology option for electric smooth cooking tops, due to the 
following claimed performance and consumer utility differences:
     Induction cooking tops are easier to clean than smooth 
cooking tops with electric resistance heating because there is less 
likelihood of baked-on foods, which are difficult to clean. With 
induction cooking tops, the pot alone is heated through electromagnetic 
energy, while the spilled food on the cooking top receives only a small 
amount of conduction heating from the pot;
     Induction cooking tops heat faster than smooth cooking 
tops with electric resistance heating. AHAM and Whirlpool stated that 
there is a precedent to establishing separate product classes based on 
cycle time. According to these commenters, in the clothes washer 
rulemaking, DOE separated front-loading and top-loading clothes washers 
because the cycle times varied, significantly impacting consumer 
utility and product performance;
     Standby energy use will typically be higher for induction 
cooking tops than for smooth cooking tops because there are more 
advanced electronics, especially for full surface induction cooking 
tops that sense a pot when it is placed anywhere on the unit's surface. 
To maintain that consumer utility, induction cooking tops need a higher 
standby energy for the sensors to detect the placement of a pot;
     Magnetic cookware is needed for induction cooking tops, 
but not for smooth cooking tops with electric resistance heating. This 
may affect cooking performance and energy use by the end user, as 
certain non-magnetic cookware, such as aluminum, does not retain heat 
well; and
     Induction is an entirely different method of heating food 
(electromagnetic energy) than smooth cooking tops with electric 
resistance heating (radiant and conduction energy). (AHAM, No. 9 at pp. 
4-5, 6, 7; Whirlpool, No. 13 at pp. 3, 4, 5)
    NRDC and the California IOUs agreed with DOE that induction heating 
should be considered as a technology option for electric smooth cooking 
tops. (NRDC, No. 12 at p. 2; California IOUs, No. 11 at p. 2) NRDC 
noted that many induction cooking top models from multiple brands and 
manufacturers have entered the market, and that some manufacturers 
offer induction ``hot plates,'' as well as hybrid ranges and cooking 
tops that have electric and induction elements. NRDC also stated that 
induction cooking tops hold a significant portion of the market in 
Europe and Asia. For these reasons, NRDC urged DOE to consider 
induction technology in its analysis. (NRDC, No. 12 at pp. 1-2) The 
California IOUs urged DOE to review the Food Service Technology Center 
reports available on induction technology for commercial cooking 
products, which include measurements of energy input rate, heat-up 
temperature response, and heavy-load energy efficiency under the 
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard F1521-03. 
According to the California IOUs, these reports would be helpful in 
assessing the test procedures and measured energy efficiency of 
induction cooking tops. (California IOUs, No. 11 at p. 2)
    DOE observes that induction cooking tops provide the same basic 
function of cooking or heating food as does electric resistance 
heating. In addition, in considering whether there are any performance-
related features that justify a higher energy use standard to establish 
a separate product class, DOE notes that the utility of speed of 
cooking, ease of cleaning, and requirements for specific cookware for 
induction cooking tops do not appear to be uniquely associated with 
higher energy use compared to other smooth cooking tops with electric 
resistance heating elements. DOE recognizes that induction cooking tops 
are only compatible with ferromagnetic cooking vessels. However, DOE 
does not identify any consumer utility unique to any specific type of 
cookware that would warrant establishing separate product classes. As 
discussed in section IV.F.2 of this SNOPR, DOE considered the cost of 
replacing cookware as part of the LCC analysis. DOE also conducted 
standby testing on full-surface induction cooking tops. Based on DOE's 
testing, the sensors required to detect the presence of a pot placed on 
the cooking surface do not remain active while the product is in 
standby mode. In addition, DOE notes that the standby power required 
for the tested model (0.25 watts (W)) was below the average standby 
power for other cooking tops in DOE's test sample (2.25 W). For these 
reasons, DOE is not considering a separate product class for induction 
cooking products in this proposal. As noted in section IV.A.3 of this 
SNOPR, DOE is considering induction heating as a technology option for 
electric smooth cooking tops. Because residential induction cooking 
tops are available on the market, DOE analyzed these products rather 
than information from commercial products, as suggested by the 
California IOUs, as part of the engineering analysis, including testing 
and tearing down multiple sample units.
Commercial-Style Cooking Tops
    With regard to commercial-style cooking products, including those 
with higher burner input rates, AHAM commented in response to the 
February 2014 RFI that without a definition or test procedure for 
commercial-style cooking products, neither AHAM nor DOE can determine 
whether these products would warrant a separate product class. AHAM 
stated that DOE should first develop a test procedure for these 
products to allow for analysis of them. (AHAM, No. 9 at p. 12)
    Based on DOE's review of conventional gas cooking tops available on 
the market, DOE determined that products marketed as commercial-style 
cannot be distinguished from standard residential-style products based 
on performance characteristics or consumer utility. While conventional 
gas cooking tops marketed as commercial-style have more than one burner 
rated above 14,000 Btu/h and cast iron grates, approximately 50 percent 
of cooking top models marketed as residential-style also have one or 
more burners rated above 14,000 Btu/h and cast iron grates.
    DOE considered whether separate product classes for commercial-
style gas cooking tops with higher burner input rates are warranted by 
comparing the test energy consumption of individual surface units in a 
sample of cooking tops tested by DOE.\30\ DOE measured the test energy 
consumption of gas surface units in a sample of twelve gas cooking 
tops, which included six products marketed as commercial-style. The 
number of surface units per cooking top ranged from four to six. Figure 
IV.1 shows test energy consumption for an individual surface unit, 
normalized by the mass of the test load (as specified in the proposed 
cooking tops test procedure in the August 2016 TP SNOPR), versus burner 
input rate for each surface unit in the test sample. Because the mass 
of the test load depends on the input rate of the burner, the test 
energy consumption must be normalized for comparison. The higher the 
ratio of test energy consumption to

[[Page 60802]]

test load mass, the less efficient the surface unit.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \30\ DOE originally conducted testing on its test sample using 
the withdrawn hybrid test block method proposed in the December 2014 
TP SNOPR. DOE tested four of the twelve units in its test sample 
using both the withdrawn hybrid test block method and the water 
heating test method proposed in the August 2016 TP SNOPR. DOE then 
used the relative difference in results between the two test methods 
to scale the normalized test energy consumption by surface unit for 
the remaining units in its test sample. Additional details of this 
analysis are provided in chapter 5 of the NOPR TSD.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP02SE16.000

    As indicated in Figure IV.1, there was no statistically significant 
correlation between burner input rate and the ratio of surface unit 
energy consumption to test load mass for cooking tops marketed as 
either residential-style or commercial-style. DOE's testing, as 
presented further in section IV.C.2 of this SNOPR, showed that this 
efficiency ratio for gas cooking tops is more closely related to burner 
and grate design rather than input rate.
    In response to the June 2015 NOPR, Sub-Zero and BSH submitted late 
comments regarding commercial-style cooking tops. Sub-Zero commented 
that ``high-performance cooking'' is a better descriptor of this 
product segment than ``commercial-style.'' Sub-Zero stated that high-
performance cooking products can be defined as cooking products that 
offer residential consumers performance similar to that found in 
restaurant equipment at a safety and convenience level that is 
acceptable for residential use. (Sub-Zero, No. 40 at p. 2)
    Sub-Zero commented that a separate product class should be 
established for high-performance gas cooking tops to recognize the 
unique utility and performance attributes associated with high-
performance cooking products. Sub-Zero expressed concern that DOE may 
not be adequately considering cooking performance in its analysis for 
cooking tops, and that DOE may not be fully addressing any combustion 
and emissions issues arising from potential design changes made to 
improve the efficiency of gas cooking tops. (Sub-Zero, No. 40 at p. 2)
    Sub-Zero and BSH stated that customer input drives the design and 
cooking performance requirements for their gas cooking tops, and that 
high-performance gas cooking tops include design features that enhance 
cooking performance (rapid boiling, precision simmering, and even heat 
distribution) but negatively impact efficiency. (Sub-Zero, No. 25 at 
pp. 2-3; BSH, No. 41 at pp. 1-2) Sub-Zero and BSH noted that these 
features include:
     High input rate burners with large diameters provide 
faster heat up times and allow consumers to use larger cooking vessels 
while maintaining even heat distribution (Sub-Zero, No. 25 at p. 3; 
BSH, No. 41 at p. 2);
     High input rate burners with high levels of flame 
controllability, specifically high turndown ratios, allow for simmering 
of foods such as chocolates and sauces while also providing faster heat 
up times (Sub-Zero, No. 25 at p. 3; BSH, No. 41 at p. 2);
     Spacing between the gas flame, grate, and cooking vessel 
must be greater for high input rate burners than low input rate burners 
to meet performance and safety requirements, specifically even heat 
distribution and reduction of carbon monoxide. Reducing the spacing 
between the gas flame and the cooking vessel can increase efficiency, 
but flame quenching due to flame impingement and contact with the 
grate/cooking vessel can lead to increased carbon monoxide emissions 
and combustion by-products (Sub-Zero, No. 25 at p. 3);
     Heavy cast iron grates allow for better heat distribution 
to cooking vessels while also providing the strength required to 
support large loads and increased product longevity. (Sub-Zero, No. 25 
at p. 4; BSH, No. 41 at p. 2) Heavier cast iron grates also retain

[[Page 60803]]

more heat once the burner is turned down during simmer or shut off. 
(Sub-Zero, No. 25 at p. 2-4)
    Sub-Zero and BSH commented that safety, performance, and efficiency 
attributes of the cooking top must be considered systematically in 
terms of product design (e.g., mass of the grates, diameter of the 
burner, distance from the burner to the cooking vessel, and open area 
allotted for exhaust of combustion by-products), because changes to one 
attribute can significantly impact the others (Sub-Zero, No. 40 at p. 
3; BSH, No. 41 at p. 2)
    For these reasons, Sub-Zero requested that DOE consider the impact 
that any proposed standard levels would have on small, niche-market, 
high-performance cooking product manufacturers and their ability to 
serve their unique set of customers. According to Sub-Zero, eliminating 
the unique features of commercial-style gas cooking tops would not 
allow companies such as Sub-Zero to adequately serve their customer 
base. (Sub-Zero, No. 40 at p. 4)
    BSH commented that although it agrees with DOE's general approach 
of not analyzing cooking performance, commercial-style products must 
meet greater customer demands than residential-style products. BSH also 
commented that if DOE does not differentiate between commercial-style 
and residential-style products, more stringent standards would apply 
primarily to commercial-style products and have no effect on 
residential-style products. BSH commented that this could result in the 
elimination of commercial-style products from the market and limit 
consumer choice. BSH commented, therefore, that DOE should consider 
either a different test procedure or a separate product class for 
commercial-style products. (BSH, No. 41 at p. 3)
    The Wisconsin Senators expressed concern that recombining the 
rulemaking to consider standards for both cooking tops and ovens would 
likely impact high performance products and would require significant 
design changes resulting in lessened consumer utility and product 
performance. (Wisconsin Senators, No. 45 at p. 1) Arizona Congress 
Member Grijalva and the Arizona Congressional Delegation similarly 
noted that recombining the rulemaking will make it more difficult to 
have separate product classes to account for the unique features of 
high performance products. (Arizona Congress Member Grijalva, No. 43 at 
p. 1; Arizona Congressional Delegation, No. 44 at pp. 1-2) The 
Wisconsin Senators, Arizona Congress Member Grijalva, and the Arizona 
Congressional Delegation noted that new standards could negatively 
impact manufacturers like Sub-Zero and their ability to compete in the 
marketplace if high performance cooking products are not distinguished 
from conventional residential-style products. (Wisconsin Senators, No. 
45 at p. 1; Arizona Congress Member Grijalva, No. 43 at p. 1)
    DOE recognizes that the presence of certain features, such as heavy 
cast iron grates and multiple high input rate burners, may help 
consumers perceive a difference between commercial-style and 
residential-style gas cooking top performance. However, DOE is not 
aware of clearly-defined and consistent design differences and 
corresponding utility provided by commercial-style gas cooking tops as 
compared to residential-style gas cooking tops. Although DOE's testing, 
presented in section IV.C.2, indicates there is a difference in energy 
consumption between residential-style and commercial-style gas cooking 
tops, this difference could not be correlated to any specific utility 
provided to consumers. Moreover, DOE is not aware of an industry test 
standard that evaluates cooking performance and that would quantify the 
utility provided by these products. In addition, as discussed above, 
DOE's testing showed that there was no statistically significant 
correlation between burner input rate and the ratio of surface unit 
energy consumption to test load mass for cooking tops marketed as 
either residential-style or commercial-style.
    For these reasons, DOE is not proposing to establish a separate 
product class for gas cooking tops marketed as commercial-style or 
conventional gas cooking tops with higher burner input rates. However, 
as discussed in sections IV.C.3.b and V.C.1 of this SNOPR, DOE 
conducted its engineering analysis consistent with products currently 
available on the market and is proposing energy conservation standards 
for gas cooking tops in this SNOPR that would maintain the features 
available in conventional cooking tops marketed as commercial-style 
(e.g., multiple high input rate burners, cast iron gates, etc.) that 
may be used to differentiate these products in the marketplace. In 
addition, the standards proposed in this SNOPR are based on burner and 
grate system designs that are available on the market and thus would 
not alter the safety of existing commercial-style gas cooking top in 
terms of combustion products or emissions.
b. Conventional Ovens
    During the first energy conservation standards rulemaking for 
cooking products, DOE evaluated product classes for conventional ovens 
based on energy source (i.e., gas or electric). These distinctions 
initially yielded two conventional oven product classes: (1) Gas ovens; 
and (2) electric ovens. DOE more recently determined that the type of 
oven-cleaning system is a utility feature that affects performance. DOE 
found that standard ovens and ovens using a catalytic continuous-
cleaning process use roughly the same amount of energy. On the other 
hand, self-clean ovens use a pyrolytic process that provides enhanced 
consumer utility with lower overall energy consumption as compared to 
either standard or catalytically lined ovens. Therefore, DOE defined 
the following product classes in the TSD for the April 2009 Final Rule 
(2009 TSD) \31\ for conventional ovens:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ The technical support document from the previous 
residential cooking products standards rulemaking is available at: 
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EERE-2006-STD-0127-
0097.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Electric ovens--standard oven with or without a catalytic 
line;
     Electric ovens--self-clean oven;
     Gas ovens--standard oven with or without a catalytic line; 
and
     Gas ovens--self-clean oven.
    As part of the February 2014 RFI, DOE stated that it tentatively 
planned to maintain the product classes for conventional ovens from the 
previous standards rulemaking, as presented above. DOE stated that it 
might consider whether separate product classes are warranted for 
commercial-style gas ovens with higher burner input rates. 79 FR 8337, 
8341-8342 (Feb. 12, 2014).
Self-Cleaning Technology
    Based on DOE's review of conventional gas ovens available on the 
U.S. market, and based on manufacturer interviews and testing conducted 
as part of the engineering analysis, DOE noted in the June 2015 NOPR 
that the self-cleaning function of the self-clean oven may employ 
methods other than a high-temperature pyrolytic cycle to perform the 
cleaning action. 80 FR 33030, 33043. Specifically, DOE noted that it is 
aware of a type of self-cleaning oven that uses a proprietary oven 
coating and water to perform a self-clean cycle with a shorter duration 
and at a significantly lower temperature setting. The self-cleaning 
cycle for these ovens, unlike catalytically-lined standard ovens that 
provide continuous cleaning during normal baking, still have a separate 
self-

[[Page 60804]]

cleaning mode that is user-selectable and must be tested separately. In 
the June 2015 NOPR, DOE clarified that a conventional self-clean 
electric or gas oven is an oven that has a user-selectable mode 
separate from the normal baking mode, not intended to heat or cook 
food, which is dedicated to cleaning and removing cooking deposits from 
the oven cavity walls. Id.
    Whirlpool agreed that separate product classes are justified for 
standard and self-clean ovens. (Whirlpool, No. 33 at p. 6) Whirlpool 
also agreed with DOE that ovens that provide the same consumer utility 
and benefits of self-clean via means other than a standard pyrolytic 
process should be subject to the same standards as those that employ a 
pyrolytic process because this framework promotes innovation in self-
clean performance and energy efficiency. (Whirlpool, No. 33 at p. 5) GE 
commented that, while it supports the treatment of self-clean ovens as 
a separate product class, including non-pyrolytic models in the 
definition of self-clean would require unique provisions in the test 
procedure for this technology. In particular, GE suggested that DOE 
determine whether a usage factor of four times per year is appropriate 
for both pyrolytic and non-pyrolytic self-clean technologies, since the 
former is not as effective and requires additional cycles per year to 
achieve the same performance. (GE, No. 32 at p. 3)
    DOE is not aware of any differences in consumer behavior in terms 
of the frequency of use of the self-clean function that would be 
predicated on the type of self-cleaning technology rather than on 
cleaning habits or cooking usage patterns that are not dependent on the 
type of technology. Therefore, DOE is not proposing a different usage 
factor for non-pyrolytic self-clean operation. However, DOE welcomes 
data on the consumer usage patterns of pyrolytic versus non-pyrolytic 
self-cleaning functions in conventional ovens.
Commercial-Style Ovens
    With regards to gas oven burner input rates, DOE noted in the June 
2015 NOPR that based on its review of the residential conventional gas 
ovens available on the market, residential-style gas ovens typically 
have an input rate of 16,000 to 18,000 Btu/h whereas residential gas 
ovens marketed as commercial-style typically have burner input rates 
ranging from 22,500 to 30,000 Btu/h.\32\ 80 FR 33030, 33043. Additional 
review of both the residential-style and commercial-style gas oven 
cavities indicated that there is significant overlap in oven cavity 
volume between the two oven types. Standard residential-style gas oven 
cavity volumes range from 2.5 to 5.6 cubic feet (ft \3\) and gas ovens 
marketed as commercial-style have cavity volumes ranging from 3.0 to 
6.0 ft \3\. Sixty percent of the commercial-style models surveyed had 
cavity volumes between 4.0 and 5.0 ft \3\, while fifty percent of the 
standard models had cavity volumes between 4.0 and 5.0 ft \3\. The 
primary differentiating factor between the two oven types was burner 
input rate, which is greater than 22,500 Btu/h for commercial-style gas 
ovens. Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ However, DOE noted that many gas ranges, while marketed as 
commercial- or professional-style and having multiple surface units 
with high input rates, did not have a gas oven with a burner input 
rate above 22,500 Btu/h.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE conducted testing for the June 2015 NOPR using the version of 
the test procedure later adopted in the July 2015 TP Final Rule to 
determine whether commercial-style gas ovens with higher burner input 
rates warrant establishing a separate product class.
    DOE evaluated the cooking efficiency of eight conventional gas 
ovens, including five ovens with burners rated at 18,000 Btu/h or less 
and the remaining three with burner input rates ranging from 27,000 
Btu/h to 30,000 Btu/h. 80 FR 33030, 33043. DOE's testing showed that 
the measured cooking efficiencies for ovens with burner input rates 
above 22,500 Btu/h were lower than for ovens with ratings below 22,500 
Btu/h, even after normalizing cooking efficiency to a fixed cavity 
volume. However, DOE also noted that the conventional gas ovens with 
higher burner input rates in DOE's test sample were marketed as 
commercial-style and had greater total thermal mass, including heavier 
racks and thicker cavity walls, even after normalizing for cavity 
volume. DOE's testing of a 30,000 Btu/h oven suggested that much of the 
energy input to commercial-style ovens with higher burner input rates 
goes to heating the added mass of the cavity, rather than the test 
load, resulting in relatively lower measured efficiency when measured 
according to the test procedure adopted in the July 2015 TP Final Rule. 
80 FR 33030, 33043-33044. DOE also investigated the time it took each 
oven in the test sample to heat the test load to a final test 
temperature of 234[emsp14][deg]F above its initial temperature, as 
specified in the DOE test procedure in Appendix I at the time of the 
testing. DOE's testing showed that gas ovens with burner input rates 
greater than 22,500 Btu/h do not heat the test load significantly 
faster than the ovens with lower burner input rates, and two out of the 
three units with the higher burner input rates took longer than the 
average time to heat the test load. Therefore, DOE concluded in the 
June 2015 NOPR that there is no unique utility associated with faster 
cook times that is provided by gas ovens with burner input rates 
greater than 22,500 Btu/h. 80 FR 33030, 33045.
    Based on DOE's testing, reverse engineering, and additional 
discussions with manufacturers, DOE posited in the June 2015 NOPR that 
the major differentiation between conventional gas ovens with lower 
burner input rates and those with higher input rates, including those 
marketed as commercial-style, was design and construction related to 
aesthetics rather than improved cooking performance. Further, DOE did 
not identify any unique utility conferred by commercial-style gas 
ovens. For the reasons discussed above, DOE did not propose to 
establish a separate product class for commercial-style gas ovens with 
higher burner input rates. 80 FR 33030, 33045.
    The Joint Efficiency Advocates agreed with DOE's determination that 
commercial-style gas ovens do not provide any unique utility. The Joint 
Efficiency Advocates added that Consumer Reports similarly found in 
their tests that ``higher Btu hasn't guaranteed faster heating.'' They 
noted that Consumer Reports also found that ``pro-style ranges are big 
on style, but aren't the best ranges'' and that ``even regular ranges 
now have beefy knobs, rugged grates, and stainless trim for a lot less 
money,'' observations which support DOE's decision not to establish a 
separate product class for commercial-style gas ovens with higher 
burner input rates. (Joint Efficiency Advocates, No. 31 at p. 2)
    As noted for cooking tops, Sub-Zero commented that ``high 
performance cooking'' is a better descriptor of this product segment 
than ``commercial-style.'' Sub-Zero commented that a separate product 
class should be established for high performance electric and gas ovens 
to recognize the unique utility and performance attributes associated 
with high performance cooking products. Sub-Zero expressed concern that 
DOE did not consider cooking performance in its analysis for this 
rulemaking. According to Sub-Zero, the ability of any oven to bake and 
broil evenly, allow yeast products to rise consistently, and produce 
consistent quality from rack to rack when several racks are being used

[[Page 60805]]

are key criteria for consumer acceptance. (Sub-Zero, No. 25 at p. 2)
    Sub-Zero and BSH stated that inputs from their customers drive the 
design and cooking performance requirements for their ovens. (Sub-Zero, 
No. 25 at pp. 2, 3; BSH, No. 41 at pp. 1-2) Sub-Zero commented that 
high performance ovens include the following design features that 
enhance cooking performance (professional quality baking, broiling, 
roasting, slow bake, proofing, and other functions) but negatively 
impact efficiency:
     Heavier gauge materials which extend product life and 
enhance product quality, cooking functionality and durability;
     Configurations that allow for up to six-rack baking 
capability with full extension, heavy-gauge oven racks to support large 
loads and provide enhanced safety and ergonomic benefit;
     Full oven-height dual convection blowers to optimize 
cooking air flow;
     Hidden bake elements that enhance customer safety, 
cleanability and heat distribution for better cooking performance;
     Controls and software to maximize the long-term 
reliability of oven cavity porcelain when employing a hidden bake 
element; and
     Cooling fans for the electronic printed circuit boards 
that provide precise oven control and touch-screen user interface for 
cooking modes and other features. (Sub-Zero, No. 25 at pp. 3, 5-6)
    BSH also noted that commercial-style ovens include design features 
identified by Sub-Zero, including: Robust, full-extension ball-bearing 
oven racks to support heavy food loads; the ability to cook on three 
racks simultaneously with high output heating elements for even heat 
distribution; hidden bake elements. (BSH, No. 41 at p. 2) BSH also 
noted the following additional design features associated with 
commercial-style products:
     Soft-close hinges to handle constant loading and unloading 
of the oven to eliminate the noise of slamming doors;
     A variety of modes and options not typically found in 
residential-style products (e.g., rapid steam generator, additional 
convection heating element, high power combination modes such as 
convection broil and steam convection);
     Powerful heating elements to maintain set temperatures 
during sessions of loading and unloading food (e.g., caterers and 
entertainers at large house parties); and
     Very large usable baking space, e.g., two ovens in a 60-
inch range that operate independently to provide more versatility in 
cooking with each cavity capable of cooking one to three racks of food. 
In addition, commercial-style ovens can accommodate commercial baking 
pans that are more than twice the size of standard residential baking 
pans. (BSH, No. 41 at p. 2)
    Sub-Zero commented that testing of their products shows that the 
standard levels must be increased for ovens with enhanced high 
performance and customer utility attributes. Its test data showed that 
there are significant differences in efficiency levels when comparing 
high performance oven designs to conventional oven designs. (Sub-Zero, 
No. 25 at pp. 2-3)
    For these reasons, Sub-Zero requested that DOE reconsider the 
impact that the proposed standard levels will have on small, niche-
market, high-performance cooking manufacturers and their ability to 
serve their unique set of customers. According to Sub-Zero, the 
proposed standard levels would not allow companies such as Sub-Zero to 
adequately serve their customer base. Sub-Zero added that the proposed 
standards would force them and other high performance cooking product 
manufacturers to compete in the conventional oven market space by 
requiring them to employ lighter gauge materials, exposed heating 
elements, lighter racks, simpler controls, and single versus dual 
convection fan systems, which Sub-Zero claims would eliminate the 
utility and performance features that market analysis shows is needed 
for its company to stay viable. (Sub-Zero, No. 25 at p. 6)
    An Arizona Senator, California Congress Member, and Tennessee 
Congress Member separately commented that the proposed rule lacks any 
sort of distinction among residential ovens based on the cooking 
features they provide to the consumer, and may compromise the quality, 
functionality, and features associated with high-performance ovens. 
(Arizona Senator, No. 37 at p. 1; California Congress Member, No. 47 at 
p. 1; Tennessee Congress Member, No. 46 at p. 1) The Arizona Senator, 
the Arizona Congressional Delegation, California Congress Member, and 
Tennessee Congress Member encouraged DOE to work with the affected 
industry entities to reevaluate its proposal to prescribe a separate 
set of standards for high-performance ovens that acknowledges the 
unique characteristics of high-performance products and preserves 
customer choice. (Arizona Senator, No. 37 at p. 1; Arizona 
Congressional Delegation, No. 36 at p. 1; California Congress Member, 
No. 47 at pp. 1-2; Tennessee Congress Member, No. 46 at p. 2) The 
Arizona Congressional Delegation, California Congress Member, and 
Tennessee Congress Member also commented that the proposed rule is 
overly burdensome and would impose significant costs for companies in 
the high-performance oven market, including Sub-Zero and BSH. (Arizona 
Congressional Delegation, No. 36 at pp. 1; California Congress Member, 
No. 47 at pp. 1; Tennessee Congress Member, No. 46 at p. 1) The Arizona 
Congressional Delegation added that forcing a manufacturers like Sub-
Zero to abandon its distinct line of cooking products and to 
manufacture mass-market products would lessen customer utility and the 
performance of its ovens, and create a significant disparity in the 
company's competitive landscape. (Arizona Congressional Delegation, No. 
36 at p. 1)
    As discussed previously for cooking tops, BSH commented that 
although it agrees with DOE's general approach of not analyzing cooking 
performance for ovens, commercial-style products have to fulfill higher 
customer demands than residential-style products. BSH stated that if 
DOE does not differentiate between commercial-style and residential-
style products, more stringent standards would apply mainly to 
commercial-style products and have no effect on residential-style 
products. BSH commented that this could result in the elimination of 
commercial-style products from the market and limit consumer choice. 
Based on this, BSH commented that DOE should either consider a 
different test procedure or a separate product class for commercial-
style products. (BSH, No. 41 at p. 3)
    Miele also submitted a late comment in response to the June 2015 
NOPR regarding commercial-style ovens. Miele commented that DOE should 
either consider establishing a separate product class and exempt 
commercial-style ovens from standards or delay the rulemaking until 
there is a finalized test procedure that adequately measures 
commercial-style products energy use and accounts for the enhanced 
cooking performance so that these products are not eliminated from the 
market. Miele commented that the DOE test procedure does not adequately 
reflect the energy use of commercial-style products because it does not 
account for the effects of door openings and the energy required for 
thermal recovery. Miele noted that the added mass of commercial-style 
ovens provides the advantage of requiring less energy and time to 
recover, which alters the quality of foods being cooked. (Miele, No. 42 
at pp. 1-2)
    To further address whether commercial-style ovens provide a

[[Page 60806]]

unique utility that would warrant establishing a separate product 
class, DOE conducted additional interviews with manufacturers of 
commercial-style cooking products and reviewed additional commercial-
style test data. While these data demonstrated a difference in energy 
consumption between residential-style and commercial-style ovens when 
measured according to the test procedure adopted in the July 2015 TP 
Final Rule, this difference could not be correlated to any specific 
utility provided to consumers. Moreover, DOE is not aware of an 
industry test standard that evaluates cooking performance and that 
would quantify the utility provided by these products. DOE also notes 
that all conventional ovens, regardless of whether or not the product 
is marketed as commercial-style, must meet the same safety standards 
for the construction of the oven. American National Standards Institute 
(ANSI) Z21.1 ``Household Cooking Gas Appliances'' (ANSI Z21.1), Section 
1.21.1, requires that the oven structure, and specifically the baking 
racks, have sufficient strength to sustain a load of up to 25 pounds 
depending on the width of the rack. A similar standard (Underwriters 
Laboratories (UL) 858 ``Household Electric Ranges'' (UL 858)) exists 
for electric ovens.
    Furthermore, DOE has observed many of the design features 
identified by manufacturers as unique to commercial-style ovens and 
that may impact the energy consumption, such as extension racks, 
convection fans, cooling fans, and hidden bake elements, in 
residential-style products. DOE recognizes that the presence of these 
features, along with thicker oven cavity walls and higher burner input 
rates, may help consumers perceive a difference between commercial-
style and residential-style ovens. However, DOE is not aware of a 
clearly-defined and consistent design difference and corresponding 
utility provided by commercial-style ovens as compared to residential-
style ovens.
    For these reasons, DOE is not proposing to establish a separate 
product class for commercial-style ovens. As discussed in sections 
III.B and III.C of this SNOPR, DOE is proposing to repeal the oven test 
procedure in the August 2016 TP SNOPR, noting that further 
investigation would be required to develop test methods that 
appropriately account for the effects of certain commercial-style oven 
design features (e.g., heavier-gauge cavity construction, high input 
rate burners, extension racks, etc.). However, as discussed in sections 
III.B and V.C.1 of this SNOPR, the prescriptive control system design 
requirements proposed in this SNOPR would apply to all conventional 
oven product types and would maintain the features available in 
conventional ovens marketed as commercial-style that may be used to 
differentiate these products in the marketplace.
Installation Configuration
    As discussed in section III.C of this SNOPR, in the October 2012 TP 
Final Rule, DOE amended Appendix I to include methods for measuring 
fan-only mode.\33\ Based on DOE's testing of freestanding, built-in, 
and slide-in conventional gas and electric ovens, DOE observed that all 
of the built-in and slide-in ovens tested consumed energy in fan-only 
mode, whereas freestanding ovens did not. The energy consumption in 
fan-only mode for built-in and slide-in ovens ranged from approximately 
1.3 to 37.6 watt-hours (Wh) per cycle, which corresponds to 0.25 to 7.6 
kWh/yr. Based on DOE's reverse engineering analyses discussed in 
section IV.C of this SNOPR, DOE noted that built-in and slide-in 
products incorporated an additional exhaust fan and vent assembly that 
was not present in freestanding products. The additional energy 
required to exhaust air from the oven cavity is necessary for slide-in 
and built-in installation configurations to meet safety-related 
temperature requirements because the oven is enclosed in cabinetry. For 
these reasons, DOE proposed in the June 2015 NOPR to include separate 
product classes for freestanding and built-in/slide-in ovens. 80 FR 
33030, 33045.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \33\ Fan-only mode is an active mode that is not user-selectable 
in which a fan circulates air internally or externally to the 
cooking product for a finite period of time after the end of the 
heating function.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    AHAM, Whirlpool, and Electrolux supported DOE's proposal to 
establish separate product classes for freestanding and built-in/slide-
in ovens. (AHAM, No. 29 at p. 8; Whirlpool, No. 33 at p. 6; Electrolux, 
No. 27 at p. 4) In the absence of adverse comments, and for the reasons 
discussed above, DOE is maintaining its proposal to establish separate 
product classes for freestanding and built-in/slide-in ovens.
    In summary, DOE proposes the product classes listed in Table IV.1 
for this SNOPR.

                     Table IV.1--Proposed Product Classes for Conventional Cooking Products
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Product class                    Product type             Sub-category          Installation type
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1....................................  Electric cooking top...  Open (coil) elements.    .......................
2....................................  .......................  Smooth elements.         .......................
3....................................  Gas cooking top........  Conventional burners.    .......................
4....................................  Electric oven..........  Standard with or.......  Freestanding.
5....................................  .......................  without a catalytic      Built-in/Slide-in.
                                                                 line.
6....................................  .......................  Self-clean.............  Freestanding.
7....................................  .......................  .......................  Built-in/Slide-in.
8....................................  Gas oven...............  Standard with or.......  Freestanding.
9....................................  .......................  without a catalytic      Built-in/Slide-in.
                                                                 line.
10...................................  .......................  Self-clean.............  Freestanding.
11...................................  .......................  .......................  Built-in/Slide-in.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Technology Options
    As part of the market and technology assessment, DOE uses 
information about existing and past technology options and prototype 
designs to help identify technologies that manufacturers could use to 
improve energy efficiency. Initially, these technologies encompass all 
those that DOE believes are technologically feasible. Chapter 3 of the 
NOPR TSD includes the detailed list and descriptions of all technology 
options identified for this equipment.
a. Conventional Cooking Tops
    In the February 2014 RFI, DOE stated that based on a preliminary 
review of the cooking products market and information published in 
recent trade publications, technical reports, and

[[Page 60807]]

manufacturer literature, the results of the technology screening 
analysis performed during the previous standards rulemaking remain 
largely relevant for this rulemaking. 79 FR 8337, 8341 (Feb. 12, 2014). 
DOE stated in the February 2014 RFI that it planned to consider the 
technology options presented in Table IV.2 for conventional cooking 
tops. 79 FR 8337, 8342-8343.

    Table IV.2--February 2014 RFI Technology Options for Conventional
                              Cooking Tops
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Open (coil) element electric cooking tops:
  1. Electronic controls.
  2. Improved contact conductance.
  3. Insulation.
  4. Reflective Surfaces.
Smooth element electric cooking tops:
  5. Electronic controls.
  6. Halogen elements.
  7. Induction elements.
  8. Low-standby-loss electronic controls.
Gas Cooking Tops:
  9. Catalytic burners.
  10. Insulation.
  11. Radiant gas burners.
  12. Reduced excess air at burner.
  13. Reflective surfaces.
  14. Sealed burners.
  15. Thermostatically controlled burners.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In response to the February 2014 RFI, DOE received a number of 
comments regarding the technology options for conventional cooking 
tops.
    Whirlpool commented that there would not be efficiency gains from 
insulation for electric coil and gas cooking tops. Whirlpool further 
questioned where extra insulation would be placed on an electric coil 
or gas cooking top and whether consumers would accept that in the 
product's design. (Whirlpool, No. 13 at pp. 3, 4) Based on discussions 
with multiple manufacturers, DOE agrees that it is unclear where 
insulation could be placed in electric coil and gas cooking tops to 
improve efficiency, nor were manufacturers able to provide data 
demonstrating any measurable efficiency improvement association with 
added insulation. As a result, DOE did not further analyze this 
technology option for these proposed product classes.
    Whirlpool commented that small energy savings are associated with 
thermostatically controlled burners for gas cooking tops, and that 
manufacturers would need to assess the possible quality impact from 
subjecting the electronics to high temperatures. (Whirlpool, No. 13 at 
p. 4) Whirlpool also commented that most electric coil element and 
smooth element cooking tops on the market today have electronic 
controls. (Whirlpool, No. 13 at p. 4) Based on DOE's review of products 
on the market, DOE agrees that the majority of electric smooth cooking 
tops on the market today have electronic controls. However, all of the 
electric coil cooking tops reviewed by DOE were equipped with 
electromechanical controls. Nonetheless, DOE determined that 
thermostatically controlled burners and electronic controls, which 
allow the burners or heating elements to automatically adjust in 
response to cooking-state set points (e.g., cooking vessel 
temperature), would not improve efficiency based on the current DOE 
test procedure because the efficiency benefits of these design options 
can only be realized under variable burner or heating element 
conditions. As a result, DOE is not proposing to include these 
technologies in its analyses.
    AHAM and Whirlpool commented that halogen elements should not be 
considered as a technology option for electric smooth cooking tops 
because they may not heat enough to properly cook food. AHAM and 
Whirlpool stated that they do not believe that these elements typically 
are capable of achieving temperatures greater than about 
350[emsp14][deg]F. (AHAM, No. 9 at p. 5; Whirlpool, No. 13 at p. 4) DOE 
notes that this technology option would incorporate radiant heating 
coils around the halogen element to provide supplemental heat around 
the element's edge, producing a highly responsive element with an even 
temperature distribution. Based on data presented in the 2009 TSD, 
halogen elements may increase efficiency by approximately 1.5 percent. 
As a result, DOE is retaining halogen elements as a technology option 
for electric smooth cooking tops.
    Whirlpool commented that there may be negligible savings from 
improved contact conductance, as the coil element changes shape when 
heating, making it difficult to keep the element completely flat 
throughout the cooking cycle. According to Whirlpool, radiation also 
acts like conduction at very short distances (i.e., the distance 
between test load and surface of non-flat coil element). Additionally, 
Whirlpool commented that the possible energy savings from improved 
contact conductance would not be realized by consumers because many do 
not have the completely flat cookware. (Whirlpool, No. 13 at pp. 4, 6) 
DOE recognizes that only minimal energy savings may be possible due to 
improved contact conductance. However, DOE understands that the thermal 
contact resistance between two bodies results in a temperature drop and 
that improving the flatness of this interface, by improving the overall 
flatness of either surface, can improve the heat transfer between the 
two bodies. According to the 2009 TSD, DOE determined that improved 
contact conductance, by improving the flatness of the coil heating 
element, could result in a relative efficiency increase of 
approximately 3 percent.\34\ As a result, DOE retained the technology 
option for the purposes of this SNOPR. DOE welcomes additional comment 
on whether improved contact conductance should be considered as a 
technology option, in particular information and data substantiating 
the claims that radiation acts like conduction at very short distances 
and the degree to which the heating element or cookware may deform and 
impact the heat transfer between the two surfaces.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \34\ TSD: Energy Efficiency Program for Consumer Products and 
Commercial and Industrial Equipment: Residential Dishwashers, 
Dehumidifiers, and Cooking Products, and Commercial Clothes Washers. 
March 2009. Washington, DC. Chapter 3, p. 3-54.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Whirlpool commented that small energy savings are possible with 
low-standby-loss electronic controls for electric smooth cooking tops, 
but they are not expected to be economically justified. (Whirlpool, No. 
13 at p. 4) As part of DOE's testing and reverse engineering analyses, 
DOE observed that a large percentage of cooking top models incorporate 
SMPS, which result in lower standby power consumption compared to 
products with conventional linear power supplies. Based on discussions 
with manufacturers, DOE notes that multiple manufacturers are already 
transitioning to SMPS for their full product offerings. DOE also 
observed that one electric smooth cooking top in its test sample is 
equipped with an automatic power-down function in addition to the SMPS 
that powers down the controls to a lower-power state after a period of 
user inactivity to reduce standby power. As a result, DOE maintained 
low-standby-loss electronic controls as a technology option and 
assessed the associated costs in the engineering analysis.
    Whirlpool commented that about 99 percent of electric coil cooking 
tops already have chrome drip bowls, which act as a reflective surface. 
(Whirlpool, No. 13 at p. 4) Whirlpool commented that there are possible 
savings associated with reflective surfaces for gas cooking tops, which 
could be implemented by the use of stainless steel, but consumers would 
not accept cooking products being available only in stainless steel. 
(Whirlpool, No. 13 at p. 3) Based on DOE's review of products on the 
market, DOE is unaware of any

[[Page 60808]]

electric coil cooking tops that do not have chrome drip bowls. As a 
result, DOE believes this technology is associated with the baseline 
design and did not consider reflective surfaces as a technology option 
for further improving product efficiency for electric coil cooking 
tops. DOE agrees with Whirlpool's assertion that there is a potential 
for energy savings associated with reflective surfaces for gas cooking 
tops. As a result, DOE retained this technology option for the SNOPR. 
DOE considers issues related to consumer utility, such as the lack of 
consumer acceptance of cooking top surfaces being available only in 
stainless steel noted by Whirlpool, as part of the screening analysis.
    Whirlpool commented that there could be savings from less waste 
heat and increased burner efficiency from radiant gas burners, but it 
would not be economically justifiable. (Whirlpool, No. 13 at p. 3) DOE 
notes that the 2009 TSD indicated that prototype designs using radiant 
gas burners showed improved efficiency for gas cooking tops. As a 
result, DOE retained this as a technology option for further 
consideration. Economic impacts are addressed in the engineering, LCC, 
and PBP analyses.
    DOE notes that sealed burners for conventional gas cooking tops 
were considered a technology option in the 2009 TSD. However, as 
discussed in section IV.C.2 of this SNOPR, DOE determined based on its 
testing that neither sealed nor open burner types clearly performed 
better or worse than the other. As a result, DOE is not considering 
sealed burners as a technology option for conventional gas cooking tops 
for this SNOPR.
    DOE is proposing to consider an additional technology option for 
conventional gas cooking tops based on product testing and reverse 
engineering analyses conducted for this SNOPR. DOE testing, described 
in in section IV.C.2 of this SNOPR and chapter 5 of the SNOPR TSD, 
revealed that gas cooking top efficiency was correlated to burner 
system design (e.g., grate weight, flame angle, distance from burner 
ports to the cooking surface). For example, heavier grates result in 
more input energy being absorbed by the grate instead of the pan. 
Because design of burner system components are interdependent and must 
also consider combustion efficiency to maintain approved levels of 
carbon monoxide emissions, DOE included optimized gas cooking top 
burner and grate designs for increasing efficiency consistent with 
products available on the market.
    Table IV.3 lists the proposed technology options for cooking tops 
that DOE is considering for this SNOPR.

  Table IV.3--Proposed Technology Options for Conventional Cooking Tops
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Open (coil) element electric cooking tops:
  1. Improved contact conductance.
Smooth element electric cooking tops:
  2. Halogen elements.
  3. Induction elements.
  4. Low-standby-loss electronic controls.
Gas Cooking Tops:
  5. Radiant gas burners.
  6. Reduced excess air at burner.
  7. Reflective surfaces.
  8. Optimized burner and grate design.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

b. Conventional Ovens
    In the June 2015 NOPR, DOE proposed to consider the technology 
options listed in Table IV.4. 80 FR 33030, 33046-33047.

  Table IV.4--June 2015 NOPR Technology Options for Conventional Ovens
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Bi-radiant oven (electric only).
2. Electronic spark ignition (gas only).
3. Forced convection.
4. Halogen lamp oven (electric only).
5. Improved and added insulation (standard ovens only).
6. Improved door seals.
7. No oven-door window.
8. Oven separator (electric only).
9. Reduced conduction losses.
10. Reduced vent rate (electric standard ovens only).
11. Reflective surfaces.
12. Low-standby-loss electronic controls.
13. Optimized burner and cavity design.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the June 2015 NOPR, DOE stated that it was considering an 
additional technology option for optimizing the burner and cavity 
design for gas ovens based on product testing and reverse engineering 
analyses. DOE's testing indicated that reducing the thermal mass of the 
oven cavity can increase cooking efficiency. Because oven cavity and 
burner design are interdependent, DOE proposed to consider optimized 
burner and cavity design as a technology option for increasing 
efficiency for gas ovens consistent with products available on the 
market rather than the reduced thermal mass technology option 
considered for the previous rulemaking. 80 FR 33030, 33047.
    AHAM commented that the market already incentivizes manufacturers 
to reduce the gauge of the metals they use to the extent practical, and 
that products that just meet the proposed standard level are already 
doing this t. AHAM stated that there is only so far a manufacturer can 
reduce gauge and retain consumer utility, product functionality and 
performance, and safety. (AHAM, No. 29 at p. 8) Electrolux similarly 
disagreed with the DOE position that optimizing the oven cavity, by 
reducing the gauge of steel (and thus thermal mass) used in 
manufacturing the oven cavity, is a viable means for reducing energy 
consumption. Electrolux stated that it has already reduced the thermal 
mass of the oven cavity in its products and there is no more efficiency 
that can be safely gained by reducing the gauge of steel any further. 
(Electrolux, No. 27 at p. 4)
    As part of DOE's reverse-engineering analyses, described in section 
IV.C of this SNOPR and chapter 5 of the SNOPR TSD, DOE observed that 
the commercial-style ovens in its test sample had wall thicknesses 
approximately 1.5 times greater than those of residential-style ovens. 
Additionally, DOE observed that these products had heavier rack 
weights. DOE's testing showed that by optimizing the burner/cavity 
design, IAEC could be reduced by approximately 22 percent, depending on 
the oven cavity volume. DOE also notes that, as discussed in section 
IV.A.2.b of this SNOPR, ANSI Z21.1 and UL 858 include requirements for 
the oven structure and racks to be able to support loads with a certain 
weight range, depending on the width of the rack. For these reasons, 
DOE maintained the optimized burner/cavity design as a technology 
option.
    DOE's analysis revealed that conventional ovens at the baseline 
efficiency level use a conventional linear power supply control design. 
A linear power supply typically produces unregulated as well as 
regulated power. The main characteristic of an unregulated power supply 
is that its output may contain significant voltage ripple and that the 
output voltage will usually vary with the current drawn. The voltages 
produced by regulated power supplies are typically more stable, 
exhibiting less ripple than the output from an unregulated power supply 
and maintaining a relatively constant voltage within the specified 
current limits of the device(s) regulating the power. The unregulated 
portion of a linear power supply typically consists of a transformer 
that steps alternating current (AC) line voltage down, a voltage 
rectifier circuit for AC to direct current (DC) conversion, and a 
capacitor to produce unregulated, direct current output. However, there 
are many means of producing and implementing an

[[Page 60809]]

unregulated power supply such as transformerless capacitive and/or 
resistive rectification circuits.
    Within a linear power supply, the unregulated output serves as an 
input into a single or multiple voltage-regulating devices. Such 
regulating devices include Zener diodes, linear voltage regulators, or 
similar components which produce a lower-potential, regulated power 
output from a higher-potential direct current input. This approach 
results in a rugged power supply which is reliable, but typically has 
an efficiency of about 40 percent. As discussed in section IV.C.3.b of 
this SNOPR, DOE's analysis showed that switching from a conventional 
linear power supply to an SMPS reduces the standby mode energy 
consumption for conventional ovens. An SMPS offer higher conversion 
efficiencies of up to 75 percent in appliance applications for power 
supply sizes similar to those of conventional ovens. An SMPS also 
reduces the no-load standby losses.
    AHRI commented that DOE's discussion of the electronic spark 
ignition design option and the proposed standard levels in the June 
2015 NOPR strongly suggest a practical effect of eliminating glo-bar 
ignition systems. AHRI commented that the typical glo-bar ignition 
systems currently used in gas ovens remain energized during the entire 
time that the main burner is on. AHRI noted that this is directly 
related to a key safety feature of these ignition systems--that the 
electric current sufficient to open the gas valve cannot pass through 
the igniter until the igniter has attained a temperature that will 
ignite the gas at the burner. According to AHRI, DOE's analysis is 
technically inaccurate and the major reduction in the electrical 
consumption of the ignition systems is not due to replacing the glo-bar 
with a spark igniter, but instead to changing the ignition system to an 
``interrupted'' type of system. AHRI noted that the North American 
safety standard for automatic gas ignition systems specifies that an 
intermittent/interrupted ignition system is energized prior to the 
admission of fuel to the main burner and is de-energized when the main 
burner flame is established. AHRI stated that this is the proper 
technical description of the technology option that was analyzed. 
(AHRI, No. 34 at p. 1)
    AHRI also commented that it understands that the proposed maximum 
energy use standards for gas ovens in the June 2015 NOPR do not require 
the use of an electronic spark ignition system, but that if this 
understanding is not correct, then DOE would be proposing a 
prescriptive design requirement within a rule that is intended to be a 
performance standard. (AHRI, No. 34 at p. 2)
    DOE acknowledges that by describing the gas ignition system 
technology option analyzed in the June 2015 NOPR as electronic spark 
ignition, DOE could potentially preclude certain ignition types from 
consideration that may result in reduced energy consumption. As a 
result, DOE conducted a review of ignition systems available on the 
market as well as various industry definitions for automatic gas 
ignition available in household gas appliances. DOE based its analysis 
on existing industry terminology such as definitions available in ANSI 
Z21.1 and ANSI Z21.20, ``Automatic Electrical Controls for Household 
and Similar Use Part 2: Particular Requirements for Automatic Burner 
Ignition Systems and Components.''
    When a conventional gas oven cooking cycle is initiated, an 
ignition system is energized before gas is allowed to flow to the main 
burner to be lit. Ignition types observed on the market for 
conventional gas ovens fall under four categories: (1) Continuous 
(e.g., constant-burning or ``standing'' pilot) (2) intermittent 
ignition (3) intermittent/interrupted ignition and (4) intermittent 
pilot ignition. These ignition types are described in the following 
paragraphs.
    Continuous ignition systems are a type of ignition that, once 
placed in operation, are intended to remain ignited or energized 
continuously until manually interrupted. Thus, they would remain 
energized throughout, and outside of, a cooking cycle. Constant burning 
pilot igniters are considered continuous ignition systems. As noted in 
section II.B.1 of this SNOPR, in the April 2009 Final Rule, DOE 
prescribed the current energy conservation standards for conventional 
cooking products to prohibit constant burning pilots for all gas 
cooking products.
    For intermittent ignition systems, the ignition source is ignited 
or energized when the appliance controls call for heat. The ignition 
source remains continuously ignited or energized during each period of 
main burner operation and is extinguished or de-energized when each 
main burner operating cycle is completed. DOE's analysis determined 
that baseline conventional gas ovens are equipped with an intermittent 
ignition system that uses a glo-bar igniter (also referred to as a hot 
surface igniter). For these ignition systems, when the thermostat is 
set to a specific temperature and the oven controls call for heat, line 
voltage is applied to the igniter. As the glo-bar heats and increases 
in temperature, the current draw decreases. A safety valve is installed 
in series with the igniter such that the valve allows gas flow to the 
main burner only when the current draw of the glo-bar falls below a 
certain point, which corresponds to a temperature capable of igniting 
the gas at the burner. Because the safety valve remains open only when 
the glo-bar igniter is drawing the correct current, the igniter must 
continually draw power to keep the burner ignited. Based on DOE's 
testing, glo-bar ignition systems consume between 300 W and 450 W when 
energized.
    For intermittent/interrupted ignition systems, the ignition source 
is ignited or energized each time the appliance controls call for heat. 
However, the ignition source is extinguished or de-energized after the 
main burner flame is ignited. DOE notes that some conventional ovens on 
the market use a direct electronic spark ignition, which is a type of 
intermittent/interrupted ignition system. When the direct electronic 
spark igniter receives a signal from the controls (either by a rotary-
actuated control dial or from an electronic control system), the spark 
electrode sparks to ignite the main burner directly. The spark igniter 
is de-energized once ignition of the main burner is complete. DOE is 
also aware of a ceramic glo-bar igniter designed to be used in an 
intermittent/interrupted ignition system, which is energized when there 
is a call for heat and de-energized once the main burner flame has been 
ignited.
    For intermittent pilot ignition systems, upon a call for the burner 
to ignite, a spark module lights a pilot flame, which in turn ignites 
the main burner. In the systems reviewed by DOE, DOE observed that when 
the main burner shuts off, the pilot also shuts off. DOE welcomes 
comment that would confirm the operation sequence of intermittent pilot 
ignition systems used in conventional gas oven applications. DOE notes 
that battery-power ignition systems would be considered an intermittent 
pilot ignition system and already exist in conventional gas ovens 
available on the market. DOE further notes that a similar electronic 
spark ignition system that uses line power and that ignites a pilot 
flame would also be considered an intermittent pilot ignition system.
    As discussed in section IV.C.3.b of this SNOPR, DOE's testing 
conducted for the June 2015 NOPR showed that intermittent pilot 
ignition systems (i.e.. electronic spark ignition systems) reduce 
energy consumption as compared to intermittent glo-bar

[[Page 60810]]

ignition systems. However, based on DOE's review of different ignition 
systems, DOE has additionally determined that energy savings can be 
achieved from switching from the baseline intermittent glo-bar ignition 
system to either an intermittent/interrupted ignition or intermittent 
pilot ignition. As a result, DOE is expanding the gas ignition system 
technology option to account for both of these options.
    As discussed in section I and section III.B of this SNOPR, DOE is 
proposing to adopt a prescriptive standard for the control system of 
conventional gas ovens to require the use an intermittent/interrupted 
ignition or intermittent pilot ignition. As a result, DOE is proposing 
to define intermittent/interrupted ignition and intermittent pilot 
ignition in 10 CFR 430.2. DOE would define intermittent/interrupted 
ignition to be an ignition source which is ignited or energized upon 
initiation of each main burner operational cycle and which is 
extinguished or no longer energized after the main burner is ignited. 
DOE would define intermittent pilot ignition to be an ignition source 
which, upon initiation of each main burner operational cycle, ignites a 
pilot that remains lit continuously during the main burner operational 
cycle and is extinguished when the main burner operational cycle is 
completed. DOE seeks comment on the use of these terms as descriptors 
for the ignition systems capable of reducing the energy consumption of 
conventional gas ovens.
    In the June 2015 NOPR, DOE proposed to consider reducing the vent 
rate as a technology option for standard-clean electric ovens. 80 FR 
33030, 33047. Electrolux stated that the technology option of providing 
for a reduced vent rate is not practical and cannot be used to increase 
the energy efficiency of conventional ovens because venting of the oven 
cavity during the cooking operation is necessary for the optimum 
cooking performance of the oven. (Electrolux, No. 27 at p. 5)
    DOE recognizes that some electric standard ovens may already have a 
reduced vent rate. However, this may not be the case for all electric 
standard ovens on the market. For example, DOE's test sample included 
standard and self-clean versions of the same basic model of electric 
oven, and during the reverse engineering analysis described in section 
IV.C.2 of this SNOPR, DOE observed that both units had the same design, 
construction, and fan-only mode energy consumption, indicating that 
their vent rate was identical. This indicates that a reduced vent rate 
could be considered for the standard version of this model. 
Additionally, in the previous rulemaking, manufacturers themselves 
confirmed that vent rate could be reduced for electric standard ovens. 
Thus, DOE continues to include this design option as part of its 
analysis but requests comment on whether a reduced vent rate could be 
used to increase the energy efficiency of conventional electric 
standard ovens.
    In the June 2015 NOPR, DOE proposed to consider improved insulation 
as a technology option for standard-clean ovens. 80 FR 33030, 33047. 
AHAM and Electrolux commented that DOE has not clearly defined high 
density insulation. AHAM added that, as a result, they cannot comment 
on the whether this technology is already in use in standard-clean 
ovens. (AHAM, No. 29 at p. 8; Electrolux, No. 27 at pp. 4-5) As noted 
in chapter 5 of the NOPR TSD, DOE considers the improved insulation 
technology option to consist of switching from the low-density (~1.09 
pounds (lb)/ft\3\) fiberglass insulation typically used in standard-
clean ovens, to a higher density (~1.90 lb/ft\3\) insulation, as 
commonly incorporated in self-clean ovens to meet UL surface 
temperature requirements during the high-temperature pyrolysis self-
clean cycle.

B. Screening Analysis

    DOE uses the following four screening criteria to determine which 
technology options are suitable for further consideration in an energy 
conservation standards rulemaking:
    1. Technological feasibility. Technologies that are not 
incorporated in commercial products or in working prototypes will not 
be considered further.
    2. Practicability to manufacture, install, and service. If it is 
determined that mass production and reliable installation and servicing 
of a technology in commercial products could not be achieved on the 
scale necessary to serve the relevant market at the time of the 
compliance date of the standard, then that technology will not be 
considered further.
    3. Impacts on product utility or product availability. If it is 
determined that a technology would have significant adverse impact on 
the utility of the product to significant subgroups of consumers or 
would result in the unavailability of any covered product type with 
performance characteristics (including reliability), features, sizes, 
capacities, and volumes that are substantially the same as products 
generally available in the United States at the time, it will not be 
considered further.
    4. Adverse impacts on health or safety. If it is determined that a 
technology would have significant adverse impacts on health or safety, 
it will not be considered further.
    10 CFR part 430, subpart C, appendix A, 4(a)(4) and 5(b).
    In sum, if DOE determines that a technology, or a combination of 
technologies, fails to meet one or more of the above four criteria, it 
will be excluded from further consideration in the engineering 
analysis. The reasons for eliminating any technology are discussed 
below.
    The subsequent sections include comments from interested parties 
pertinent to the screening criteria, DOE's evaluation of each 
technology option against the screening analysis criteria, and whether 
DOE determined that a technology option should be excluded (``screened 
out'') based on the screening criteria.
1. Screened-Out Technologies
a. Conventional Cooking Tops
    For conventional cooking tops, DOE screened out radiant gas 
burners, catalytic burners, reduced excess air at burner, and 
reflective surfaces for the reasons that follow.
    In the previous rulemaking, manufacturers concluded that infrared 
jet-impingement radiant gas burners would not be able to comply with 
the ANSI Standard Z21.1-2005, ``Household Cooking Gas Appliances.'' 
Field testing had shown that users were unable to turn down the burner 
satisfactorily, which indicated a potential health and safety risk. 72 
FR 64432, 64455 (Nov. 15, 2007). No more recent designs of radiant gas 
burners for residential cooking tops have resolved this issue, and 
therefore, due to potential impacts on consumer health and safety, DOE 
screened out radiant gas burners from further analysis.
    In response to the February 2014 RFI, Whirlpool commented that 
catalytic burners are not applicable to today's market for gas cooking 
tops. Whirlpool stated that these seem to be more applicable to 
industrial furnaces than residential gas cooking top burners. 
(Whirlpool, No. 13 at p. 3) In the absence of any commercialized 
catalytic burners for residential gas cooking tops, DOE asserts that it 
would not be practicable to manufacture, install and service this 
technology on the scale necessary to serve the relevant market at the 
time of the effective date of an amended standard. Also, because this 
technology is in the research stage, it is

[[Page 60811]]

not possible to assess whether it will have any adverse impacts on 
utility to consumers or product availability, or any adverse impacts on 
consumers' health or safety. As a result, DOE screened out catalytic 
burners from further analysis.
    Whirlpool commented that reduced excess air at burner does not seem 
to be applicable to residential gas cooking tops, as excess air is 
needed for clean, safe, and complete combustion. (Whirlpool, No. 13 at 
p. 3) Reduced excess air at the burner has not been definitively shown 
to increase efficiency. In addition, DOE cannot assess adverse impacts 
on consumers' utility, health, or safety or equipment availability for 
this technology. Reducing excess air at the burner increases the 
possibility of adverse conditions such as poor flame quality and 
elevated carbon monoxide levels, which would suggest adverse impacts on 
consumers' utility, health, and safety. For these reasons, DOE screened 
out reduced excess air at the burner from further analysis.
    Reflective surfaces for gas cooking tops utilize highly polished or 
chromed drip pans underneath the burner. The primary mechanism for heat 
transfer to the cooking vessel for gas cooking tops is convection. As a 
result, the efficiency gains resulting from using reflective pans are 
extremely small because gas flames and burners have minimal infrared 
emissions. Based on data provided by manufacturers through AHAM, DOE 
estimated in the 2009 TSD that an efficiency increase of only 0.1 
percent was possible. Also, as reported in the 1996 TSD,\35\ 
manufacturers stated that any increase in efficiency due to a 
reflective surface could easily be negated if the consumer fails to 
regularly clean the surface or uses an abrasive pad to clean the 
surface. As a result, DOE screened out this technology option from 
further analysis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ Available online at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EERE-2006-STD-0070-0053.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

b. Conventional Ovens
    For conventional ovens, in the June 2015 NOPR, DOE screened out 
added insulation, bi-radiant oven, halogen lamp oven, no oven door 
window, and reflective surfaces. 80 FR 33030, 33047-33048.
    DOE did not receive any comments opposing the technology options 
screened out in the June 2015 NOPR. For the same reasons discussed in 
the June 2015 NOPR, DOE is continuing to screen out added insulation, 
bi-radiant oven, halogen lamp oven, no oven door window, and reflective 
surfaces from further analysis.
    Additionally, as discussed in section IV.A.3.b of this SNOPR, the 
optimized burner and cavity design technology option would require 
changes to commercial-style ovens that include reducing the thermal 
mass of the oven cavity. DOE recognizes that an energy conservation 
standard that requires this technology option may result in the 
unavailability of a certain product type, i.e., commercial-style ovens 
that include features (e.g., thicker oven cavity walls, high input rate 
burners, extension racks, etc.) that are used to differentiate these 
products from residential-style products. As a result, DOE has screened 
out optimized burner and cavity design from further analysis.
2. Remaining Technologies
    Based on the screening analysis, DOE considered the design options 
listed in Table IV.5 for conventional cooking tops and Table IV.6 for 
conventional ovens.

    Table IV.5--Remaining Conventional Cooking Top Technology Options
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Open (coil) element electric cooking tops:
  1. Improved contact conductance.
Smooth element electric cooking tops:
  2. Halogen elements.
  3. Induction elements.
  4. Low-standby-loss electronic controls.
Gas Cooking Tops:
  5. Optimized burner and grate design.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


       Table IV.6--Remaining Conventional Oven Technology Options
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Intermittent/interrupted ignition or intermittent pilot ignition
 system.
2. Forced convection.
3. Improved insulation.
4. Improved door seals (standard ovens only).
5. Oven separator (electric only).
6. Reduced conduction losses.
7. Reduced vent rate (electric standard ovens only).
8. Low-standby-loss electronic controls.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Engineering Analysis

    The engineering analysis estimates the cost-efficiency relationship 
of products at different levels of increased energy efficiency. This 
relationship serves as the basis for the cost-benefit calculations for 
consumers, manufacturers, and the Nation. In determining the cost-
efficiency relationship, DOE estimates the increase in manufacturer 
cost associated with increasing the efficiency of products from the 
baseline up to the maximum technologically feasible (``max-tech'') 
efficiency level for each product class.
1. Methodology
    DOE typically structures the engineering analysis using one of 
three approaches: (1) The design-option approach, which provides the 
incremental costs of adding design options to a baseline model that 
will improve its efficiency (i.e., lower its energy use); (2) the 
efficiency-level approach, which provides the incremental costs of 
moving to higher energy efficiency levels, without regard to the 
particular design option(s) used to achieve such increases; and (3) the 
reverse-engineering (or cost-assessment) approach, which provides 
``bottom-up'' manufacturing cost assessments for achieving various 
levels of increased efficiency, based on teardown analyses (or physical 
teardowns) that provide detailed data on costs for parts and material, 
labor, overhead, and equipment, tooling, conveyor, and space 
investments for models that operate at particular efficiency levels.
    To determine the cost-efficiency relationship, DOE structured its 
engineering analysis for this SNOPR using a design-option approach, 
supplemented by reverse engineering (physical teardowns and testing of 
existing products in the market) to identify the incremental cost and 
efficiency improvement associated with each design option or design 
option combination. In addition, DOE considered cost-efficiency data 
from the 2009 TSD. DOE also conducted interviews with manufacturers of 
conventional cooking products to develop a deeper understanding of the 
various combinations of design options used to increase product 
efficiency, and their associated manufacturing costs.
2. Product Testing and Reverse Engineering
    To develop the cost-efficiency relationships for the engineering 
analysis, DOE conducted testing and reverse engineering teardowns on 
products available on the market. Because there are no performance-
based energy conservation standards or energy reporting requirements 
for conventional cooking products, DOE selected test units based on 
performance-related features and technologies advertised in product 
literature.
a. Conventional Cooking Tops
    For conventional cooking tops, DOE's test sample included four gas 
cooking tops, eight gas ranges, six electric cooking tops, and two 
electric ranges for a total of 20 conventional cooking tops

[[Page 60812]]

covering all of the product classes considered in this SNOPR. The test 
units are described in detail in chapter 5 of the SNOPR TSD.
    DOE first conducted testing on each cooking top in its test sample. 
DOE then conducted physical teardowns on each test unit to develop a 
manufacturing cost model and to evaluate key design features. DOE 
supplemented its reverse engineering analyses by conducting 
manufacturer interviews to obtain feedback on efficiency levels, design 
options, inputs for the manufacturing cost model, and resulting 
manufacturing costs. DOE used the results from testing, reverse 
engineering, and manufacturer interviews to develop the efficiency 
levels and manufacturing costs discussed in section IV.C.3 and section 
IV.C.4 of this SNOPR.
    Table IV.7 and Table IV.8 present the testing results for the 
conventional gas and electric cooking tops, respectively. Residential 
conventional ranges include both a cooking top and oven but each 
component is tested individually and falls into a separate product 
class. Thus, DOE separated the range components for its analysis and 
each of the units in the following tables represent a cooking top that 
may be either a standalone unit or a component of a range.

                                             Table IV.7--DOE Conventional Gas Cooking Top Test Results \36\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                           Grate weight
                         Cooking top product                              Burner input rating                               per burner
     Test unit No.              class                 Burner type                (Btu)               Grate material       (pounds (lbs))  IAEC (kBtu/yr)
                                                                                                                                 *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.....................  Conventional Gas.....  Open....................  4 x 9,000............  Steel...................             0.5           655.2
2.....................  Conventional Gas.....  Open....................  4 x 9,100............  Steel...................             1.1           760.5
3.....................  Conventional Gas.....  Open....................  4 x 9,100............  Steel...................             1.1           834.3
4.....................  Conventional Gas.....  Sealed..................  5,000; 9,500; 10,000;  Cast Iron...............             2.2           960.4
                                                                          15,000; 17,000.
5.....................  Conventional Gas.....  Sealed..................  2 x 7,000; 2 x 8,000.  Cast Iron...............             2.1           730.4
6.....................  Conventional Gas.....  Sealed..................  4 x 18,000...........  Cast Iron...............             6.1          1067.0
7.....................  Conventional Gas.....  Sealed..................  5,000; 2 x 9,100;      Cast Iron...............             4.2          1033.5
                                                                          11,000; 20,000.
8.....................  Conventional Gas.....  Sealed..................  4 x 18,000...........  Cast Iron...............             4.8           928.6
9.....................  Conventional Gas.....  Sealed..................  2 x 9,500; 2 x         Cast Iron...............             5.4           924.4
                                                                          15,000; 2 x 18,500.
10....................  Conventional Gas.....  Open....................  4 x 23,000...........  Cast Iron...............             8.6           909.1
11....................  Conventional Gas.....  Open....................  12,000; 2 x 18,000; 3  Cast Iron...............             6.3          1104.8
                                                                          x 25,000.
12....................  Conventional Gas.....  Closed..................  2 x 15,000; 9,500      Cast Iron...............             3.7           837.9
                                                                          5,000.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* For cooking tops with continuous grates covering multiple surface unit burners, the total grate weight was divided by the number of burners.


                       Table IV.8--DOE Conventional Electric Cooking Top Test Results \37\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Test unit No.             Cooking top product class      Surface unit input rating * (W)   IAEC (kWh/yr)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...........................  Smooth Element--Induction.......  1,900; 2,600; 3,200; 3,400......           119.9
2...........................  Smooth Element--Induction.......  Max 3,600.......................           105.7
3...........................  Smooth Element--Induction.......  1,800; 2 x 2,500; 3,700.........           121.0
4...........................  Smooth Element--Electric          3 x 1,200; 2,000; 2,400; 3,000..           139.1
                               Resistance.
5...........................  Smooth Element--Electric          3 x 1,200; 1,500; 2,400; 2 x               125.9
                               Resistance.                       3,000.
6...........................  Open (Coil) Element.............  3 x 1,300; 1 x 2,100............           111.4
7...........................  Open (Coil) Element.............  2 x 1,300; 2 x 2,400............           115.0
8...........................  Open (Coil) Element.............  3 x 1,250; 2,100................           124.1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Includes wattages for surface units with multiple concentric heating elements for a single surface unit.

b. Conventional Ovens
    As noted in the June 2015 NOPR, DOE's test sample for conventional 
ovens included 1 gas wall oven, 7 gas ranges, 5 electric wall ovens, 
and 2 electric ranges for a total of 15 conventional ovens covering all 
of the considered product classes. DOE conducted testing according to 
the test procedure adopted in the July 2015 TP Final Rule. 80 FR 33030, 
33048-33049. As discussed in section III.B of this SNOPR, although DOE 
has since proposed to repeal the conventional oven test procedure in 
Appendix I, DOE based its analyses for this SNOPR on the data measured 
using that test procedure. Table IV.9 and Table IV.10 present the 
testing results for the conventional gas and electric ovens, 
respectively. As with cooking tops, DOE used the results from testing, 
reverse engineering, and manufacturer interviews to develop the 
efficiency levels and manufacturing costs for conventional ovens 
discussed in section IV.C.3 and section IV.C.4 of this SNOPR.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \36\ As discussed in section IV.A.2 of this SNOPR, DOE 
originally conducted testing using the withdrawn hybrid test block 
method proposed in the December 2014 TP SNOPR. DOE tested four of 
the twelve units in its test sample using both the hybrid test block 
method and the water heating test method proposed in the August 2016 
TP SNOPR. DOE then used the relative difference in results between 
the two test methods to scale the normalized total cooking top 
energy consumption for the remaining units in its test sample.
    \37\ DOE originally conducted testing using the withdrawn hybrid 
test block method proposed in the December 2014 TP SNOPR. DOE tested 
five of the eight electric units in its test sample using both the 
hybrid test block method and the water heating test method proposed 
in the August 2016 TP SNOPR. DOE then used the relative difference 
in results between the two test methods to scale the normalized test 
energy consumption by surface unit for the remaining units in its 
test sample. Additional details of this analysis for electric 
cooking tops are provided in chapter 5 of the SNOPR TSD.

[[Page 60813]]



                                                   Table IV.9--DOE Conventional Gas Oven Test Results
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Burner input    Cavity volume                                 Convection  (Y/   IAEC * (kBtu/
        Test unit No.             Oven product class       rate  (Btu/h)      (ft\3\)             Ignition type                 N)              yr)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...........................  Gas Standard--Freestanding          18,000             4.8  Spark........................               N           1341.4
2...........................  Gas Standard--Freestanding          18,000             4.8  Glo-bar......................               N           1489.1
3...........................  Gas Self-Clean--                    18,000             5.0  Glo-bar......................               Y           1403.4
                               Freestanding.
4...........................  Gas Standard--Freestanding          16,500             4.4  Glo-bar......................               N           1501.3
5...........................  Gas Self-Clean--Built-in/           13,000             2.8  Glo-bar......................               N           1159.9
                               Slide-in.
6...........................  Gas Standard--Freestanding          28,000             5.3  Glo-bar......................               Y           2061.3
7...........................  Gas Standard--Built-in/             27,000             4.4  Glo-bar......................               Y           1922.9
                               Slide-in.
8...........................  Gas Standard--Freestanding          30,000             5.4  Glo-bar......................               Y           2296.9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The IAEC values presented here differ slightly from those in the June 2015 NOPR due to a minor technical correction in the method used to calculate
  the electrical energy contribution to IAEC for gas ovens in the test procedure adopted in the July 2015 TP Final Rule. Further information on this
  correction is available in section IV.C.3.c and chapter 5 of the SNOPR TSD.


                            Table IV.10--DOE Conventional Electric Oven Test Results
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Heating
     Test unit No.         Oven product class        element      Cavity volume  Convection  (Y/  IAEC  (kWh/yr)
                                                   wattage (W)       (ft\3\)            N)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1......................  Electric Self-Clean--            3,000          5.9\*\               Y            266.2
                          Freestanding.
2......................  Electric Standard--              2,000             2.4               N            213.6
                          Freestanding.
3......................  Electric Self-Clean--            3,400             2.7               N            158.7
                          Built-in/Slide-in.
4......................  Electric Standard--              2,600             4.3               N            287.7
                          Built-in/Slide-in.
5......................  Electric Self-Clean--            2,600             4.3               N            308.8
                          Built-in/Slide-in.
6......................  Electric Self-Clean--            2,600             4.3               Y            341.8
                          Built-in/Slide-in.
7......................  Electric Self-Clean--            2,800             4.3               N            370.0
                          Built-in/Slide-in.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Test Unit 1 was equipped with an oven separator that allowed for splitting the single cavity into two separate
  smaller cavities with volumes of 2.7 ft\3\ and 3.0 ft\3\.

3. Efficiency Levels
a. Baseline Efficiency Levels
    A baseline unit is a product that just meets current Federal energy 
conservation standards. DOE uses the baseline unit for comparison in 
several phases of the SNOPR analyses, including the engineering 
analysis, LCC analysis, PBP analysis, and NIA. To determine energy 
savings that will result from an amended energy conservation standard, 
DOE compares energy use at each of the higher energy efficiency levels 
to the energy consumption of the baseline unit. Similarly, to determine 
the changes in price to the consumer that will result from an amended 
energy conservation standard, DOE compares the price of a unit at each 
higher efficiency level to the price of a unit at the baseline.
Conventional Cooking Tops
    As part of the February 2014 RFI, DOE initially developed baseline 
efficiency levels by considering the current standards for conventional 
gas cooking tops and the baseline efficiency levels for conventional 
electric cooking tops from the previous standards rulemaking analysis. 
DOE developed tentative baseline efficiency levels for the February 
2014 RFI using the former test block-based test procedure and the 
proposed test procedure amendments in the January 2013 TP NOPR that 
included modifications to the test block to allow for the test of 
induction cooking tops. The baseline efficiency levels proposed in the 
February 2014 RFI are presented in Table IV.11. 79 FR 8337, 8343 (Feb. 
12, 2014). DOE developed baseline efficiency levels for standby mode 
and off mode based on test data presented in the microwave oven test 
procedure SNOPR.\38\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \38\ In the May 2012 microwave oven test procedure SNOPR, DOE 
considered test procedure amendments for measuring the standby mode 
and off mode energy consumption of combined cooking products and, as 
a result, presented standby power data for microwave ovens, 
conventional cooking tops, and conventional ovens. 77 FR 28805, 
28811 (May 16, 2012).

               Table IV.11--February 2014 RFI Conventional Cooking Top Baseline Efficiency Levels
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        2009 standards rulemaking     Proposed test
                                    --------------------------------    procedure
           Product class                 Cooking      Energy factor      cooking            Proposed IAEC
                                       efficiency         (EF)         efficiency
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electric Cooking Tops--Open (Coil)            0.737           0.737           0.674  256.7 kWh/yr.
 Elements.
Electric Cooking Tops--Smooth                 0.742           0.742           0.679  280.6 kWh/yr.
 Elements.
Gas Cooking Tops...................           0.399           0.399           0.365  1445.0 kBtu/yr.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As discussed in III.C, DOE recently published the August 2016 TP 
SNOPR proposing to amend the cooking tops test procedure in Appendix I 
to be based on the water heating test method. DOE developed baseline 
efficiency levels for this SNOPR considering both data from the 
previous standards rulemaking and the energy use for the test units 
based

[[Page 60814]]

on the water heating test procedure proposed in the August 2016 TP 
SNOPR. DOE conducted testing for units in its test sample to measure 
IAEC, which includes energy use in active mode and standby mode. DOE 
also requested energy use data as part of the manufacturer interviews. 
However, because manufacturers are not currently required to conduct 
testing according to the DOE test procedure, very little energy use 
information was available.
    The baseline efficiency levels for this SNOPR differ from those 
presented in the 2014 RFI for each product class. This is primarily due 
to the difference between the withdrawn hybrid test block method and 
the adopted water-heating test methods, and the differences in the 
calculation of annual energy consumption. As outlined in section III.C 
of this SNOPR, in the August 2016 TP SNOPR, DOE proposed to adjust its 
calculation of annual energy consumption for cooking tops to account 
for changes in consumer cooking frequency and differences between 
actual field usage of the cooking top and the DOE test method. 81 FR 
57374, 57387-57388. As a result, the IAEC for each cooking top included 
in DOE's test sample, as calculated using the methods adopted in the 
August 2016 TP SNOPR, is lower than the baseline IAEC values 
established in the 2009 cooking products energy conservation standards 
rulemaking as well as those presented in the 2014 RFI for each product 
class. However, after scaling the baseline values from the 2014 RFI to 
reflect the updated IAEC calculation method, the highest measured IAEC 
in DOE's test sample for this SNOPR was higher than the baseline IAEC 
observed during the 2009 rulemaking for each cooking top product class, 
suggesting that the baseline energy consumption of cooking tops has 
increased since 2009. Thus, to establish the new baseline IAEC for 
cooking tops, DOE set the baseline IAEC equal to the maximum IAEC 
measured in the test sample for each product class.
    Because baseline electric coil cooking tops and gas cooking tops 
have only electromechanical controls, the baseline IAEC for these 
product classes is calculated based on zero standby mode and off mode 
energy consumption. In contrast, baseline electric cooking tops with 
smooth elements have electronic controls which consume energy in 
standby and off mode. To determine the baseline IAEC for smooth element 
electric cooking tops, DOE set baseline standby energy consumption 
equal to that of the cooking top with the highest standby energy 
consumption in its test sample to maintain the full functionality of 
controls for consumer utility.
    The proposed baseline efficiency levels for conventional cooking 
tops for this SNOPR are presented in Table IV.12. Additional details on 
the development of the proposed baseline efficiency levels for 
conventional cooking tops are included in chapter 5 of the SNOPR TSD. 
The baseline efficiency levels were based on testing of DOE's sample of 
products, as presented in section IV.C.2. DOE recognizes that 
manufacturers implement different heating element or burner designs and 
welcomes additional data regarding the proposed baseline efficiency 
levels.

                        Table IV.12--Conventional Cooking Top Baseline Efficiency Levels
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Product class                                            Proposed IAEC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electric Cooking Tops--Open (Coil) Elements................  118.1 kWh/yr.
Electric Cooking Tops--Smooth Elements.....................  144.7 kWh/yr.
Gas Cooking Tops...........................................  1104.8 kBtu/yr.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Conventional Ovens
    For the June 2015 NOPR, DOE developed baseline efficiency levels 
for conventional ovens considering both data from the previous 
standards rulemaking and the measured energy use for the test units. 
DOE conducted testing for all units in its test sample to measure IAEC, 
which includes energy use in active mode (including fan-only mode) and 
standby mode. DOE also requested energy use data as part of the 
manufacturer interviews. However, because manufacturers are not 
currently required to conduct testing according to the DOE test 
procedure, DOE noted that very little energy use information was 
available. 80 FR 33030, 33050.
    To establish the baseline efficiency levels for conventional ovens, 
first DOE derived a relationship between IAEC and cavity volume as 
discussed in section IV.C.3.c of this SNOPR. Using the slope from the 
previous rulemaking, DOE selected new intercepts corresponding to the 
ovens in its test sample with the lowest efficiency, so that no ovens 
in the test sample were cut off by the baseline curve. DOE then set 
baseline standby energy consumption for conventional ovens equal to 
that of the oven (including the oven component of a range) with the 
highest standby energy consumption in DOE's test sample to maintain the 
full functionality of controls for consumer utility. While only DOE 
test data was available to validate the baseline equation for gas 
ovens, DOE compared the new baseline equation for electric ovens with 
data available in the Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) databases, which 
showed that DOE's assumptions for slopes and intercepts reasonably 
represented the market. Id.
    DOE developed separate baseline efficiency levels for each proposed 
product class based on testing conducted for the June 2015 NOPR. The 
proposed baseline efficiency levels for the NOPR are presented in Table 
IV.13 and are based on an oven with a cavity volume of 4.3 ft\3\. Id.

Table IV.13--June 2015 NOPR Conventional Oven Baseline Efficiency Levels
------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Product class               Sub type         Proposed IAEC *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electric Oven--Standard Oven    Freestanding.....  294.5 kWh.
 with or without a Catalytic    Built-in/Slide-in  301.5 kWh.
 Line.
Electric Oven--Self-Clean Oven  Freestanding.....  355.0 kWh.
                                Built-in/Slide-in  361.1 kWh.
Gas Oven--Standard Oven with    Freestanding.....  2118.2 kBtu.
 or without a Catalytic Line.   Built-in/Slide-in  2128.1 kBtu.

[[Page 60815]]

 
Gas Oven--Self-Clean Oven.....  Freestanding.....  1883.8 kBtu.
                                Built-in/Slide-in  1893.7 kBtu.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Proposed IAEC baseline efficiency levels are normalized based on a 4.3
  ft\3\ volume oven.

    As noted in section III.H of this SNOPR, AHAM, Whirlpool, and 
Electrolux expressed concern that DOE has based its analysis on an 
insufficient sample size of models, in particular for the electric 
standard oven baseline efficiency levels. (AHAM, No. 29 at p. 5; AHAM, 
No. 38 at pp. 2-3; Whirlpool, No. 33 at p. 5; Electrolux, No. 27 at pp. 
3-4)
    To address concerns regarding the limited data used to establish 
the baseline efficiency levels for the electric standard oven product 
classes, DOE augmented its analysis of electric standard ovens by 
considering the energy use of the electric self-clean units in its test 
sample, adjusted to account for the differences between standard-clean 
and self-clean ovens. For these electric self-clean ovens, DOE first 
subtracted the annual self-cleaning energy consumption and adjusted the 
cycles per year \39\ to recalculate IAEC. DOE also adjusted the IAEC 
for each electric self-clean oven model to account for the design 
differences between self-clean ovens and standard clean ovens, noting 
that baseline self-clean ovens are typically designed with the improved 
insulation and improved door seals design options that were not 
considered to be part of the baseline efficiency level for standard 
clean ovens. Additional details regarding this analysis are presented 
in chapter 5 of the SNOPR TSD. The resulting expanded dataset is shown 
in Figure IV.2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \39\ In the current DOE test procedure for conventional ovens in 
Appendix I, the cycles per year used to calculate IAEC is 219 for 
electric standard ovens and 204 for electric self-clean ovens.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP02SE16.001

    Augmenting the electric standard oven dataset with self-clean 
models from the DOE test sample allowed DOE to consider a wider range 
of cavity volumes in its analysis. Based on this analysis, DOE adjusted 
the baseline IAEC versus cavity volume relationship for electric 
standard ovens so that no models in DOE's dataset, including those in 
the augmented sample, were cut off by the baseline curve.
    The proposed baseline efficiency levels for this SNOPR are 
presented in Table IV.14 and are based on an oven with a cavity volume 
of 4.3 ft\3\.

        Table IV.14--Conventional Oven Baseline Efficiency Levels
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Proposed IAEC
        Product class               Sub type              *[dagger]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electric Oven--Standard Oven  Freestanding........  315.2 kWh.
 with or without a Catalytic  Built-in/Slide-in...  322.3 kWh.
 Line.

[[Page 60816]]

 
Electric Oven--Self-Clean     Freestanding........  354.9 kWh.
 Oven.                        Built-in/Slide-in...  362.0 kWh.
Gas Oven--Standard Oven with  Freestanding........  2083.1 kBtu.
 or without a Catalytic Line. Built-in/Slide-in...  2093.0 kBtu.
Gas Oven--Self-Clean Oven...  Freestanding........  1959.6 kBtu.
                              Built-in/Slide-in...  1969.6 kBtu.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Proposed IAEC baseline efficiency levels are normalized based on a 4.3
  ft\3\ volume oven.
[dagger] The baseline IAEC values presented here differ slightly from
  those in the June 2015 NOPR due to a minor technical correction in the
  method used to calculate the electrical energy contribution to IAEC
  for gas ovens in the test procedure adopted in the July 2015 TP Final
  Rule. Further information on this correction is available in section
  IV.C.3.c and chapter 5 of the SNOPR TSD.

b. Incremental Efficiency Levels
    For each product class for both conventional cooking tops and 
conventional ovens, DOE analyzes several efficiency levels and 
determines the incremental cost at each of these levels.
Conventional Cooking Tops
    For the February 2014 RFI, DOE tentatively proposed the incremental 
efficiency levels for conventional cooking tops presented in Table 
IV.15 through Table IV.17. DOE developed these levels based primarily 
on the efficiency levels presented in the 2009 TSD, adjusted using the 
former test block-based test procedure and the proposed test procedure 
amendments in the January 2013 TP NOPR that included modifications to 
the test block to allow for the test of induction cooking tops. DOE 
also considered separate efficiency levels associated with reducing 
standby mode and off mode energy use by first changing conventional 
linear power supplies to SMPS and then by meeting the 1 W maximum 
standby power limit set forth in the Commission of the European 
Communities Regulation 1275/2008 (hereinafter ``Ecodesign 
regulation''). 79 FR 8337, 8345-8346 (Feb. 12, 2014).

 Table IV.15--February 2014 RFI Open (Coil) Element Electric Cooking Top
                            Efficiency Levels
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Proposed IAEC
          Level               Efficiency level source        (kWh/yr)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline.................  2009 TSD (Baseline)..........           256.7
1........................  2009 TSD (Improved Contact              246.0
                            Conductance).
------------------------------------------------------------------------


   Table IV.16--February 2014 RFI Smooth Element Electric Cooking Top
                            Efficiency Levels
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Proposed IAEC
          Level               Efficiency level source        (kWh/yr)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline.................  2009 TSD (Baseline)..........           280.6
1........................  Baseline + Switch-Mode Power            268.6
                            Supply (SMPS).
2........................  Baseline + 1 W Standby.......           263.5
3........................  2009 TSD (Halogen Lamp                  259.8
                            Element) + 1 W Standby.
4........................  Induction + SMPS.............           245.9
5........................  Induction + 1 W Standby......           240.7
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Table IV.17--February 2014 RFI Gas Cooking Top Efficiency Levels
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Proposed IAEC
          Level               Efficiency level source        (kBtu/yr)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline.................  2009 TSD (Electronic                   1445.0
                            Ignition).
1........................  2009 TSD Max-Tech (Sealed              1372.7
                            Burners).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In response to the February 2014 RFI, AHAM disagreed with DOE's 
consideration of the 1-W Ecodesign regulation standby power requirement 
because products sold in the European Union are different from the 
products sold in the United States. (AHAM, No. 9 at p. 6) As discussed 
below, DOE reevaluated the efficiency levels associated with standby 
power improvements based on product testing and reverse engineering. As 
a result, DOE is no longer considering an efficiency level specifically 
associated with the 1-W Ecodesign regulation standby power requirement.
    Laclede commented that induction cooking tops save a significant 
amount of energy and meet the criteria of technologically feasible and 
economically justified based upon their widespread commercial 
availability. Consequently, Laclede urged DOE to use electric induction 
cooking top efficiencies to set the minimum efficiencies of electric 
cooking tops. (Laclede, No. 8 at pp. 4, 5) DOE included an efficiency 
level associated with this technology based on product testing. As 
discussed in section II.A of

[[Page 60817]]

this SNOPR, DOE follows specific statutory criteria prescribed by EPCA 
for determining whether proposed energy conservation standards are 
technologically feasible and economically justified. (42 U.S.C. 
6295(o)(2)(B)(i)(I)-(VII)) DOE considered these criteria when 
evaluating each proposed efficiency level, including the level 
associated with induction heating.
    Whirlpool commented that sealed burners already comprise a majority 
of the market (<90 percent), so this technology is not appropriate as a 
max-tech level for gas cooking tops. Whirlpool commented that it is 
unaware of any technologies or efficiency levels for max-tech for gas 
cooking tops. (Whirlpool, No. 13 at p. 6) Based on DOE's testing of 
both sealed and open burners, presented in section IV.C.2 of this 
SNOPR, DOE noted that neither burner type clearly performed better or 
worse than the other. As a result, DOE did not consider an efficiency 
level associated with sealed burners for conventional gas cooking tops.
    For this SNOPR, DOE developed incremental efficiency levels for 
each cooking top product class by first considering information from 
the 2009 TSD. In cases where DOE identified design options during 
testing and reverse engineering teardowns, DOE updated the efficiency 
levels based on the tested data. In addition to the efficiency levels 
associated with design options identified in the February 2014 RFI, DOE 
identified an additional efficiency level for smooth element electric 
cooking tops associated with low-standby-loss controls for an automatic 
power-down function that shuts off certain power-consuming components 
after a specified period of user inactivity that was observed during 
testing and teardowns.
    DOE also considered additional efficiency levels associated with 
optimized burner and grate design for conventional gas cooking tops. 
DOE's testing, as presented in sections IV.A.2 and IV.C.2 of this 
SNOPR, showed that energy use was correlated to burner design (e.g., 
grate weight, flame angle, distance from burner ports to the cooking 
surface) and could be reduced by optimizing the design of the burner 
and grate system. DOE reviewed the test data for the conventional gas 
cooking tops in its test sample and identified three efficiency levels 
associated with improving the burner and grate design.
    Although, as discussed in section IV.A.2 of this SNOPR, DOE's 
testing showed that there was no statistically significant correlation 
between burner input rate and cooking energy consumption of the cooking 
top, DOE notes that cooking tops that incorporate different 
combinations of burners, including high input rate burners for larger 
food loads, have differing capabilities to cook or heat different sized 
food loads. As a result, DOE is proposing multiple efficiency levels 
that take into account key burner configurations. DOE is proposing 
Efficiency Level 1 based on an optimized burner and improved grate 
design of the unit in the test sample with the lowest measured IAEC 
among those with cast iron grates and a six surface unit configuration 
with at least four out of the six surface units having burner input 
rates exceeding 14,000 Btu/h. DOE selected these criteria to maintain 
the full functionality of cooking tops marketed as commercial-style. 
DOE notes that while there are some such products with fewer than six 
surface units and fewer than four high burner input rate burners, DOE 
did not observe any products marketed as residential-style with the 
burner configuration DOE is associating with Efficiency Level 1.
    DOE is proposing Efficiency Level 2 for conventional gas cooking 
tops based on an optimized burner and further improved grate design of 
the unit in the DOE test sample with the lowest measured IAEC among 
those units with cast iron grates and at least one surface unit having 
a burner input rate exceeding 14,000 Btu/h. None of the gas units in 
the DOE test sample marketed as commercial-style were capable of 
achieving this efficiency level. The cooking tops in the DOE test 
sample capable of meeting this efficiency level were marketed as 
residential-style and had significantly lighter cast-iron grates than 
the commercial-style units.
    DOE established Efficiency Level 3 (max-tech) based on the unit in 
the DOE test sample with the lowest measured IAEC among those with cast 
iron grates, regardless of the number of burners or burner input rate. 
DOE notes that the grate weight for this unit was not lowest in the DOE 
test sample, confirming that a fully optimized burner and grate design, 
and not a reduction in grate weight alone, is required to improve 
cooking top efficiency.
    Table IV.18 through Table IV.20 show the incremental efficiency 
levels for each cooking top product class, including whether the 
efficiency level is from the 2009 TSD or based on testing for the 
SNOPR. Details of the derivations of each efficiency level are provided 
in chapter 5 of the SNOPR TSD. The efficiency levels were based, in 
part, on testing of DOE's sample of products, as presented in section 
IV.C.2 of this SNOPR. DOE recognizes that manufacturers implement 
different heating element or burner designs and welcomes additional 
test data regarding the proposed efficiency levels.

                                         Table IV.18--Open (Coil) Element Electric Cooking Top Efficiency Levels
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                            Relative %
       Level                                  Efficiency  level source                                Design option        Proposed IAEC    decrease in
                                                                                                                             (kWh/yr)          IAEC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline...........  SNOPR Testing.............................................................  Baseline...............           118.1  ..............
1..................  2009 TSD..................................................................  Baseline + Improved               113.2            -4.2
                                                                                                  Contact Conductance.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                       Table IV.19--Smooth Element Electric Cooking Top Efficiency Levels
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Relative %
          Level            Efficiency level source          Design option          Proposed IAEC    decrease in
                                                                                     (kWh/yr)          IAEC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline.................  SNOPR Testing..........  Baseline....................           144.7  ..............
1........................  SNOPR Testing..........  Baseline + SMPS.............           137.0            -5.3
2........................  SNOPR Testing..........  1 + Automatic Power Down....           121.2           -11.5
3........................  2009 TSD...............  2 + Halogen Lamp Element....           119.5            -1.4
4........................  SNOPR Testing..........  2 + Induction Heating                  102.3           -14.4
                                                     Element.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 60818]]


                                 Table IV.20--Gas Cooking Top Efficiency Levels
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Relative %
          Level            Efficiency level source          Design option          Proposed IAEC    decrease in
                                                                                     (kBtu/yr)         IAEC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline.................  SNOPR Testing..........  Baseline....................          1104.6  ..............
1........................  SNOPR Testing..........  Baseline + Optimized Burner/           924.4           -16.3
                                                     Improved Grates (Achievable
                                                     with a 6 surface unit
                                                     configuration with 4 or
                                                     more high input rate
                                                     burners and cast iron
                                                     grates).
2........................  SNOPR Testing..........  Baseline + Optimized Burner/           837.8            -9.4
                                                     Optimized Grates
                                                     (Achievable with at least
                                                     one high input rate burners
                                                     and cast iron grates).
3........................  SNOPR Testing..........  Baseline + Optimized Burner/           730.2           -12.8
                                                     Optimized Grates (Highest
                                                     efficiency unit with cast
                                                     iron grates).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Conventional Ovens
    For the June 2015 NOPR, DOE developed incremental efficiency levels 
for each conventional oven product class by first considering 
information from the 2009 TSD. In cases where DOE identified design 
options during testing and reverse engineering teardowns, DOE updated 
the efficiency levels based on the tested data. In addition to the 
efficiency levels associated with design options identified in the 2009 
TSD, DOE also included an efficiency level for electric ovens based on 
a test unit equipped with an oven separator that allowed for reducing 
the cavity volume that is used for cooking. For conventional gas ovens, 
DOE's testing showed that energy use was correlated to oven burner and 
cavity design (e.g., thermal mass of the cavity and racks) and can be 
significantly reduced when optimized. DOE determined the efficiency 
level associated with optimized burner and cavity design based on the 
tested units normalized for cavity volume. 80 FR 33030, 33051-33052.
    Table IV.21 through Table IV.24 show the incremental efficiency 
levels presented in the June 2015 for each conventional oven product 
class, including whether the efficiency level is from the 2009 TSD or 
based on testing for the NOPR. The efficiency levels are normalized 
based on an oven with a cavity volume of 4.3 ft\3\. Id.

                      Table IV.21--June 2015 NOPR Electric Standard Oven Efficiency Levels
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       Proposed IAEC  (kWh)
                                                                                 -------------------------------
          Level            Efficiency level source          Design option                         Built-in/slide-
                                                                                   Freestanding         in
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline.................  NOPR Testing...........  Baseline....................           294.5           301.5
1........................  NOPR Testing...........  Baseline + SMPS.............           284.6           291.4
2........................  2009 TSD...............  1 + Reduced Vent Rate.......           271.7           278.2
3........................  2009 TSD...............  2 + Improved Insulation.....           259.2           265.4
4........................  2009 TSD...............  3 + Improved Door Seals.....           254.9           261.0
5........................  NOPR Testing...........  4 + Forced Convection.......           244.6           250.5
6........................  NOPR Testing...........  5 + Oven Separator..........           207.8           212.8
7........................  2009 TSD...............  6 + Reduced Conduction                 207.3           212.2
                                                     Losses.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                     Table IV.22--June 2015 NOPR Electric Self-Clean Oven Efficiency Levels
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       Proposed IAEC  (kWh)
                                                                                 -------------------------------
          Level            Efficiency level source          Design option                         Built-in/slide-
                                                                                   Freestanding         in
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline.................  NOPR Testing...........  Baseline....................           355.0           361.1
1........................  NOPR Testing...........  Baseline + SMPS.............           345.1           351.0
2........................  NOPR Testing...........  1 + Forced Convection.......           327.2           332.7
3........................  NOPR Testing...........  2 + Oven Separator..........           278.9           283.7
4........................  2009 TSD...............  3 + Reduced Conduction                 278.1           282.9
                                                     Losses.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                         Table IV.23--June 2015 NOPR Gas Standard Oven Efficiency Levels
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       Proposed IAEC (kBtu)
                                                                                 -------------------------------
           Level             Efficiency level source         Design option                        Built-in/slide-
                                                                                   Freestanding         in
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline..................  2009 TSD.................  Baseline.................          2118.2          2128.1
1.........................  NOPR Testing.............  Baseline + Optimized               1649.3          1657.0
                                                        Burner/Cavity.
2.........................  NOPR Testing.............  1 + SMPS.................          1614.7          1622.2
3.........................  NOPR Testing.............  2 + Electronic Spark               1490.7          1497.7
                                                        Ignition.
4.........................  2009 TSD.................  3 + Improved Insulation..          1414.8          1421.5
5.........................  2009 TSD.................  4 + Improved Door Seals..          1400.6          1407.2

[[Page 60819]]

 
6.........................  NOPR Testing.............  5 + Forced Convection....          1355.6          1362.0
7.........................  2009 TSD.................  6 + Reduced Conduction             1347.0          1353.3
                                                        Losses.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                        Table IV.24--June 2015 NOPR Gas Self-Clean Oven Efficiency Levels
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       Proposed IAEC (kBtu)
                                                                                 -------------------------------
          Level            Efficiency level source          Design option                         Built-in/slide-
                                                                                   Freestanding         in
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline.................  2009 TSD...............  Baseline....................          1883.8          1893.7
1........................  NOPR Testing...........  Baseline + SMPS.............          1848.2          1858.0
2........................  NOPR Testing...........  1 + Electronic Spark                  1668.7          1677.5
                                                     Ignition.
3........................  NOPR Testing...........  2 + Forced Convection.......          1596.3          1604.7
4........................  2009 TSD...............  3 + Reduced Conduction                1591.0          1599.4
                                                     Losses.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    GE commented that DOE's estimate of a 9.71 percent decrease in IAEC 
when converting from glo-bar to spark ignition is overestimated. GE 
stated that its data indicate that the actual improvement would be only 
60 percent of DOE's estimate. (GE, No. 32 at p. 3) As discussed in 
chapter 5 of the SNOPR TSD, DOE determined the relative decrease in 
energy consumption due to electronic spark ignition by comparing two 
gas ovens of similar design but different ignition systems. DOE notes 
that this efficiency improvement is also on the same order of magnitude 
considered in the 2009 rulemaking analysis. Therefore, DOE retains its 
estimated decrease in IAEC for this technology option in this SNOPR. 
DOE also notes that, as discussed in section IV.A.3.b of this SNOPR, it 
has revised the description of this technology option to include 
intermittent/interrupted ignition systems in addition to intermittent 
pilot ignition systems, recognizing that other ignition systems are 
available that reduce the energy of consumption of a gas oven. DOE 
welcomes any additional data demonstrating the reduction in IAEC 
resulting from use of intermittent/interrupted ignition or intermittent 
pilot ignition systems as compared to intermittent glo-bar ignition 
systems.
    AHAM and Electrolux commented that, once DOE establishes an 
accurate baseline for conventional ovens, as discussed in section 
IV.C.3.a of this SNOPR, DOE should adjust the proposed efficiency 
levels to be proportionate to the new baseline efficiency levels. 
(AHAM, No. 29 at p. 7; Electrolux, No. 27 at p. 4)
    As discussed in section IV.C.3.a of this SNOPR, DOE has updated its 
estimates of the baseline efficiency levels for conventional ovens for 
this SNOPR. DOE has accordingly updated the incremental efficiency 
levels relative to the new baseline estimates for each product class. 
In addition, as discussed in section IV.A.3.b and IV.B.1.b of this 
SNOPR, DOE revised its description of the design options pertaining to 
gas ignition systems and screened out the optimized burner and cavity 
design option from the engineering analysis. Table IV.25 through Table 
IV.28 present the updated efficiency levels for each product class, 
normalized based on an oven with a cavity volume of 4.3 ft\3\.

                              Table IV.25--Electric Standard Oven Efficiency Levels
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       Proposed IAEC  (kWh)
                                                                                 -------------------------------
          Level            Efficiency level source          Design option                         Built-in/slide-
                                                                                   Freestanding         in
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline.................  NOPR Testing...........  Baseline....................           315.2           322.3
1........................  NOPR Testing...........  Baseline + SMPS.............           306.3           313.3
2........................  2009 TSD...............  1 + Reduced Vent Rate.......           292.3           299.0
3........................  2009 TSD...............  2 + Improved Insulation.....           278.7           285.0
4........................  2009 TSD...............  3 + Improved Door Seals.....           274.0           280.3
5........................  NOPR Testing...........  4 + Forced Convection.......           262.8           268.8
6........................  NOPR Testing...........  5 + Oven Separator..........           222.8           227.8
7........................  2009 TSD...............  6 + Reduced Conduction                 222.2           227.2
                                                     Losses.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                             Table IV.26--Electric Self-Clean Oven Efficiency Levels
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       Proposed IAEC  (kWh)
                                                                                 -------------------------------
          Level            Efficiency level source          Design option                         Built-in/slide-
                                                                                   Freestanding         in
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline.................  NOPR Testing...........  Baseline....................           354.9           362.0
1........................  NOPR Testing...........  Baseline + SMPS.............           346.0           353.0
2........................  NOPR Testing...........  1 + Forced Convection.......           327.9           334.5
3........................  NOPR Testing...........  2 + Oven Separator..........           279.3           284.9

[[Page 60820]]

 
4........................  2009 TSD...............  3 + Reduced Conduction                 278.5           284.1
                                                     Losses.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                Table IV.27--Gas Standard Oven Efficiency Levels
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       Proposed IAEC  (kBtu)
                                                                                 -------------------------------
          Level            Efficiency level source          Design option                         Built-in/slide-
                                                                                   Freestanding         in
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline.................  .......................  Baseline (Intermittent Glo-           2083.1          2093.0
                                                     bar Ignition).
1........................  NOPR Testing...........  Baseline + SMPS.............          2052.5          2062.4
2........................  NOPR Testing...........  1 + Intermittent/interrupted          1849.9          1858.8
                                                     Ignition or Intermittent
                                                     Pilot Ignition.
3........................  2009 TSD...............  2 + Improved Insulation.....          1754.6          1763.1
4........................  2009 TSD...............  3 + Improved Door Seals.....          1736.8          1745.1
5........................  NOPR Testing...........  4 + Forced Convection.......          1665.7          1673.7
6........................  2009 TSD...............  5 + Reduced Conduction                1654.9          1662.9
                                                     Losses.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                               Table IV.28--Gas Self-Clean Oven Efficiency Levels
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       Proposed IAEC  (kBtu)
                                                                                 -------------------------------
          Level            Efficiency level source          Design option                         Built-in/slide-
                                                                                   Freestanding         in
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline.................  .......................  Baseline (Intermittent Glo-           1959.6          1969.6
                                                     bar Ignition).
1........................  NOPR Testing...........  Baseline + SMPS.............          1929.0          1939.0
2........................  NOPR Testing...........  1 + Intermittent/interrupted          1740.5          1749.4
                                                     Ignition or Intermittent
                                                     Pilot Ignition.
3........................  NOPR Testing...........  2 + Forced Convection.......          1664.5          1673.0
4........................  2009 TSD...............  3 + Reduced Conduction                1658.9          1667.4
                                                     Losses.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Implicit in the design option descriptor for Efficiency Level 1 for 
each conventional oven product class is that an SMPS replaces any 
linear power supply in the control system. DOE notes that conventional 
ovens equipped with electromechanical control systems have neither a 
linear power supply nor an SMPS, but do not consume energy in standby 
mode. As a result, DOE is not proposing a prescriptive design standard 
to require SMPS and is instead proposing to exclude linear power 
supplies for all conventional ovens.
c. Relationship Between IAEC and Oven Cavity Volume
    The conventional oven efficiency levels detailed above are 
predicated upon baseline ovens with a cavity volume of 4.3 ft\3\. Based 
on DOE's testing of conventional gas and electric ovens and discussions 
with manufacturers, IAEC scales with oven cavity volume due to larger 
ovens having higher thermal masses and larger volumes of air (including 
larger vent rates) than smaller ovens. Because the DOE test procedure 
for measuring IAEC uses a fixed test load size, larger ovens with 
higher thermal mass will have a higher measured IAEC. As a result, DOE 
considered available data to characterize the relationship between IAEC 
and oven cavity volume.
    For the June 2015 NOPR, DOE established the slopes by first 
evaluating the data from the 2009 TSD, which presented the relationship 
between measured energy factor (EF) and cavity volume, then translated 
from EF to IAEC considering the range of cavity volume for the majority 
of products available on the market. DOE suggested in the June 2015 
NOPR that these slopes continue to be relevant based on DOE's testing. 
80 FR 33030, 33053 (June 10, 2015). For electric ovens, DOE considered 
the data for standard and self-clean ovens available in the Natural 
Resources Canada product databases.\40\ DOE noted that these data are 
based on the same test procedure considered for the previous DOE 
standards rulemaking, and as a result, DOE stated that the slopes based 
on these larger datasets are relevant for this analysis. The intercepts 
for each efficiency level were then chosen so that the equations pass 
through the desired IAEC corresponding to a particular volume. The 
values for the slopes and intercepts for each conventional oven product 
class developed in the June 2015 NOPR are presented in Table IV.29 and 
Table IV.30. 80 FR 33030, 33053.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \40\ Available at: http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/pml-lmp/index.cfm?action=app.search-recherche&appliance=OVENS_E.

[[Page 60821]]



    Table IV.29--June 2015 NOPR Slopes and Intercepts of Electric Oven IAEC versus Cavity Volume Relationship
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Standard electric ovens        Self-clean electric ovens
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Slope = 31.8                    Slope = 42.3
                      Level                      ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Freestanding   Built-in/slide-  Freestanding   Built-in/slide-
                                                    intercepts     in intercepts    intercepts     in intercepts
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline........................................          157.74          164.78          173.12          179.18
1...............................................          147.82          154.62          163.24          169.13
2...............................................          134.98          141.47          145.28          150.86
3...............................................          122.45          128.64           97.05          101.81
4...............................................          118.20          124.29           96.24          100.98
5...............................................          107.91          113.75  ..............  ..............
6...............................................           71.10           76.07  ..............  ..............
7...............................................           70.54           75.49  ..............  ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


      Table IV.30--June 2015 NOPR Slopes and Intercepts of Gas Oven IAEC Versus Cavity Volume Relationship
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Standard gas ovens             Self-clean gas ovens
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Slope = 214.4                   Slope = 214.4
                      Level                      ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Freestanding   Built-in/slide-  Freestanding   Built-in/slide-
                                                    intercepts     in intercepts    intercepts     in intercepts
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline........................................          1196.3          1206.2           961.8           971.8
1...............................................           727.4           735.1           926.3           936.0
2...............................................           692.7           700.3           746.7           755.5
3...............................................           568.8           575.8           674.4           682.8
4...............................................           492.9           499.5           669.1           677.5
5...............................................           478.7           485.2  ..............  ..............
6...............................................           433.7           440.1  ..............  ..............
7...............................................           425.1           431.4  ..............  ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As part of the analyses conducted for this SNOPR, DOE reviewed the 
slopes for electric ovens derived for the 2009 rulemaking analysis. 
Both electric standard and self-clean ovens but a different baseline y-
intercept. As noted in the SNOPR TSD, due to the conversion from EF to 
IAEC, the relationship between IAEC and cavity volume developed for the 
June 2015 NOPR analysis, using the 2009 slope, was not linear. Thus, 
for this SNOPR, DOE performed a linear curve fit on the IAEC evaluated 
at discrete cavity volumes that were considered to represent the range 
of cavity volumes available on the market. This resulted in different 
slopes for the electric standard and self-clean oven product classes. 
After expanding the dataset used to establish baseline energy 
consumption for electric standard ovens, as described in section 
IV.C.3.a of this SNOPR, to include a wider range of cavity volumes, DOE 
modified the slope for the electric oven product classes so that it was 
representative of the augmented dataset.
    Table IV.31 and Table IV.32 present the updated results. IAEC 
versus cavity volume relationship for each product class. DOE also 
notes that for gas ovens, the slope and y-intercepts have changed 
slightly from the values presented in June 2015 NOPR. This is related 
to a minor technical error in IAEC calculation specified in the test 
procedure. The conventional oven test procedure adopted in the July 
2015 TP Final Rule calculates the annual secondary energy consumption 
for gas ovens (i.e., the electrical energy component of the total 
annual energy consumption) using the annual useful cooking energy 
output constant intended for electric ovens instead of the constant 
specified for gas ovens. Because, this constant represents the typical 
field usage of the oven, the factor used to calculate the annual 
secondary energy consumption for gas ovens should correspond to the 
same usage factor used to calculate the annual primary energy 
consumption. Specific information on this minor technical change is 
available in chapter 5 of the SNOPR TSD.

           Table IV.31--Slopes and Intercepts of Electric Oven IAEC Versus Cavity Volume Relationship
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Standard electric ovens        Self-clean electric ovens
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Slope = 46.3                    Slope = 46.3
                      Level                      ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Freestanding   Built-in/slide-  Freestanding   Built-in/slide-
                                                    intercepts     in intercepts    intercepts     in intercepts
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline........................................           116.3           123.3           156.0           163.1
1...............................................           107.3           114.4           147.1           154.1
2...............................................            93.4           100.1           129.0           135.6
3...............................................            79.7            86.1            80.4            86.0
4...............................................            75.1            81.4            79.5            85.1
5...............................................            63.9            69.9  ..............  ..............

[[Page 60822]]

 
6...............................................            23.9            28.9  ..............  ..............
7...............................................            23.3            28.2  ..............  ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


              Table IV.32--Slopes and Intercepts of Gas Oven IAEC Versus Cavity Volume Relationship
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Standard gas ovens             Self-clean gas ovens
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Slope = 229.5                   Slope = 229.5
                      Level                      ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Freestanding   Built-in/slide-  Freestanding   Built-in/slide-
                                                    intercepts     in intercepts    intercepts     in intercepts
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline........................................          1096.1          1106.1           972.7           982.6
1...............................................          1065.5          1075.5           942.1           952.0
2...............................................           863.0           871.9           753.6           762.5
3...............................................           767.7           776.1           677.6           686.1
4...............................................           749.8           758.2           672.0           680.5
5...............................................           678.7           686.7  ..............  ..............
6...............................................           668.0           675.9  ..............  ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Incremental Manufacturing Production Cost Estimates
a. Conventional Cooking Tops
    Based on the analyses discussed above, DOE developed the cost-
efficiency results for each conventional cooking top product class 
shown in Table IV.33. Where available, DOE developed incremental 
manufacturing production costs (MPCs) based on manufacturing cost 
modeling of test units in its sample featuring the proposed design 
options. For design options that were not observed in DOE's sample of 
test units for this SNOPR, DOE used the incremental manufacturing costs 
developed as part of the 2009 TSD, then adjusted the values to reflect 
changes in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Producer Price Index (PPI) 
for household cooking appliance manufacturing.\41\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \41\ Available at: http://www.bls.gov/ppi/.

             Table IV.33--Conventional Cooking Top Incremental Manufacturing Production Cost (2014$)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Open (coil)
                                                                      element     Smooth element    Gas cooking
                              Level                                  electric        electric          tops
                                                                   cooking tops    cooking tops
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline........................................................  ..............  ..............  ..............
1...............................................................           $2.71           $0.70          $11.33
2...............................................................  ..............            2.42           11.33
3...............................................................  ..............          108.19           11.33
4...............................................................  ..............          186.08  ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

b. Conventional Ovens
    For the June 2015 NOPR, DOE developed the cost-efficiency results 
for each conventional oven product class shown in Table IV.34. DOE 
noted that the estimated incremental MPCs would be equivalent for the 
freestanding and built-in/slide-in oven product classes. 80 FR 33030, 
33053-33054.

         Table IV.34--June 2015 NOPR Conventional Oven Incremental Manufacturing Production Cost (2014$)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Electric ovens                     Gas ovens
                      Level                      ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Standard       Self-clean       Standard       Self-clean
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline........................................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............
1...............................................            0.82            0.82            0.00            0.82
2...............................................            2.76           25.00            0.82            7.31
3...............................................            7.89           56.74            7.31           27.96
4...............................................           10.22           61.93           12.44           33.15
5...............................................           34.40  ..............           14.77  ..............
6...............................................           66.14  ..............           35.43  ..............
7...............................................           70.36  ..............           39.74  ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 60823]]

    AHAM disagreed with DOE's conclusion that the optimized burner/
cavity design option has a zero-cost. AHAM stated that for 
manufacturers that have not reduced the gauge of the metals, this 
change would require a retooling cost for reducing the gauge. (AHAM, 
No. 29 at p. 8) As discussed in section IV.B.1.b of this SNOPR, DOE 
screened out the optimized burner and cavity design option from the 
engineering analysis. As a result, DOE removed this efficiency level 
from the analysis for this SNOPR. The cost-efficiency results for each 
conventional oven product class are shown in Table IV.35.

                Table IV.35--Conventional Oven Incremental Manufacturing Production Cost (2014$)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Electric ovens                     Gas ovens
                      Level                      ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Standard       Self-clean       Standard       Self-clean
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline........................................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............
1...............................................            0.82            0.82            0.82            0.82
2...............................................            2.76           25.00            7.31            7.31
3...............................................            7.89           56.74           12.44           27.96
4...............................................           10.22           61.93           14.77           33.15
5...............................................           34.40  ..............           35.43  ..............
6...............................................           66.14  ..............           39.74  ..............
7...............................................           70.36  ..............  ..............  ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. Consumer Utility
    In determining whether a standard is economically justified, EPCA 
requires DOE to consider ``any lessening of the utility or the 
performance of the covered products likely to result from the 
imposition of the standard.'' (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i)(IV))
a. Conventional Cooking Tops
    In response to the February 2014 RFI, AHAM and Whirlpool commented 
that new energy conservation standards could likely impact the utility 
of conventional cooking tops in the following ways:
     A standard could lower burner input rates, which will 
impact cooking times. Higher burner input rates allow for quicker 
cooking time, which is an important consumer utility;
     A standard could require changes to grate materials. Heavy 
duty grates, such as cast iron grates, hold larger cooking vessels and 
provide for better pot stability. Thus, a change to less sturdy grates 
would impact consumer utility;
     A standard could also result in the removal of accent 
lighting and large displays which are preferred consumer features. 
There is reduced consumer utility from further reducing standby power 
from what products use today. According to Whirlpool, the market is 
still pushing manufacturers to add more advanced electronics that use 
more standby power. (AHAM, No. 9 at p. 7; Whirlpool, No. 13 at pp. 5, 
8).
    Accordingly, AHAM and Whirlpool opposed amendment of the existing 
standards for cooking products. AHAM and Whirlpool stated that not only 
would amended standards fail to be technologically feasible or 
economically justified, but they would also impact the utility of 
cooking products. (AHAM, No. 9 at p. 7; Whirlpool, No. 13 at p. 8)
    DOE conducted the engineering analysis by considering cooking top 
design options that are consistent with products currently on the 
market, and as a result, DOE did not consider changes that would result 
in removal of accent lighting and display features. For gas cooking 
tops, DOE considered efficiency levels associated with optimizing the 
burner and grates, but selected efficiency levels based on products 
tested with cast iron grates to maintain ability to provide stability 
for pots containing larger loads. As discussed in section V.B.8 of this 
SNOPR, the energy conservation standards for gas cooking tops proposed 
in this SNOPR correspond to the efficiency level that maintains 
features of gas cooking tops marketed as commercial-style, namely 
multiple high input rate burners (i.e., greater than 14,000 Btu/h) that 
would allow for quicker cooking times. As a result, DOE does not 
believe that the design options and efficiency levels associated with 
the proposed standards in this SNOPR would impact the consumer utility 
of conventional cooking tops, as suggested by AHAM and Whirlpool, nor 
preclude the availability of cooking tops marketed as commercial-style.
b. Conventional Ovens
    In the June 2015 NOPR, DOE noted that it conducted the engineering 
analysis by considering design options that are consistent with 
products currently on the market and that it did not believe that any 
of the design options and efficiency levels considered would impact the 
consumer utility of conventional ovens. 80 FR 33030, 33054.
    DOE also noted that gas ovens with higher burner input rates did 
not have significantly faster cooking times when tested according to 
the test procedure adopted in the July 2015 TP Final Rule. This is 
likely due in large part to the fact that gas ovens with higher burner 
input rates marketed as commercial-style often have significantly 
larger thermal masses, which absorb a significant amount of additional 
heat. 80 FR 33030, 33054.
    Sub-Zero commented in response to the June 2015 NOPR for 
conventional ovens in which DOE did not consider a separate product 
class for commercial-style products, that manufacturers of commercial-
style ovens differentiate their product offerings based on features 
such as heavier gauge materials and higher input rate burners. 
According to Sub-Zero, these manufacturers may be forced to exit the 
market if a standard were to require that they produce gas ovens that 
can no longer meet customer expectations. (Sub-Zero, No. 25 at p. 7)
    As discussed in section IV.A.2.b of this SNOPR, DOE was not able to 
identify a clearly-defined utility provided to consumers by commercial-
style ovens and, as a result, DOE did not establish separate product 
classes for these products. However, DOE recognizes that commercial-
style ovens are a product type that typically incorporate certain 
features that may be expected by purchasers of such products (e.g., 
heavier-gauge cavity construction, high input rate burners, and 
extension racks). DOE also recognizes that these features result in 
inherently lower efficiencies for commercial-style ovens than for 
residential-style ovens with comparable cavities sizes, due to the 
greater thermal mass of the cavity and racks, when measured using the 
test procedure adopted in the July 2015 TP Final Rule. As discussed in 
section III.B and III.C of this SNOPR, DOE is proposing to repeal

[[Page 60824]]

the oven test procedure in the August 2016 TP SNOPR due to 
uncertainties in its ability to measure representative energy use of 
commercial-style ovens, and thus is not proposing a performance-based 
standard for conventional ovens. Instead, DOE is proposing to adopt a 
prescriptive design requirement for the conventional oven control 
system.
D. Markups Analysis
    The markups analysis develops appropriate markups in the 
distribution chain to convert the MPC estimates derived in the 
engineering analysis to consumer prices. At each step in the 
distribution channel, companies mark up the price of the product to 
cover business costs and profit margin. For conventional cooking 
products, the main parties in the distribution chain are manufacturers 
and retailers.
    Thus, DOE analyzed a manufacturer-to-consumer distribution channel 
consisting of three parties: (1) The manufacturers of the products; (2) 
the retailers purchasing the products from manufacturers and selling 
them to consumers; and (3) the consumers who purchase the products.
    The manufacturer markup converts MPC to manufacturer selling price 
(MSP). DOE developed an average manufacturer markup by examining the 
annual Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) 10-K reports filed by 
publicly traded manufacturers primarily engaged in appliance 
manufacturing and whose combined product range includes conventional 
cooking products.
    For retailers, DOE developed separate markups for baseline products 
(baseline markups) and for the incremental cost of more efficient 
products (incremental markups). Incremental markups are coefficients 
that relate the change in the MSP of higher-efficiency models to the 
change in the retailer sales price. DOE relied on economic data from 
the U.S. Census Bureau to estimate average baseline and incremental 
markups.\42\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \42\ U.S. Census, 2007 Annual Retail Trade Survey (ARTS), 
Electronics and Appliance Stores sectors.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    AHAM criticized DOE's reliance on the concept of incremental 
markups, stating that its theory has been disproved and it is in 
contradiction to empirical evidence. (AHAM, No. 29 at p. 9) In an 
attachment to AHAM's comment, Shorey Consulting, Inc. (Shorey 
Consulting) stated that (1) DOE requires a strong form of economic 
theory, since it is saying that something will happen solely because 
theory says it should; and (2) an a priori resort to economic theory 
without clear empirical support is highly problematic. Shorey 
Consulting interviewed a sample of local/regional and national 
appliance retailers and reported that, with very few exceptions, they 
reacted to the DOE concept that percentage margins will be lower in a 
post-standards situation with incredulity. It concluded that DOE needs 
to abandon the incremental margin approach and revert to the average 
margin approach that corresponds to actual industry practice. (AHAM, 
No. 29 at pp. A-10-A-11)
    DOE disagrees that the theory behind the concept of incremental 
markups has been disproved. The concept is based on a simple notion: An 
increase in profitability, which is implied by keeping a fixed markup 
when the product price goes up, is not likely to be viable over time in 
a business that is reasonably competitive. DOE agrees that empirical 
data on markup practices would be desirable, but such information is 
closely held and difficult to obtain.
    Regarding the interviews with appliance retailers, it is difficult 
for DOE to evaluate the characterization of the responses without 
knowing what questions were posed to the retailers. DOE's analysis 
necessarily considers a very simplified version of the world of 
appliance retailing: Namely, a situation in which nothing changes 
except for those changes in appliance offerings that occur in response 
to amended standards. DOE implicitly asks: Assuming the product cost 
increases while the other costs remain constant (no change in labor, 
material and operating costs), are retailers still able to keep the 
same markup over time as before? DOE recognizes that retailers are 
likely to seek to maintain the same markup on appliances if the price 
they pay goes up as a result of appliance standards, but it believes 
that over time adjustment is likely to occur due to competitive 
pressures. Other retailers may find that they can gain sales by 
reducing the markup and maintaining the same per-unit operating profit. 
The incremental markup approach reflects a similar perspective as the 
``preservation of per-unit operating profit markup scenario'' used in 
the MIA (see section IV.J of this document).
    In summary, DOE acknowledges that its approach to estimating 
retailer markup practices after amended standards take effect is an 
approximation of real-world practices that are both complex and varying 
with business conditions. However, DOE maintains that its assumption 
that standards do not facilitate a sustainable increase in 
profitability is reasonable. DOE welcomes information that could 
support improvement in its methodology.
    Chapter 6 of the SNOPR TSD provides details on DOE's development of 
markups for conventional cooking products.

E. Energy Use Analysis

    The energy use analysis provides estimates of the annual energy 
consumption of cooking tops and ovens at the considered efficiency 
levels. DOE uses these values in the LCC and PBP analyses and in the 
NIA to establish the savings in consumer operating costs at various 
product efficiency levels. DOE developed energy consumption estimates 
for all product classes analyzed in the engineering analysis. DOE's 
energy use analysis estimated the range of energy use of cooking 
products in the field, i.e., as they are actually used by consumers.
    For this SNOPR, DOE used the 2009 California Residential Appliance 
Saturation Survey (RASS) \43\ and a Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) 
study \44\ to establish representative annual energy use values for 
conventional cooking tops and ovens. These studies confirmed that 
annual cooking energy use has been consistently declining since the 
late 1970s.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \43\ California Energy Commission, Residential Appliance 
Saturation Survey (RASS) (2009).
    \44\ Parker, D., Fairey, P., Hendron, R., ``Updated 
Miscellaneous Electricity Loads and Appliance Energy Usage Profiles 
for Use in Home Energy Ratings, the Building America Benchmark 
Procedures and Related Calculations,'' Florida Solar Energy Center 
(FSEC) (2010).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Energy use by residential cooking products varies greatly based on 
consumer usage patterns. DOE established a range of energy use from 
data in the Energy Information Administration (EIA)'s 2009 Residential 
Energy Consumption Survey (RECS 2009).\45\ RECS 2009 does not provide 
the annual energy consumption of cooking products, but it does provide 
the frequency of cooking product use.\46\ DOE was unable to use the 
frequency of use to calculate the annual energy consumption using a 
bottom-up approach, as data in RECS did not include information about 
the duration

[[Page 60825]]

of a cooking event to allow for an annual energy use calculation. DOE 
therefore relied on California RASS and FSEC studies to establish the 
average annual energy consumption of conventional cooking tops and 
ovens.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \45\ U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Information 
Administration, Residential Energy Consumption Survey: 2009 RECS 
Survey Data (2013) (Available at: http://www.eia.gov/consumption/residential/data/2009/). RECS 2009 is based on a sample of 12,083 
households statistically selected to represent 113.6 million housing 
units in the United States. (Available at: www.eia.gov/consumption/residential/).
    \46\ DOE was unable to use the frequency of use to calculate the 
annual energy consumption using a bottom-up approach, as data in 
RECS did not include information about the duration of a cooking 
event to allow for an annual energy use calculation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    From RECS 2009, DOE developed household samples for each product 
class. For each household using a conventional cooking product, RECS 
provides data on the frequency of use and number of meals cooked in the 
following bins: (1) Less than once per week, (2) once per week, (3) a 
few times per week, (4) once per day, (5) two times per day, and (6) 
three or more times per day. DOE utilized the frequency of use to 
define the variability of the annual energy consumption. First, DOE 
assumed that the weighted-average cooking frequency from RECS 
represents the average energy use values based on the California RASS 
and FSEC studies. DOE then varied the annual energy consumption across 
the RECS households based on their reported cooking frequency relative 
to the weighted-average cooking frequency.
    Chapter 7 of the SNOPR TSD describes the energy use analysis in 
detail.

F. Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period Analysis

    The purpose of the LCC and PBP analysis is to evaluate the economic 
impacts of potential energy conservation standards for cooking products 
on individual consumers. The LCC is the total consumer expense over the 
life of the product, including purchase and installation expense and 
operating costs (energy expenditures, repair costs, and maintenance 
costs). The PBP is the number of years it would take for the consumer 
to recover the increased costs of purchasing a higher efficiency 
product through energy savings. To calculate LCC, DOE discounted future 
operating costs to the time of purchase and summed them over the 
lifetime of the product.
    For any given efficiency level, DOE measures the change in LCC 
relative to an estimate of the base-case product efficiency 
distribution. The base-case estimate reflects the market in the absence 
of new or amended energy conservation standards, including the market 
for products that exceed the current energy conservation standards. In 
contrast, the PBP is measured relative to the baseline product.
    DOE calculated the LCC and payback periods for conventional cooking 
tops and ovens for a nationally representative set of housing units 
selected from RECS 2009. By using a representative sample of 
households, the analysis captured the variability in energy consumption 
and energy prices associated with cooking product use.
    For each sample household, DOE determined the energy consumption 
for the cooking product and the appropriate energy price. DOE first 
calculated the LCC associated with a baseline cooking product for each 
household. To calculate the LCC savings and PBP associated with 
products meeting higher efficiency standards, DOE substituted the 
baseline unit with more efficient designs.
    As part of the LCC and PBP analyses, DOE developed data that it 
used to establish product prices, installation costs, annual household 
energy consumption, energy prices, maintenance and repair costs, 
product lifetime, and discount rates. Inputs to the LCC and PBP 
analysis are categorized as: (1) Inputs for establishing the total 
installed cost and (2) inputs for calculating the operating costs. DOE 
models the uncertainty and the variability in the inputs to the LCC and 
PBP analysis using Monte Carlo simulations and probability 
distributions.\47\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \47\ The Monte Carlo process statistically captures input 
variability and distribution without testing all possible input 
combinations. Therefore, while some atypical situations may not be 
captured in the analysis, DOE believes the analysis captures an 
adequate range of situations in which the conventional cooking 
products operate.

 Table IV.36--Summary of Inputs and Methods for the LCC and PBP Analysis
                                    *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Inputs                            Source/method
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product Cost......................  Derived by multiplying MPCs by
                                     manufacturer and retailer markups
                                     and sales tax, as appropriate. Used
                                     historical data to derive a price
                                     scaling index to forecast product
                                     costs.
Installation Costs................  Baseline installation cost
                                     determined with data from RS Means.
                                     Assumed no change with efficiency
                                     level, except for induction heating
                                     design option of electric smooth
                                     cooking top.
Annual Energy Use.................  The total annual energy use was
                                     based on CA RASS and FSEC Studies.
                                    Variability: Based on the 2009 RECS.
Energy Prices.....................  Electricity: Based on EIA's Form 861
                                     data for 2012.
                                    Variability: Regional energy prices
                                     determined for 27 regions.
Energy Price Trends...............  Based on AEO2015 price forecasts.
Repair and Maintenance Costs......  Assumed no change with efficiency
                                     level for all cooking tops and
                                     electric ovens. Used industry input
                                     to estimate change in repair and
                                     maintenance costs to switch from
                                     glo-bar ignition to electronic
                                     spark ignition.
Product Lifetime..................  16 years for electric and 13 years
                                     for gas cooking products.
Discount Rates....................  Approach involves identifying all
                                     possible debt or asset classes that
                                     might be used to purchase the
                                     considered appliances, or might be
                                     affected indirectly. Primary data
                                     source was the Federal Reserve
                                     Board's Survey of Consumer
                                     Finances.
Compliance Date...................  2019.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* References for the data sources mentioned in this table are provided
  in the sections following the table and in chapter 8 of the SNOPR TSD.

    The following sections contain comments on the inputs and key 
assumptions of DOE's LCC and PBP analysis and explain how DOE took 
these comments into consideration. Chapter 8 of the TSD accompanying 
this SNOPR contains detailed discussion of the methodology and data 
utilized for the LCC and PBP analysis.
1. Product Costs
    To calculate the prices faced by cooking products purchasers, DOE 
multiplied the manufacturing costs developed from the engineering 
analysis by the supply chain markups it developed (along with sales 
taxes).
    To project future product prices, DOE examined the electric and gas 
cooking products PPI for the period 1982-2013. This index, adjusted for 
inflation, shows a declining trend. The decline for gas cooking 
products is somewhat more

[[Page 60826]]

significant than that for electric cooking products (see appendix 10-D 
of the SNOPR TSD). Based on an exponential fit of the adjusted PPIs, 
DOE utilized a declining price trend for both electric and gas cooking 
products as the default case to project future product price.
2. Installation Costs
    Installation costs include labor, overhead, and any miscellaneous 
materials and parts. For this SNOPR, DOE used data from the 2013 RS 
Means Mechanical Cost Data on labor requirements to estimate 
installation costs for conventional cooking products.\48\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \48\ RS Means Company Inc., RS Means Mechanical Cost Data (2013) 
(Available at http://rsmeans.reedconstructiondata.com/default.aspx).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In general, DOE estimated that installation costs would be the same 
for different efficiency levels. In the case of electric smooth cooking 
tops, the induction heating design option requires a change of utensils 
to those that are ferromagnetic to operate the cooking tops. DOE 
treated this as additional installation cost for this particular design 
option. DOE used average number of pots and pans utilized by a 
representative household to estimate this portion of the installation 
cost. See chapter 8 of the SNOPR TSD for details about this component. 
Given the installation costs of the induction cooktop, the market share 
is expected to remain at 2.6% in the standards case. See section IV.F.9 
and IV.H.1 for details on the market shares.
3. Unit Energy Consumption
    Section IV.E of this SNOPR describes the derivation of annual 
energy use for conventional cooking products.
    DOE did not find any evidence of a rebound effect, in which 
consumers use a more efficient appliance more intensively, for 
conventional cooking products. Cooking practices are affected by 
people's eating habits, which are unlikely to change due to higher 
product efficiency. DOE requests comment on its decision to not use a 
rebound effect for cooking products (see issue 11 in section VII.E of 
this SNOPR).
4. Energy Prices
    DOE derived marginal residential electricity and natural gas prices 
for 27 geographic areas.\49\ Marginal prices are appropriate for 
determining energy cost savings associated with possible changes to 
efficiency standards.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \49\ DOE characterized the geographic distribution into 27 
geographic areas to be consistent with the 27 states and group of 
states reported in RECS 2009.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For electricity, DOE derived marginal and average prices which vary 
by season, region, and baseline electricity consumption level. DOE 
estimated these prices using data published with EEI, Typical Bill and 
Average Rates reports for summer and winter 2014.\50\ For the 
residential sector each report provides, for most of the major 
investor-owned utilities (IOUs) in the country, the total bill assuming 
household consumption levels of 500, 750, and 1,000 kWh for the billing 
period. DOE defined the average price as the ratio of the total bill to 
the total electricity consumption. DOE also used the EEI data to define 
a marginal price as the ratio of the change in the bill to the change 
in energy consumption.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \50\ Edison Electric Institute. Typical Bills and Average Rates 
Report. Winter 2014 published April 2014, Summer 2014 published 
October 2014. Available at: http://www.eei.org/resourcesandmedia/products/Pages/Products.aspx.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For the residential sector, DOE defined the average price as the 
ratio of the total bill to the total electricity consumption. DOE also 
used the EEI data to define a marginal price as the ratio of the change 
in the bill to the change in energy consumption. DOE first calculated 
weighted-average values for each geographic area for each type of 
price. Each EEI utility in an area was assigned a weight based on the 
number of consumers it serves. Consumer counts were taken from the most 
recent EIA Form 861 data (2012).\51\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \51\ U. S. Department of Energy, Energy Information 
Administration. Form EIA-861 Annual Electric Power Industry 
Database. http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/page/eia861.html.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE assigned seasonal average prices to each household in the LCC 
sample based on its location and its baseline monthly electricity 
consumption for an average summer or winter month. For sampled 
households who were assigned a product efficiency greater than or equal 
to the considered level for a standard in the no-new-standards case, 
DOE assigned marginal price to each household based on its location and 
the decremented electricity consumption. In the LCC sample, households 
could be assigned to one of 27 geographic areas.
    DOE obtained data for calculating prices of natural gas from the 
EIA publication, Natural Gas Navigator.\52\ DOE used the complete 
annual data for 2013 to calculate an average annual price for each 
geographic area. (For use in the LCC model, prices were scaled to 
2015$.) For each State, DOE calculated the annual residential price of 
natural gas using a simple average of data. DOE then calculated a price 
for each geographic area, weighting each State in an area by its number 
of households.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \52\ U.S. Department of Energy--Energy Information 
Administration. Natural Gas Navigator. 2013. (Last accessed April 
26, 2015.) http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/ng/ng_pri_sum_dcu_nus_m.htm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The method used to calculate marginal natural gas prices differs 
from that used to calculate electricity prices, because EIA does not 
provide consumer- or utility-level data on gas consumption and prices. 
EIA provides historical monthly natural gas consumption and 
expenditures by State. This data was used to determine 10-year average 
marginal price factors for the geographical areas. These factors are 
then used to convert average monthly energy prices into marginal 
monthly energy prices. Because cooking products operate all year 
around, DOE determined summer and winter marginal price factors.
    To estimate future trends in electricity and natural gas prices, 
DOE used price forecasts in AEO 2015. To arrive at prices in future 
years, DOE multiplied the average and marginal prices described above 
by the forecast of annual average changes in national-average 
residential electricity and natural gas prices. Because the AEO 2015 
forecasts prices only to 2040, DOE used the average rate of change 
during 2025-2040 to estimate the price trends beyond 2040.
    The spreadsheet tool used to conduct the LCC and PBP analysis 
allows users to select the AEO 2015 high-growth case or low-growth case 
price forecasts to estimate the sensitivity of the LCC and PBP to 
different energy price forecasts.
    See Chapter 8 of the SNOPR TSD for more information on the 
derivation of energy prices.
5. Repair and Maintenance Costs
    Repair costs are associated with repairing or replacing components 
that have failed in the appliance. Maintenance costs are associated 
with maintaining the operation of the equipment.
    Typically, small incremental changes in product efficiency incur 
no, or only very small, changes in repair and maintenance costs over 
baseline products. For all electric cooking products, DOE did not 
include any changes in repair and maintenance costs for products more 
efficient than baseline products.
    For gas ovens, DOE determined the repair and maintenance costs 
associated with different types of ignition systems. For the July 2015 
NOPR for conventional ovens, DOE estimated an average repair cost of 
$170 occurring every fifth year during the product's lifetime. 80 FR 
33030, 33056.

[[Page 60827]]

    For electronic spark ignition systems, DOE estimated an average 
repair cost of $206 occurring in the tenth year of the product's life. 
DOE received comments regarding the frequency of repair for the 
electric globar/hot surface ignition systems. AHAM commented that a 
globar is replaced less often than three times during the lifetime of 
an oven. (AHAM, No. 29 at p. 8) Electrolux noted that during their 
life-cycle testing of an oven using globars, they estimated a 
replacement rate of approximately 0.70 glo-bars. (Electrolux, No. 27 at 
p.5) GE commented that the globar replacement occurs significantly less 
frequently than the three times DOE estimated. (GE, No.32 at p.3) 
Utilizing these inputs along with the earlier data from manufacturer 
inputs, DOE revised the average repair cost attributable to globar and 
electronic spark ignition systems and annualized it over the life of 
the unit at $21.04 and $20.60 for globar and electronic spark ignition 
systems, respectively. Based on input from manufacturers, DOE did not 
include maintenance costs for glo-bars or electronic ignitions.
    DOE seeks comments on its repair cost estimation for gas ovens, as 
well as on its decision not to include changes in repair and 
maintenance costs for products more efficient than baseline products 
for electric cooking products (see section VII.B of this SNOPR).
    See chapter 8 of the TSD accompanying this SNOPR for further 
information regarding repair and maintenance costs.
6. Product Lifetime
    Equipment lifetime is the age at which the equipment is retired 
from service. DOE used a variety of sources to establish low, average, 
and high estimates for product lifetime. In the July 2015 NOPR, DOE 
utilized data from Appliance Magazine Market Insight, and established 
average product lifetimes of 15 years for conventional electric cooking 
products and 17 years for conventional gas cooking products.\53\ 80 FR 
33030, 33056. AHAM commented that their data indicated average product 
lifetimes of 16 years for conventional electric ovens and 13 years for 
conventional gas ovens. (AHAM, No. 29 at p. 9) For the SNOPR, DOE 
revised the average lifetime estimates to reflect the new data, 
extending the revision as applicable also to electric and gas cooking 
tops, thereby establishing an average product lifetimes of 16 years for 
all electric cooking products and 13 years for all conventional gas 
cooking products. DOE characterized the product lifetimes with Weibull 
probability distributions. DOE requests comment on using the data it 
received from AHAM on the average lifetime for gas and electric ovens 
and extending it to cooktops (See Section VII E. Issues on Which DOE 
Seeks Comment).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \53\ Appliance Magazine, Market Insight. The U.S. Appliance 
Industry: Market Value, Life Expectancy & Replacement Picture 2012.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    See chapter 8 of the TSD accompanying this SNOPR for further 
details on the sources used to develop product lifetimes, as well as 
the use of Weibull distributions.
7. Discount Rates
    In the calculation of LCC, DOE applies discount rates appropriate 
to households to estimate the present value of future operating costs. 
DOE estimated a distribution of residential discount rates for 
conventional cooking products based on consumer financing costs and 
opportunity cost of funds related to appliance energy cost savings and 
maintenance costs.
    To establish residential discount rates for the LCC analysis, DOE's 
approach involved identifying all relevant household debt or asset 
classes in order to approximate a consumer's opportunity cost of funds 
related to appliance energy cost savings and maintenance costs. DOE 
estimated the average percentage shares of the various types of debt 
and equity by household income group using data from the Federal 
Reserve Board's Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) for 1995, 1998, 2001, 
2004, 2007, 2010, and 2013.\54\ Using the SCF and other sources, DOE 
then developed a distribution of rates for each type of debt and asset 
by income group to represent the rates that may apply in the year in 
which amended standards would take effect. DOE assigned each sample 
household a specific discount rate drawn from one of the distributions. 
The average rate across all types of household debt and equity and 
income groups, weighted by the shares of each class, is 4.4 percent. 
See chapter 8 in the SNOPR TSD for further details on the development 
of consumer discount rates.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \54\ Note that two older versions of the SCF are also available 
(1989 and 1992). These surveys were not used in this analysis 
because they do not provide all of the necessary types of data 
(e.g., credit card interest rates). DOE determines that the 15-year 
span covered by the six surveys included is sufficiently 
representative of recent debt and equity shares and interest rates.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

8. Compliance Date
    The compliance date is the date when a covered product is required 
to meet a new or amended standard. DOE calculated the LCC and PBP for 
all customers as if each were to purchase a new product in the year 
that compliance with amended standards is required. Any final rule 
establishing amended standards would apply to conventional cooking 
products manufactured 3 years after the date on which the final rule is 
published (42 U.S.C. 6295(m)(4)(A)(i)). For purposes of its analysis, 
DOE assumed that a final rule would be published in 2016, which results 
in 2019 being the first year of compliance with amended standards.
9. No-New-Standards Case Efficiency Distribution
    To estimate the share of consumers that would be affected by a 
potential energy conservation standard at a particular efficiency 
level, DOE's LCC analysis considered the projected distribution (market 
shares) of product efficiencies in the no-new-standards case (i.e., the 
case without amended or new energy conservation standards). This 
approach reflects the fact that some consumers may purchase products 
with efficiencies greater than the baseline levels.
    To establish the current efficiency distribution for electric 
cooking products and conventional gas ovens, DOE developed and 
implemented a consumer-choice model \55\ that assumes most consumers 
(i.e., home owners \56\) are sensitive to the appliance first cost, and 
calculates the market share for available efficiency options based on 
the initial cost of electric cooking products and gas ovens at each 
efficiency level. DOE used a logit model to characterize historical 
shipments as a function of purchase price. In order to develop the 
logit model, DOE utilized shipments data collected by Market Research 
Magazine \57\ and the PPI of household cooking appliance manufacturing 
\58\ in the years 2002-2012, along with the consumer purchase price 
derived from the engineering analysis, to analyze factors that 
influence consumer purchasing decisions. Using this model, DOE found 
that historical shipments

[[Page 60828]]

show a strong dependence on the first costs for electric cooking 
products and conventional gas ovens, and developed the best-fit logit 
parameters to capture this relationship. DOE then used the parameters 
to derive the market share for available efficiency options for home 
owners. Given that landlords generally have little incentive to install 
higher-efficiency products, DOE assigned the purchases of renters in 
the RECS sample to the baseline efficiency level.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \55\ DOE developed this consumer choice model for this 
rulemaking, the details of which are outlined in Chapter 8 of the 
SNOPR TSD. This consumer choice framework has been used in many 
rulemakings and is also a key component in EIA's NEMS residential 
model to simulate appliance purchases over a range of efficiencies.
    \56\ DOE assumed that landlords would have no economic incentive 
to purchase higher-efficiency products and renters would have no 
decision making power to purchase or replace an electric cooking 
products or gas oven.
    \57\ UBM Canon, Market Research Magazine: Appliance Historical 
Statistical Review, 2014.
    \58\ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Producer Price Index 
Industry Data: Household cooking appliance manufacturing, 2014.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To establish the current efficiency distribution for gas cooking 
tops, DOE relied on publicly available data on gas cooking top models 
in the market \59\ and their configuration with regard to grates and 
burner input rates to characterize the efficiency distribution.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \59\ Model data collected from the Web sites of A J Madison, 
Best Buy, and Lowe's.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Given the lack of data on historic efficiency trends, DOE assumed 
that the estimated current distributions would apply in 2019.
    Table IV.37, Table IV.38, and Table IV.39 present the market shares 
of the efficiency levels in the no-new-standards case for conventional 
cooking products.\60\ See chapter 8 of the SNOPR TSD for further 
details on the development of these market shares.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \60\ For the conventional oven product classes, the efficiency 
levels are based on an oven with a cavity volume of 4.3 ft\3\. As 
discussed in section IV.C.3 of this notice, DOE developed slopes and 
intercepts to characterize the relationship between IEAC and cavity 
volume for each efficiency level.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP02SE16.003


[[Page 60829]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP02SE16.004

    DOE seeks comments on its use of consumer choice model for 
establishing no-new standards efficiency distribution for some of the 
product classes (see section VII.B of this SNOPR).
    See chapter 8 of the TSD accompanying this SNOPR for further 
information regarding no-new standards efficiency distribution.
10. Inputs to Payback Period Analysis
    The PBP is the amount of time it takes the consumer to recover the 
additional installed cost of more efficient equipment, compared to 
baseline equipment, through energy cost savings. PBPs are expressed in 
years. PBPs that exceed the life of the product mean that the increased 
total installed cost is not recovered in reduced operating expenses.
    The inputs to the PBP calculation are the total installed cost of 
the product to the customer for each efficiency level and the annual 
first year operating expenditures for each efficiency level. The PBP 
calculation uses the same inputs as the LCC analysis, except that 
energy price trends and discount rates are not needed.
11. Rebuttable-Presumption Payback Period
    EPCA establishes a rebuttable presumption that a standard is 
economically justified if the Secretary finds that the additional cost 
to the consumer of purchasing a product complying with an energy 
conservation standard level will be less than three times the value of 
the energy savings during the first year that the consumer will receive 
as a result of the standard, as calculated under the test procedure in 
place for that standard. (42 U.S.C. (o)(2)(B)(iii) For each considered 
efficiency level, DOE determines the value of the first year's energy 
savings by calculating the quantity of those savings in accordance with 
the applicable DOE test procedure, and multiplying that amount by the 
average energy price forecast for the year in which compliance with the 
amended standards would be required. While DOE examined the rebuttable-
presumption criterion, it considered whether the standard levels 
considered for this rule are economically justified through a more 
detailed analysis of the economic impacts of those levels pursuant to 
42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i) (See section V.B.1.c.).

G. Shipments Analysis

    DOE uses projections of product shipments to calculate the national 
impacts of standards on energy use, NPV, and future manufacturer cash 
flows. DOE develops shipment projections based on historical data and 
an analysis of key market drivers for each product. Historical 
shipments data are used to build up an equipment stock and also to 
calibrate the shipments model. For conventional cooking products, DOE 
accounted for three market segments: (1) New construction, (2) existing 
homes (i.e., replacing failed products), and (3) retired but not 
replaced products.
    To determine new construction shipments, DOE used a forecast of new 
housing coupled with product market saturation data for new housing. 
For new housing completions and mobile home placements, DOE adopted the 
projections from EIA's AEO 2015 through 2040. The market saturation 
data for new housing came from RECS 2009.
    DOE estimated replacements using product retirement functions 
developed from product lifetimes. DOE used retirement functions based 
on Weibull distributions.
    To reconcile the historical shipments with the model, DOE assumed 
that every retired unit is not replaced. DOE attributed the reason for 
this non-replacement to building demolition occurring over the period 
2013-2048. The not-replaced rate is distributed across electric and gas 
cooking products.
    DOE allocated shipments to each product class based on the current 
market share of the class. DOE developed the market shares based on 
data collected from Appliance Magazine Market Research report \61\ and 
U.S. Appliance Industry Statistical Review.\62\ The shares are kept 
constant over time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \61\ Appliance Magazine Market Research. The U.S. Appliance 
Industry: Market Value, Life Expectancy & Replacement Picture 2012.
    \62\ Appliance 2011. U.S. Appliance Industry Statistical Review: 
2000 to YTD 2011.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE did not estimate any fuel switching for electric and gas 
cooking products, as no significant switching was observed from 
historical data.

[[Page 60830]]

    Table IV.40 summarizes the approach and data DOE used to derive the 
inputs to the shipments analysis for the SNOPR.

     Table IV.40--Approach and Data Used To Derive the Inputs to the
                           Shipments Analysis
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Inputs                              Approach
------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Construction Shipments........  Determined by multiplying housing
                                     forecasts by forecasted saturation
                                     of cooking products for new
                                     housing. Housing forecasts based on
                                     AEO2015 projections. New housing
                                     product saturations based on RECS
                                     2009. Saturations maintained at
                                     2009 levels.
Replacements......................  Determined by tracking total product
                                     stock by vintage and establishing
                                     the failure of the stock using
                                     retirement functions from the LCC
                                     and PBP analysis. Retirement
                                     functions were based on Weibull
                                     lifetime distributions.
Retired but not replaced..........  Used to calibrate shipments model to
                                     historical shipments data to
                                     account for a decline in the
                                     replacement shipments.
Historical Shipments..............  Data sources include U.S.
                                     Statistical Review of Appliance
                                     Industry, Appliance Magazine and
                                     Association of Home Appliance
                                     Manufacturers.
Impacts Due to Efficiency           Considered an impact on the
 Standards.                          replacement market through possible
                                     repair of older cooking units to
                                     extend their lifetime, in response
                                     to an increase in price.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE considered the impact of prospective standards on product 
shipments. DOE concluded that it is unlikely that the price increase 
due to the proposed standards would impact the decision to install a 
cooking product in the new construction market. In the replacement 
market, DOE assumed that, in response to an increased product price, 
some consumers will choose to repair their old cooking product and 
extend its lifetime instead of replacing it immediately. DOE estimated 
the magnitude of such impact through a purchase price elasticity of 
demand. The estimated price elasticity of -0.367 is based on data on 
cooking products as described in appendix 9A of the SNOPR TSD. This 
elasticity relates the repair or replace decision to the incremental 
installed cost of higher efficiency cooking products. DOE estimated 
that the average extension of life of the repaired unit would be 5 
years, and then that unit will be replaced with a new cooking unit.
    DOE seeks comments on its approach and use of data for shipments 
analysis (see section VII.B of this SNOPR).
    For further details on the shipments analysis, please refer to 
chapter 9 of the SNOPR TSD.

H. National Impact Analysis

    The NIA assesses the national energy savings and the national NPV 
of total consumer costs and savings that would be expected to result 
from amended standards at specific efficiency levels.
    DOE used an MS Excel spreadsheet model to calculate the national 
energy savings and the consumer costs and savings from each TSL.\63\ 
The NIA calculations are based on the annual energy consumption and 
total installed cost data from the energy use analysis and the LCC 
analysis. DOE projected the lifetime energy savings, energy cost 
savings, equipment costs, and NPV of customer benefits for each product 
class over the lifetime of equipment sold from 2019 through 2048.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \63\ DOE's use of MS Excel as the basis for the spreadsheet 
models provides interested parties with access to the models within 
a familiar context. In addition, the TSD and other documentation 
that DOE provides during the rulemaking help explain the models and 
how to use them. Interested parties can review DOE's analyses by 
changing various input quantities within the spreadsheet.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE evaluated the impacts of potential standards for conventional 
cooking products by comparing a case without such standards with 
standards-case projections. The no-new-standards case characterizes 
energy use and customer costs for each product class in the absence of 
proposed energy conservation standards. DOE compares the no-new-
standards case with projections characterizing the market for each 
product class if DOE adopted new or amended standards at specific 
energy efficiency levels (i.e., the TSLs or standards cases) for that 
class.
    Table IV.41 summarizes the key inputs for the NIA. The sections 
following provide further details, as does chapter 10 of the SNOPR TSD.

          Table IV.41--Inputs for the National Impact Analysis
------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Input                             Description
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shipments.........................  Annual shipments from shipments
                                     model.
Compliance date...................  January 1, 2019.
No-new-standards-case efficiency..  Based on consumer choice model for
                                     electric cooking products and gas
                                     ovens and model web-based data for
                                     gas cooking tops.
Standards-case efficiency.........  Based on a ``roll up'' scenario to
                                     establish a 2019 shipment weighted
                                     efficiency.
Annual energy consumption per unit  Calculated for each efficiency level
                                     and product class based on inputs
                                     from the energy use analysis.
Total installed cost per unit.....  Calculated by efficiency level using
                                     manufacturer selling prices and
                                     weighted-average overall markup
                                     values.
Energy expense per unit...........  Annual energy use is multiplied by
                                     the corresponding average
                                     electricity and gas price.
Escalation of electricity and gas   AEO 2015 forecasts (to 2040) and
 prices.                             extrapolation beyond 2040 for
                                     electricity and gas prices.
Electricity site-to-primary energy  A time series conversion factor;
 conversion.                         includes electric generation,
                                     transmission, and distribution
                                     losses.
Discount rates....................  3% and 7%.
Present year......................  2016.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 60831]]

1. Efficiency Trends
    A key component of DOE's estimates of national energy savings and 
NPV is the energy efficiencies forecasted over time. For the no-new-
standards case, DOE utilized the consumer choice model (as described in 
section IV.F.9 of this SNOPR) in combination with the equipment price 
projection (as described in section IV.F.1 of this SNOPR) to determine 
the efficiencies in each future year.
    To estimate the impact that standards would have in the year 
compliance becomes required, DOE assumed that equipment efficiencies in 
the no-new-standards case that do not meet the standard level under 
consideration would ``roll up'' to meet the new standard level, and 
market shares at efficiencies above the standard level under 
consideration will shift based on the consumer choice model. In the 
case of gas cooking tops, which do not follow a consumer choice model, 
the market shares at efficiencies above the standard level under 
consideration would remain unchanged.
2. National Energy Savings
    For each year in the forecast period, DOE calculates the national 
energy savings for each standard level by multiplying the shipments of 
cooking products by the per-unit annual energy savings. Cumulative 
energy savings are the sum of the annual energy savings over the 
lifetime of all equipment shipped during 2019-2048.
    The annual energy consumption per unit depends directly on 
equipment efficiency. DOE used the shipment-weighted energy 
efficiencies associated with the no-new-standards case and each 
standards case, in combination with the annual energy use data, to 
estimate the shipment-weighted average annual per-unit energy 
consumption under the no-new-standards case and standards cases. The 
national energy consumption is the product of the annual energy 
consumption per unit and the number of units of each vintage, which 
depends on shipments. DOE calculates the total annual site energy 
savings for a given standards case by subtracting total energy use in 
the standards case from total energy use in the no-new-standards case. 
Note that total shipments are nearly the same in the standards cases as 
in the no-new-standards case.
    DOE converted the site electricity consumption and savings to 
primary energy (power sector energy consumption) using annual 
conversion factors derived from the AEO 2015 version of the National 
Energy Modeling System (NEMS).
    In response to the recommendations of a committee on ``Point-of-Use 
and Full-Fuel-Cycle Measurement Approaches to Energy Efficiency 
Standards'' appointed by the National Academy of Science, DOE announced 
its intention to also use FFC measures of energy use, GHG emissions and 
other emissions in the national impact analyses and emissions analyses 
included in future energy conservation standards rulemakings. 76 FR 
51281 (August 18, 2011). After evaluating the approaches discussed in 
the August 18, 2011 notice, DOE published a statement of amended policy 
in the Federal Register in which DOE explained its determination that 
NEMS is the most appropriate tool for its FFC analysis and its 
intention to use NEMS for that purpose. 77 FR 49701 (August 17, 2012). 
The FFC factors incorporate losses in production and delivery in the 
case of natural gas (including fugitive emissions), and energy used to 
produce and deliver the fuels used by power plants. The approach used 
for this SNOPR, and the FFC multipliers that were applied, are 
described in appendix 10A of the SNOPR TSD. Table IV.42 through Table 
IV.46 present the FFC equivalent of IAEC for the considered efficiency 
levels.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP02SE16.005


                    Table IV.43--Conventional Electric Standard Ovens: FFC Equivalent of IAEC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         IAEC--Site (kWh)                 IAEC--FFC (kWh)
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                 Standard level                                      Built-in/                       Built-in/
                                                   Free-standing     slide-in      Free-standing     slide-in
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline........................................           315.2           322.3           1,039           1,062
1...............................................           306.3           313.3           1,009           1,032
2...............................................           292.3           299.0             963             985
3...............................................           278.7           285.0             918             939

[[Page 60832]]

 
4...............................................           274.0           280.3             903             924
5...............................................           262.8           268.8             866             886
6...............................................           222.8           227.8             734             751
7...............................................           222.2           227.2             732             749
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                   Table IV.44--Conventional Electric Self-Clean Ovens: FFC Equivalent of IAEC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         IAEC--Site (kWh)                 IAEC--FFC (kWh)
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                 Standard level                                      Built-in/                       Built-in/
                                                   Free-standing     slide-in      Free-standing     slide-in
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline........................................           354.9           362.0           1,170           1,193
1...............................................           346.0           353.0           1,140           1,163
2...............................................           327.9           334.5           1,080           1,102
3...............................................           279.3           284.9             920             939
4...............................................           278.5           284.1             918             936
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                      Table IV.45--Conventional Gas Standard Ovens: FFC Equivalent of IAEC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         IAEC--Site (kBtu)               IAEC--FFC (kBtu)
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                 Standard level                                      Built-in/                       Built-in/
                                                   Free-standing     slide-in      Free-standing     slide-in
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline........................................         2,083.1         2,093.0           2,332           2,343
1...............................................         2,052.5         2,062.4           2,297           2,308
2...............................................         1,849.9         1,858.8           2,071           2,081
3...............................................         1,754.6         1,763.1           1,964           1,973
4...............................................         1,736.8         1,745.1           1,944           1,953
5...............................................         1,665.7         1,673.7           1,864           1,873
6...............................................         1,654.9         1,662.9           1,852           1,861
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                     Table IV.46--Conventional Gas Self-Clean Ovens: FFC Equivalent of IAEC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         IAEC--Site (kBtu)               IAEC--FFC (kBtu)
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                 Standard level                                      Built-in/                       Built-in/
                                                   Free-standing     slide-in      Free-standing     slide-in
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline........................................         1,959.6         1,969.6           2,193           2,204
1...............................................         1,929.0         1,939.0           2,159           2,170
2...............................................         1,740.5         1,749.4           1,948           1,958
3...............................................         1,664.5         1,673.0           1,863           1,873
4...............................................         1,658.9         1,667.4           1,857           1,866
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) commented that DOE uses 
FFC to project the energy savings and energy consumption of ovens under 
the proposed standards, but DOE also employs a separate methodology 
exclusively to forecast savings for electricity, which seems to double 
estimates of electricity savings. NPGA stated that DOE's primary energy 
savings calculations are in addition to FFC energy savings. Therefore, 
electricity receives two energy savings estimates: That of primary 
energy savings calculations and FFC energy savings calculations. (NPGA, 
No. 35 at p. 3)
    The estimated primary energy savings from energy conservation 
standards are not in addition to the FFC savings. DOE continues to 
report primary energy savings because this is a metric that has been 
familiar to stakeholders. However, DOE regards FFC energy savings as 
providing a more complete picture of the impacts of potential 
standards.
3. Net Present Value of Customer Benefit
    The inputs for determining the NPV of the total costs and benefits 
experienced by consumers are: (1) Total annual installed cost; (2) 
total annual operating costs; and (3) a discount factor to calculate 
the present value of costs and savings. DOE calculates the lifetime net 
savings for equipment shipped each year as the difference between the 
no-new-standards case and each standards case in total savings in 
lifetime operating costs and total increases in

[[Page 60833]]

installed costs. DOE calculates lifetime operating cost savings over 
the life of each considered conventional cooking products shipped 
during the forecast period.
a. Total Annual Installed Cost
    The total installed cost includes both the equipment price and the 
installation cost. For each product class, DOE calculated equipment 
prices by efficiency level using manufacturer selling prices and 
weighted-average overall markup values. Because DOE calculated the 
total installed cost as a function of equipment efficiency, it was able 
to determine annual total installed costs based on the annual shipment-
weighted efficiency levels determined in the shipments model. DOE 
accounted for the repair and maintenance costs associated with typical 
repairs in cooking products.
    As noted in section IV.F.1 of this SNOPR, DOE assumed a declining 
trend in the conventional cooking product prices over the analysis 
period. In addition, DOE conducted sensitivity analyses using 
alternative price trends: one in which the rate of decline in prices is 
greater than the reference trend, and one in which the rate of decline 
is lower. These price trends, and the NPV results from the associated 
sensitivity cases, are described in appendix 10B of the SNOPR TSD.
b. Total Annual Operating Cost Savings
    The per-unit energy savings were derived as described in section 
IV.H.2 of this SNOPR. To calculate future electricity and natural gas 
prices, DOE applied the projected trend in national-average residential 
electricity and natural gas prices from the AEO 2015 Reference case, 
which extends to 2040, to the prices derived in the LCC and PBP 
analysis. DOE used the trend from 2025 to 2040 to extrapolate beyond 
2040.
    In addition, DOE analyzed scenarios that used the energy price 
projections in the AEO 2015 Low Economic Growth and High Economic 
Growth cases. These cases have higher and lower energy price trends 
compared to the Reference case. These price trends, and the NPV results 
from the associated cases, are described in appendix 10C of the SNOPR 
TSD.
    In calculating the NPV, DOE multiplies the net dollar savings in 
future years by a discount factor to determine their present value. DOE 
estimates the NPV using both a 3-percent and a 7-percent real discount 
rate in accordance with guidance provided by the OMB to Federal 
agencies on the development of regulatory analysis.\64\ The discount 
rates for the determination of NPV are in contrast to the discount 
rates used in the LCC analysis, which are designed to reflect a 
consumer's perspective. The 7-percent real value is an estimate of the 
average before-tax rate of return to private capital in the U.S. 
economy. The 3-percent real value represents the ``social rate of time 
preference,'' which is the rate at which society discounts future 
consumption flows to their present value.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \64\ U.S. Office of Management and Budget, ``Circular A-4: 
Regulatory Analysis,'' Section E, (Sept. 17, 2003) (Available at: 
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars_a004_a-4/).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Consumer Subgroup Analysis

    In analyzing the potential impact of new or amended standards on 
individual consumers, DOE evaluates the impact on identifiable 
subgroups of consumers that may be disproportionately affected by a 
national standard level. The purpose of a subgroup analysis is to 
determine the extent of any such disproportional impacts. DOE evaluates 
impacts on particular subgroups of consumers by analyzing the LCC 
impacts and PBP for those particular consumers from alternative 
standard levels. For this SNOPR, DOE used RECS 2009 data to analyze the 
potential effect of standards for residential cooking products on two 
consumer subgroups: (1) Households with low income levels, and (2) 
households comprised of seniors. DOE used the LCC and PBP spreadsheet 
model to estimate the impacts of the considered efficiency levels on 
these subgroups.
    More details on the consumer subgroup analysis can be found in 
chapter 11 of the SNOPR TSD accompanying this SNOPR.

J. Manufacturer Impact Analysis

1. Overview
    DOE conducted an MIA for residential conventional cooking products 
to estimate the financial impact of new and amended energy conservation 
standards on manufacturers of these products. The MIA has both 
quantitative and qualitative aspects. The quantitative part of the MIA 
relies on the GRIM, an industry cash-flow model customized for 
residential conventional cooking products covered in this rulemaking. 
The key GRIM inputs are data on the industry cost structure, 
manufacturer production costs, shipments, and assumptions about 
manufacturer markups and conversion costs. The key MIA output is INPV. 
DOE used the GRIM to calculate cash flows using standard accounting 
principles and to compare changes in INPV between a no-new-standards 
case and various TSLs in the standards cases. The difference in INPV 
between the no-new-standards and standards cases represent the 
financial impact of new and amended energy conservation standards on 
residential conventional cooking product manufacturers. Different sets 
of assumptions (scenarios) produce different INPV results. The 
qualitative part of the MIA addresses factors such as manufacturing 
capacity; characteristics of, and impacts on, any particular subgroup 
of manufacturers; and impacts on competition.
    DOE conducted the MIA for this rulemaking in three phases. In the 
first phase DOE prepared an industry characterization based on the 
market and technology assessment, as well as publicly available 
information. In the second phase, DOE developed an interview guide 
based on the industry financial parameters derived in the first phase. 
In the third phase, DOE conducted interviews with a variety of 
residential conventional cooking product manufacturers, all of whom 
accounted for more than 85 percent of domestic residential conventional 
cooking product sales covered by this rulemaking. During these 
interviews, DOE discussed engineering, manufacturing, procurement, and 
financial topics specific to each company and obtained each 
manufacturer's view of the residential conventional cooking product 
industry as a whole. The interviews provided information that DOE used 
to evaluate the impacts of new and amended standards on manufacturers' 
cash flows, manufacturing capacities, and direct domestic manufacturing 
employment levels. Section V.B.2 of this SNOPR contains a discussion on 
the estimated changes in the number of domestic employees involved in 
manufacturing residential conventional cooking products covered by the 
proposed standards. Section IV.J.4 of this SNOPR contains a description 
of the key issues manufacturers raised during the interviews.
    During the third phase, DOE also used the results of the industry 
characterization analysis in the first phase and feedback from 
manufacturer interviews to group together manufacturers that exhibit 
similar production and cost structure characteristics. DOE identified 
two manufacturer subgroups for a separate impact analysis--small 
business manufacturers and commercial-style manufacturers.

[[Page 60834]]

    Small business manufacturers are defined by the Small Business 
Administration (SBA) for this particular industry as having less than 
1,500 total employees. This threshold includes all employees in a 
business' parent company and any other subsidiaries. Based on this 
classification, DOE identified nine residential conventional cooking 
product manufacturers that qualify as small businesses. Commercial-
style manufacturers are defined as manufacturers primarily selling 
residential gas cooking products that are marketed as commercial-style. 
DOE identified five commercial-style manufacturers primarily selling 
commercial-style cooking products covered by this rulemaking. The 
impacts on the small business manufacturer subgroup are discussed in 
greater detail in section VI.B of this SNOPR and the impacts on the 
commercial-style manufacturer subgroup are discussed in greater detail 
in section V.B.2.d of this SNOPR.
2. GRIM Analysis and Key Inputs
    DOE uses the GRIM to quantify the changes in cash flows over time 
due to new and amended energy conservation standards. These changes in 
cash flows result in either a higher or lower INPV for the standards 
cases compared to a case where new and amended standards have not been 
set (no-new-standards case). The GRIM analysis uses a standard annual 
cash flow analysis that incorporates manufacturer costs, manufacturer 
markups, industry shipments, and industry financial information as 
inputs. It then models changes in manufacturer production costs, 
manufacturer investments, and manufacturer margins that result from new 
and amended standards. The GRIM uses these inputs to calculate a series 
of annual cash flows beginning with the reference year of the analysis, 
2016, and continuing to 2048. DOE computes INPV by summing the stream 
of annual discounted cash flows during the analysis period. DOE used a 
real discount rate of 9.1 percent for residential conventional cooking 
product manufacturers. The discount rate estimates were derived from 
industry corporate annual reports to the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (SEC 10-Ks). During manufacturer interviews residential 
conventional cooking product manufacturers were asked to provide 
feedback on this discount rate. Most manufacturers agreed that a 
discount rate of 9.1 was appropriate to use for residential 
conventional cooking product manufacturers. Many inputs into the GRIM 
came from the engineering analysis, the shipment analysis, manufacturer 
interviews, and other research conducted during the MIA. The major GRIM 
inputs are described in detail in the following sections.
a. Capital and Product Conversion Costs
    DOE expects new and amended energy conservation standards for 
residential conventional cooking products to cause manufacturers to 
incur conversion costs to bring their production facilities and product 
designs into compliance with the new and amended standards. For the 
MIA, DOE classified these conversion costs into two major groups: (1) 
Capital conversion costs, and (2) product conversion costs. Capital 
conversion costs are investments in property, plant, and equipment 
necessary to adapt or change existing production facilities such that 
new product designs can be fabricated and assembled. Product conversion 
costs are investments in research, development, testing, marketing, 
certification, and other non-capitalized costs necessary to make 
product designs comply with new and amended standards.
    Using feedback from manufacturer interviews, DOE conducted a top-
down analysis to calculate the capital and product conversion costs for 
residential conventional cooking product manufacturers. DOE asked 
manufacturers during interviews to estimate the total capital and 
product conversion costs they would need to incur to be able to produce 
each residential conventional cooking product at specific efficiency 
levels. DOE then summed these values provided by manufacturers to 
arrive at total top-down industry conversion cost for residential 
conventional cooking products.
    See chapter 12 of the SNOPR TSD for a complete description of DOE's 
assumptions for the capital and product conversion costs.
b. Manufacturer Production Costs
    Manufacturing more efficient residential conventional cooking 
products is typically more expensive than manufacturing baseline 
products due to the need for more costly materials and components. The 
higher MPCs for these more efficient products can affect the revenue, 
gross margin, and the cash flows of residential conventional cooking 
product manufacturers. DOE developed MPCs for each representative unit 
at each efficiency level analyzed. DOE purchased a number of units from 
each product class, then tested and tore down those units to create a 
unique bill of materials for the purchased unit. Using the bill of 
materials for each residential conventional cooking product, DOE was 
able to create an aggregated MPC based on the material costs from the 
bill of materials; the labor costs based on an average labor rate and 
the labor hours necessary to manufacture the residential conventional 
cooking products; and the overhead costs, including depreciation, based 
on a markup applied to the material and labor costs based on the 
materials used. For more information about MPCs, see section IV.C of 
this SNOPR.
c. Shipment Scenarios
    INPV, the key GRIM output, depends on industry revenue, which 
depends on the quantity and prices of residential conventional cooking 
products shipped in each year of the analysis period. Industry revenue 
calculations require forecasts of: (1) The total annual shipment volume 
of residential conventional cooking products; (2) the distribution of 
shipments across product classes (because prices vary by product 
class); and (3) the distribution of shipments across efficiency levels 
(because prices vary with efficiency).
    For the no-new-standards case scenario of the shipment analysis, 
DOE develops shipment projections based on historical data and an 
analysis of key market drivers. In the standards cases, DOE modeled a 
roll-up scenario. The roll-up scenario represents the case in which all 
shipments in the no-new-standards case that do not meet the new and 
amended standards are redesigned to now meet the new and amended 
standards levels, but do not exceed the new and amended standards 
levels. Also, no shipments that meet or exceed the new and amended 
standards have an increase in efficiency due to the new and amended 
standards.
    For a complete description of the shipments used in the no-new-
standards case and standards cases see the shipments analysis 
discussion in section IV.G of this SNOPR.
d. Markup Scenarios
    As discussed in the manufacturer production costs section 
previously, the MPCs for each of the product classes of residential 
conventional cooking products are the manufacturers' factory costs for 
those units. These costs include materials, direct labor, depreciation, 
and overhead, which are collectively referred to as the cost of goods 
sold (COGS). The MSP is the price received by residential conventional 
cooking product manufacturers from their customers, typically retail 
outlets, regardless of the

[[Page 60835]]

downstream distribution channel through which the residential 
conventional cooking products are ultimately sold. The MSP is not the 
cost the end-user pays for residential conventional cooking products 
because there are typically multiple sales along the distribution chain 
and various markups applied to each sale. The MSP equals the MPC 
multiplied by the manufacturer markup. The manufacturer markup covers 
all the residential conventional cooking product manufacturer's non-
production costs (i.e., selling, general and administrative expenses 
(SG&A), research and development (R&D), and interest, etc.) as well as 
profit. Total industry revenue for residential conventional cooking 
product manufacturers equals the MSPs at each efficiency level for each 
product class multiplied by the number of shipments at each efficiency 
level for each product class.
    Modifying these manufacturer markups in the standards cases yields 
a different set of impacts on residential conventional cooking product 
manufacturers than in the no-new-standards case. For the MIA, DOE 
modeled two standards case markup scenarios for residential 
conventional cooking products to represent the uncertainty regarding 
the potential impacts on prices and profitability for residential 
conventional cooking product manufacturers following the implementation 
of new and amended energy conservation standards. The two scenarios 
are: (1) A preservation of gross margin markup scenario and (2) a 
preservation of operating profit markup scenario. Each scenario leads 
to different manufacturer markup values, which, when applied to the 
inputted MPCs, result in varying revenue and cash flow impacts on 
residential conventional cooking product manufacturers.
    The preservation of gross margin markup scenario assumes that the 
COGS for each residential conventional cooking product is marked up by 
a flat percentage to cover SG&A expenses, R&D expenses, interest 
expenses, and profit. This allows manufacturers to preserve the same 
gross margin percentage in the standards cases as in the no-new-
standards case throughout the entire analysis period. This markup 
scenario represents the upper bound of the residential conventional 
cooking product industry profitability in the standards cases because 
residential conventional cooking product manufacturers are able to 
fully pass through additional costs due to standards to their 
consumers.
    To derive the preservation of gross margin markup percentages for 
residential conventional cooking products, DOE examined the SEC 10-Ks 
of all publicly traded residential conventional cooking product 
manufacturers to estimate the industry average gross margin percentage. 
DOE estimated that the manufacturer markup is 1.20 for all residential 
conventional cooking products. Manufacturers were then asked about this 
industry gross margin percentage derived from SEC 10-Ks during 
interviews. Residential conventional cooking product manufacturers 
agreed that the 1.20 average industry gross margin calculated from SEC 
10-Ks was an appropriate estimate to use in the MIA. DOE seeks comment 
on the use of 1.20 as a manufacturer markup for all residential 
conventional cooking products.
    DOE included an alternative markup scenario, the preservation of 
operating profit markup scenario, because manufacturers stated they do 
not expect to be able to markup the full cost of production in the 
standards cases, given the highly competitive residential conventional 
cooking product market. The preservation of operating profit markup 
scenario assumes that manufacturers are able to maintain only the no-
new-standards case total operating profit in absolute dollars in the 
standards cases, despite higher production costs and investment. The 
no-new-standards case total operating profit is derived from marking up 
the COGS by the preservation of gross margin markup previously 
described. In the standards cases for the preservation of operating 
profit markup scenario, DOE adjusted the residential conventional 
cooking product manufacturer markups in the GRIM at each TSL to yield 
approximately the same earnings before interest and taxes in the 
standards cases in the year after the compliance date of the new and 
amended standards as in the no-new-standards case. Under this scenario 
manufacturers are not able to earn additional operating profit on 
higher per unit production costs and increased capital and product 
investments required to comply with new and amended energy conservation 
standards. However, they are able to maintain the same operating profit 
in absolute dollars in the standards cases that was earned in the no-
new-standards case.
    The preservation of operating profit markup scenario represents the 
lower bound of industry profitability in the standards cases. This is 
because manufacturers are not able to fully pass through the additional 
costs necessitated by new and amended energy conservation standards, as 
they are able to do in the preservation of gross margin markup 
scenario. Therefore, manufacturers earn less revenue in the 
preservation of operating profit markup scenario than they do in the 
preservation of gross margin markup scenario.
3. Discussion of Comments
    The February 2014 RFI for residential conventional cooking products 
did not focus on the MIA or specifically address any issues relating to 
the MIA. Therefore, DOE did not receive any MIA-specific comments from 
this February 2014 RFI. However, during the July 2015 NOPR public 
meeting for residential conventional ovens, interested parties 
commented on the assumptions and results of the residential 
conventional ovens NOPR. These issues included, test procedure, safety 
requirements, and the cumulative regulatory burden placed on 
manufacturers.
a. Test Procedure
    AHAM commented that DOE's recent practice of amending the test 
procedure parallel to proposing amended standards increases the burden 
on manufacturers of residential conventional cooking products in 
responding to DOE's proposed rules. When the rulemakings are parallel 
to each other, it is difficult to comment on the proposed energy 
conservation standard because the test procedure is not yet finalized. 
(AHAM, No. 38 at p. 10) DOE has considered these comments as part of 
this rulemaking and notes that this SNOPR provides additional 
opportunity for interested parties to provide comment based on the 
proposed cooking product test procedure discussed in section III.C.
b. Safety Requirements
    Manufacturers expressed concern that the new safety requirements, 
UL 858 and Canadian Standards Association (CSA) C22.2.61 ``Household 
Cooking Ranges,'' for conventional cooking products would consume a 
significant amount of human and capital resources until 2018, which 
would cause a strain on resources needed for the implementation of 
energy conservation standards. It was suggested that the effective date 
of standards be shifted to allow manufacturers first to meet safety 
standards and then focus their limited resources on meeting the new and 
amended energy conservation standards. (Whirlpool, No. 33 at p. 4, 5, 
and 7; Electrolux, No. 27 at p. 5) DOE

[[Page 60836]]

understands manufacturers must comply with several regulations, 
including UL 858 and CSA C22.2.61, and included this in analyzing 
impacts of the proposed standard on manufacturers in the cumulative 
regulatory burden section, section V.B.2.e of this SNOPR. DOE 
understands manufacturers have limited resources, however DOE feels 
that setting an effective date at the end of 2019 balances the benefits 
and costs associated with this rulemaking.
c. Cumulative Regulatory Burden
    Several manufacturers noted the regulatory burden that numerous 
regulations will have on manufacturers. The regulatory burden of new 
safety requirements, UL 858 and CSA C22.2.61; DOE energy conservation 
standards on other home appliances; and the dual investments for 
adopting oven and cooking top standards are a concern amongst 
manufacturers. Manufacturers stated that DOE should also consider 
additional products that manufacturers of residential conventional 
cooking products make, which are also subject to potential DOE energy 
conservation standards. This places further cumulative regulatory 
burden on time and resources needed to evaluate and respond to both 
test procedures and energy conservation standards. (Whirlpool, No. 33 
at p. 4 and 7; Electrolux, No. 27 at p. 5; AHAM, No. 38 at p. 10) DOE 
analyzed cumulative regulatory burden, V.B.2.e, and included this in 
analyzing impacts of the proposed standard on manufacturers.
4. Manufacturer Interviews
    DOE conducted manufacturer interviews following publication of the 
February 2014 RFI in preparation for the June 2015 NOPR analysis. In 
these interviews, DOE asked manufacturers to describe their major 
concerns with this residential conventional cooking products 
rulemaking. The following section describes the key issues identified 
by residential conventional cooking product manufacturers during these 
interviews. DOE conducted additional discussions with select 
manufacturers to follow up on information received on the June 2015 
NOPR, but those discussions focused primarily on the engineering 
analysis.
a. Premium Products Tend To Be Less Efficient
    Manufacturers stated that their premium products (i.e., gas cooking 
tops and ovens marketed as commercial-style) are usually less efficient 
than products marketed as residential-style. Commercial-style cooking 
tops typically have less efficient features such as larger cast iron 
grates that act as an additional thermal load. Also, this style of gas 
cooking top typically has a wider gap between the burner and grate 
surface, further reducing the efficiency of the cooking top. 
Conversely, gas cooking tops marketed as residential-style tend to have 
inner, lower grates so the cooking vessels resting on them are closer 
to the heat sources. Commercial-style ovens typically have large, 
heavier-gauge cavity construction and extension racks that result in 
inherently lower efficiencies compared to residential-style ovens with 
comparable cavities sizes, due to the greater thermal mass of the 
cavity and racks, when measured according to the DOE test procedure in 
effect at the time of the interviews. Manufacturers warned DOE that 
focusing only on the efficiency of residential conventional cooking 
products could cause some manufacturers to redesign their products in a 
way that reduces consumer satisfaction as consumers tend to value 
premium features, even though they may be less efficient.
b. Induction Cooking Products
    Some manufacturers stated that induction cooking tops should be 
considered as a separate product class apart from electric smooth 
cooking tops. Manufacturers stated that while induction cooking tops 
tends to be more efficient that other electric smooth cooking tops, 
induction cooking tops could require consumers to replace some or all 
of their cookware if they are not ferromagnetic.
c. Product Utility
    Manufacturers stated that energy efficiency is not one of the most 
important attributes that consumers value when purchasing residential 
conventional cooking products. Manufacturers stated that there are 
several other factors, such as performance and durability, which 
consumers value more when purchasing residential conventional cooking 
products. Forcing manufacturers to improve the efficiency of their 
products could lead to some manufacturers removing premium features 
that consumers desire from their products, reducing overall consumer 
utility.
d. Testing and Certification Burdens
    Several manufacturers expressed concern about the testing and 
recertification costs associated with new and amended energy 
conservation standards for residential conventional cooking products. 
Because testing and certification costs are incurred on a per model 
basis, if a large number of models are required to be redesigned to 
meet new and amended standards, manufacturers would be forced to spend 
a significant amount of money testing and certifying products that were 
redesigned due to new and amended standards. Manufacturers stated that 
these testing and certification costs associated with residential 
conventional cooking products could significantly strain their limited 
resources if these costs were all incurred in the 3-year time frame 
from the publication of a final rule to the implementation of the new 
and amended standards.

K. Emissions Analysis

    The emissions analysis consists of two components. The first 
component estimates the effect of potential energy conservation 
standards on power sector and site (where applicable) combustion 
emissions of CO2, NOX, SO2, and Hg. 
The second component estimates the impacts of potential standards on 
emissions of two additional greenhouse gases, CH4 and 
N2O, as well as the reductions to emissions of all species 
due to ``upstream'' activities in the fuel production chain. These 
upstream activities comprise extraction, processing, and transporting 
fuels to the site of combustion. The associated emissions are referred 
to as upstream emissions.
    The analysis of power sector emissions uses marginal emissions 
factors that were derived from data in AEO 2015, as described in 
section IV.M of this SNOPR. The methodology is described in chapter 13 
and chapter 15 of the SNOPR TSD.
    Combustion emissions of CH4 and N2O are 
estimated using emissions intensity factors published by the EPA, GHG 
Emissions Factors Hub.\65\ The FFC upstream emissions are estimated 
based on the methodology described in chapter 15 of the SNOPR TSD. The 
upstream emissions include both emissions from fuel combustion during 
extraction, processing, and transportation of fuel, and ``fugitive'' 
emissions (direct leakage to the atmosphere) of CH4 and 
CO2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \65\ Available at: http://www2.epa.gov/climateleadership/center-corporate-climate-leadership-ghg-emission-factors-hub.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The emissions intensity factors are expressed in terms of physical 
units per MWh or MMBtu of site energy savings. Total emissions 
reductions are estimated using the energy savings calculated in the 
national impact analysis.

[[Page 60837]]

    For CH4 and N2O, DOE calculated emissions 
reduction in tons and also in terms of units of carbon dioxide 
equivalent (CO2eq). Gases are converted to CO2eq 
by multiplying each ton of gas by the gas' global warming potential 
(GWP) over a 100-year time horizon. Based on the Fifth Assessment 
Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,\66\ DOE used 
GWP values of 28 for CH4 and 265 for N2O.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \66\ IPCC, 2013: Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science 
Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment 
Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Stocker, 
T.F., D. Qin, G.-K. Plattner, M. Tignor, S.K. Allen, J. Boschung, A. 
Nauels, Y. Xia, V. Bex and P.M. Midgley (eds.)]. Cambridge 
University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA. 
Chapter 8.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Because the on-site operation of gas cooking tops requires use of 
fossil fuels and results in emissions of CO2, 
NOX, and SO2 at the sites where these appliances 
are used, DOE also accounted for the reduction in these site emissions 
and the associated upstream emissions due to potential standards. Site 
emissions were estimated using emissions intensity factors from an EPA 
publication.\67\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \67\ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Compilation of Air 
Pollutant Emission Factors, AP-42, Fifth Edition, Volume I: 
Stationary Point and Area Sources (1998) (Available at: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/chief/ap42/index.html).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The AEO incorporates the projected impacts of existing air quality 
regulations on emissions. AEO 2015 generally represents current 
legislation and environmental regulations, including recent government 
actions, for which implementing regulations were available as of 
October 31, 2015. DOE's estimation of impacts accounts for the presence 
of the emissions control programs discussed in the following 
paragraphs.
    SO2 emissions from affected electric generating units 
(EGUs) are subject to nationwide and regional emissions cap-and-trade 
programs. Title IV of the Clean Air Act sets an annual emissions cap on 
SO2 for affected EGUs in the 48 contiguous States and the 
District of Columbia (DC). (42 U.S.C. 7651 et seq.) SO2 
emissions from 28 eastern States and DC were also limited under the 
Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR). 70 FR 25162 (May 12, 2005). CAIR 
created an allowance-based trading program that operates along with the 
Title IV program. In 2008, CAIR was remanded to EPA by the U.S. Court 
of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, but it remained in 
effect.\68\ In 2011, EPA issued a replacement for CAIR, the Cross-State 
Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). 76 FR 48208 (August 8, 2011). On August 21, 
2012, the D.C. Circuit issued a decision to vacate CSAPR,\69\ and the 
court ordered EPA to continue administering CAIR. On April 29, 2014, 
the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the D.C. Circuit and 
remanded the case for further proceedings consistent with the Supreme 
Court's opinion.\70\ On October 23, 2014, the D.C. Circuit lifted the 
stay of CSAPR.\71\ Pursuant to this action, CSAPR went into effect (and 
CAIR ceased to be in effect) as of January 1, 2015.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \68\ See North Carolina v. EPA, 550 F.3d 1176 (D.C. Cir. 2008); 
North Carolina v. EPA, 531 F.3d 896 (D.C. Cir. 2008).
    \69\ See EME Homer City Generation, LP v. EPA, 696 F.3d 7, 38 
(D.C. Cir. 2012), cert. granted, 81 U.S.L.W. 3567, 81 U.S.L.W. 3696, 
81 U.S.L.W. 3702 (U.S. June 24, 2013) (No. 12-1182).
    \70\ See EPA v. EME Homer City Generation, 134 S. Ct. 1584, 1610 
(U.S. 2014). The Supreme Court held in part that EPA's methodology 
for quantifying emissions that must be eliminated in certain States 
due to their impacts in other downwind States was based on a 
permissible, workable, and equitable interpretation of the Clean Air 
Act provision that provides statutory authority for CSAPR.
    \71\ See Georgia v. EPA, Order (D.C. Cir. filed October 23, 
2014) (No. 11-1302),
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    EIA was not able to incorporate CSAPR into AEO 2015, so it assumes 
implementation of CAIR. Although DOE's analysis used emissions factors 
that assume that CAIR, not CSAPR, is the regulation in force, the 
difference between CAIR and CSAPR is not relevant for the purpose of 
DOE's analysis of emissions impacts from energy conservation standards.
    The attainment of emissions caps is typically flexible among EGUs 
and is enforced through the use of emissions allowances and tradable 
permits. Under existing EPA regulations, any excess SO2 
emissions allowances resulting from the lower electricity demand caused 
by the adoption of an efficiency standard could be used to permit 
offsetting increases in SO2 emissions by any regulated EGU. 
In past rulemakings, DOE recognized that there was uncertainty about 
the effects of efficiency standards on SO2 emissions covered 
by the existing cap-and-trade system, but it concluded that negligible 
reductions in power sector SO2 emissions would occur as a 
result of standards.
    Beginning in 2016, however, SO2 emissions will fall as a 
result of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) for power plants. 
77 FR 9304 (Feb. 16, 2012). In the MATS rule, EPA established a 
standard for hydrogen chloride as a surrogate for acid gas hazardous 
air pollutants (HAP), and also established a standard for 
SO2 (a non-HAP acid gas) as an alternative equivalent 
surrogate standard for acid gas HAP. The same controls are used to 
reduce HAP and non-HAP acid gas; thus, SO2 emissions will be 
reduced as a result of the control technologies installed on coal-fired 
power plants to comply with the MATS requirements for acid gas. AEO 
2015 assumes that, in order to continue operating, coal plants must 
have either flue gas desulfurization or dry sorbent injection systems 
installed by 2016. Both technologies, which are used to reduce acid gas 
emissions, also reduce SO2 emissions. Under the MATS, 
emissions will be far below the cap established by CAIR, so it is 
unlikely that excess SO2 emissions allowances resulting from 
the lower electricity demand would be needed or used to permit 
offsetting increases in SO2 emissions by any regulated 
EGU.\72\ Therefore, DOE believes that energy conservation standards 
will generally reduce SO2 emissions in 2016 and beyond.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \72\ DOE notes that the Supreme Court remanded EPA's 2012 rule 
regarding national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants 
from certain electric utility steam generating units. See Michigan 
v. EPA (Case No. 14-46, 2015). DOE has tentatively determined that 
the remand of the MATS rule does not change the assumptions 
regarding the impact of energy efficiency standards on 
SO2 emissions. Further, while the remand of the MATS rule 
may have an impact on the overall amount of mercury emitted by power 
plants, it does not change the impact of the energy efficiency 
standards on mercury emissions. DOE will continue to monitor 
developments related to this case and respond to them as 
appropriate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CAIR established a cap on NOX emissions in 28 eastern 
States and the District of Columbia.\73\ Energy conservation standards 
are expected to have little effect on NOX emissions in those 
States covered by CAIR because excess NOX emissions 
allowances resulting from the lower electricity demand could be used to 
permit offsetting increases in NOX emissions from other 
facilities. However, standards would be expected to reduce 
NOX emissions in the States not affected by the caps, so DOE 
estimated NOX emissions reductions from the standards 
considered in this SNOPR for these States.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \73\ As stated previously, the current analysis assumes that 
CAIR, not CSAPR, is the regulation in force. The difference between 
CAIR and CSAPR with regard to DOE's analysis of NOX 
emissions is slight.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The MATS limit mercury emissions from power plants, but they do not 
include emissions caps and, as such, DOE's energy conservation 
standards would likely reduce Hg emissions. DOE estimated mercury 
emissions reduction using emissions factors based on AEO 2015, which 
incorporates the MATS.
    EEI commented that DOE's general approach to the long-term 
assessment of the impacts of energy conservation

[[Page 60838]]

standards on electricity usage and the related upstream emissions from 
the power sector is flawed due to their failure to address significant 
and expected changes in the power sector that will change demand for 
electricity and the composition of the generating fleet through the 
period that is covered by the life of a new residential cooking 
product. EEI also commented that this focus on existing regulations 
results in predictions about the future composition of the electric 
generating fleet and the related emissions from that fleet that are 
unlikely to be borne out by actual experience. (EEI, No. 30 at p. 4)
    DOE believes it would be inappropriate to use projections of the 
power sector that attempt to incorporate regulations that have not been 
finalized. The final shape of a regulation affects its impacts on the 
power sector and is not certain until the regulation has become 
effective.\74\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \74\ In many cases, newly-issued regulations face challenge in 
the courts, the outcome of which is uncertain. However, DOE believes 
that it is reasonable to include the impacts of regulations that 
have already been issued.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

L. Monetizing Carbon Dioxide and Other Emissions Impacts

    As part of the development of this proposed rule, DOE considered 
the estimated monetary benefits from the reduced emissions of 
CO2 and NOX that are expected to result from each 
of the TSLs considered. In order to make this calculation similar to 
the calculation of the NPV of consumer benefit, DOE considered the 
reduced emissions expected to result over the lifetime of equipment 
shipped in the forecast period for each TSL. This section summarizes 
the basis for the monetary values used for each of these emissions and 
presents the values considered in this SNOPR.
1. Social Cost of Carbon
    The SCC is an estimate of the monetized damages associated with an 
incremental increase in carbon emissions in a given year. It is 
intended to include (but is not limited to) changes in net agricultural 
productivity, human health, property damages from increased flood risk, 
and the value of ecosystem services. Estimates of the SCC are provided 
in dollars per metric ton of carbon dioxide. A domestic SCC value is 
meant to reflect the value of damages in the United States resulting 
from a unit change in carbon dioxide emissions, while a global SCC 
value is meant to reflect the value of damages worldwide.
    Under section 1(b)(6) of Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory 
Planning and Review,'' 58 FR 51735 (Oct. 4, 1993), agencies must, to 
the extent permitted by law, assess both the costs and the benefits of 
the intended regulation and, recognizing that some costs and benefits 
are difficult to quantify, propose or adopt a regulation only upon a 
reasoned determination that the benefits of the intended regulation 
justify its costs. The purpose of the SCC estimates presented here is 
to allow agencies to incorporate the monetized social benefits of 
reducing CO2 emissions into cost-benefit analyses of 
regulatory actions. The estimates are presented with an acknowledgement 
of the many uncertainties involved and with a clear understanding that 
they should be updated over time to reflect increasing knowledge of the 
science and economics of climate impacts.
    As part of the interagency process that developed the SCC 
estimates, technical experts from numerous agencies met on a regular 
basis to consider public comments, explore the technical literature in 
relevant fields, and discuss key model inputs and assumptions. The main 
objective of this process was to develop a range of SCC values using a 
defensible set of input assumptions grounded in the existing scientific 
and economic literatures. In this way, key uncertainties and model 
differences transparently and consistently inform the range of SCC 
estimates used in the rulemaking process.
a. Monetizing Carbon Dioxide Emissions
    When attempting to assess the incremental economic impacts of 
carbon dioxide emissions, the analyst faces a number of challenges. A 
report from the National Research Council points out that any 
assessment will suffer from uncertainty, speculation, and lack of 
information about: (1) Future emissions of greenhouse gases; (2) the 
effects of past and future emissions on the climate system; (3) the 
impact of changes in climate on the physical and biological 
environment; and (4) the translation of these environmental impacts 
into economic damages.\75\ As a result, any effort to quantify and 
monetize the harms associated with climate change will raise serious 
questions of science, economics, and ethics and should be viewed as 
provisional.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \75\ National Research Council. Hidden Costs of Energy: Unpriced 
Consequences of Energy Production and Use. National Academies Press: 
Washington, DC (2009).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Despite the limits of both quantification and monetization, SCC 
estimates can be useful in estimating the social benefits of reducing 
carbon dioxide emissions. The agency can estimate the benefits from 
reduced (or costs from increased) emissions in any future year by 
multiplying the change in emissions in that year by the SCC values 
appropriate for that year. The NPV of the benefits can then be 
calculated by multiplying each of these future benefits by an 
appropriate discount factor and summing across all affected years.
    It is important to emphasize that the interagency process is 
committed to updating these estimates as the science and economic 
understanding of climate change and its impacts on society improves 
over time. In the meantime, the interagency group will continue to 
explore the issues raised by this analysis and consider public comments 
as part of the ongoing interagency process.
b. Development of Social Cost of Carbon Values
    In 2009, an interagency process was initiated to offer a 
preliminary assessment of how best to quantify the benefits from 
reducing carbon dioxide emissions. To ensure consistency in how 
benefits are evaluated across Federal agencies, the Administration 
sought to develop a transparent and defensible method, specifically 
designed for the rulemaking process, to quantify avoided climate change 
damages from reduced CO2 emissions. The interagency group 
did not undertake any original analysis. Instead, it combined SCC 
estimates from the existing literature to use as interim values until a 
more comprehensive analysis could be conducted. The outcome of the 
preliminary assessment by the interagency group was a set of five 
interim values: global SCC estimates for 2007 (in 2006$) of $55, $33, 
$19, $10, and $5 per metric ton of CO2. These interim values 
represented the first sustained interagency effort within the U.S. 
government to develop an SCC for use in regulatory analysis. The 
results of this preliminary effort were presented in several proposed 
and final rules.
c. Current Approach and Key Assumptions
    After the release of the interim values, the interagency group 
reconvened on a regular basis to generate improved SCC estimates. 
Specifically, the group considered public comments and further explored 
the technical literature in relevant fields. The interagency group 
relied on three integrated assessment models commonly used to estimate 
the SCC: The FUND, DICE, and PAGE models. These models are frequently 
cited in the peer-reviewed literature and were used in the last 
assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate

[[Page 60839]]

Change (IPCC). Each model was given equal weight in the SCC values that 
were developed.
    Each model takes a slightly different approach to model how changes 
in emissions result in changes in economic damages. A key objective of 
the interagency process was to enable a consistent exploration of the 
three models while respecting the different approaches to quantifying 
damages taken by the key modelers in the field. An extensive review of 
the literature was conducted to select three sets of input parameters 
for these models: Climate sensitivity, socio-economic and emissions 
trajectories, and discount rates. A probability distribution for 
climate sensitivity was specified as an input into all three models. In 
addition, the interagency group used a range of scenarios for the 
socio-economic parameters and a range of values for the discount rate. 
All other model features were left unchanged, relying on the model 
developers' best estimates and judgments.
    In 2010, the interagency group selected four sets of SCC values for 
use in regulatory analyses.\76\ Three sets of values are based on the 
average SCC from three integrated assessment models, at discount rates 
of 2.5 percent, 3 percent, and 5 percent. The fourth set, which 
represents the 95th-percentile SCC estimate across all three models at 
a 3-percent discount rate, is included to represent higher-than-
expected impacts from climate change further out in the tails of the 
SCC distribution. The values grow in real terms over time. 
Additionally, the interagency group determined that a range of values 
from 7 percent to 23 percent should be used to adjust the global SCC to 
calculate domestic effects,\77\ although preference is given to 
consideration of the global benefits of reducing CO2 
emissions. Table IV.47 presents the values in the 2010 interagency 
group report, which is reproduced in appendix 14A of the SNOPR TSD.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \76\ Social Cost of Carbon for Regulatory Impact Analysis Under 
Executive Order 12866. Interagency Working Group on Social Cost of 
Carbon, United States Government (February 2010) (Available at: 
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/inforeg/for-agencies/Social-Cost-of-Carbon-for-RIA.pdf.).
    \77\ It is recognized that this calculation for domestic values 
is approximate, provisional, and highly speculative. There is no a 
priori reason why domestic benefits should be a constant fraction of 
net global damages over time.

                     Table IV.47--Annual SCC Values From 2010 Interagency Report, 2010-2050
                                           [2007$ per metric ton CO2]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                         Discount rate (%)
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         5               3              2.5              3
                      Year                       ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                       95th
                                                      Average         Average         Average       Percentile
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2010............................................             4.7            21.4            35.1            64.9
2015............................................             5.7            23.8            38.4            72.8
2020............................................             6.8            26.3            41.7            80.7
2025............................................             8.2            29.6            45.9            90.4
2030............................................             9.7            32.8            50.0           100.0
2035............................................            11.2            36.0            54.2           109.7
2040............................................            12.7            39.2            58.4           119.3
2045............................................            14.2            42.1            61.7           127.8
2050............................................            15.7            44.9            65.0           136.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The SCC values used for this SNOPR were generated using the most 
recent versions of the three integrated assessment models that have 
been published in the peer-reviewed literature.\78\ Table IV.48 shows 
the updated sets of SCC estimates from the 2013 interagency update in 
5-year increments from 2010 to 2050. Appendix 14B of the SNOPR TSD 
provides the full set of values. The central value that emerges is the 
average SCC across models at 3-percent discount rate. However, for 
purposes of capturing the uncertainties involved in regulatory impact 
analysis, the interagency group emphasizes the importance of including 
all four sets of SCC values.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \78\ Technical Update of the Social Cost of Carbon for 
Regulatory Impact Analysis Under Executive Order 12866. Interagency 
Working Group on Social Cost of Carbon, United States Government 
(May 2013; revised July 2015) (Available at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/inforeg/scc-tsd-final-july-2015.pdf).

           Table IV.48--Annual SCC Values From 2013 Interagency Update (Revised July 2015), 2010-2050
                                           [2007$ per metric ton CO2]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                         Discount rate (%)
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         5               3              2.5              3
                      Year                       ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                       95th
                                                      Average         Average         Average       Percentile
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2010............................................              10              31              50              86
2015............................................              11              36              56             105
2020............................................              12              42              62             123
2025............................................              14              46              68             138
2030............................................              16              50              73             152
2035............................................              18              55              78             168
2040............................................              21              60              84             183
2045............................................              23              64              89             197
2050............................................              26              69              95             212
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 60840]]

    AHAM suggested that DOE rely on the 2010 estimates for SCC until it 
has resolved all comments on the derivation of the SCC estimates from 
the 2013 report. DOE notes that the 2013 report provides an update of 
the SCC estimates based solely on the latest peer-reviewed version of 
the models, replacing model versions that were developed up to 10 years 
ago in a rapidly evolving field. It does not revisit other assumptions 
with regard to the discount rate, reference case socio-economic and 
emission scenarios, or equilibrium climate sensitivity. Improvements in 
the way damages are modeled are confined to those that have been 
incorporated into the latest versions of the models by the developers 
themselves in the peer-reviewed literature. Given the above, using the 
2010 estimates would be inconsistent with DOE's objective of using the 
best available information in its analyses.
    It is important to recognize that a number of key uncertainties 
remain, and that current SCC estimates should be treated as provisional 
and revisable since they will evolve with improved scientific and 
economic understanding. The interagency group also recognizes that the 
existing models are imperfect and incomplete. The National Research 
Council report mentioned above points out that there is tension between 
the goal of producing quantified estimates of the economic damages from 
an incremental ton of carbon and the limits of existing efforts to 
model these effects. There are a number of analytical challenges that 
are being addressed by the research community, including research 
programs housed in many of the Federal agencies participating in the 
interagency process to estimate the SCC. The interagency group intends 
to periodically review and revise those estimates to reflect increasing 
knowledge of the science and economics of climate impacts, as well as 
improvements in modeling.
    In summary, in considering the potential global benefits resulting 
from reduced CO2 emissions, DOE used the values from the 
2013 interagency report (revised July 2015), adjusted to 2015$ using 
the implicit price deflator for gross domestic product (GDP) from the 
Bureau of Economic Analysis. For each of the four sets of SCC cases 
specified, the values for emissions in 2015 were $12.4, $40.6, $63.2, 
and $118 per metric ton avoided (values expressed in 2015$). DOE 
derived values after 2050 using the relevant growth rates for the 2040-
2050 period in the interagency update.
    DOE multiplied the CO2 emissions reduction estimated for 
each year by the SCC value for that year in each of the four cases. To 
calculate a present value of the stream of monetary values, DOE 
discounted the values in each of the four cases using the specific 
discount rate that had been used to obtain the SCC values in each case.
    The Cato Institute stated that the SCC is not supported by 
scientific literature, not in accordance with OMB guidelines, fraught 
with uncertainty, illogical and thus unsuitable and inappropriate for 
Federal rulemaking. The comment emphasized that the SCC is discordant 
with the best scientific literature on the equilibrium climate 
sensitivity and the fertilization effect of carbon dioxide. Further, 
the estimates should make a clear distinction between global and 
domestic cost-benefit estimates and delineate the potential positive 
impact on agriculture. The Cato Institute argued that use of the SCC in 
cost/benefit analyses in this rulemaking should be suspended. (Cato 
Institute, No. 24 at pp. 3, 13) NPGA also commented on the issue of a 
clear distinction between global and domestic cost-benefit estimates. 
(NPGA, No. 35 at p. 2)
    DOE acknowledges the limitations of the SCC estimates, which are 
discussed in detail in the 2010 Report. Specifically, the 2010 Report 
discusses and explains the reasons for uncertainties in the assumptions 
regarding climate sensitivity, as well as other model inputs such as 
economic growth and emissions trajectories.\79\ The three integrated 
assessment models used to estimate the SCC are frequently cited in the 
peer-reviewed literature and were used in the last assessment of the 
IPCC. In addition, new versions of the models that were used in 2013 to 
estimate revised SCC values were published in the peer-reviewed 
literature (see appendix 14B of the final rule TSD for discussion). 
Although uncertainties remain, the revised estimates in the 2013 Report 
are based on the best available scientific information on the impacts 
of climate change. The current SCC estimates have been developed over 
many years, using the best science available, and with input from the 
public. In November 2013, OMB announced a new opportunity for public 
comment on the interagency technical support document underlying the 
revised SCC estimates. 78 FR 70586. In July 2015 OMB published a 
detailed summary and formal response to the many comments that were 
received.\80\ It also stated its intention to seek independent expert 
advice on opportunities to improve the estimates, including many of the 
approaches suggested by commenters. DOE stands ready to work with OMB 
and the other members of the interagency working group on further 
review and revision of the SCC estimates as appropriate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \79\ Interagency Working Group on Social Cost of Carbon, Social 
Cost of Carbon for Regulatory Impact Analysis Under Executive Order 
12866 (2010), Available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/inforeg/for-agencies/Social-Cost-of-Carbon-for-RIA.pdf.
    \80\ This is available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/07/02/estimating-benefits-carbon-dioxide-emissions-reductions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    With respect to distinguishing between global and domestic benefits 
from reducing CO2 emissions, DOE's analysis estimates both 
global and domestic benefits of CO2 emissions reductions. 
Following the recommendation of the interagency working group, DOE 
places more focus on a global measure of SCC. As discussed in appendix 
14A of the SNOPR TSD, the climate change problem is highly unusual in 
at least two respects. First, it involves a global externality: 
Emissions of most greenhouse gases contribute to damages around the 
world even when they are emitted in the United States. Consequently, to 
address the global nature of the problem, the SCC must incorporate the 
full (global) damages caused by GHG emissions. Second, climate change 
presents a problem that the United States alone cannot solve. Even if 
the United States were to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to zero, 
that step would be far from enough to avoid substantial climate change. 
Other countries would also need to take action to reduce emissions if 
significant changes in the global climate are to be avoided. 
Emphasizing the need for a global solution to a global problem, the 
United States has been actively involved in seeking international 
agreements to reduce emissions and in encouraging other nations, 
including emerging major economies, to take significant steps to reduce 
emissions. When these considerations are taken as a whole, the 
interagency group concluded that a global measure of the benefits from 
reducing U.S. emissions is preferable.
2. Social Cost of Other Air Pollutants
    As noted previously, DOE has estimated how the considered energy 
conservation standards would reduce site NOX emissions 
nationwide and decrease power sector NOX emissions in those 
22 States not affected by the CAIR.
    DOE estimated the monetized value of NOX emissions 
reductions from electricity generation using benefit per ton estimates 
from the Regulatory Impact Analysis for the Clean Power

[[Page 60841]]

Plan Final Rule, published in August 2015 by EPA's Office of Air 
Quality Planning and Standards.\81\ The report includes high and low 
values for NOX (as PM2.5) for 2020, 2025, and 
2030 discounted at 3 percent and 7 percent, which are presented in 
chapter 14 of the SNOPR TSD. DOE primarily relied on the low estimates 
to be conservative.\82\ DOE assigned values for 2021-2024 and 2026-2029 
using, respectively, the values for 2020 and 2025. DOE assigned values 
after 2030 using the value for 2030. DOE developed values specific to 
the end-use category for cooking products using a method described in 
appendix 14C of the NOPR TSD.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \81\ Available at www.epa.gov/cleanpowerplan/clean-power-plan-final-rule-regulatory-impact-analysis. See Tables 4A-3, 4A-4, and 
4A-5 in the report. The U.S. Supreme Court has stayed the rule 
implementing the Clean Power Plan until the current litigation 
against it concludes. Chamber of Commerce, et al. v. EPA, et al., 
Order in Pending Case, 577 U.S. __ (2016). However, the benefit-per-
ton estimates established in the Regulatory Impact Analysis for the 
Clean Power Plan are based on scientific studies that remain valid 
irrespective of the legal status of the Clean Power Plan.
    \82\ For the monetized NOX benefits associated with 
PM2.5, the related benefits are primarily based on an 
estimate of premature mortality derived from the ACS study (Krewski 
et al., 2009), which is the lower of the two EPA central tendencies. 
Using the lower value is more conservative when making the policy 
decision concerning whether a particular standard level is 
economically justified so using the higher value would also be 
justified. If the benefit-per-ton estimates were based on the Six 
Cities study (Lepuele et al., 2012), the values would be nearly two-
and-a-half times larger. (See chapter 14 of the SNOPR TSD for 
further description of the studies mentioned above.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE estimated the monetized value of NOX emissions 
reductions from combustion in homes using benefit per ton estimates 
from the EPA's Technical Support Document Estimating the Benefit per 
Ton of Reducing PM2.5 Precursors from 17 Sectors.\83\ Although none of 
the sectors refers specifically to residential and commercial 
buildings, DOE believes that the sector called ``Area sources'' would 
be a reasonable proxy for residential and commercial buildings. ``Area 
sources'' represents all emission sources for which states do not have 
exact (point) locations in their emissions inventories. Since exact 
locations would tend to be associated with larger sources, ``area 
sources'' would be fairly representative of small dispersed sources 
like homes and businesses. The Technical Support Document provides high 
and low estimates for 2016, 2020, 2025, and 2030 at 3-percent and 7-
percent discount rates. As with the benefit per ton estimates for 
NOX emissions reductions from electricity generation, DOE 
primarily relied on the low estimates to be conservative.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \83\ http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-10/documents/sourceapportionmentbpttsd.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE multiplied the emissions reduction (in tons) in each year by 
the associated $/ton values, and then discounted each series using 
discount rates of 3 percent and 7 percent as appropriate. DOE will 
continue to evaluate the monetization of avoided NOX 
emissions and will make any appropriate updates of the current analysis 
for the final rulemaking.
    DOE is evaluating appropriate monetization of avoided 
SO2 and Hg emissions in energy conservation standards 
rulemakings. It has not included monetization of these emissions in the 
current analysis.

M. Utility Impact Analysis

    The utility impact analysis estimates several effects on the 
electric power industry that would result from the adoption of new or 
amended energy conservation standards. The utility impact analysis 
estimates the changes in installed electrical capacity and generation 
that would result for each TSL. The analysis is based on published 
output from the NEMS associated with AEO 2015. NEMS produces the AEO 
Reference case, as well as a number of side cases that estimate the 
economy-wide impacts of changes to energy supply and demand. DOE uses 
published side cases to estimate the marginal impacts of reduced energy 
demand on the utility sector. These marginal factors are estimated 
based on the changes to electricity sector generation, installed 
capacity, fuel consumption and emissions in the AEO Reference case and 
various side cases. Details of the methodology are provided in the 
appendices to chapters 13 and 15 of the SNOPR TSD.
    The output of this analysis is a set of time-dependent coefficients 
that capture the change in electricity generation, primary fuel 
consumption, installed capacity and power sector emissions due to a 
unit reduction in demand for a given end use. These coefficients are 
multiplied by the stream of electricity savings calculated in the NIA 
to provide estimates of selected utility impacts of new or amended 
energy conservation standards.

N. Employment Impact Analysis

    Employment impacts from new or amended energy conservation 
standards include direct and indirect impacts. Direct employment 
impacts are any changes in the number of employees of manufacturers of 
the equipment subject to standards; the MIA addresses those impacts. 
Indirect employment impacts are changes in national employment that 
occur due to the shift in expenditures and capital investment caused by 
the purchase and operation of more efficient equipment. Indirect 
employment impacts from standards consist of the jobs created or 
eliminated in the national economy, other than in the manufacturing 
sector being regulated, due to: (1) Reduced spending by end users on 
energy; (2) reduced spending on new energy supply by the utility 
industry; (3) increased consumer spending on the purchase of new 
equipment; and (4) the effects of those three factors throughout the 
economy.
    One method for assessing the possible effects on the demand for 
labor of such shifts in economic activity is to compare sector 
employment statistics developed by the Labor Department's Bureau of 
Labor Statistics (BLS). BLS regularly publishes its estimates of the 
number of jobs per million dollars of economic activity in different 
sectors of the economy, as well as the jobs created elsewhere in the 
economy by this same economic activity. Data from BLS indicate that 
expenditures in the utility sector generally create fewer jobs (both 
directly and indirectly) than expenditures in other sectors of the 
economy.\84\ There are many reasons for these differences, including 
wage differences and the fact that the utility sector is more capital-
intensive and less labor-intensive than other sectors. Energy 
conservation standards have the effect of reducing consumer utility 
bills. Because reduced consumer expenditures for energy likely lead to 
increased expenditures in other sectors of the economy, the general 
effect of efficiency standards is to shift economic activity from a 
less labor-intensive sector (i.e., the utility sector) to more labor-
intensive sectors (e.g., the retail and service sectors). Thus, the BLS 
data suggest that net national employment may increase because of 
shifts in economic activity resulting from amended standards.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \84\ See U.S. Department of Commerce--Bureau of Economic 
Analysis. Regional Multipliers: A User Handbook for the Regional 
Input-Output Modeling System (RIMS II). 1997. U.S. Government 
Printing Office: Washington, DC. Available at http://www.bea.gov/scb/pdf/regional/perinc/meth/rims2.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE estimated indirect national employment impacts for the standard 
levels considered in this SNOPR using an input/output model of the U.S. 
economy called Impact of Sector Energy Technologies, Version 3.1.1 
(ImSET).\85\

[[Page 60842]]

ImSET is a special-purpose version of the ``U.S. Benchmark National 
Input-Output'' (I-O) model, which was designed to estimate the national 
employment and income effects of energy-saving technologies. The ImSET 
software includes a computer-based I-O model having structural 
coefficients that characterize economic flows among the 187 sectors 
most relevant to industrial, commercial, and residential building 
energy use.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \85\ M.J. Scott, O.V. Livingston, P.J. Balducci, J.M. Roop, and 
R.W. Schultz, ImSET 3.1: Impact of Sector Energy Technologies, PNNL-
18412, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (2009) (Available at: 
www.pnl.gov/main/publications/external/technical_reports/PNNL-18412.pdf).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE notes that ImSET is not a general equilibrium forecasting 
model, and understands the uncertainties involved in projecting 
employment impacts, especially changes in the later years of the 
analysis. Because ImSET does not incorporate price changes, the 
employment effects predicted by ImSET may over-estimate actual job 
impacts over the long run. Therefore, DOE generated results for near-
term timeframes, where these uncertainties are reduced. For more 
details on the employment impact analysis, see chapter 16 of the SNOPR 
TSD.

V. Analytical Results

    The following section addresses the results from DOE's analyses 
with respect to potential energy conservation standards for 
conventional cooking products. It addresses the TSLs examined by DOE 
and the projected impacts of each of these levels if adopted as energy 
conservation standards for conventional cooking products. Additional 
details regarding DOE's analyses are contained in the SNOPR TSD 
supporting this SNOPR.

A. Trial Standard Levels

    DOE analyzed the benefits and burdens of four TSLs for conventional 
cooking products. These TSLs were developed by combining specific 
efficiency levels for each of the product classes analyzed by DOE. DOE 
presents the results for the TSLs in this document, while the results 
for all efficiency levels that DOE analyzed are in the SNOPR TSD.
    Table V.1 through Table V.3 present the TSLs and the corresponding 
efficiency levels for conventional cooking products.\86\ TSL 4 
represents the maximum technologically feasible (``max-tech'') 
improvements in energy efficiency for all product classes. TSL 3 
comprises efficiency levels providing maximum NES with positive NPV. 
TSL 2 includes the prescriptive standards for conventional ovens 
control design and represents a level between TSL 1 and TSL 3 that does 
not eliminate commercial-style cooking tops from the market and yields 
an NPV greater than TSL 1. TSL 1 was configured with a control strategy 
approach with maximum NES.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \86\ For the conventional oven product classes, the efficiency 
levels are based on an oven with a cavity volume of 4.3 ft\3\. As 
discussed in section IV.C.3 of this notice, DOE developed slopes and 
intercepts to characterize the relationship between IEAC and cavity 
volume for each efficiency level.

                                                    Table V.1--Trial Standard Levels for Cooking Tops
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Electric open (coil) element cooking        Electric smooth element                 Gas cooking tops
                                                         tops                             cooking tops          ----------------------------------------
                 TSL                  --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   Efficiency                        Efficiency level      IAEC (kWh/yr)
                                           Efficiency level       IAEC (kWh/yr)       level       IAEC (kWh/yr)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1....................................  Baseline................           118.1               2           121.2  Baseline...............         1,104.6
2....................................  1.......................           113.2               2           121.2  1......................           924.4
3....................................  1.......................           113.2               2           121.2  3......................           730.4
4....................................  1.......................           113.2               4           102.3  3......................           730.4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                  Table V.2--Trial Standard Levels for Ovens, Electric
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Electric standard ovens,  Electric standard ovens,   Electric self-cleaning    Electric self-cleaning
                                                        free-standing           built-in/slide-in       ovens, free-standing    ovens, built-in/slide-in
                       TSL                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Efficiency   IAEC (kWh/   Efficiency   IAEC (kWh/   Efficiency   IAEC (kWh/   Efficiency   IAEC (kWh/
                                                     level         yr)         level         yr)         level         yr)         level         yr)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................................            1        306.3            1        313.3            1        346.0            1        353.0
2...............................................            1        306.3            1        313.3            1        346.0            1        353.0
3...............................................            4        274.0            4        280.3            1        346.0            1        353.0
4...............................................            7        222.2            7        227.2            4        278.5            4        284.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                     Table V.3--Trial Standard Levels for Ovens, Gas
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Gas standard ovens, free-    Gas standard ovens,      Gas self-clean ovens,     Gas self-clean ovens,
                                                          standing              built-in/slide-in           free-standing           built-in/slide-in
                       TSL                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Efficiency   IAEC (kWh/   Efficiency   IAEC (kWh/   Efficiency   IAEC (kWh/   Efficiency   IAEC (kWh/
                                                     level         yr)         level         yr)         level         yr)         level         yr)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................................            1      2,052.5            1      2,062.4            1      1,929.0            1      1,939.0
2...............................................            2      1,849.9            2      1,858.8            2      1,740.5            2      1,749.4
3...............................................            6      1,654.9            6      1,662.9            4      1,658.9            4      1,667.4
4...............................................            6      1,654.9            6      1,662.9            4      1,658.9            4      1,667.4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 60843]]

B. Economic Justification and Energy Savings

1. Economic Impacts on Individual Consumers
    DOE analyzed the economic impacts on conventional cooking products 
consumers by looking at the effects potential amended standards would 
have on the LCC and PBP. DOE also examined the impacts of potential 
standards on consumer subgroups. These analyses are discussed below.
a. Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period
    In general, higher-efficiency products affect consumers in two 
ways: (1) Purchase price increases, and (2) operating costs decrease. 
Inputs used for calculating the LCC and PBP include total installed 
costs (i.e., product price plus installation costs), and operating 
costs (i.e., annual energy savings, energy prices, energy price trends, 
repair costs, and maintenance costs). The LCC calculation also uses 
product lifetime and a discount rate. Chapter 8 of the SNOPR TSD 
provides detailed information on the LCC and PBP analyses.
    Table V.4 through Table V.25 show the LCC and PBP results for all 
efficiency levels considered for each conventional cooking product 
class. In the first of each pair of tables, the simple payback is 
measured relative to the baseline product. In the second table, the LCC 
savings are measured relative to the no-new-standards case efficiency 
distribution in the compliance year (see section IV.F.9 of this SNOPR). 
Because some consumers purchase products with higher efficiency in the 
no-new-standards case, the average savings are less than the difference 
between the average LCC of the lowest-efficiency level and the average 
LCC at each TSL. The savings refer only to consumers who are affected 
by a standard at a given TSL. Those who already purchase a product with 
efficiency at or above a given TSL are not affected. Consumers for whom 
the LCC increases at a given TSL experience a net cost.

                      Table V.4--Average LCC and PBP Results by Efficiency Level for PC1 Electric Open (Coil) Element Cooking Tops
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Average costs 2015$
                                                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------- Simple payback
                    TSL                           Efficiency level                         First year's      Lifetime                          years
                                                                          Installed cost  operating cost  operating cost        LCC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.........................................  Baseline....................            $253             $16            $337            $590  ..............
2,3,4.....................................  1...........................             256              15             329             585             0.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The results for each TSL are calculated assuming that all consumers use products at that efficiency level. The PBP is measured relative to the
  baseline product.


  Table V.5--Average LCC Savings Relative to the No-New-Standards Case Efficiency Distribution for PC1 Electric
                                        Open (Coil) Element Cooking Tops
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Life-cycle cost savings
                                                                            ---------------------------------------
                    TSL                             Efficiency level         % of Consumers     Average savings*
                                                                                  that      -----------------------
                                                                               experience       Net cost     2015$
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------
1..........................................  Baseline......................               0           $0.00
2,3,4......................................  1.............................              19            2.87
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The calculation includes households with zero LCC savings (no impact).


                         Table V.6--Average LCC and PBP Results by Efficiency Level for PC2 Electric Smooth Element Cooking Tops
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Average costs 2015$
                                                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------- Simple payback
                    TSL                           Efficiency level                         First year's      Lifetime                          years
                                                                          Installed cost  operating cost  operating cost        LCC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,2,3.....................................  2...........................            $483             $16            $343            $825             1.0
4.........................................  4...........................             835              14             312           1,146            61.9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The results for each TSL are calculated assuming that all consumers use products at that efficiency level. The PBP is measured relative to the
  baseline product.


  Table V.7--Average LCC Savings Relative to the No-New-Standards Case Efficiency Distribution for PC2 Electric
                                           Smooth Element Cooking Tops
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Life-cycle cost savings
                                                                            ---------------------------------------
                    TSL                             Efficiency level         % of Consumers     Average savings*
                                                                                  that      -----------------------
                                                                               experience       Net cost     2015$
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------
1,2,3......................................  2.............................               0          $24.37

[[Page 60844]]

 
4..........................................  4.............................              98        (280.82)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The calculation includes households with zero LCC savings (no impact).


                                   Table V.8--Average LCC and PBP Results by Efficiency Level for PC3 Gas Cooking Tops
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Average costs 2015$
                                                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------- Simple payback
                    TSL                           Efficiency level                         First year's      Lifetime                          years
                                                                          Installed cost  operating cost  operating cost        LCC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.........................................  Baseline....................            $345             $12            $266            $611              --
2.........................................  1...........................             361              10             246             607             9.1
3,4.......................................  3...........................             361               8             225             586             4.4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The results for each TSL are calculated assuming that all consumers use products at that efficiency level. The PBP is measured relative to the
  baseline product.


Table V.9--Average LCC Savings Relative to the No-New-Standards Case Efficiency Distribution for PC3 Gas Cooking
                                                      Tops
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Life-cycle cost savings
                                                                            ---------------------------------------
                    TSL                             Efficiency level         % of Consumers     Average savings*
                                                                                  that      -----------------------
                                                                               experience       Net cost     2015$
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------
1..........................................  Baseline......................               0           $0.00
2..........................................  1.............................              14            1.10
3,4........................................  3.............................               6           15.83
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*The calculation includes households with zero LCC savings (no impact).


                       Table V.10--Average LCC and PBP Results by Efficiency Level for PC4 Electric Standard Ovens, Free-Standing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Average costs 2015$
                                                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------- Simple payback
                    TSL                           Efficiency level                         First year's      Lifetime                          years
                                                                          Installed cost  operating cost  operating cost        LCC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,2.......................................  1...........................            $557             $17            $386            $942             0.9
3.........................................  4...........................             569              16             364             934             4.7
4.........................................  7...........................             652              13             332             984            17.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The results for each TSL are calculated assuming that all consumers use products at that efficiency level. The PBP is measured relative to the
  baseline product.


 Table V.11--Average LCC Savings Relative to the No-New-Standards Case Efficiency Distribution for PC4 Electric
                                          Standard Ovens, Free-Standing
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Life-cycle cost savings
                                                                            ---------------------------------------
                    TSL                             Efficiency level         % of Consumers     Average savings*
                                                                                  that      -----------------------
                                                                               experience       Net cost     2015$
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------
1,2........................................  1.............................               0           $5.93
3..........................................  4.............................              20           10.23
4..........................................  7.............................              80         (30.82)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*The calculation includes households with zero LCC savings (no impact).


[[Page 60845]]


                     Table V.12--Average LCC and PBP Results by Efficiency Level for PC5 Electric Standard Ovens, Built-In/Slide-In
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Average costs 2015$
                                                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------- Simple payback
                    TSL                           Efficiency level                         First year's      Lifetime                          years
                                                                          Installed cost  operating cost  operating cost        LCC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,2.......................................  1...........................            $583             $17            $386            $968             0.9
3.........................................  4...........................             596              16             364             960             4.7
4.........................................  7...........................             678              13             332           1,010            17.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The results for each TSL are calculated assuming that all consumers use products at that efficiency level. The PBP is measured relative to the
  baseline product.


 Table V.13--Average LCC Savings Relative to the No-New-Standards Case Efficiency Distribution for PC5 Electric
                                        Standard Ovens, Built-In/Slide-In
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Life-cycle cost savings
                                                                                 -------------------------------
                                                                                  % of Consumers      Average
                      TSL                               Efficiency level               that          savings*
                                                                                    experience   ---------------
                                                                                 ----------------
                                                                                     Net cost          2015$
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,2...........................................  1...............................               0           $5.96
3.............................................  4...............................              20           10.23
4.............................................  7...............................              80         (30.83)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The calculation includes households with zero LCC savings (no impact).


                      Table V.14--Average LCC and PBP Results by Efficiency Level for PC6 Electric Self-Clean Ovens, Free-Standing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Average costs 2015$
                                                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------- Simple payback
                    TSL                           Efficiency level                         First year's      Lifetime                          years
                                                                          Installed cost  operating cost  operating cost        LCC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,2,3.....................................  1...........................            $600             $25            $482          $1,083             0.9
4.........................................  4...........................             684              21             433           1,117            16.2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The results for each TSL are calculated assuming that all consumers use products at that efficiency level. The PBP is measured relative to the
  baseline product.


 Table V.15--Average LCC Savings Relative to the No-New-Standards Case Efficiency Distribution for PC6 Electric
                                         Self-Clean Ovens, Free-Standing
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Life-cycle cost savings
                                                                                 -------------------------------
                                                                                  % of Consumers      Average
                      TSL                               Efficiency level               that          savings*
                                                                                    experience   ---------------
                                                                                 ----------------
                                                                                     Net cost          2015$
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,2,3.........................................  1...............................               0           $7.04
4.............................................  4...............................              72         (17.19)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The calculation includes households with zero LCC savings (no impact).


                    Table V.16--Average LCC and PBP Results by Efficiency Level for PC7 Electric Self-Clean Ovens, Built-In/Slide-In
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Average costs 2015$
                                                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------- Simple payback
                    TSL                           Efficiency level                         First year's      Lifetime                          years
                                                                          Installed cost  operating cost  operating cost        LCC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,2,3.....................................  1...........................            $626             $25            $484          $1,110             0.9
4.........................................  4...........................             710              21             435           1,145            16.2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The results for each TSL are calculated assuming that all consumers use products at that efficiency level. The PBP is measured relative to the
  baseline product.


[[Page 60846]]


 Table V.17--Average LCC Savings Relative to the No-New-Standards Case Efficiency Distribution for PC7 Electric
                                       Self-Clean Ovens, Built-In/Slide-In
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Life-cycle cost savings
                                                                                 -------------------------------
                                                                                  % of Consumers      Average
                      TSL                               Efficiency level               that          savings*
                                                                                    experience   ---------------
                                                                                 ----------------
                                                                                     Net cost          2015$
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,2,3.........................................  1...............................               0           $7.08
4.............................................  4...............................              72         $17.21)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The calculation includes households with zero LCC savings (no impact).


                          Table V.18--Average LCC and PBP Results by Efficiency Level for PC8 Gas Standard Ovens, Free-Standing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Average costs 2015$
                                                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------- Simple payback
                    TSL                           Efficiency level                         First year's      Lifetime                          years
                                                                          Installed cost  operating cost  operating cost        LCC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.........................................  1...........................            $602             $35            $529          $1,130             0.6
2.........................................  2...........................             611              28             452           1,063             1.1
3,4.......................................  6...........................             655              28             450           1,105             6.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The results for each TSL are calculated assuming that all consumers use products at that efficiency level. The PBP is measured relative to the
  baseline product.


    Table V.19--Average LCC Savings Relative to the No-New-Standards Case Efficiency Distribution for PC8 Gas
                                          Standard Ovens, Free-Standing
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Life-cycle cost savings
                                                                                 -------------------------------
                                                                                  % of Consumers      Average
                      TSL                               Efficiency level               that          savings*
                                                                                    experience   ---------------
                                                                                 ----------------
                                                                                     Net cost          2015$
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.............................................  1...............................               0           $7.60
2.............................................  2...............................               0           43.64
3,4...........................................  6...............................              61            9.77
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The calculation includes households with zero LCC savings (no impact).


                        Table V.20--Average LCC and PBP Results by Efficiency Level for PC9 Gas Standard Ovens, Built-In/Slide-In
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Average costs 2015$
                                                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------- Simple payback
                    TSL                           Efficiency level                         First year's      Lifetime                          years
                                                                          Installed cost  operating cost  operating cost        LCC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.........................................  1...........................            $628             $35            $529          $1,156             0.6
2.........................................  2...........................             637              28             452           1,089             1.1
3,4.......................................  6...........................             681              28             450           1,131             6.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The results for each TSL are calculated assuming that all consumers use products at that efficiency level. The PBP is measured relative to the
  baseline product.


    Table V.21--Average LCC Savings Relative to the No-New-Standards Case Efficiency Distribution for PC9 Gas
                                        Standard Ovens, Built-In/Slide-In
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Life-cycle cost savings
                                                                                 -------------------------------
                                                                                  % of Consumers      Average
                      TSL                               Efficiency level               that          savings*
                                                                                    experience   ---------------
                                                                                 ----------------
                                                                                     Net cost          2015$
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.............................................  1...............................               0           $7.60
2.............................................  2...............................               0           43.65

[[Page 60847]]

 
3,4...........................................  6...............................              61            9.77
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The calculation includes households with zero LCC savings (no impact).


                        Table V.22--Average LCC and PBP Results by Efficiency Level for PC10 Gas Self-Clean Ovens, Free-Standing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Average costs 2015$
                                                            Efficiency   ----------------------------------------------------------------     Simple
                           TSL                                 level                       First year's      Lifetime                      payback years
                                                                          Installed cost  operating cost  operating cost        LCC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................................................               1            $716             $38            $559          $1,275             0.7
2.......................................................               2             725              31             484           1,209             1.1
3,4.....................................................               4             760              31             485           1,245             5.3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The results for each TSL are calculated assuming that all consumers use products at that efficiency level. The PBP is measured relative to the
  baseline product.


Table V.23--Average LCC Savings Relative to the No-New-Standards Case Efficiency Distribution for PC10 Gas Self-
                                           Clean Ovens, Free-Standing
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Life-cycle cost savings
                                                                                 -------------------------------
                                                                                  % of consumers      Average
                               TSL                                  Efficiency         that          savings*
                                                                       level        experience   ---------------
                                                                                 ----------------
                                                                                     Net cost          2015$
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................................................               1               0           $7.73
2...............................................................               2               0           48.03
3,4.............................................................               4              49           20.27
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The calculation includes households with zero LCC savings (no impact).


                      Table V.24--Average LCC and PBP Results by Efficiency Level for PC11 Gas Self-Clean Ovens, Built-In/Slide-In
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Average costs 2015$
                                                            Efficiency   ----------------------------------------------------------------     Simple
                           TSL                                 level                       First year's      Lifetime                      payback years
                                                                          Installed cost  operating cost  operating cost        LCC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................................................               1            $742             $38            $559          $1,301             0.7
2.......................................................               2             751              31             484           1,235             1.1
3,4.....................................................               4             786              31             485           1,271             5.3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The results for each TSL are calculated assuming that all consumers use products at that efficiency level. The PBP is measured relative to the
  baseline product.


Table V.25--Average LCC Savings Relative to the No-New-Standards Case Efficiency Distribution for PC11 Gas Self-
                                         Clean Ovens, Built-In/Slide-In
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Life-cycle cost savings
                                                                                 -------------------------------
                                                                                  % of consumers      Average
                               TSL                                  Efficiency         that          savings*
                                                                       level        experience   ---------------
                                                                                 ----------------
                                                                                     Net cost          2015$
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................................................               1               0           $7.73
2...............................................................               2               0           48.05

[[Page 60848]]

 
3,4.............................................................               4              49           20.27
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The calculation includes households with zero LCC savings (no impact).

b. Consumer Subgroup Analysis
    As described in section IV.I of this SNOPR, DOE determined the 
impact of the considered TSLs on low-income households and senior-only 
households. Table V.26 through Table V.36 compare the average LCC 
savings and PBP at each efficiency level for the two consumer 
subgroups, along with the average LCC savings for the entire sample. In 
most cases, the average LCC savings and PBP for low-income households 
and senior-only households at the considered efficiency levels are not 
substantially different from the average for all households. Chapter 11 
of the SNOPR TSD presents the complete LCC and PBP results for the 
subgroups.

        Table V.26--Comparison of Average LCC Savings for Consumer Subgroups and All Households for PC1 Electric Open (Coil) Element Cooking Tops
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Average life-cycle cost savings (2015$)              Simple payback period (years)
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           TSL                              Low-income      Senior-only                     Low-income      Senior-only
                                                            households      households    All households    households      households    All households
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................................................           $0.00           $0.00           $0.00  ..............  ..............  ..............
2,3,4...................................................            2.95            2.66            2.60             0.5             0.5             0.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


          Table V.27--Comparison of Average LCC Savings for Consumer Subgroups and All Households for PC2 Electric Smooth Element Cooking Tops
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Average life-cycle cost savings (2015$)              Simple payback period (years)
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           TSL                              Low-income      Senior-only                     Low-income      Senior-only
                                                            households      households    All households    households      households    All households
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,2,3...................................................          $24.36          $24.72          $24.37             1.0             1.0             1.0
4.......................................................        (280.72)        (282.11)        (282.36)            62.0            62.8            63.4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                    Table V.28--Comparison of Average LCC Savings for Consumer Subgroups and All Households for PC3 Gas Cooking Tops
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Average life-cycle cost savings (2015$)              Simple payback period (years)
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           TSL                              Low-income      Senior-only                     Low-income      Senior-only
                                                            households      households    All households    households      households    All households
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................................................           $0.00           $0.00           $0.00  ..............  ..............  ..............
2.......................................................            1.94            0.84            0.83             7.6             9.6             9.6
3,4.....................................................           19.67           15.04           14.82             3.6             4.6             4.6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


         Table V.29--Comparison of Average LCC Savings for Consumer Subgroups and All Households for PC4 Electric Standard Ovens, Free-Standing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Average life-cycle cost savings (2015$)              Simple payback period (years)
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           TSL                              Low-income      Senior-only                     Low-income      Senior-only
                                                            households      households    All households    households      households    All households
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,2.....................................................           $5.94           $6.09           $5.71             0.9             0.9             0.9
3.......................................................            9.77            7.96           11.54             4.7             5.2             4.4
4.......................................................         (32.05)         (38.77)         (24.65)            17.4            20.0            15.4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 60849]]


       Table V.30--Comparison of Average LCC Savings for Consumer Subgroups and All Households for PC5 Electric Standard Ovens, Built-In/Slide-In
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Average life-cycle cost savings (2015$)              Simple payback period (years)
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           TSL                              Low-income      Senior-only                     Low-income      Senior-only
                                                            households      households    All households    households      households    All households
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,2.....................................................           $5.97           $6.12           $5.73             0.9             0.9             0.9
3.......................................................            9.77            7.96           11.59             4.7             5.2             4.4
4.......................................................         (32.06)         (38.78)         (24.58)            17.4            20.0            15.3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


         Table V.31--Comparison of Average LCC Savings for Consumer Subgroups and All Households PC6 Electric Self-Cleaning Ovens, Free-Standing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Average life-cycle cost savings (2015$)              Simple payback period (years)
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           TSL                              Low-income      Senior-only                     Low-income      Senior-only
                                                            households      households    All households    households      households    All households
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,2,3...................................................           $6.68           $7.17           $6.83             0.9             0.8             0.9
4.......................................................         (10.81)         (23.62)         (12.86)            14.1            18.8            14.9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


       Table V.32--Comparison of Average LCC Savings for Consumer Subgroups and All Households PC7 Electric Self-Cleaning Ovens, Built-In/Slide-In
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Average life-cycle cost savings (2015$)              Simple payback period (years)
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           TSL                              Low-income      Senior-only                     Low-income      Senior-only
                                                            households      households    All households    households      households    All households
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,2,3...................................................           $6.73           $7.20           $6.84             0.9             0.8             0.9
4.......................................................         (10.83)         (23.64)         (12.86)            14.1            18.8            14.9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


              Table V.33--Comparison of Average LCC Savings for Consumer Subgroups and All Households PC8 Gas Standard Ovens, Free-Standing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Average life-cycle cost savings (2015$)              Simple payback period (years)
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           TSL                              Low-income      Senior-only                     Low-income      Senior-only
                                                            households      households    All households    households      households    All households
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................................................           $7.18           $7.41           $7.53             0.7             0.6             0.7
2.......................................................           51.40           38.30           25.11             0.9             1.2             1.8
3,4.....................................................           17.71            4.24            3.86             5.1             6.6             7.6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


          Table V.34--Comparison of Average LCC Savings for Consumer Subgroups and All Households for PC9 Gas Standard Oven, Built-In/Slide-In
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Average life-cycle cost savings (2015$)              Simple payback period (years)
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           TSL                              Low-income      Senior-only                     Low-income      Senior-only
                                                            households      households    All households    households      households    All households
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................................................           $7.18           $7.41           $7.53             0.7             0.6             0.7
2.......................................................           51.41           38.31           25.14             0.9             1.2             1.8
3,4.....................................................           17.70            4.23            3.87             5.1             6.6             7.6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 60850]]


         Table V.35--Comparison of Average LCC Savings for Consumer Subgroups and All Households for PC10 Gas Self-Cleaning Ovens, Free-Standing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Average life-cycle cost savings (2015$)              Simple payback period (years)
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           TSL                              Low-income      Senior-only                     Low-income      Senior-only
                                                            households      households    All households    households      households    All households
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................................................           $7.50           $7.69           $7.66             0.7             0.7             0.7
2.......................................................           45.86           42.33           26.80             1.2             1.2             1.8
3,4.....................................................           18.15           14.67            1.63             5.3             5.6             8.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


       Table V.36--Comparison of Average LCC Savings for Consumer Subgroups and All Households for PC11 Gas Self-Cleaning Oven, Built-In/Slide-In
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Average life-cycle cost savings (2015$)              Simple payback period (years)
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           TSL                              Low-income      Senior-only                     Low-income      Senior-only
                                                            households      households    All households    households      households    All households
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................................................           $7.50           $7.69           $7.66             0.7             0.7             0.7
2.......................................................           45.87           42.34           26.85             1.2             1.2             1.8
3,4.....................................................           18.15           14.67            1.66             5.3             5.6             8.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

c. Rebuttable Presumption Payback
    As discussed above, EPCA provides a rebuttable presumption that an 
energy conservation standard is economically justified if the increased 
purchase cost for a product that meets the standard is less than three 
times the value of the first-year energy savings resulting from the 
standard. In calculating a rebuttable presumption payback period for 
the considered TSLs, DOE used discrete values rather than distributions 
for input values, and, as required by EPCA, based the energy use 
calculation on the DOE test procedures for conventional cooking 
products. In contrast, the PBPs presented in section V.B.1.a of this 
SNOPR were calculated using distributions that reflect the range of 
energy use in the field.
    Table V.37 presents the rebuttable-presumption payback periods for 
the considered TSLs. While DOE examined the rebuttable-presumption 
criterion, it considered whether the standard levels considered for 
this rule are economically justified through a more detailed analysis 
of the economic impacts of those levels pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 
6295(o)(2)(B)(i). The results of that analysis serve as the basis for 
DOE to evaluate the economic justification for a potential standard 
level (thereby supporting or rebutting the results of any preliminary 
determination of economic justification).

                           Table V.37--Conventional Cooking Products: Rebuttable PBPs
                                                     (years)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       Trial standard level
                  Product class                  ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         1               2               3               4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PC1: Electric Open (Coil) Element Cooking Tops..  ..............             4.8             4.8             4.8
PC2: Electric Smooth Element Cooking Tops.......             0.9             0.9             0.9            53.3
PC3: Gas Cooking Tops...........................  ..............             8.6             4.1             4.1
PC4: Electric Standard Ovens, Free-Standing.....             0.8             0.8             2.2             6.7
PC5: Electric Standard Ovens, Built-In/Slide-In.             0.8             0.8             2.2             6.6
PC6: Electric Self-Clean Ovens, Free-Standing...             0.8             0.8             0.8             7.1
PC7: Electric Self-Clean Ovens, Built-In/Slide-              0.8             0.8             0.8             7.0
 In.............................................
PC8: Gas Standard Ovens, Free-Standing..........             3.7             4.4            12.9            12.9
PC9: Gas Standard Ovens, Built-In/Slide-In......             3.7             4.3            12.8            12.8
PC10: Gas Self-Clean Ovens, Free-Standing.......             3.6             4.5            15.0            15.0
PC11: Gas Self-Clean Ovens, Built-In/Slide-In...             3.6             4.5            14.9            14.9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Economic Impacts on Manufacturers
    DOE performed an MIA to estimate the impact of new and amended 
energy conservation standards on manufacturers of residential 
conventional cooking products. The following sections describe the 
expected impacts on residential conventional cooking product 
manufacturers at each TSL. Chapter 12 of the SNOPR TSD explains the MIA 
in further detail.
a. Industry Cash-Flow Analysis Results
    Table V.38 through Table V.39 depict the financial impacts 
(represented by changes in INPV) of new and amended energy conservation 
standards on residential conventional cooking product manufacturers as 
well as the conversion costs that DOE estimates manufacturers would 
incur at each TSL. To evaluate the range of cash flow impacts on the 
residential conventional cooking product industry, DOE modeled two 
markup scenarios that correspond to the range of anticipated market 
responses to new and amended standards. Each markup scenario results in 
a unique set of cash flows and corresponding industry values at each 
TSL.

[[Page 60851]]

    In the following discussion, the INPV results refer to the 
difference in industry value between the no-new-standards case and the 
standards cases that result from the sum of discounted cash flows from 
the reference year (2016) through the end of the analysis period. The 
results also discuss the difference in cash flows between the no-new-
standards case and the standards cases in the year before the 
compliance date for new and amended energy conservation standards. This 
figure represents the size of the required conversion costs relative to 
the cash flow generated by the residential conventional cooking product 
industry in the absence of new and amended energy conservation 
standards. In the engineering analysis, DOE enumerates common 
technology options that achieve the efficiencies for each of the 
product classes. For descriptions of these technology options and the 
required efficiencies at each TSL, see section IV.C and section V.A, 
respectively, of this SNOPR.
    To assess the upper (less severe) end of the range of potential 
impacts on residential conventional cooking product manufacturers, DOE 
modeled a preservation of gross margin markup scenario. This scenario 
assumes that in the standards cases, manufacturers would be able to 
pass along all the higher production costs required for more efficient 
products to their consumers. Specifically, the industry would be able 
to maintain its average no-new-standards case gross margin (as a 
percentage of revenue) despite the higher production costs in the 
standards cases. In general, the larger the product price increases, 
the less likely manufacturers are to achieve the cash flow from 
operations calculated in this scenario because it is less likely that 
manufacturers would be able to fully mark up these larger production 
cost increases.
    To assess the lower (more severe) end of the range of potential 
impacts on the residential conventional cooking product manufacturers, 
DOE modeled the preservation of operating profit markup scenario. This 
scenario represents the lower end of the range of potential impacts on 
manufacturers because no additional operating profit is earned on the 
higher production costs, eroding profit margins as a percentage of 
total revenue.
    Table V.38 and Table V.39 present the projected results for 
residential conventional cooking products under the preservation of 
gross margin and preservation of operating profit markup scenarios. DOE 
examined results for all product classes together since the majority of 
manufacturers sell products across a variety of the analyzed product 
classes.

          Table V.38--Manufacturer Impact Analysis for Residential Conventional Cooking Products--Preservation of Gross Margin Markup Scenario
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                               Trial standard level
                                                        Units                 No-new-    ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          standards case         1               2               3               4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INPV......................................  (2015$ millions)............         1,238.1         1,200.1         1,156.7           868.0           511.1
Change in INPV............................  (2015$ millions)............  ..............          (38.0)          (81.4)         (370.1)         (727.1)
                                            (%).........................  ..............           (3.1)           (6.6)          (29.9)          (58.7)
Product conversion costs..................  (2015$ millions)............  ..............            19.9            71.3           261.8           525.4
Capital conversion costs..................  (2015$ millions)............  ..............            29.9            47.9           248.2           580.2
    Total conversion costs................  (2015$ millions)............  ..............            49.8           119.2           510.0         1,105.7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Numbers in parentheses indicate negative numbers.


        Table V.39--Manufacturer Impact Analysis for Residential Conventional Cooking Products--Preservation of Operating Profit Markup Scenario
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                               Trial standard level
                                                        Units                 No-new-    ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          standards case         1               2               3               4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INPV......................................  (2015$ millions)............         1,238.1         1,198.3         1,148.5           844.7           314.6
Change in INPV............................  (2015$ millions)............  ..............          (39.8)          (89.6)         (393.5)         (923.6)
                                            (%).........................  ..............           (3.2)           (7.2)          (31.8)          (74.6)
Product conversion costs..................  (2015$ millions)............  ..............            19.9            71.3           261.8           525.4
Capital conversion costs..................  (2015$ millions)............  ..............            29.9            47.9           248.2           580.2
Total conversion costs....................  (2015$ millions)............  ..............            49.8           119.2           510.0         1,105.7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    TSL 1 sets the efficiency level at baseline for two product 
classes, electric open (coil) element cooking tops and gas cooking 
tops; EL 1 for all electric and gas ovens; and EL 2 for one product 
class, electric smooth element cooking tops. At TSL 1, DOE estimates 
impacts on INPV range from -$39.8 million to -$38.0 million, or a 
change in INPV of -3.2 percent to -3.1 percent. At TSL 1, industry free 
cash flow (operating cash flow minus capital expenditures) is estimated 
to decrease to $83.2 million, or a drop of 19.1 percent, compared to 
the no-new-standards case value of $102.8 million in 2018, the year 
leading up to new and amended energy conservation standards.
    Percentage impacts on INPV are slightly negative at TSL 1. DOE does 
not anticipate that manufacturers would lose a significant portion of 
their INPV at this TSL, given the limited conversion costs and number 
of residential conventional cooking products projected to comply with 
the analyzed standards at this TSL. DOE projects that in the expected 
year of compliance (2019), 100 percent of electric open (coil) element 
cooking top and gas cooking top shipments; 28 percent of electric 
smooth element cooking top shipments; 60 percent of electric standard 
free standing oven and electric standard built-in oven shipments; 53 
percent of electric self-clean free standing oven and electric self-
clean built-in oven shipments; 56 percent of gas standard free standing 
oven and gas standard built-in oven shipments; and 52 percent of gas 
self-clean free standing oven and gas self-clean built-in oven 
shipments would meet or exceed the efficiency levels required at TSL 1.

[[Page 60852]]

    DOE expects conversion costs to be small at TSL 1 because the 
design changes prescribed at this TSL only affect standby mode power 
consumption and do not apply to active mode power consumption. DOE 
expects residential conventional cooking product manufacturers would 
incur $19.9 million in product conversion costs for product redesigns 
that include converting electric smooth cooking tops and both gas and 
electric ovens to transition from using linear power supplies to SMPS 
in order to reduce standby power consumption; as well as implementing 
automatic power down controls for electric smooth cooking tops. DOE 
expects $29.9 million in capital conversion costs for manufacturers to 
upgrade production lines and retool equipment associated with achieving 
this reduction in standby power.
    At TSL 1, under the preservation of gross margin markup scenario, 
the shipment-weighted average MPC increases very slightly by 
approximately 0.2 percent relative to the no-new-standards case MPC. 
This extremely slight price increase is significantly outweighed by the 
$49.8 million in conversion costs estimated at TSL 1, resulting in 
slightly negative INPV impacts at TSL 1 under the preservation of gross 
margin markup scenario.
    Under the preservation of operating profit markup scenario, 
manufacturers earn the same nominal operating profit as would be earned 
in the no-new-standards case, but manufacturers do not earn additional 
profit from their investments. The very slight increase in the shipment 
weighted-average MPC results in a slightly lower average manufacturer 
markup (slightly smaller than the 1.20 manufacturer markup used in the 
no-new-standards case). This slightly lower average manufacturer markup 
and the $49.8 million in conversion costs, results in slightly negative 
INPV impacts at TSL 1 under the preservation of operating profit.
    TSL 2 sets the efficiency level at EL 1 for six product classes, 
electric open (coil) element cooking tops, gas cooking tops, electric 
standard free-standing ovens, electric standard built-in ovens, 
electric self-clean free-standing ovens, and electric self-clean built-
in ovens; and EL 2 for five product classes, electric smooth element 
cooking tops, gas standard free-standing ovens, gas standard built-in 
ovens, gas self-clean free-standing ovens, and gas self-clean built-in 
ovens. At TSL 2, DOE estimates impacts on INPV to range from -$89.6 
million to -$81.4 million, or a change in INPV of -7.2 percent to -6.6 
percent. At TSL 2, industry free cash flow is estimated to decrease to 
$59.3 million, or a drop of 42.3 percent, compared to the no-new-
standards case value of $102.8 million in 2018, the year leading up to 
new and amended energy conservation standards.
    Percentage impacts on INPV are moderately negative at TSL 2. While 
the $119.2 million in industry conversion costs represent a larger 
investment for manufacturers than at TSL 1, DOE does not anticipate 
that manufacturers would lose a significant portion of their INPV at 
this TSL since the no-new-standards case INPV for manufacturers is more 
than $1,238.1 million. DOE projects that in 2019, 33 percent of 
electric open (coil) element cooking top shipments; 28 percent of 
electric smooth element cooking top shipments; 74 percent of gas 
cooking top shipments; 60 percent of electric standard free standing 
oven and electric standards built-in oven shipments; 53 percent of 
electric self-clean free standing oven and electric self-clean built-in 
oven shipments; 46 percent of gas standard free standing oven and gas 
standard built-in oven shipments; and 39 percent of gas self-clean free 
standing oven and gas self-clean built-in oven shipments would meet or 
exceed the efficiency levels required at TSL 2.
    DOE expects that product conversion costs will rise from $19.9 
million at TSL 1 to $71.3 million at TSL 2 for extensive product 
redesigns and testing. Capital conversion costs will also increase from 
$29.9 million at TSL 1 to $47.9 million at TSL 2 to upgrade production 
equipment to accommodate for added or redesigned features in each 
product class. The large conversion costs at TSL 2 are driven by the 
need to improve contact conductance for electric open (coil) cooking 
tops; transition from using linear power supplies to SMPS to reduce 
standby power consumption while also implementing automatic power down 
controls for electric smooth cooking tops; improve burner and grate 
design for gas cooking tops; transition from using linear power 
supplies to SMPS to reduce standby power consumption for electric 
ovens; and transition from using linear power supplies to SMPS to 
improve power consumption in gas ovens.
    At TSL 2, under the preservation of gross margin markup scenario, 
the shipment weighted-average MPC only slightly increases by 0.9 
percent, relative to the no-new-standards case MPC. In this scenario, 
INPV impacts are moderately negative because manufacturers incur larger 
conversion costs, $119.2 million, and are not able to recover much of 
those conversion costs through the slight increase in the shipment 
weighted-average MPC at TSL 2.
    Under the preservation of operating profit markup scenario, the 0.9 
percent shipment weighted-average increase in MPC results in a slightly 
lower average manufacturer markup (slightly smaller than the 1.20 
manufacturer markup used in the no-new-standards case). This slightly 
lower average manufacturer markup and the $119.2 million in conversion 
costs result in moderately negative INPV impacts at TSL 2.
    TSL 3 sets the efficiency level at EL 1 for three product classes, 
electric open (coil) cooking tops, electric self-clean free-standing 
ovens, and electric self-clean built in ovens; EL 2 for one product 
class, electric smooth element cooking tops; EL 3 for one product 
class, gas cooking tops; EL 4 for four product classes, electric 
standard free-standing ovens, electric standard built-in ovens, gas 
self-clean free-standing ovens, and gas self-clean built-in ovens; and 
EL 6 for two product classes, gas standard free-standing ovens and gas 
standard built-in ovens. At TSL 3, DOE estimates impacts on INPV to 
range from -$393.5 million to -$370.1 million, or a change in INPV of -
31.8 percent to -29.9 percent. At this standard level, industry free 
cash flow is estimated to decrease to -$89.7, or a drop of 187.2 
percent, compared to the no-new-standards case value of $102.8 million 
in 2018, the year leading up to new and amended energy conservation 
standards.
    Percentage impacts on INPV are significantly negative at TSL 3. The 
$510.0 million in industry conversion costs represent a significant 
investment for manufacturers, and is the primary cause of the potential 
drop in INPV of up to 31.8 percent and a negative free cash flow in the 
year leading up to the new and amended standards. DOE projects that in 
2019, 33 percent of electric open (coil) cooking top shipments; 28 
percent of electric smooth element cooking top shipments; 13 percent of 
gas cooking top shipments; 31 percent of electric standard free 
standing oven and electric standard built-in oven shipments; 53 percent 
of electric self-clean free standing oven and electric self-clean 
built-in oven shipments; 9 percent of gas standard free standing oven 
and gas standard built-in oven shipments; and 13 percent of gas self-
cleaning free standing oven and gas self-cleaning built-in oven 
shipments would meet or exceed the efficiency levels at TSL 3.
    DOE expects that product conversion costs will significantly rise 
from $71.3 million at TSL 2 to $261.8 million at

[[Page 60853]]

TSL 3 for extensive product redesigns and testing. Capital conversion 
costs will also significantly increase from $47.9 million at TSL 2 to 
$248.2 million at TSL 3 to upgrade production equipment to accommodate 
for added or redesigned features in each product class. The large 
conversion costs at TSL 3 are driven by the need to optimize burners 
and grates for gas cooking tops; improve insulation and door seals for 
electric standard ovens; electronic spark ignition, improve insulation, 
increase the efficiency of door seals, forcing convection, and reducing 
convection losses for gas standard ovens; and forcing convection and 
reducing convection losses in gas self-clean ovens.
    At TSL 3, under the preservation of gross margin markup scenario, 
the shipment weighted-average MPC increases by 2.5 percent, relative to 
the no-new-standards case MPC. In this scenario, INPV impacts are 
negative because manufacturers incur sizable conversion costs ($510.0 
million) and are not able to recover much of those conversion costs 
through the 2.5 percent increase in the shipment weighted-average MPC 
at TSL 3.
    Under the preservation of operating profit markup scenario, the 2.5 
percent shipment weighted-average increase in MPC results in a slightly 
lower average manufacturer markup (1.199, compared to the 1.20 
manufacturer markup used in the no-new-standards case). This slightly 
lower average manufacturer markup and the $510.0 million in conversion 
costs results in significantly negative INPV impacts at TSL 3.
    Commercial-style manufacturers, manufacturers producing gas cooking 
products that are primarily marketed as commercial-style, would not be 
able to meet the standards required at TSL 3. As described in sections 
IV.C.3.b and IV.C.5 of this SNOPR, the features inherent to such gas 
cooking products would preclude this product configuration from being 
able to meet the standards required at TSL 3, and would likely force 
commercial-style manufacturers to exit the gas cooking product market.
    TSL 4 sets the efficiency level at EL 1 for one product class, 
electric open (coil) element cooking tops; EL 3 for one product class, 
gas cooking tops; EL 4 for five product classes, electric smooth 
element cooking tops, electric self-clean free-standing ovens, electric 
self-clean built-in ovens, gas self-clean free-standing ovens, and gas 
self-clean built-in ovens; EL 6 for two product classes, gas standard 
free-standing ovens and gas standard built-in ovens; and EL 7 for two 
product classes, electric standard free-standing ovens and electric 
standard built-in ovens. This represents max-tech for all product 
classes. At TSL 4, DOE estimates impacts on INPV to range from -$923.6 
million to -$727.1 million, or a change in INPV of -74.6 percent to -
58.7 percent. At TSL 4, industry free cash flow is estimated to 
decrease to -$340.7 million, or a drop of 431.3 percent, compared to 
the no-new-standards case value of $102.8 million in 2018, the year 
leading up to new and amended energy conservation standards.
    At TSL 4 conversion costs significantly increase, causing free cash 
flow to become significantly negative, -$340.7 million, in the year 
leading up to energy conservation standards and causing manufacturers 
to lose a substantial amount of INPV. Also, the percent change in INPV 
at TSL 4 is significantly negative due to the extremely large 
conversion costs, $1,105.7 million. Manufacturers at this TSL would 
have a very difficult time in the short term to make the necessary 
investments to comply with new and amended energy conservation 
standards prior to when standards went into effect. Also, the long-term 
profitability of residential conventional cooking product manufacturers 
could be seriously jeopardized as several manufacturers would struggle 
to comply with standards at this TSL, especially the commercial-style 
manufacturer subgroup. These manufacturers produce gas cooking products 
that are primarily marketed as commercial-style. As described in 
sections IV.C.3.b and IV.C.5 of this SNOPR, the features inherent to 
such gas cooking products would preclude this product configuration 
from being able to meet the standards required at TSL 4, and would 
likely force commercial-style manufacturers to exit the gas cooking 
product market.
    A high percentage of total shipments will need to be redesigned to 
meet the efficiency levels prescribed at TSL 4. DOE projects that in 
2019, 33 percent of electric open (coil) element cooking top shipments; 
3 percent of electric smooth element cooking top shipments; 13 percent 
of gas cooking top shipments; 7 percent of electric standard free 
standing oven and electric standard built-in oven shipments; 12 percent 
of electric self-clean free standing oven and electric self-clean 
built-in oven shipments; 9 percent of gas standard free standing oven 
and gas standard built-in oven shipments; and 13 percent of gas self-
clean free standing oven and gas self-clean built-in oven shipments 
would meet the efficiency levels at TSL 4.
    DOE expects significant conversion costs at TSL 4, which represents 
max-tech. DOE expects product conversion costs to significantly 
increase from $261.8 million at TSL 3 to $525.4 million at TSL 4. Large 
increases in product conversion are due to the vast majority of 
shipments needing extensive redesign as well as a significant increase 
in testing and recertification for redesigned products. DOE estimates 
that capital conversion costs will also significantly increase from 
$248.2 million at TSL 3 to $580.2 million at TSL 4. Capital conversion 
costs are driven by investments in production equipment to accommodate 
for the addition of induction heating elements for electric smooth 
cooking tops; improved contact conductance for electric open (coil) 
element cooking tops; and by optimizing the burner and grate system for 
residential-style gas cooking tops; reducing vent rate, improving 
insulation and door seals, forcing convection, developing oven 
separators, and reducing conduction loses for electric standard ovens; 
forcing convection, developing oven separators, and reducing conduction 
loses for electric self-clean ovens; electronic spark ignition, improve 
insulation, increase the efficiency of door seals, forcing convection, 
and reducing convection losses for gas standard ovens; and forcing 
convection and reducing conduction losses in gas self-clean ovens. DOE 
estimates that most commercial-style manufacturers would not be able to 
meet the gas cooking product standards prescribed at TSL 4 and would be 
forced to exit the gas cooking product market.
    At TSL 4, under the preservation of gross margin markup scenario, 
the shipment weighted-average MPC increases by 18.0 percent relative to 
the no-new-standards case MPC. In this scenario, INPV impacts are 
severely negative because the $1,105.7 million in conversion costs 
outweigh the modest increase in shipment weighted-average MPC, 
resulting in significantly negative INPV impacts at TSL 4.
    Under the preservation of operating profit markup scenario, the 
18.0 percent shipment weighted-average increase in MPC results in a 
slightly lower average manufacturer markup of 1.192 (compared to 1.20 
used in the no-new-standards case). This lower average manufacturer 
markup and the $1,105.7 million in conversion costs, results in 
significantly negative INPV impacts at TSL 4.
b. Impacts on Employment
    DOE quantitatively assessed the impacts of new and amended energy

[[Page 60854]]

conservation standards on direct employment. DOE used the GRIM to 
estimate the domestic labor expenditures and number of domestic 
production workers in the no-new-standards case and at each TSL from 
2019 to 2048. DOE used statistical data from the U.S. Census Bureau's 
2014 Annual Survey of Manufactures (ASM), the results of the 
engineering analysis, and interviews with manufacturers to determine 
the inputs necessary to calculate industry-wide labor expenditures and 
domestic employment levels. Labor expenditures involved with the 
manufacturing of the products are a function of the labor intensity of 
the products, the sales volume, and an assumption that wages remain 
fixed in real terms over time.
    In the GRIM, DOE used the labor content of the MPCs to estimate the 
annual labor expenditures in the industry. DOE used census data and 
interviews with manufacturers to estimate the portion of the total 
labor expenditures that is attributable to domestic labor.
    The production worker estimates in this section cover only workers 
up to the line-supervisor level directly involved in fabricating and 
assembling a product within a manufacturing facility. Workers 
performing services that are closely associated with production 
operations, such as material handing with a forklift, are also included 
as production labor. DOE's estimates account for production workers who 
manufacture only the specific products covered in this rulemaking.
    The employment impacts shown in Table V.40 represent the potential 
domestic production employment that could result following new and 
amended energy conservation standards. The upper bound of the results 
estimates the maximum change in the number of production workers that 
could occur after compliance with new and amended energy conservation 
standards when assuming that manufacturers continue to produce the same 
scope of covered products in the same production facilities. It also 
assumes that domestic production does not shift to lower labor-cost 
countries. Because there is a real risk of manufacturers evaluating 
sourcing decisions in response to new and amended energy conservation 
standards, the lower bound of the employment results includes DOE's 
estimate of the total number of U.S. production workers in the industry 
who could lose their jobs if some or all existing domestic production 
were moved outside of the United States. While the results present a 
range of domestic employment impacts following 2019, the following 
sections also include qualitative discussions of the likelihood of 
negative employment impacts at the various TSLs. Finally, the direct 
employment impacts shown are independent of the employment impacts from 
the broader U.S. economy, documented in chapter 17 of the SNOPR TSD.
    Using 2014 ASM data and interviews with manufacturers, DOE 
estimates that approximately 60 percent of the residential conventional 
cooking products sold in the United States are manufactured 
domestically. With this assumption, DOE estimates that in the absence 
of new and amended energy conservation standards, there would be 
approximately 8,663 domestic production workers involved in 
manufacturing residential conventional cooking products in 2019. Table 
V.40 shows the range of the impacts of new and amended energy 
conservation standards on U.S. production workers in the residential 
conventional cooking product industry.

     Table V.40--Potential Changes in the Total Number of Domestic Residential Conventional Cooking Product
                                           Production Workers in 2019
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      No-New-                          Trial standard level
                                     Standards   ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                       case              1               2               3               4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Number of Domestic                   8,663           8,675           8,724           8,832           9,635
 Production Workers in 2019
 (without changes in production
 locations).....................
Potential Changes in Domestic                 --        (433)-12        (866)-61     (2,166)-169     (4,332)-972
 Production Workers in 2019 \*\.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* DOE presents a range of potential employment impacts. Numbers in parentheses indicate negative numbers.

    At the upper end of the range, all examined TSLs show a slight 
increase in the number of domestic employment for residential 
conventional cooking products. DOE believes that manufacturers would 
increase production hiring due to the increase in the labor associated 
with adding the required components to make residential conventional 
cooking products more efficient. However, as previously stated, this 
assumes that in addition to hiring more production employees, all 
existing domestic production would remain in the United States and not 
shift to lower labor-cost countries.
    DOE expects any significant changes in domestic employment at TSL 1 
to be limited because standards would only affect standby mode power 
consumption at this TSL. Most manufacturers stated that this TSL would 
not require significant design changes and therefore would not have a 
significant impact on domestic employment decisions.
    At TSL 2, TSL 3, and TSL 4, all product classes would require 
higher efficiency standards and therefore most manufacturers would be 
required to make modifications to their existing production lines. 
However, manufacturers stated that due to the larger size of most 
residential conventional cooking products, very few units are 
manufactured and shipped from far distances such as Asia or Europe. The 
vast majority of residential conventional cooking products are 
currently made in North America. Some manufacturers stated that even 
significant changes to production line would not cause them to shift 
their production to lower labor-cost countries, as several 
manufacturers either only produce residential conventional cooking 
products domestically or have recently made significant investments to 
continue to produce residential conventional cooking products 
domestically. DOE estimates that, at most, 10 percent of the domestic 
labor for residential conventional cooking products could move to other 
countries in response to the standards proposed at TSL 2.
    At TSL 3, manufacturers could alter production locations in 
response to standards since all product classes would be required to 
meet more stringent standards than at TSL 2. DOE estimated that at most 
25 percent of the

[[Page 60855]]

domestic labor for residential conventional cooking products could move 
to other countries in response to the standards prescribed at TSL 3.
    At TSL 4, manufacturers could alter production locations in 
response to standards since all product classes would be required to 
meet max-tech. DOE estimated that at most 50 percent of the domestic 
labor for residential conventional cooking products could move to other 
countries in response to the standards prescribed at TSL 4.
    DOE seeks comment on the potential domestic employment impacts to 
residential conventional cooking product manufacturers at the proposed 
efficiency levels.
c. Impacts on Manufacturer Capacity
    Residential conventional cooking product manufacturers stated that 
they did not anticipate any capacity constraints at the proposed 
standards, TSL 2. Some manufacturers stated that any standard requiring 
induction heating technology for all electric smooth element cooking 
tops would present a very difficult standard to meet since only around 
3 percent of the existing electric smooth element cooking tops use 
induction technology. Manufacturers stated that converting 97 percent 
of their electric smooth element cooking tops in the 3-year compliance 
window would present a significant challenge since the production of 
induction heating cooking tops differs significantly from current 
cooking top production. However, DOE is not proposing to set efficiency 
standards that would require manufacturers to use induction technology. 
Therefore, DOE does not anticipate a manufacturer capacity constraint 
at TSL 2, the proposed standard.
    DOE requests comment on any potential manufacturer capacity 
constraints caused by the proposed standards in this SNOPR, TSL 2.
d. Impacts on Subgroups of Manufacturers
    Using average cost assumptions to develop an industry cash-flow 
estimate may not be adequate for assessing differential impacts among 
manufacturer subgroups. Small manufacturers, niche product 
manufacturers, and manufacturers exhibiting cost structures 
substantially different from the industry average could be affected 
disproportionately. DOE analyzed the impacts to small businesses in 
section VI.B of this SNOPR. DOE also identified the commercial-style 
manufacturer subgroup as a potential manufacturer subgroup that could 
be adversely impacted by this rulemaking based on the results of the 
industry characterization.
    The commercial-style manufacturer subgroup consists of cooking 
product manufacturers that primarily sell gas cooking tops, gas ovens, 
and electric self-clean ovens marketed as commercial-style, either as a 
standalone product or as a component of a conventional range. 
Commercial-style gas cooking tops typically have heavy cast iron grates 
that act as an additional thermal load and up to six high input rate 
burners that contribute to reduced cooking top efficiency. No 
commercial-style manufacturers sell electric coil element cooking tops 
and the subgroup would be unaffected by any standard required for this 
product class. However, some, but not all, commercial-style 
manufacturers produce electric smooth element cooking tops. Of those 
commercial-style manufacturers that do produce electric smooth element 
cooking tops, all have products that use induction technology that 
would be capable of meeting max-tech for this product class. 
Commercial-style electric and gas ovens typically have cavities with 
thick gauge cavity walls and heavier racks that result in inherently 
lower efficiencies as compared to residential-style ovens with 
comparable cavities sizes, due to the greater thermal mass of the 
cavity and racks, when measured by the previous DOE test procedure DOE 
assumes that the commercial-style manufacturer subgroup is primarily 
impacted by the proposed energy conservation standards required for the 
gas cooking top, gas oven, and electric self-clean oven product classes 
and are not significantly impacted by the standards proposed for the 
electrical cooking top and the electric standard oven product classes.
    For the gas cooking top product class, EL 1 represents DOE's 
estimate of the most efficient cooking top available on the market with 
cast-iron grates and six burners, at least four of which are high input 
rate, which are features associated with gas cooking tops marketed as 
commercial-style. Commercial-style manufacturers would not be able to 
meet a gas cooking top standard set at EL 2 or EL 3 while retaining the 
full functionality of a commercial-style product. Therefore, these 
commercial-style manufacturers would likely be forced to exit the gas 
cooking top market as a result of gas cooking top standards set at EL 2 
or EL 3. TSL 3 and TSL 4 require EL 3 for the gas cooking top product 
class.
    For the gas oven and electric self-clean oven product classes, TSL 
2 represents a prescriptive design requirement for the oven control 
systems that would maintain features associated with ovens marketed as 
commercial-style, such as thick gauge cavity walls and heavier 
extension racks. Commercial-style manufacturers would not be able to 
meet a performance-based standard for ovens set at a TSL higher than 
TSL 2 while retaining the full functionality of their commercial-style 
product. Therefore, these commercial-style manufacturers would be 
likely forced to exit the conventional oven market as a result of 
conventional oven standards set above TSL 2.
    DOE requests comment on the two manufacturer subgroups that DOE 
identified, the impacts of the proposed standards on those manufacturer 
subgroups, and any other potential manufacturer subgroups that could be 
disproportionally impacted by this rulemaking.
e. Cumulative Regulatory Burden
    While any one regulation may not impose a significant burden on 
manufacturers, the combined effects of recent or impending regulations 
may have serious consequences for some manufacturers, groups of 
manufacturers, or the entire industry. Assessing the impact of a single 
regulation may overlook this cumulative regulatory burden. In addition 
to energy conservation standards, other regulations can significantly 
affect manufacturers' financial operations. Multiple regulations 
affecting the same manufacturer can strain profits and lead companies 
to abandon product lines or markets with lower expected future returns 
than competing products. For these reasons, DOE conducts a cumulative 
regulatory burden analysis as part of its rulemakings pertaining to 
appliance efficiency.
    As discussed in section II.B.2 of this SNOPR, DOE published a 
separate NOPR proposing energy conservation standards for conventional 
ovens. 80 FR 33030 (June 10, 2015). AHAM and Electrolux commented in 
response to the June 2015 NOPR that DOE's proposal to bifurcate 
standards for cooking tops and ovens means that conventional ranges, a 
single product which makes up over 80 percent of conventional cooking 
product shipments, could be subject to two different standards on two 
different timelines. AHAM and Electrolux stated that DOE's proposal to 
promulgate separate standards for cooking tops and ovens on two 
separate timelines would likely result in two product redesigns and 
dual investments for conventional ranges. AHAM added that this would

[[Page 60856]]

potentially mean unnecessary increased costs for both manufacturers and 
consumers. AHAM and Electrolux commented that manufacturers will be 
likely left with stranded investments and unnecessary additional 
investments. (AHAM, No. 29 at pp. 2, 3, 10; Electrolux, No. 27 at p. 2)
    Whirlpool agreed with AHAM's comments and opposed DOE's proposal to 
pursue energy conservation standards for cooking tops on a different 
regulatory timeline than standards for ovens. Whirlpool noted that 
along with potentially imposing dual product redesigns and investments 
for conventional ranges, manufacturers may also choose to redesign 
these products together and launch models to the market in advance of 
the lagging standard compliance date in order to meet both standards; 
the net effect of this is a shortened lead-in period for the product 
tied to the lagging standard. Whirlpool urged DOE to reconsider its 
proposal and align regulatory timelines for ovens and cooking tops to 
prevent unnecessary and substantial regulatory burden on industry. 
(Whirlpool, No. 33 at pp. 3, 4, 8)
    DOE recognizes that combined cooking products that include both a 
conventional cooking top and oven (e.g., conventional ranges) may be 
assembled on a single assembly line in manufacturing production 
facilities. DOE also notes that some components and parts (e.g., 
cabinet housing, controls) may be shared between the oven and cooking 
top portion of the combined cooking product. DOE recognizes that 
setting standards with different compliance dates for ovens and cooking 
tops could result in the need for manufacturers to redesign the oven 
and cooking top portions of combined cooking products (including shared 
components and assembly lines) separately on different timelines. As 
discussed in section II.B.2 of this SNOPR, DOE is now combining the 
rulemaking to consider energy conservation standards for conventional 
cooking tops and ovens and will align the compliance dates for both 
product categories.
    Manufacturers also commented that conventional electric ranges are 
facing an additional redesign in the same time period in order to 
comply with a recent change to UL 858. That change to the voluntary 
safety standard will require conventional electric ranges, a combined 
cooking product covered by this rule, to monitor pan bottom temperature 
and is aimed at reducing the incidences of unattended cooking fires. 
Manufacturers noted that the change to UL 858 would likely occur just 
before the compliance date of new and amended residential conventional 
cooking product standards. Manufacturers added that changes to comply 
with the requirements in UL 858 to significantly reduce surface 
temperatures during a prescribed baking operation may also impact the 
measured efficiency for these products. Manufacturers further explained 
that the changes in UL 858 will require a major redesign for all 
electric coil cooking tops by every manufacturer.
    DOE acknowledges that most residential conventional cooking product 
manufacturers also make appliances that are or could be subject to 
future energy conservation standards implemented by DOE. DOE looks at 
these regulations that could affect residential conventional cooking 
product manufacturers that will take effect approximately 3 years 
before or after the estimated 2019 compliance date of new and amended 
energy conservation standards for residential conventional cooking 
products. These energy conservation standards include those for 
microwave ovens with a compliance date in 2016,\87\ commercial 
refrigeration equipment with a compliance date in 2017,\88\ commercial 
clothes washers with a compliance date in 2018,\89\ residential clothes 
washers with a compliance date in 2018,\90\ furnace fans with a 
compliance date in 2019,\91\ dehumidifiers with a compliance date in 
2019,\92\ and dishwashers with a potential compliance date in 2019.\93\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \87\ Energy conservation standards final rule for microwave 
ovens. 78 FR 36316 (June 17, 2013).
    \88\ Energy conservation standards final rule for commercial 
refrigeration equipment. 79 FR 17726 (March 28, 2014).
    \89\ Energy conservation standards final rule for commercial 
clothes washers. 79 FR 74492 (December 15, 2014).
    \90\ Energy conservation standards direct final rule for 
residential clothes washers. 77 FR 32308 (May 31, 2012).
    \91\ Energy conservation standards final rule for furnace fans. 
79 FR 38130 (July 3, 2014).
    \92\ Energy conservation standards final rule for dehumidifiers. 
81 FR 38338 (June 13, 2016).
    \93\ Energy conservation standards NOPR for dishwashers. 79 FR 
76142 (December 19, 2014).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The compliance years and expected industry conversion costs of 
relevant new and amended energy conservation standards are indicated in 
Table V.41.

      Table V.41--Compliance Dates and Expected Conversion Expenses of Federal Energy Conservation Standards Affecting Conventional Cooking Product
                                                                      Manufacturers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Number of                                                   Industry        Industry
                                                 Number of     manufacturers                                                conversion      conversion
                 Regulation                    manufacturers   from today's           Approximate standards year               costs       costs/revenue
                                                     *            rule **                                                  (millions $)       *** (%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Microwave Ovens, 78 FR 36316 (Jun. 17, 2013)              12               7  2016......................................     43.1(2011$)              <1
Commercial Refrigeration Equipment, 79 FR                 54               3  2017......................................     184 (2012$)             2.0
 17726 (Mar. 28, 2014).
Residential Clothes Washers, 77 FR 32308                  16              10  2018 (Second Round).......................   418.5 (2010$)             1.4
 (May 31, 2012).
Commercial Clothes Washers, 79 FR 74492                    6               4  2018......................................    10.2 (2013$)             2.2
 (Dec. 15, 2014).
Furnace Fans, 79 FR 38130 (Jul. 3, 2014)....              27               1  2019......................................    40.6 (2012$)             1.6
Dehumidifiers, 81 FR 38338 (Jun. 13, 2016)..              25               4  2019......................................    52.5 (2014$)             4.5
Dishwashers (NOPR) [dagger], 79 FR 76142                  18              13  2019......................................   316.9 (2013$)             5.6
 (Dec. 19, 2014).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* This column presents the total number of manufacturers identified in the energy conservation standard rule contributing to cumulative regulatory
  burden.
** This column presents the number of manufacturers producing residential conventional cooking products that are also listed as manufacturers in the
  listed energy conservation standard contributing to cumulative regulatory burden.
*** This column presents conversion costs as a percentage of cumulative revenue for the industry during the conversion period. The conversion period is
  the timeframe over which manufacturers must make conversion costs investments and lasts from the announcement year of the final rule to the standards
  year of the final rule. This period typically ranges from 3 to 5 years, depending on the energy conservation standard.

[[Page 60857]]

 
[dagger] The final rule for this energy conservation standard has not been published. The compliance date and analysis of conversion costs have not been
  finalized at this time. Values in this row are estimates for the standard level proposed in the NOPR.

    DOE discusses these and other requirements and includes the full 
details of the cumulative regulatory burden analysis in Chapter 12 of 
the SNOPR TSD. DOE will continue to evaluate its approach to assessing 
cumulative regulatory burden for use in future rulemakings to ensure 
that it is effectively capturing the overlapping impacts of its 
regulations. In particular, DOE will assess whether looking at rules 
where any portion of the compliance period potentially overlaps with 
the compliance period for the subject rulemaking would yield a more 
accurate reflection of cumulative regulatory burden.
    DOE seeks comment on the compliance costs of any other regulations 
residential conventional cooking product manufacturers must follow, 
especially if compliance with those regulations is required three years 
before or after the estimated compliance date of this proposed standard 
(2019). Additionally, DOE welcomes comment on how it analyzes and 
considers cumulative regulatory burden.
3. National Impact Analysis
a. Significance of Energy Savings
    To estimate the energy savings attributable to potential standards 
for conventional cooking products, DOE compared the energy consumption 
of those products under the no-new-standards case to their anticipated 
energy consumption under each TSL. The savings are measured over the 
entire lifetime of products purchased in the 30-year period that begins 
in the year of anticipated compliance with amended standards (2019-
2048). Table V.42 presents DOE's projections of the national energy 
savings for each TSL considered for conventional cooking products. The 
savings were calculated using the approach described in section IV.H of 
this SNOPR.

 Table V.42--Conventional Cooking Products: Cumulative National Energy Savings for Products Shipped in 2019-2048
                                                     [Quads]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       Trial standard level
         Product type            Energy savings  ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         1               2               3               4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conventional Cooking Tops.....  Primary energy..            0.22            0.31            0.48            0.70
                                FFC energy......            0.23            0.33            0.52            0.75
Conventional Ovens............  Primary energy..            0.17            0.41            0.47            1.05
                                FFC energy......            0.18            0.43            0.50            1.10
                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    TOTAL (All Products)......  Primary energy..            0.39            0.72            0.95            1.75
                                FFC energy......            0.41            0.76            1.01            1.85
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    OMB Circular A-4 \94\ requires agencies to present analytical 
results, including separate schedules of the monetized benefits and 
costs that show the type and timing of benefits and costs. Circular A-4 
also directs agencies to consider the variability of key elements 
underlying the estimates of benefits and costs. For this rulemaking, 
DOE undertook a sensitivity analysis using nine, rather than 30, years 
of product shipments. The choice of a 9-year period is a proxy for the 
timeline in EPCA for the review of certain energy conservation 
standards and potential revision of and compliance with such revised 
standards.\95\ The review timeframe established in EPCA is generally 
not synchronized with the product lifetime, product manufacturing 
cycles, or other factors specific to conventional cooking products. 
Thus, such results are presented for informational purposes only and 
are not indicative of any change in DOE's analytical methodology. The 
NES sensitivity analysis results based on a 9-year analytical period 
are presented in Table V.43. The impacts are counted over the lifetime 
of conventional cooking products purchased in 2019-2027.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \94\ U.S. Office of Management and Budget, ``Circular A-4: 
Regulatory Analysis'' (Sept. 17, 2003) (Available at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars_a004_a-4/).
    \95\ Section 325(m) of EPCA requires DOE to review its standards 
at least once every 6 years, and requires, for certain products, a 
3-year period after any new standard is promulgated before 
compliance is required, except that in no case may any new standards 
be required within 6 years of the compliance date of the previous 
standards. While adding a 6-year review to the 3-year compliance 
period adds up to 9 years, DOE notes that it may undertake reviews 
at any time within the 6 year period and that the 3-year compliance 
date may yield to the 6-year backstop. A 9-year analysis period may 
not be appropriate given the variability that occurs in the timing 
of standards reviews and the fact that for some consumer products, 
the compliance period is 5 years rather than 3 years.

 Table V.43--Conventional Cooking Products: Cumulative National Energy Savings for Products Shipped in 2019-2027
                                                     [Quads]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       Trial standard level
         Product type            Energy savings  ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         1               2               3               4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conventional Cooking Tops.....  Primary energy..            0.06            0.08            0.13            0.20
                                FFC energy......            0.06            0.09            0.14            0.21
Conventional Ovens............  Primary energy..            0.05            0.12            0.14            0.30
                                FFC energy......            0.05            0.12            0.14            0.32
                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 60858]]

 
    TOTAL (All Products)......  Primary energy..            0.11            0.20            0.27            0.50
                                FFC energy......            0.11            0.21            0.28            0.53
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

a. Net Present Value of Consumer Costs and Benefits
    DOE estimated the cumulative NPV to the nation of the total costs 
and savings for consumers that would result from particular standard 
levels for conventional cooking products. In accordance with the OMB's 
guidelines on regulatory analysis (OMB Circular A-4, section E, 
September 17, 2003),\96\ DOE calculated NPV using both a 7-percent and 
a 3-percent real discount rate. Table V.44 shows the consumer NPV 
results for each TSL DOE considered for conventional cooking products. 
The impacts are counted over the lifetime of products purchased in 
2019-2048.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \96\ Available at: www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars_a004_a-4.

    Table V.44--Conventional Cooking Products: Cumulative Net Present Value of Consumer Benefits for Products
                                              Shipped in 2019-2048
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           Billion 2015$
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
         Equipment type            Discount rate                       Trial standard level
                                        (%)      ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         1               2               3              4 *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conventional Cooking Tops.......               3            1.97            2.39            3.62         (13.00)
                                               7            0.85            0.99            1.54          (8.22)
Conventional Ovens..............               3            1.55            3.85            2.66            1.10
                                               7            0.69            1.73            0.96          (0.72)
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    TOTAL (All Products)........               3            3.52            6.24            6.28         (11.91)
                                               7            1.53            2.72            2.50          (8.94)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Parentheses indicate negative (-) values.

    The NPV results based on the aforementioned 9-year analytical 
period are presented in Table V.45. The impacts are counted over the 
lifetime of products purchased in 2019-2027. As mentioned previously, 
such results are presented for informational purposes only and is not 
indicative of any change in DOE's analytical methodology or decision 
criteria.

    Table V.45--Conventional Cooking Products: Cumulative Net Present Value of Consumer Benefits for Products
                                              Shipped in 2019-2027
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           Billion 2015$
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
         Equipment type            Discount rate                       Trial standard level
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         1               2               3              4 *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conventional Cooking Tops.......               3            0.66            0.78            1.17          (4.78)
                                               7            0.40            0.45            0.69          (4.03)
Conventional Ovens..............               3            0.54            1.35            0.87            0.12
                                               7            0.33            0.83            0.42          (0.50)
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    TOTAL (All Products)........               3            1.20            2.13            2.04          (4.66)
                                               7            0.73            1.28            1.12          (4.54)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Parentheses indicate negative (-) values.

    The above results reflect the use of a default trend to estimate 
the change in price for conventional cooking products over the analysis 
period (see section IV.F.1 of this SNOPR). DOE also conducted a 
sensitivity analysis that considered one scenario with a lower rate of 
price decline than the reference case and one scenario with a higher 
rate of price decline than the reference case. The results of these 
alternative cases are presented in appendix 10C of the SNOPR TSD. In 
the high price decline case, the NPV is higher than in the default 
case. In the low price decline case, the NPV is lower than in the 
default case.

[[Page 60859]]

b. Impacts on Employment
    DOE expects energy conservation standards for conventional cooking 
products to reduce energy bills for consumers of those products, and 
the resulting net savings to be redirected to other forms of economic 
activity. These expected shifts in spending and economic activity could 
affect the demand for labor. As described in section IV.N of this 
SNOPR, DOE used an input/output model of the U.S. economy to estimate 
indirect employment impacts of the TSLs that DOE considered in this 
rulemaking. DOE understands that there are uncertainties involved in 
projecting employment impacts, especially changes in the later years of 
the analysis. Therefore, DOE generated results for near-term 
timeframes, where these uncertainties are reduced.
    The results suggest that the proposed standards are likely to have 
negligible impact on the net demand for labor in the economy. The net 
change in jobs is so small that it would be imperceptible in national 
labor statistics and might be offset by other, unanticipated effects on 
employment. Chapter 16 of the SNOPR TSD presents detailed results.
4. Impact on Utility or Performance of Products
    Based on testing conducted in support of this proposed rule, 
discussed in section IV.C.2 of this SNOPR, DOE concluded that the 
standards proposed in this SNOPR would not reduce the utility or 
performance of the conventional cooking products under consideration in 
this rulemaking. Manufacturers of these products currently offer units 
that meet or exceed the proposed standards.
5. Impact of Any Lessening of Competition
    DOE has also considered any lessening of competition that is likely 
to result from the proposed standards. The Attorney General determines 
the impact, if any, of any lessening of competition likely to result 
from a proposed standard, and transmits such determination to DOE, 
together with an analysis of the nature and extent of such impact. (42 
U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i)(V) and (B)(ii))
    DOE will transmit a copy of this SNOPR and the accompanying TSD to 
the Attorney General, requesting that the DOJ provide its determination 
on this issue. DOE will consider DOJ's comments on the proposed rule in 
determining whether to proceed with the proposed energy conservation 
standards. DOE will also publish and respond to DOJ's comments in the 
Federal Register.
6. Need of the Nation To Conserve Energy
    Enhanced energy efficiency, where economically justified, improves 
the nation's energy security, strengthens the economy, and reduces the 
environmental impacts (costs) of energy production. Reduced electricity 
demand due to energy conservation standards is also likely to reduce 
the cost of maintaining the reliability of the electricity system, 
particularly during peak-load periods. As a measure of this reduced 
demand, chapter 15 in the SNOPR TSD presents the estimated reduction in 
generating capacity, relative to the no-new-standards case, for the 
TSLs that DOE considered in this rulemaking.
    Energy conservation resulting from proposed standards for 
conventional cooking products are expected to yield environmental 
benefits in the form of reduced emissions of air pollutants and 
greenhouse gases. Table V.46 provides DOE's estimate of cumulative 
emissions reductions to result from the TSLs considered in this 
rulemaking. The table includes site emissions, power sector emissions 
and upstream emissions. The emissions were calculated using the 
multipliers discussed in section IV.K of this SNOPR. DOE reports annual 
emissions reductions for each TSL in chapter 13 of the SNOPR TSD.

   Table V.46--Conventional Cooking Products: Cumulative Emissions Reduction for Products Shipped in 2019-2048
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       Trial standard level
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         1               2               3               4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Power Sector and Site Emissions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CO2 (million metric tons).......................            23.0            42.6            54.7           102.3
SO2 (thousand tons).............................            13.7            23.2            24.2            52.4
NOX (thousand tons).............................            25.4            48.1            64.9           117.4
Hg (tons).......................................            0.05            0.09            0.09            0.19
CH4 (thousand tons).............................             2.0             3.4             3.8             7.8
N2O (thousand tons).............................            0.28            0.48            0.52            1.09
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Upstream Emissions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CO2 (million metric tons).......................             1.3             2.7             4.3             7.0
SO2 (thousand tons).............................             0.2             0.4             0.4             0.9
NOX (thousand tons).............................            18.6            39.8            65.7           104.2
Hg (tons).......................................            0.00            0.00            0.00            0.00
CH4 (thousand tons).............................           102.5           224.1           378.5           591.1
N2O (thousand tons).............................            0.01            0.02            0.02            0.05
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Total FFC Emissions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CO2 (million metric tons).......................            24.3            45.3            59.1           109.3
SO2 (thousand tons).............................            13.9            23.6            24.6            53.3
NOX (thousand tons).............................            43.9            88.0           130.6           221.6
Hg (tons).......................................            0.05            0.09            0.09            0.20
CH4 (thousand tons).............................           104.5           227.5           382.2           598.9
CH4 (thousand tons CO2eq)*......................           2,926           6,369          10,703          16,769
N2O (thousand tons).............................            0.29            0.50            0.54            1.14

[[Page 60860]]

 
N2O (thousand tons CO2eq)*......................            76.8           132.6           144.3           302.9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* CO2eq is the quantity of CO2 that would have the same GWP.

    As part of the analysis for this proposed rule, DOE estimated 
monetary benefits likely to result from the reduced emissions of 
CO2 and NOX that DOE estimated for each of the 
considered TSLs for conventional cooking products. As discussed in 
section IV.L of this SNOPR, for CO2, DOE used the most 
recent values for the SCC developed by an interagency working group. 
The four sets of SCC values for CO2 emissions reductions 
resulting from that process refer to the average value from a 
distribution that uses a 5-percent discount rate, the average value 
from a distribution that uses a 3-percent discount rate, the average 
value from a distribution that uses a 2.5-percent discount rate, and 
the 95th-percentile value from a distribution that uses a 3-percent 
discount rate. The values for later years are higher due to increasing 
damages (emissions-related costs) as the projected magnitude of climate 
change increases.
    Table V.47 presents the global value of CO2 emissions 
reductions at each TSL. For each of the four cases, DOE calculated a 
present value of the stream of annual values using the same discount 
rate as was used in the studies upon which the dollar-per-ton values 
are based. DOE calculated domestic values as a range from 7 percent to 
23 percent of the global values; these results are presented in chapter 
14 of the SNOPR TSD.

   Table V.47--Conventional Cooking Products: Estimates of Global Present Value of CO2 Emissions Reduction for
                                          Products Shipped in 2019-2048
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           Million 2015$
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             SCC Case
                       TSL                       ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    3% discount
                                                    5% discount     3% discount    2.5% discount    rate, 95th
                                                   rate, average   rate, average   rate, average    percentile
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Power Sector and Site Emissions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................................             166             751           1,190           2,289
2...............................................             312           1,405           2,222           4,279
3...............................................             400           1,805           2,856           5,498
4...............................................             742           3,354           5,311          10,219
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Upstream Emissions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................................             9.2            41.9            66.6             128
2...............................................            19.6            88.9             141             271
3...............................................            31.5             142             226             434
4...............................................            50.4             229             363             699
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Total FFC Emissions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................................             175             793           1,257           2,417
2...............................................             331           1,494           2,363           4,550
3...............................................             432           1,947           3,081           5,933
4...............................................             792           3,584           5,674          10,917
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE is well aware that scientific and economic knowledge about the 
contribution of CO2 and other GHG emissions to changes in 
the future global climate and the potential resulting damages to the 
world economy continues to evolve rapidly. Thus, any value placed on 
reducing CO2 emissions in this rulemaking is subject to 
change. DOE, together with other Federal agencies, will continue to 
review various methodologies for estimating the monetary value of 
reductions in CO2 and other GHG emissions. This ongoing 
review will consider the comments on this subject that are part of the 
public record for this and other rulemakings, as well as other 
methodological assumptions and issues. However, consistent with DOE's 
legal obligations, and taking into account the uncertainty involved 
with this particular issue, DOE has included in this proposed rule the 
most recent values and analyses resulting from the interagency process.
    DOE also estimated the cumulative monetary value of the economic 
benefits associated with NOX emissions reductions 
anticipated to result from the considered TSLs for conventional cooking 
products. The dollar-per-ton values that DOE used are discussed in 
section IV.L of this SNOPR. Table V.48 presents the cumulative present 
values for each TSL calculated using 7-percent and 3-percent discount 
rates. This table presents values that use the low dollar-per-ton 
values, which reflect DOE's primary estimate. Results that reflect the 
range of NOX dollar-per-ton values are presented in Table 
V.50.

[[Page 60861]]



Table V.48--Conventional Cooking Products: Estimates of Present Value of
        NOX Emissions Reduction for Products Shipped in 2019-2048
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Million 2015$
                                         -------------------------------
                   TSL                      3% discount     7% discount
                                               rate            rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Power Sector and Site Emissions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................................            48.1            20.3
2.......................................           109.5            47.0
3.......................................           189.7            80.9
4.......................................           288.9           122.7
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Upstream Emissions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................................            35.3            14.5
2.......................................            77.5            32.7
3.......................................           128.6            54.7
4.......................................           201.4            84.6
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Total FFC Emissions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................................            83.4            34.9
2.......................................           187.0            79.7
3.......................................           318.3           135.6
4.......................................           490.4           207.3
------------------------------------------------------------------------

7. Other Factors
    The Secretary of Energy, in determining whether a standard is 
economically justified, may consider any other factors that the 
Secretary deems to be relevant. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i)(VII)) No 
other factors were considered in this analysis.
8. Summary of National Economic Impacts
    The NPV of the monetized benefits associated with emissions 
reductions can be viewed as a complement to the NPV of the consumer 
savings calculated for each TSL considered in this rulemaking. Table 
V.49 presents the NPV values that result from adding the estimates of 
the potential economic benefits resulting from reduced CO2 
and NOX emissions in each of four valuation scenarios to the 
NPV of consumer savings calculated for each TSL considered in this 
rulemaking, at both a 7-percent and 3-percent discount rate. The 
CO2 values used in the columns of each table correspond to 
the 2015 values in the four sets of SCC values discussed above.

 Table V.49--Conventional Cooking Products: Net Present Value of Consumer Savings Combined With Present Value of
                            Monetized Benefits From CO2 and NOX Emissions Reductions
                                                [Billion 2015 $]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Consumer NPV at 3% discount rate added with:
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                       TSL                        SCC case $12.4/ SCC case $40.6/ SCC case $63.2/ SCC case $118/
                                                   t and 3% low    t and 3% low    t and 3% low    t and 3% low
                                                    NOX values      NOX values      NOX values      NOX values
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................................             3.8             4.4             4.9             6.0
2...............................................             6.8             7.9             8.8            11.0
3...............................................             7.0             8.5             9.7            12.5
4...............................................          (10.6)           (7.8)           (5.7)           (0.5)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 
                                                           Consumer NPV at 7% discount rate added with:
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                       TSL                        SCC case $12.4/ SCC case $40.6/ SCC case $63.2/ SCC case $118/
                                                   t and 7% low    t and 7% low    t and 7% low    t and 7% low
                                                    NOX values      NOX values      NOX values      NOX values
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................................             1.7             2.4             2.8             4.0
2...............................................             3.1             4.3             5.2             7.3
3...............................................             3.1             4.6             5.7             8.6
4...............................................           (7.9)           (5.1)           (3.1)             2.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The SCC case values represent the global SCC in 2015, in 2015$, for each case.

    Although adding the value of consumer savings to the values of 
emission reductions provides a valuable perspective, two issues should 
be considered. First, the national operating cost savings are domestic 
U.S. monetary

[[Page 60862]]

savings that occur as a result of market transactions, while the value 
of CO2 reductions is based on a global value. Second, the 
assessments of operating cost savings and the SCC are performed with 
different methods that use different time frames for analysis. The 
national operating cost savings is measured for the lifetime of 
equipment shipped in 2019 to 2048. Because CO2 emissions 
have a very long residence time in the atmosphere,\97\ the SCC values 
in future years reflect future climate-related impacts resulting from 
the emission of CO2 that continue well beyond 2100.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \97\ The atmospheric lifetime of CO2 is estimated of 
the order of 30-95 years. Jacobson, MZ (2005). ``Correction to 
``Control of fossil-fuel particulate black carbon and organic 
matter, possibly the most effective method of slowing global 
warming.'' '' J. Geophys. Res. 110. pp. D14105.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Conclusion

    When considering new or amended energy conservation standards that 
DOE adopts for any type or class of covered product, they must be 
designed to achieve the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that 
the Secretary determines is technologically feasible and economically 
justified. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(A)) In determining whether a standard 
is economically justified, the Secretary must determine whether the 
benefits of the standard exceed its burdens, considering to the 
greatest extent practicable the seven statutory factors discussed 
previously. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i)) The new or amended standard 
must also result in a significant conservation of energy. (42 U.S.C. 
6295(o)(3)(B))
    For this SNOPR, DOE considered the impacts of potential amended 
standards for conventional cooking products at each TSL, beginning with 
the maximum technologically feasible level, to determine whether that 
level was economically justified. Where the max-tech level was not 
justified, DOE then considered the next most efficient level and 
undertook the same evaluation until it reached the highest efficiency 
level that is both technologically feasible and economically justified 
and saves a significant amount of energy.
    To aid the reader as DOE discusses the benefits and/or burdens of 
each trial standard level, tables present a summary of the results of 
DOE's quantitative analysis for each TSL. In addition to the 
quantitative results presented in the tables, DOE also considers other 
burdens and benefits that affect economic justification. Those include 
the impacts on identifiable subgroups of consumers who may be 
disproportionately affected by a national standard. Section V.B.1 of 
this SNOPR presents the estimated impacts of each TSL for these 
subgroups.
    DOE also notes that the economics literature provides a wide-
ranging discussion of how consumers trade off upfront costs and energy 
savings in the absence of government intervention. Much of this 
literature attempts to explain why consumers appear to undervalue 
energy efficiency improvements. This undervaluation suggests that 
regulation that promotes energy efficiency can produce significant net 
private gains (as well as producing social gains by, for example, 
reducing pollution). There is evidence that consumers undervalue future 
energy savings as a result of (1) a lack of information; (2) a lack of 
sufficient salience of the long-term or aggregate benefits; (3) a lack 
of sufficient savings to warrant delaying or altering purchases; (4) 
excessive focus on the short term, in the form of inconsistent 
weighting of future energy cost savings relative to available returns 
on other investments; (5) computational or other difficulties 
associated with the evaluation of relevant tradeoffs; and (6) a 
divergence in incentives (between renters and owners, or builders and 
purchasers). Having less than perfect foresight and a high degree of 
uncertainty about the future, consumers may trade off these types of 
investments at a higher than expected rate between current consumption 
and uncertain future energy cost savings.
    In DOE's current regulatory analysis, potential changes in the 
benefits and costs of a regulation due to changes in consumer purchase 
decisions are included in two ways: First, if consumers forego a 
purchase of a product in the standards case, this decreases sales for 
product manufacturers, and the impact on manufacturers attributed to 
lost revenue is included in the MIA. Second, DOE accounts for energy 
savings attributable only to products actually used by consumers in the 
standards case; if a regulatory option decreases the number of products 
used by consumers, this decreases the potential energy savings from an 
energy conservation standard. DOE provides estimates of shipments and 
changes in the volume of product purchases in chapter 9 of the SNOPR 
TSD. However, DOE's current analysis does not explicitly control for 
heterogeneity in consumer preferences, preferences across subcategories 
of products or specific features, or consumer price sensitivity 
variation according to household income.\98\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \98\ P.C. Reiss and M.W. White. Household Electricity Demand, 
Revisited. Review of Economic Studies (2005) 72, 853-883.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    While DOE is not prepared at present to provide a fuller 
quantifiable framework for estimating the benefits and costs of changes 
in consumer purchase decisions due to an energy conservation standard, 
DOE is committed to developing a framework that can support empirical 
quantitative tools for improved assessment of the consumer welfare 
impacts of appliance standards. DOE has posted a paper that discusses 
the issue of consumer welfare impacts of appliance energy efficiency 
standards, and potential enhancements to the methodology by which these 
impacts are defined and estimated in the regulatory process.\99\ DOE 
welcomes comments on how to more fully assess the potential impact of 
energy conservation standards on consumer choice and how to quantify 
this impact in its regulatory analysis in future rulemakings.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \99\ Alan Sanstad, Notes on the Economics of Household Energy 
Consumption and Technology Choice. Lawrence Berkeley National 
Laboratory. 2010. Available online at: www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/pdfs/consumer_ee_theory.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Benefits and Burdens of TSLs Considered for Conventional Cooking 
Products
    Table V.51 summarize the quantitative impacts estimated for each 
TSL for conventional cooking products. The national impacts are 
measured over the lifetime of conventional cooking products purchased 
in the 30-year period that begins in the anticipated year of compliance 
with amended standards (2019-2048). The energy savings, emissions 
reductions, and value of emissions reductions refer to full-fuel-cycle 
results. The efficiency levels contained in each TSL are described in 
section V.A of this SNOPR.

[[Page 60863]]



                                         Table V.50--Conventional Cooking Products: Summary of National Impacts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Category                         TSL 1                          TSL 2                         TSL 3                         TSL 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Cumulative FFC Energy Savings (quads)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 0.41.........................  0.76........................  1.01........................  1.85
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   NPV of Consumer Costs and Benefits (2015$ billion)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3% discount rate...............  $3.52........................  $6.24.......................  $6.28.......................  ($11.91).
7% discount rate...............  1.53.........................  2.72........................  2.50........................  (8.94).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Cumulative FFC Emissions Reduction
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CO2 million metric tons........  24.3.........................  45.3........................  59.1........................  109.
SO2 thousand tons..............  13.9.........................  23.6........................  24.6........................  53.3.
NOX thousand tons..............  43.9.........................  88.0........................  131.........................  222.
Hg tons........................  0.05.........................  0.09........................  0.09........................  0.20.
CH4 thousand tons..............  104..........................  227.........................  382.........................  599.
CH4 thousand tons CO2eq*.......  2,926........................  6,369.......................  10,703......................  16,769.
N2O thousand tons..............  0.29.........................  0.50........................  0.54........................  1.14.
N2O thousand tons CO2eq*.......  76.8.........................  133.........................  144.........................  303.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Value of Emissions Reduction
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CO2 2015$ million**............  175 to 2,417.................  331 to 4,550................  432 to 5,933................  792 to 10,917.
NOX--3% discount rate 2015$      83.4 to 190.2................  187.0 to 426.3..............  318.3 to 725.7..............  490.4 to 1,118.0.
 million.
NOX--7% discount rate 2015$      34.9 to 78.7.................  79.7 to 179.7...............  135.6 to 305.7..............  207.3 to 467.4.
 million.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parentheses indicate negative (-) values.
* CO2eq is the quantity of CO2 that would have the same GWP.
** Range of the economic value of CO2 reductions is based on estimates of the global benefit of reduced CO2 emissions.


             Table V.51--Conventional Cooking Products: Summary of Manufacturer and Consumer Impacts
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Category                         TSL 1               TSL 2             TSL 3           TSL 4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Manufacturer Impacts
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Industry NPV (2015$ million) (No-New-        1,198.3-1,200.1     1,148.5-1,156.7     844.7-868.0     314.6-511.1
 Standards Case INPV = $1,238.1)........
Industry NPV (% change)*................         (3.2)-(3.1)         (7.2)-(6.6)   (31.8)-(29.9)   (74.6)-(58.7)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Consumer Average LCC Savings (2015$)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PC1: Electric Open (Coil) Element                      $0.00               $2.87           $2.87           $2.87
 Cooking Tops...........................
PC2: Electric Smooth Element Cooking                   24.37               24.37           24.37        (280.82)
 Tops *.................................
PC3: Gas Cooking Tops...................                0.00                1.10           15.83           15.83
PC4: Electric Standard Ovens, Free-                     5.93                5.93           10.23         (30.82)
 Standing *.............................
PC5: Electric Standard Ovens, Built-in/                 5.96                5.96           10.23         (30.83)
 Slide-in *.............................
PC6: Electric Self-Clean Ovens, Free-                   7.04                7.04            7.04         (17.19)
 Standing *.............................
PC7: Electric Self-Clean Ovens, Built-in/               7.08                7.08            7.08         (17.21)
 Slide-in *.............................
PC8: Gas Standard Ovens, Free-Standing..                7.60               43.64            9.77            9.77
PC9: Gas Standard Ovens, Built-In/Slide-                7.60               43.65            9.77            9.77
 In.....................................
PC10: Gas Self-Cleaning Ovens, Free-                    7.73               48.03           20.27           20.27
 Standing...............................
PC11: Gas Self-Cleaning Ovens, Built-In/                7.73               48.05           20.27           20.27
 Slide-In...............................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Consumer Simple PBP (years)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PC1: Electric Open (Coil) Element         ..................                 0.5             0.5             0.5
 Cooking Tops...........................
PC2: Electric Smooth Element Cooking                     1.0                 1.0             1.0            61.9
 Tops...................................
PC3: Gas Cooking Tops...................  ..................                 9.1             4.4             4.4
PC4: Electric Standard Ovens, Free-                      0.9                 0.9             4.7            17.1
 Standing...............................
PC5: Electric Standard Ovens, Built-in/                  0.9                 0.9             4.7            17.1
 Slide-in...............................
PC6: Electric Self-Clean Ovens, Free-                    0.9                 0.9             0.9            16.2
 Standing...............................
PC7: Electric Self-Clean Ovens, Built-in/                0.9                 0.9             0.9            16.2
 Slide-in...............................
PC8: Gas Standard Ovens, Free-Standing..                 0.6                 1.1             6.0             6.0
PC9: Gas Standard Ovens, Built-In/Slide-                 0.6                 1.1             6.0             6.0
 In.....................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Built-In/Slide-In
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PC10: Gas Self-Cleaning Ovens, Free-                     0.7                 1.1             5.3             5.3
 Standing...............................
PC11: Gas Self-Cleaning Ovens, Built-In/                 0.7                 1.1             5.3             5.3
 Slide-In...............................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 60864]]

 
                                     % of Consumers That Experience Net Cost
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PC1: Electric Open (Coil) Element                          0                  19              19              19
 Cooking Tops...........................
PC2: Electric Smooth Element Cooking                       0                   0               0              98
 Tops...................................
PC3: Gas Cooking Tops...................                   0                  14               6               6
PC4: Electric Standard Ovens, Free-                        0                   0              20              80
 Standing...............................
PC5: Electric Standard Ovens, Built-in/                    0                   0              20              80
 Slide-in...............................
PC6: Electric Self-Clean Ovens, Free-                      0                   0               0              72
 Standing...............................
PC7: Electric Self-Clean Ovens, Built-in/                  0                   0               0              72
 Slide-in...............................
PC8: Gas Standard Ovens, Free-Standing..                   0                   0              61              61
PC9: Gas Standard Ovens, Built-In/Slide-                   0                   0              61              61
 In.....................................
PC10: Gas Self-Cleaning Ovens, Free-                       0                   0              49              49
 Standing...............................
PC11: Gas Self-Cleaning Ovens, Built-In/                   0                   0              49              49
 Slide-In...............................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Parentheses indicate negative (-) values.

    DOE first considered TSL 4, which represents the max-tech 
efficiency levels. TSL 4 would save 1.85 quads of energy, an amount DOE 
considers significant. Under TSL 4, the NPV of consumer benefit would 
be negative 8.94 billion using a discount rate of 7 percent, and 
negative 11.91billion using a discount rate of 3 percent.
    The cumulative emissions reductions at TSL 4 are 109 Mt of 
CO2, 222 thousand tons of NOX, 53.3 thousand tons 
of SO2, 0.20 ton of Hg, 599 thousand tons of CH4, 
and 1.14 thousand tons of N2O. The estimated monetary value 
of the CO2 emissions reduction at TSL 4 ranges from $792 
million to $10,917 million.
    At TSL 4, the average LCC impact ranges from a loss of $280.82 for 
PC2 (Electric Smooth Element Cooking Tops) to a savings of $15.83 for 
PC3 (Gas Cooking Tops). The simple payback period ranges from 0.5 years 
for PC1 (Electric Open Element Cooking Tops) to 61.9 years for PC2 
(Electric Smooth Element Cooking Tops). The fraction of consumers 
experiencing an LCC net cost ranges from 6 percent for PC3 (Gas Cooking 
Tops) to 98 percent for PC2 (Electric Smooth Element Cooking Tops).
    DOE notes that the reduction in IAEC at TSL 4 could result in the 
unavailability of certain product types, specifically commercial-style 
cooking tops that incorporate certain features that may be expected by 
purchasers of such products, e.g., heavier cast iron grates to support 
larger loads and high input rate burners to provide faster cooking 
times for larger loads. Because it is uncertain how greatly consumers 
value these product types, DOE is concerned that TSL 4 may result in 
the unavailability of certain product types for PC3 (Gas Cooking Tops). 
In addition, as discussed in section III.B, DOE recognizes that there 
may be uncertainty in conducting the standards analysis and analyzing 
energy savings from performance standards for conventional ovens based 
on efficiency levels using the oven test procedure adopted in the July 
2015 TP Final Rule, which DOE is now proposing to repeal due to 
concerns whether the test procedure accurately reflects the energy use 
of all product types.
    At TSL 4, the projected change in INPV ranges from a decrease of 
$923.6 million to a decrease of $727.1 million, equivalent to a loss of 
74.6 percent and a loss of 58.7 percent, respectively.
    Products that meet the efficiency standards specified by TSL 4 are 
forecast to represent 13 percent of shipments in the year leading up to 
new and amended standards. As such, manufacturers would have to 
redesign nearly all products by the 2019 compliance date to meet 
demand. Redesigning all units to meet max-tech would require 
considerable capital and product conversion expenditures. At TSL 4, DOE 
estimates capital conversion costs would total $580.2 million and 
product conversion costs would total $525.4 million. Total capital and 
product conversion costs associated with the changes in products and 
manufacturing facilities required at TSL 4 would require significant 
use of manufacturers' financial reserves and would significantly reduce 
manufacturer INPV. Additionally, manufacturers are more likely to 
reduce their margins to maintain a price-competitive product at higher 
TSLs, so DOE expects that TSL 4 would yield impacts closer to the most 
severe range of INPV impacts. If the most severe range of impacts is 
reached, as DOE expects could happen, TSL 4 could result in a net loss 
of 74.6 percent in INPV to residential conventional cooking product 
manufacturers. As a result, at TSL 4, DOE expects that some companies 
could be forced to exit the residential conventional cooking product 
market or shift production abroad, both of which would negatively 
impact domestic manufacturing capacity and employment. The commercial-
style manufacturer subgroup, which primarily produces gas cooking 
products that are marketed as commercial-style, would not be able to 
meet the gas cooking product standards required at this TSL and would 
likely be forced to exit the gas cooking product market, which could 
negatively impact domestic employment.
    In view of the foregoing, DOE has tentatively concluded that, at 
TSL 4 for conventional cooking products, the benefits of energy 
savings, positive NPV of total customer benefits, customer LCC savings 
for six of the eleven product classes, emission reductions and the 
estimated monetary value of the emissions reductions would be 
outweighed by the negative customer impacts for product classes 2, 4, 
5, 6 and 7 (Electric Smooth Element Cooking Tops and all Electric 
Ovens), the potential burden on consumers from the unavailability of 
certain product types for PC3 (Gas Cooking Tops), the uncertainty of 
performance-based standards for PC4 through PC11 (Conventional Ovens) 
since DOE is proposing to repeal its conventional oven test procedure, 
the significant reduction in industry value at TSL 4, as well as the 
potential for loss of domestic manufacturing. Consequently, DOE has 
tentatively concluded that TSL 4 is not economically justified.
    DOE then considered TSL 3, which comprises efficiency levels 
providing maximum NES with positive NPV. TSL 3 would save 1.01 quads of 
energy, an amount DOE considers significant. Under TSL 3, the NPV of 
consumer benefit would be $2.50 billion using a discount rate of 7 
percent, and $6.28 billion using a discount rate of 3 percent.

[[Page 60865]]

    The cumulative emissions reductions at TSL 3 are 59.1 Mt of 
CO2, 131 thousand tons of NOX, 24.6 thousand tons 
of SO2, 0.09 ton of Hg, 382 thousand tons of CH4, 
and 0.54 thousand tons of N2O. The estimated monetary value 
of the CO2 emissions reduction at TSL 3 ranges from $432 
million to $5,933 million.
    At TSL 3, the average LCC impact is a savings ranging from $2.87 
for PC1 (Electric Coil Cooking Tops) to $24.37 for PC2 (Electric Smooth 
Element Cooking Tops). The simple payback period ranges from 0.5 years 
for PC1 (Electric Open Element Cooking Tops) to 6.0 years for Gas 
Standard Ovens. The fraction of consumers experiencing an LCC net cost 
ranges from zero percent for PC2, PC6, and PC7 (Electric Smooth Element 
Cooking Tops, and all Electric Self-Clean Ovens) to 61 percent for all 
Gas Standard Ovens.
    As described for TSL 4, the reduction in IAEC at TSL 3 could also 
result in a lack in the availability of commercial-style cooking tops 
that incorporate certain features that may be expected by purchasers of 
such products, e.g., heavier cast iron grates to support larger loads 
and high input rate burners to provide faster cooking times for larger 
loads. DOE is concerned that TSL 3 may also result in the 
unavailability of certain product types for PC3 (Gas Cooking Tops). In 
addition, as discussed in section III.B, DOE recognizes that there may 
be uncertainty in conducting the standards analysis and analyzing 
energy savings from performance standards for conventional ovens based 
on efficiency levels using the oven test procedure adopted in the July 
2015 TP Final Rule, which DOE is now proposing to repeal due to 
concerns whether the test procedure accurately reflects the energy use 
of all product types.
    At TSL 3, the projected change in INPV ranges from a decrease of 
$393.5 million to a decrease of $370.1 million, equivalent to a loss of 
31.8 percent and a loss of 29.9 percent, respectively.
    Products that meet the efficiency standards specified by TSL 3 are 
forecast to represent 30 percent of shipments in the year leading up to 
new and amended standards. As such, manufacturers would have to 
redesign a large portion of products by the 2019 compliance date to 
meet demand. Redesigning the majority of units to meet efficiency 
requirements at TSL 3 would require considerable capital and product 
conversion expenditures. At TSL 3, DOE estimates capital conversion 
costs would total $248.2 million and product conversion costs would 
total $261.8 million. Total capital and product conversion costs 
associated with the changes in products and manufacturing facilities 
required at TSL 3 would require significant use of manufacturers' 
financial reserves and would significantly reduce manufacturer INPV. As 
a result, at TSL 3, DOE expects that some companies could be forced to 
exit the residential conventional cooking product market or shift 
production abroad, both of which would negatively impact domestic 
manufacturing capacity and employment. The commercial-style 
manufacturer subgroup, which primarily produces gas cooking products 
that are marketed as commercial-style, would not be able to meet the 
gas cooking product standards required at this TSL and would likely be 
forced to exit the gas cooking product market, which could negatively 
impact domestic employment.
    In view of the foregoing, DOE has tentatively concluded that, at 
TSL 3 for conventional cooking products, the benefits of energy 
savings, positive NPV of total customer benefits, customer LCC savings 
for all the product classes, emission reductions and the estimated 
monetary value of the emissions reductions would be outweighed by the 
negative customer impacts for product classes 8 through 11 (all Gas 
Ovens), the potential burden on consumers from the unavailability of 
certain product types for PC3 (Gas Cooking Tops), the uncertainty of 
performance-based standards for PC4 through PC11 (Conventional Ovens) 
since DOE has proposed to repeal its conventional oven test procedure, 
the significant reduction in industry value at TSL 3, as well as the 
potential for loss of domestic manufacturing. Consequently, DOE has 
tentatively concluded that TSL 3 is not economically justified.
    DOE then considered TSL 2. TSL 2 includes the prescriptive 
standards for conventional ovens and represents a level between TSL 1 
and TSL 3 that does not eliminate commercial-style cooking tops from 
the market and yields an NPV greater than TSL 1. TSL 2 would save 0.76 
quads of energy, an amount DOE considers significant. Under TSL 2, the 
NPV of consumer benefit is $2.72 billion using a discount rate of 7 
percent, and $6.24 billion using a discount rate of 3 percent.
    The cumulative emissions reductions at TSL 2 are 45.3 Mt of 
CO2, 88.0 thousand tons of NOX, 23.6 thousand 
tons of SO2, 0.09 tons of Hg, 227 thousand tons of 
CH4, and 0.50 thousand tons of N2O. The estimated 
monetary value of the CO2 emissions reduction at TSL 3 
ranges from $331 million to $4,550 million.
    At TSL 2, the average LCC impact is a savings ranging from $1.10 
for PC3 (Gas Cooking Tops) to $48.05 for PC11 (Gas Self-Cleaning Ovens, 
Built-in/Slide-in). The simple payback period ranges from 0.5 years for 
PC1 (Electric Open Element Cooking Tops) to 9.1 years for PC3 (Gas 
Cooking Tops). The fraction of consumers experiencing a LCC net cost 
ranges from zero percent for PC2 and PC4 through PC11 (Electric Smooth 
Element Cooking Tops, and all Electric and Gas Ovens) to 19 percent for 
PC1 (Electric Open Element Cooking Tops).
    At TSL 2, the projected change in INPV ranges from a decrease of 
$89.6 million to a decrease of $81.4 million, equivalent to a loss of 
7.2 percent and a loss of 6.6 percent, respectively. Products that meet 
the efficiency standards specified by this TSL are forecast to 
represent 49 percent of shipments in the year leading up to new and 
amended standards. DOE estimates that compliance with TSL 2 would 
require manufacturers to make an estimated $47.9 million in capital 
conversion costs and would require manufacturers to make an estimated 
$71.3 million in product conversion costs primarily relating to the 
research and development programs needed to improve upon existing 
platforms to meet the specified efficiency levels. The substantial 
reduction in conversion costs corresponding to compliance with TSL 2, 
compared to compliance with TSL 3 and TSL 4, greatly mitigates the 
operational risk and impact on manufacturer INPV.
    DOE estimates that the reduction in IAEC due to a performance 
standard under TSL 2 for PC3 (Gas Cooking Tops) would not result in the 
unavailability of certain product types and features. Specifically, the 
commercial-style gas cooking tops that may be lost under TSL 3 would be 
retained at TSL 2. Based on DOE's testing, as presented in section 
IV.C.2 of this SNOPR, commercial-style gas cooking tops are available 
on the market that meet the proposed efficiency level under TSL 2.
    Additionally, because TSL 2 is composed of prescriptive 
requirements for conventional ovens, the industry would not face the 
costs associated with complying with performance requirements for these 
product classes. TSL 2 would require conventional gas ovens to be 
equipped with a control system that uses intermittent/interrupted 
ignition or intermittent pilot ignition and does not use a linear power 
supply. For conventional electric ovens, TSL 2 would require that 
conventional electric ovens not be equipped with a control system that 
uses a linear power

[[Page 60866]]

supply. Current prescriptive standards for conventional gas cooking 
products require that gas cooking products with or without an 
electrical supply cord not be equipped with a constant burning pilot. 
As a result, conventional cooking product manufacturers are not 
currently subject to the costs of testing the rated performance of 
their products to label and comply with performance-based energy 
conservation standards. By maintaining prescriptive standards at TSL 2, 
DOE avoids burdening manufacturers of conventional ovens with testing, 
labeling, and compliance costs that they currently do not bear. As 
discussed in section III.B of this SNOPR, the prescriptive standards 
for conventional ovens that are proposed under TSL 2 would also avoid 
the issues with uncertainty in measured energy use values for different 
oven product types, particularly since DOE is proposing to repeal the 
oven test procedure.
    After considering the analysis and weighing the benefits and 
burdens, the Secretary tentatively concludes that at TSL 2 for 
residential conventional cooking products, the benefits of energy 
savings, positive NPV of consumer benefits, emission reductions, and 
the estimated monetary value of the CO2 emissions 
reductions, and positive average LCC savings would outweigh the 
negative impacts on some consumers and on manufacturers. Although TSL 2 
could result in a reduction in INPV for manufacturers, DOE has 
concluded that it would not place a significant burden on manufacturers 
to comply with the standards in terms of changes to existing 
manufacturing processes and certification testing. Accordingly, the 
Secretary has tentatively concluded that TSL 2 would offer the maximum 
improvement in efficiency that is technologically feasible and 
economically justified, and would result in significant conservation of 
energy.
    Therefore, based on the above considerations, DOE proposes TSL 2 
for conventional cooking products. The proposed energy conservation 
standards for conventional cooking tops are shown in Table V.52. As 
discussed in section IV.C.3 in this SNOPR, the efficiency levels 
analyzed in this SNOPR are based, in part, on DOE's testing of products 
in its test sample. DOE recognizes that manufacturers implement 
different heating element or burner designs and welcomes additional 
test data regarding the proposed standard levels.

     Table V.52--Proposed Amended Energy Conservation Standards for
                        Conventional Cooking Tops
                   [Compliance date: January 1, 2019]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Integrated annual
                                                             energy
                    Product class                         consumption
                                                       (IAEC) (kWh/year)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electric Open (Coil) Element Cooking Tops............              113.2
Electric Smooth Element Cooking Tops.................              121.2
Gas Cooking Tops.....................................              924.4
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For conventional ovens, the proposed standards at TSL 2 correspond 
to a prescriptive design requirement for the control system of the 
oven. DOE is proposing to require that conventional electric ovens not 
be equipped with a control system that uses a linear power supply. DOE 
is also proposing that conventional gas ovens be equipped with a 
control system that uses an intermittent/interrupted ignition or 
intermittent pilot ignition and does not use a linear power supply. DOE 
also notes that the current prescriptive standards for conventional gas 
ovens prohibiting constant burning pilot lights would continue to be 
applicable. (10 CFR 430.32(j)).
2. Summary of Annualized Benefits and Costs of the Proposed Standards
    The benefits and costs of the proposed standards can also be 
expressed in terms of annualized values. The annualized net benefit is 
the sum of (1) the annualized national economic value (expressed in 
2015$) of the benefits from operating products that meet the proposed 
standards (consisting primarily of operating cost savings from using 
less energy, minus increases in product purchase costs, which is 
another way of representing consumer NPV), and (2) the monetary value 
of the benefits of CO2 and NOX emission 
reductions.\100\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \100\ To convert the time-series of costs and benefits into 
annualized values, DOE calculated a present value in 2015, the year 
used for discounting the NPV of total consumer costs and savings. 
For the benefits, DOE calculated a present value associated with 
each year's shipments in the year in which the shipments occur 
(2020, 2030, etc.), and then discounted the present value from each 
year to 2015. The calculation uses discount rates of 3 and 7 percent 
for all costs and benefits except for the value of CO2 
reductions, for which DOE used case-specific discount rates. Using 
the present value, DOE then calculated the fixed annual payment over 
a 30-year period, starting in the compliance year that yields the 
same present value.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Table V.53 shows the annualized values for conventional cooking 
products under TSL 2, expressed in 2015$. The results under the primary 
estimate are as follows.
    Using a 7-percent discount rate for benefits and costs other than 
CO2 reductions, for which DOE used a 3-percent discount rate 
along with the SCC series corresponding to a value of $40.6/ton in 2015 
(in 2015$), the cost of the standards for conventional cooking products 
in today's rule is $42.6 million per year in increased equipment costs, 
while the annualized benefits are $293 million per year in reduced 
equipment operating costs, $80.8 million in CO2 reductions, 
and $7.4 million in reduced NOX emissions. In this case, the 
net benefit amounts to $339 million per year. Using a 3-percent 
discount rate for all benefits and costs and the SCC series 
corresponding to a value of $40.6/ton in 2015 (in 2015$), the cost of 
the standards for conventional cooking products in today's rule is 
$42.3 million per year in increased equipment costs, while the benefits 
are $380 million per year in reduced operating costs, $80.8 million in 
CO2 reductions, and $10.1 million in reduced NOX 
emissions. In this case, the net benefit amounts to $429 million per 
year.

[[Page 60867]]



           Table V.53--Annualized Benefits and Costs of Proposed Amended Standards (TSL 2) for Conventional Cooking Products Sold in 2019-2048
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                                   Million
                                           Discount rate              Primary estimate*           Low net benefits          High net benefits       2015$/
                                                                                                     estimate*                  estimate*            year
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------
                                                                     Benefits
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consumer Operating Cost Savings.  7%............................  293......................  262......................  332.
                                  3%............................  380......................  336......................  439.
CO2 Reduction at $12.4/t **.....  5%............................  23.8.....................  21.7.....................  26.5.
CO2 Reduction at $40.6/t **.....  3%............................  80.8.....................  73.6.....................  90.5.
CO2 Reduction at $63.2/t **.....  2.5%..........................  118.6....................  107.9....................  132.8.
CO2 Reduction at $118/t **......  3%............................  246.3....................  224.1....................  275.6.
NOX Reduction Value [dagger]....  7%............................  7.4......................  6.8......................  18.2.
                                  3%............................  10.1.....................  9.2......................  25.6.
Total Benefits [dagger][dagger].  7% plus CO2 range.............  325 to 547...............  290 to 493...............  377 to 626.
                                  7%............................  382......................  342......................  441.
                                  3% plus CO2 range.............  414 to 637...............  367 to 569...............  491 to 740.
                                  3%............................  471......................  418......................  555.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consumer Incremental Product      7%............................  42.6.....................  41.6.....................  45.3.
 Costs.                           3%............................  42.3.....................  41.3.....................  45.2.
Total [dagger]..................  7% plus CO2 range.............  282 to 504...............  249 to 451...............  332 to 581.
                                  7%............................  339......................  301......................  396.
                                  3% plus CO2 range.............  372 to 594...............  325 to 528...............  446 to 695.
                                  3%............................  429......................  377......................  510.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* This table presents the annualized costs and benefits associated with cooking products shipped in 2019-2048. Note that the benefits and costs may not
  exactly sum to the net benefits due to rounding. These results include benefits to consumers which accrue after 2048 from the products purchased in
  2019-2048. The results account for the incremental variable and fixed costs incurred by manufacturers due to the standard, some of which may be
  incurred in preparation for the rule. The Primary, Low Benefits, and High Benefits Estimates utilize projections of energy prices from the AEO 2015
  Reference case, Low Economic Growth case, and High Economic Growth case, respectively. In addition, incremental product costs reflect a medium decline
  rate in the Primary Estimate, a low decline rate in the Low Benefits Estimate, and a high decline rate in the High Benefits Estimate. The methods used
  to derive projected price trends are explained in section IV.F.1 of this SNOPR.
** The CO2 values represent global monetized values of the SCC, in 2015$, in 2015 under several scenarios of the updated SCC values. The first three
  cases use the averages of SCC distributions calculated using 5%, 3%, and 2.5% discount rates, respectively. The fourth case represents the 95th
  percentile of the SCC distribution calculated using a 3% discount rate. The SCC time series incorporate an escalation factor.
[dagger] DOE estimated the monetized value of NOX emissions reductions associated with electricity savings using benefit per ton estimates from the
  Regulatory Impact Analysis for the Clean Power Plan Final Rule, published in August 2015 by EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
  (Available at: http://www.epa.gov/cleanpowerplan/clean-power-plan-final-rule-regulatory-impact-analysis.) See section IV.L.2 of this SNOPR for further
  discussion. For DOE's Primary Estimate and Low Net Benefits Estimate, the agency used a national benefit-per-ton estimate for NOX emitted from the
  Electric Generating Unit sector based on an estimate of premature mortality derived from the ACS study (Krewski et al., 2009). For DOE's High Net
  Benefits Estimate, the benefit-per-ton estimates were based on the Six Cities study (Lepuele et al., 2011), which are nearly two-and-a-half times
  larger than those from the ACS study.
[dagger][dagger] Total Benefits for both the 3% and 7% cases are derived using the series corresponding to the average SCC with a 3-percent discount
  rate ($40.6/t case). In the rows labeled ``7% plus CO2 range'' and ``3% plus CO2 range,'' the operating cost and NOX benefits are calculated using the
  labeled discount rate, and those values are added to the full range of CO2 values.

VI. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review

A. Review Under Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

    Section 1(b)(1) of Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and 
Review,'' 58 FR 51735 (Oct. 4, 1993), requires each agency to identify 
the problem that it intends to address, including, where applicable, 
the failures of private markets or public institutions that warrant new 
agency action, as well as to assess the significance of that problem. 
The problems that the proposed standards address are as follows:
    (1) Insufficient information and the high costs of gathering and 
analyzing relevant information leads some consumers to miss 
opportunities to make cost-effective investments in energy efficiency.
    (2) In some cases the benefits of more efficient products are not 
realized due to misaligned incentives between purchasers and users. An 
example of such a case is when the products purchase decision is made 
by a building contractor or building owner who does not pay the energy 
costs.
    (3) There are external benefits resulting from improved energy 
efficiency of appliances that are not captured by the users of such 
products. These benefits include externalities related to public 
health, environmental protection, and national security that are not 
reflected in energy prices, such as reduced emissions of air pollutants 
and greenhouse gases that impact human health and global warming.
    The Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs (OIRA) in the OMB has determined that the proposed regulatory 
action is a significant regulatory action under section (3)(f) of 
Executive Order 12866. Accordingly, pursuant to section 6(a)(3)(B) of 
the Order, DOE has provided to OIRA: (i) The text of the draft 
regulatory action, together with a reasonably detailed description of 
the need for the regulatory action and an explanation of how the 
regulatory action will meet that need; and (ii) An assessment of the 
potential costs and benefits of the regulatory action, including an 
explanation of the manner in which the regulatory action is consistent 
with a statutory mandate. DOE has included these documents in the 
rulemaking record.
    In addition, DOE has determined that this regulatory action is an 
``economically significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866. Accordingly, pursuant to section 6(a)(3)(C) of the Order, DOE 
has

[[Page 60868]]

provided to OIRA an assessment, including the underlying analysis, of 
benefits and costs anticipated from the regulatory action, together 
with, to the extent feasible, a quantification of those costs; and an 
assessment, including the underlying analysis, of costs and benefits of 
potentially effective and reasonably feasible alternatives to the 
planned regulation, and an explanation why the planned regulatory 
action is preferable to the identified potential alternatives. These 
assessments can be found in the technical support document for this 
rulemaking.
    DOE has also reviewed this regulation pursuant to Executive Order 
13563. 76 FR 3281 (Jan. 21, 2011). Executive Order 13563 is 
supplemental to and explicitly reaffirms the principles, structures, 
and definitions governing regulatory review established in Executive 
Order 12866. To the extent permitted by law, agencies are required by 
Executive Order 13563 to: (1) Propose or adopt a regulation only upon a 
reasoned determination that its benefits justify its costs (recognizing 
that some benefits and costs are difficult to quantify); (2) tailor 
regulations to impose the least burden on society, consistent with 
obtaining regulatory objectives, taking into account, among other 
things, and to the extent practicable, the costs of cumulative 
regulations; (3) select, in choosing among alternative regulatory 
approaches, those approaches that maximize net benefits (including 
potential economic, environmental, public health and safety, and other 
advantages; distributive impacts; and equity); (4) to the extent 
feasible, specify performance objectives, rather than specifying the 
behavior or manner of compliance that regulated entities must adopt; 
and (5) identify and assess available alternatives to direct 
regulation, including providing economic incentives to encourage the 
desired behavior, such as user fees or marketable permits, or providing 
information upon which choices can be made by the public.
    DOE emphasizes as well that Executive Order 13563 requires agencies 
to use the best available techniques to quantify anticipated present 
and future benefits and costs as accurately as possible. In its 
guidance, OIRA has emphasized that such techniques may include 
identifying changing future compliance costs that might result from 
technological innovation or anticipated behavioral changes. For the 
reasons stated in the preamble, DOE believes that this SNOPR is 
consistent with these principles, including the requirement that, to 
the extent permitted by law, benefits justify costs and that net 
benefits are maximized.

B. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) requires 
preparation of an initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA) for 
any rule that by law must be proposed for public comment, unless the 
agency certifies that the rule, if promulgated, will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
As required by Executive Order 13272, ``Proper Consideration of Small 
Entities in Agency Rulemaking,'' 67 FR 53461 (August 16, 2002), DOE 
published procedures and policies on February 19, 2003, to ensure that 
the potential impacts of its rules on small entities are properly 
considered during the rulemaking process. 68 FR 7990. DOE has made its 
procedures and policies available on the Office of the General 
Counsel's Web site (http://energy.gov/gc/office-general-counsel). DOE 
has prepared the following IRFA for the products that are the subject 
of this rulemaking.
1. Description and Estimated Number of Small Entities Regulated
a. Methodology for Estimating the Number of Small Entities
    For manufacturers of residential conventional cooking products, the 
SBA has set a size threshold, which defines those entities classified 
as ``small businesses'' for the purposes of the statute. DOE used the 
small business size standards published by SBA to determine whether any 
small entities would be required to comply with this rule. The size 
standards are codified at 13 CFR part 121. The size standards are 
listed by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 
and industry description and are available at http://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/files/Size_Standards_Table.pdf. Residential conventional 
cooking products manufacturing is classified under NAICS 335221, 
``Household Cooking Appliance Manufacturing.'' The SBA sets a threshold 
of 1,500 employees or fewer for an entity to be considered a small 
business for this category.
    DOE reviewed the potential standard levels considered in this SNOPR 
under the provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act and the 
procedures and policies published on February 19, 2003. To better 
assess the potential impacts of this rulemaking on small entities, DOE 
conducted a more focused inquiry of the companies that could be small 
businesses of products covered by this rulemaking. During its market 
survey, DOE used available public information to identify potential 
small businesses. DOE's research involved industry trade association 
membership directories (e.g., AHAM), information from previous 
rulemakings, individual company Web sites, and market research tools 
(e.g., Hoover's reports) to create a list of companies that manufacture 
or sell residential conventional cooking products covered by this 
rulemaking.

            Table VI.1--Sources Used To Identify Residential Conventional Cooking Product Businesses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             Number of large    Number of small
                                  Source                                        businesses         businesses
                                                                                identified         identified
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AHAM Trade Association Directory..........................................                  9                  2
Previous Rulemaking.......................................................                  2                  4
Market Research...........................................................                  0                  4
                                                                           -------------------------------------
    Total.................................................................                 11                 10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE also asked stakeholders and industry representatives if they 
were aware of any additional small businesses during manufacturer 
interviews and at DOE public meetings. DOE reviewed publicly available 
data and contacted various companies on its complete list of 
businesses, as necessary, to determine whether they

[[Page 60869]]

met the SBA's definition of a small business. DOE screened out 
companies that do not offer products impacted by this rulemaking, do 
not meet the definition of a ``small business,'' or are foreign owned 
and operated.
    DOE identified 21 companies that either manufacture or sell 
residential conventional cooking products that would be affected by 
this proposal. Of these 21 companies, DOE identified 10 that met the 
SBA's definition of a small business. However, DOE believes that only 
eight of these 10 small businesses actually manufacture the products 
they sell. The other two are rebranders and do not manufacture the 
products they sell.
b. Manufacturer Participation
    DOE contacted identified businesses to invite them to take part in 
a manufacturer impact analysis interview. DOE contacted all 10 
potential small businesses to participate in manufacturer interviews. 
DOE was able to reach and discuss potential standards with two small 
businesses. DOE also obtained information about small businesses and 
potential impacts on small businesses while interviewing large 
manufacturers.
c. Residential Conventional Cooking Product Industry Structure and 
Nature of Competition
    Three major manufacturers supply approximately 85 percent of the 
market for residential conventional cooking products. None of the three 
major manufacturers of residential conventional cooking products 
affected by this rulemaking is a small business. DOE estimates that the 
remaining 15 percent of the market is served by a combination of 10 
small businesses and eight large businesses, not counting the three 
major manufacturers.
d. Comparison Between Large and Small Manufacturers
    In general, small manufacturers differ from large manufacturers in 
several ways that affect the extent to which a manufacturer may be 
impacted by proposed standards. Characteristics of small manufacturers 
typically include: lower production volumes, fewer engineering 
resources, and less access to capital. Lower production volumes in 
particular may place small manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage 
relative to large manufacturers as they convert products and facilities 
to comply with new and amended standards. When producing at lower 
volumes, a small manufacturer's conversion costs must be spread over 
fewer units than a larger competitor's. Therefore, unless a small 
manufacturer can differentiate its products in order to earn a price 
premium, the small manufacturer may experience a disproportionate cost 
penalty as it spreads one-time conversion costs over fewer unit sales. 
Additionally, when producing at lower volumes, small manufacturers may 
lack the purchasing power of their larger competitors and may therefore 
face higher costs when sourcing components for more efficient products. 
Disadvantages tied to lower production volumes may be further 
exacerbated by the fact that small manufacturers often have more 
limited engineering resources than their larger competitors, thereby 
complicating the redesign effort required to comply with new and 
amended standards. Finally, small manufacturers often have less access 
to capital, which may be needed to cover the conversion costs 
associated with new and amended standards. Combined, these factors may 
entail a disproportionate burden on small manufacturers compared to 
large manufacturers.
2. Description and Estimate of Compliance Requirements
    DOE discovered that small businesses can be divided into two 
groups; (1) small manufacturers, that manufacture their products; and 
(2) rebranders, that label already-manufactured products under their 
company name. Even though small businesses that re-label already-
manufactured products may experience slightly higher unit costs, DOE 
does not anticipate this rulemaking having a significant effect on 
these businesses, since these rebranders are not responsible for the 
conversion costs associated with the proposed standards.
    There are two types of small businesses responsible for 
manufacturing the products they sell; niche small manufacturers and 
premium small manufacturers. Niche small manufacturers typically 
produce inexpensive cooking products in non-conventional sizes for 
unique applications. They typically do not compete with large 
manufacturers due to the lower sales volumes associated with these non-
conventional sizes and unique applications. In order to comply with the 
proposed oven standards, several niche small manufacturers would need 
to purchase SMPS for their ovens. However, since this is a purchased 
part, DOE does not anticipate a significant impact to these 
manufacturers due to the proposed standards for ovens. For cooking 
tops, most niche small manufacturers use lighter metal grates in their 
cooking tops that are more efficient and would already meet the 
proposed standards for cooking tops.
    Premium small manufacturers sell premium cooking products that 
typically do not compete in the market place on price. These products 
can be significantly more expensive than the mass volume cooking 
products that large manufacturers typically sell. Most premium small 
manufacturers already use switch mode power supplies in their ovens and 
would not be significantly impacted by the proposed standards for 
ovens. While some premium manufacturers would have to redesign their 
cooking tops to meet the proposed standards, there are premium cooking 
tops on the market that are able to meet these standards while still 
retaining their premium quality.
    At TSL 2, the level proposed in this SNOPR, DOE estimates capital 
conversion costs of $1.5 million and product conversion costs of $4.0 
million for an average small manufacturer. This brings the total 
conversion costs to approximately $5.5 million for an average small 
manufacturer. Based on publicly available information from online 
sources such as Hoovers,\101\ Cortera,\102\ and Glassdoor,\103\ DOE 
estimates the average annual revenue of a small manufacturer to be 
approximately $161.5 million. Table VI.2 presents the estimated 
conversion costs as a percentage of annual revenue for an average small 
manufacturer.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \101\ See: http://www.hoovers.com/.
    \102\ See: https://www.cortera.com/.
    \103\ See: https://www.glassdoor.com/.

[[Page 60870]]



 Table VI.2--Conversion Costs as a Percentage of Annual Revenue for an Average Small Manufacturer of Residential
                                          Conventional Cooking Products
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Conversion
                                                                Annual revenue     Conversion       costs as a
                                                                  (millions     costs (millions   percentage of
                                                                    2014$)           2014$)       annual revenue
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average Small Manufacturer...................................          $161.5             $5.5              3.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Since the proposed standards could impact up to eight small 
manufacturers' level of investment and profitability, DOE cannot 
certify that the proposed standards would not have a significant impact 
on a substantial number of small businesses.
    DOE requests comments on the number of small businesses identified 
and on the impacts of new and amended energy conservation standards on 
small businesses, including small rebranders and small manufacturers.
3. Duplication, Overlap, and Conflict With Other Rules and Regulations
    DOE is not aware of any rules or regulations that duplicate, 
overlap, or conflict with the rule being proposed.
4. Significant Alternatives to the Rule
    The discussion in the previous section analyzes impacts on small 
businesses that would result from the proposed standards. In reviewing 
alternatives to the proposed rule, DOE examined energy conservation 
standards set at higher and lower efficiency levels, TSL 4, TSL 3, and 
TSL 1. DOE estimates that for an average small manufacturer, conversion 
costs would be 86.8 percent lower at TSL 2 ($5.5 million) compared to 
the conversion costs at TSL 4 ($41.8 million) and would be 75.5 percent 
lower at TSL 2 ($5.5 million) compared to the conversion costs at TSL 3 
($22.6 million). The substantial reduction in small manufacturer 
conversion costs corresponding to TSL 2 compared to TSL 4 and TSL 3 
greatly mitigates the operational risk and the impact of the standards 
on small manufacturer's profitability.
    While TSL 1 would reduce the impacts on small businesses, it would 
come at the expense of a significant reduction in energy savings and 
NPV benefits to consumers, achieving 29 percent lower energy savings 
and 36 percent less NPV benefits to consumers compared to the energy 
savings and NPV benefits at TSL 2.
    DOE believes that establishing standards at TSL 2 balances the 
benefits of the energy savings and the NPV benefits to consumers 
created at TSL 2 with the potential burdens placed on residential 
conventional products manufacturers, including small businesses. 
Accordingly, DOE is declining to adopt one of the other TSLs, or the 
other policy alternatives detailed as part of the regulatory impacts 
analysis included in chapter 17 of the SNOPR TSD.
    Additional compliance flexibilities may be available through other 
means. For example EPCA provides that a manufacturer whose annual gross 
revenue from all of its operations does not exceed $8 million may apply 
for an exemption from all or part of an energy conservation standard 
for a period not longer than 24 months after the effective date of a 
final rule establishing the standards. (42 U.S.C. 6295(t)) DOE 
estimates that three of the nine small manufacturers could potentially 
petition for a waiver based on their annual gross revenue not exceeding 
$8 million. Additionally, Section 504 of the Department of Energy 
Organization Act, 42 U.S.C. 7194, provides authority for the Secretary 
to adjust a rule issued under EPCA in order to prevent ``special 
hardship, inequity, or unfair distribution of burdens'' that may be 
imposed on that manufacturer as a result of such rule. Manufacturers 
should refer to 10 CFR part 430, subpart E, and part 1003 for 
additional details.
    DOE continues to seek input from businesses that would be affected 
by this rulemaking and will consider comments received in the 
development of any final rule (See section VII.B of this SNOPR that 
solicits specific data as well as input on the results of the analyses 
contained in this section VI.B.4.)

C. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction Act

    Manufacturers of covered products must certify to DOE that their 
products comply with any applicable energy conservation standards. In 
certifying compliance, manufacturers must test their products according 
to the applicable DOE test procedure, including any amendments adopted 
for that test procedure. DOE has established regulations for the 
certification and recordkeeping requirements for all covered consumer 
products and commercial equipment, including conventional cooking 
products. 76 FR 12422 (March 7, 2011). The collection-of-information 
requirement for the certification and recordkeeping is subject to 
review and approval by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). 
This requirement has been approved by OMB under OMB control number 
1910-1400. DOE requested OMB approval of an extension of this 
information collection for 3 years, specifically including the 
collection of information proposed in the present rulemaking, and 
estimated that the annual number of burden hours under this extension 
is 30 hours per company. In response to DOE's request, OMB approved 
DOE's information collection requirements covered under OMB control 
number 1910-1400 through November 30, 2017. 80 FR 5099 (Jan. 30, 2015).
    Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is 
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty 
for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the PRA, unless that collection of information displays 
a currently valid OMB Control Number.

D. Review Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

    Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, 
DOE has determined that the proposed rule fits within the category of 
actions included in Categorical Exclusion (CX) B5.1 and otherwise meets 
the requirements for application of a CX. See 10 CFR part 1021, App. B, 
B5.1(b); 1021.410(b) and App. B, B(1)-(5). The proposed rule fits 
within the category of actions because it is a rulemaking that 
establishes energy conservation standards for consumer products or 
industrial equipment, and for which none of the exceptions identified 
in CX B5.1(b) apply. Therefore, DOE has made a CX determination for 
this rulemaking, and DOE does not need to prepare an Environmental 
Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement for this proposed rule. 
DOE's CX

[[Page 60871]]

determination for this proposed rule is available at http://cxnepa.energy.gov/.

E. Review Under Executive Order 13132

    Executive Order 13132, ``Federalism.'' 64 FR 43255 (Aug. 10, 1999) 
imposes certain requirements on Federal agencies formulating and 
implementing policies or regulations that preempt State law or that 
have Federalism implications. The Executive Order requires agencies to 
examine the constitutional and statutory authority supporting any 
action that would limit the policymaking discretion of the States and 
to carefully assess the necessity for such actions. The Executive Order 
also requires agencies to have an accountable process to ensure 
meaningful and timely input by State and local officials in the 
development of regulatory policies that have Federalism implications. 
On March 14, 2000, DOE published a statement of policy describing the 
intergovernmental consultation process it will follow in the 
development of such regulations. 65 FR 13735. EPCA governs and 
prescribes Federal preemption of State regulations as to energy 
conservation for the products that are the subject of this proposed 
rule. States can petition DOE for exemption from such preemption to the 
extent, and based on criteria, set forth in EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6297) No 
further action is required by Executive Order 13132.

F. Review Under Executive Order 12988

    With respect to the review of existing regulations and the 
promulgation of new regulations, section 3(a) of Executive Order 12988, 
``Civil Justice Reform,'' imposes on Federal agencies the general duty 
to adhere to the following requirements: (1) Eliminate drafting errors 
and ambiguity; (2) write regulations to minimize litigation; (3) 
provide a clear legal standard for affected conduct rather than a 
general standard; and (4) promote simplification and burden reduction. 
61 FR 4729 (Feb. 7, 1996). Regarding the review required by section 
3(a), section 3(b) of Executive Order 12988 specifically requires that 
Executive agencies make every reasonable effort to ensure that the 
regulation: (1) Clearly specifies the preemptive effect, if any; (2) 
clearly specifies any effect on existing Federal law or regulation; (3) 
provides a clear legal standard for affected conduct while promoting 
simplification and burden reduction; (4) specifies the retroactive 
effect, if any; (5) adequately defines key terms; and (6) addresses 
other important issues affecting clarity and general draftsmanship 
under any guidelines issued by the Attorney General. Section 3(c) of 
Executive Order 12988 requires Executive agencies to review regulations 
in light of applicable standards in section 3(a) and section 3(b) to 
determine whether they are met or it is unreasonable to meet one or 
more of them. DOE has completed the required review and determined 
that, to the extent permitted by law, this proposed rule meets the 
relevant standards of Executive Order 12988.

G. Review Under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) 
requires each Federal agency to assess the effects of Federal 
regulatory actions on State, local, and Tribal governments and the 
private sector. Public Law 104-4, sec. 201 (codified at 2 U.S.C. 1531). 
For a proposed regulatory action likely to result in a rule that may 
cause the expenditure by State, local, and Tribal governments, in the 
aggregate, or by the private sector of $100 million or more in any one 
year (adjusted annually for inflation), section 202 of UMRA requires a 
Federal agency to publish a written statement that estimates the 
resulting costs, benefits, and other effects on the national economy. 
(2 U.S.C. 1532(a), (b)) The UMRA also requires a Federal agency to 
develop an effective process to permit timely input by elected officers 
of State, local, and Tribal governments on a proposed ``significant 
intergovernmental mandate,'' and requires an agency plan for giving 
notice and opportunity for timely input to potentially affected small 
governments before establishing any requirements that might 
significantly or uniquely affect small governments. On March 18, 1997, 
DOE published a statement of policy on its process for 
intergovernmental consultation under UMRA. 62 FR 12820. DOE's policy 
statement is also available at http://energy.gov/gc/office-general-counsel.
    Although the proposed rule does not contain a Federal 
intergovernmental mandate, it may require expenditures of $100 million 
or more in any one year by the private sector. Such expenditures may 
include: (1) Investment in research and development and in capital 
expenditures by conventional cooking product manufacturers in the years 
between the final rule and the compliance date for the new standards, 
and (2) incremental additional expenditures by consumers to purchase 
higher-efficiency conventional cooking products.
    Section 202 of UMRA authorizes a Federal agency to respond to the 
content requirements of UMRA in any other statement or analysis that 
accompanies the proposed rule. 2 U.S.C. 1532(c). The content 
requirements of section 202(b) of UMRA relevant to a private sector 
mandate substantially overlap the economic analysis requirements that 
apply under section 325(o) of EPCA and Executive Order 12866. The 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this SNOPR and the ``Regulatory 
Impact Analysis'' section of the TSD for this proposed rule respond to 
those requirements.
    Under section 205 of UMRA, the Department is obligated to identify 
and consider a reasonable number of regulatory alternatives before 
promulgating a rule for which a written statement under section 202 is 
required. 2 U.S.C. 1535(a). DOE is required to select from those 
alternatives the most cost-effective and least burdensome alternative 
that achieves the objectives of the proposed rule unless DOE publishes 
an explanation for doing otherwise, or the selection of such an 
alternative is inconsistent with law. As required by 42 U.S.C. 6295(d), 
(f), and (o), 6313(e), and 6316(a), this proposed rule would establish 
new and amended energy conservation standards for conventional cooking 
products that are designed to achieve the maximum improvement in energy 
efficiency that DOE has determined to be both technologically feasible 
and economically justified. A full discussion of the alternatives 
considered by DOE is presented in the ``Regulatory Impact Analysis'' 
section of the TSD for the proposed rule.

H. Review Under the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 
1999

    Section 654 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations 
Act, 1999 (Pub. L. 105-277) requires Federal agencies to issue a Family 
Policymaking Assessment for any rule that may affect family well-being. 
This rule would not have any impact on the autonomy or integrity of the 
family as an institution. Accordingly, DOE has concluded that it is not 
necessary to prepare a Family Policymaking Assessment.

I. Review Under Executive Order 12630

    Pursuant to Executive Order 12630, ``Governmental Actions and 
Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property Rights'' 53 FR 
8859 (Mar. 18, 1988), DOE has determined that this regulation would not 
result in any takings that might require compensation under the Fifth 
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

[[Page 60872]]

J. Review Under the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 
2001

    Section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations 
Act, 2001 (44 U.S.C. 3516, note) provides for Federal agencies to 
review most disseminations of information to the public under 
information quality guidelines established by each agency pursuant to 
general guidelines issued by OMB. OMB's guidelines were published at 67 
FR 8452 (Feb. 22, 2002), and DOE's guidelines were published at 67 FR 
62446 (Oct. 7, 2002). DOE has reviewed the SNOPR under the OMB and DOE 
guidelines and has concluded that it is consistent with applicable 
policies in those guidelines.

K. Review Under Executive Order 13211

    Executive Order 13211, ``Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use'' 66 FR 28355 
(May 22, 2001), requires Federal agencies to prepare and submit to OIRA 
at OMB, a Statement of Energy Effects for any proposed significant 
energy action. A ``significant energy action'' is defined as any action 
by an agency that promulgates or is expected to lead to promulgation of 
a final rule, and that: (1) Is a significant regulatory action under 
Executive Order 12866, or any successor order; and (2) is likely to 
have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use 
of energy, or (3) is designated by the Administrator of OIRA as a 
significant energy action. For any proposed significant energy action, 
the agency must give a detailed statement of any adverse effects on 
energy supply, distribution, or use should the proposal be implemented, 
and of reasonable alternatives to the action and their expected 
benefits on energy supply, distribution, and use.
    DOE has tentatively concluded that this regulatory action, which 
sets forth energy conservation standards for conventional cooking 
products, is not a significant energy action because the proposed 
standards are not likely to have a significant adverse effect on the 
supply, distribution, or use of energy, nor has it been designated as 
such by the Administrator at OIRA. Accordingly, DOE has not prepared a 
Statement of Energy Effects on the proposed rule.

L. Review Under the Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review

    On December 16, 2004, OMB, in consultation with the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), issued its Final Information 
Quality Bulletin for Peer Review (the Bulletin). 70 FR 2664 (Jan. 14, 
2005). The Bulletin establishes that certain scientific information 
shall be peer reviewed by qualified specialists before it is 
disseminated by the Federal Government, including influential 
scientific information related to agency regulatory actions. The 
purpose of the bulletin is to enhance the quality and credibility of 
the Government's scientific information. Under the Bulletin, the energy 
conservation standards rulemaking analyses are ``influential scientific 
information,'' which the Bulletin defines as scientific information the 
agency reasonably can determine will have, or does have, a clear and 
substantial impact on important public policies or private sector 
decisions. 70 FR 2667.
    In response to OMB's Bulletin, DOE conducted formal in-progress 
peer reviews of the energy conservation standards development process 
and analyses and has prepared a Peer Review Report pertaining to the 
energy conservation standards rulemaking analyses. Generation of this 
report involved a rigorous, formal, and documented evaluation using 
objective criteria and qualified and independent reviewers to make a 
judgment as to the technical/scientific/business merit, the actual or 
anticipated results, and the productivity and management effectiveness 
of programs and/or projects. The ``Energy Conservation Standards 
Rulemaking Peer Review Report'' dated February 2007 has been 
disseminated and is available at the following Web site: 
www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/peer_review.html.

VII. Public Participation

A. Submission of Comments

    DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding this 
proposed rule no later than the date provided in the DATES section at 
the beginning of this proposed rule. Interested parties may submit 
comments, data, and other information using any of the methods 
described in the ADDRESSES section at the beginning of this SNOPR.
    Submitting comments via www.regulations.gov. The 
www.regulations.gov Web page will require you to provide your name and 
contact information. Your contact information will be viewable to DOE 
Building Technologies staff only. Your contact information will not be 
publicly viewable except for your first and last names, organization 
name (if any), and submitter representative name (if any). If your 
comment is not processed properly because of technical difficulties, 
DOE will use this information to contact you. If DOE cannot read your 
comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for 
clarification, DOE may not be able to consider your comment.
    However, your contact information will be publicly viewable if you 
include it in the comment itself or in any documents attached to your 
comment. Any information that you do not want to be publicly viewable 
should not be included in your comment, nor in any document attached to 
your comment. Otherwise, persons viewing comments will see only first 
and last names, organization names, correspondence containing comments, 
and any documents submitted with the comments.
    Do not submit to www.regulations.gov information for which 
disclosure is restricted by statute, such as trade secrets and 
commercial or financial information (hereinafter referred to as 
Confidential Business Information (CBI)). Comments submitted through 
www.regulations.gov cannot be claimed as CBI. Comments received through 
the Web site will waive any CBI claims for the information submitted. 
For information on submitting CBI, see the Confidential Business 
Information section below.
    DOE processes submissions made through www.regulations.gov before 
posting. Normally, comments will be posted within a few days of being 
submitted. However, if large volumes of comments are being processed 
simultaneously, your comment may not be viewable for up to several 
weeks. Please keep the comment tracking number that www.regulations.gov 
provides after you have successfully uploaded your comment.
    Submitting comments via email, hand delivery/courier, or mail. 
Comments and documents submitted via email, hand delivery/courier, or 
mail also will be posted to www.regulations.gov. If you do not want 
your personal contact information to be publicly viewable, do not 
include it in your comment or any accompanying documents. Instead, 
provide your contact information in a cover letter. Include your first 
and last names, email address, telephone number, and optional mailing 
address. The cover letter will not be publicly viewable as long as it 
does not include any comments
    Include contact information each time you submit comments, data, 
documents, and other information to DOE. If you submit via mail or hand 
delivery/courier, please provide all items on a CD, if feasible, in 
which case it is not

[[Page 60873]]

necessary to submit printed copies. No telefacsimiles (faxes) will be 
accepted.
    Comments, data, and other information submitted to DOE 
electronically should be provided in PDF (preferred), Microsoft Word or 
Excel, WordPerfect, or text (ASCII) file format. Provide documents that 
are not secured, that are written in English, and that are free of any 
defects or viruses. Documents should not contain special characters or 
any form of encryption and, if possible, they should carry the 
electronic signature of the author.
    Campaign form letters. Please submit campaign form letters by the 
originating organization in batches of between 50 to 500 form letters 
per PDF or as one form letter with a list of supporters' names compiled 
into one or more PDFs. This reduces comment processing and posting 
time.
    Confidential Business Information. Pursuant to 10 CFR 1004.11, any 
person submitting information that he or she believes to be 
confidential and exempt by law from public disclosure should submit via 
email, postal mail, or hand delivery/courier two well-marked copies: 
One copy of the document marked ``confidential'' including all the 
information believed to be confidential, and one copy of the document 
marked ``non-confidential'' with the information believed to be 
confidential deleted. Submit these documents via email or on a CD, if 
feasible. DOE will make its own determination about the confidential 
status of the information and treat it according to its determination.
    Factors of interest to DOE when evaluating requests to treat 
submitted information as confidential include: (1) A description of the 
items; (2) whether and why such items are customarily treated as 
confidential within the industry; (3) whether the information is 
generally known by or available from other sources; (4) whether the 
information has previously been made available to others without 
obligation concerning its confidentiality; (5) an explanation of the 
competitive injury to the submitting person that would result from 
public disclosure; (6) when such information might lose its 
confidential character due to the passage of time; and (7) why 
disclosure of the information would be contrary to the public interest.
    It is DOE's policy that all comments may be included in the public 
docket, without change and as received, including any personal 
information provided in the comments (except information deemed to be 
exempt from public disclosure).

B. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Comment

    Although DOE welcomes comments on any aspect of this proposal, DOE 
is particularly interested in receiving comments and views of 
interested parties concerning the following issues:
    1. DOE welcomes comments on whether there are products currently 
available on the market that would meet DOE's definition of a 
conventional oven, but that could not be tested according to the DOE 
test procedures adopted in adopted in the July 2015 TP Final Rule (see 
section III.A of this SNOPR).
    2. DOE requests comment on the proposed product classes for 
residential conventional cooking products. DOE welcomes comment and 
data on the determination that conventional gas cooking products with 
higher input rates (i.e., ``commercial-style'' products) do not warrant 
establishing a separate product class. DOE also requests comment on its 
conclusion that cooking efficiency for gas cooking tops is more closely 
related to burner and grate design rather than input rate per se (see 
section IV.A.2.a of this SNOPR).
    3. DOE seeks comment the proposed determination to consider 
induction heating as a technology option for electric smooth cooking 
tops rather than as a separate product class. DOE noted that induction 
heating provides the same basic function of cooking or heating food as 
heating by gas flame or electric resistance and that the installation 
options available to consumers are also the same for both cooking 
products with induction and electric resistance heating. DOE also noted 
that the utility of speed of cooking, ease of cleaning, and 
requirements for specific cookware for induction cooking tops do not 
appear to be uniquely associated with higher energy use compared to 
other smooth cooking tops with electric resistance heating elements 
(see section IV.A.2.a of this SNOPR).
    4. DOE requests comment on its determination to consider self-clean 
ovens as a separate product class and that the self-cleaning function 
of the self-clean oven may employ methods other than a high temperature 
pyrolytic cycle to perform the cleaning action. DOE welcomes data on 
the effectiveness and frequency of consumer use of pyrolytic versus 
non-pyrolytic self-cleaning technologies (see section IV.A.2.b of this 
SNOPR).
    5. DOE welcomes comment on whether improved contact conductance 
should be considered as a technology option, in particular information 
and data substantiating the claims that radiation acts like conduction 
at very short distances and the degree to which the heating element or 
cookware may deform and impact the heat transfer between the two 
surfaces (see section IV.A.3.a of this SNOPR).
    6. DOE requests comment on the proposed definitions of the terms 
``intermittent/interrupted ignition'' and ``intermittent pilot 
ignition'' (see section IV.A.3.b of this SNOPR).
    7. DOE requests comment on whether a reduced vent rate should be 
considered a design option and whether a reduction in vent rate could 
be used to reduce the energy consumption of conventional electric 
standard ovens (see section IV.A.3.b of this SNOPR).
    8. DOE requests comment and data regarding additional design 
options or variants of the considered design options that can increase 
the range of considered efficiency improvements for conventional 
cooking tops, including design options that may not yet be found in the 
market (see section IV.B.2 of this SNOPR).
    9. DOE requests comment on the proposed baseline and incremental 
efficiency levels. DOE specifically requests inputs and test data on 
the baseline efficiency levels and the efficiency improvements 
associated with the design options identified at each incremental 
efficiency level that were determined based on either the analysis from 
the 2009 TSD or updated based on testing and reverse engineering 
analyses for this SNOPR (see section IV.C.3 of this SNOPR).
    10. DOE requests input and data on the proposed incremental 
manufacturing production costs for each efficiency level analyzed that 
were determined based on either the analysis from the 2009 TSD adjusted 
to reflect changes in the PPI or costs determined based on testing and 
reverse engineering analyses conducted for this SNOPR (see section 
IV.C.4 of this SNOPR).
    11. DOE seeks comment on the tentative determination that the 
proposed efficiency levels and design options would not impact the 
consumer utility of conventional cooking products (see section IV.C.5 
of this SNOPR).
    12. DOE requests comments on its repair cost estimation for gas 
ovens, as well as on its decision not to include changes in repair and 
maintenance costs for products more efficient than baseline products 
for electric cooking products (see section IV.F.5 of this SNOPR).
    13. DOE requests comments on the use of a consumer choice model to 
establish the no-new standards case and standards case efficiency 
distribution for both electric and gas cooking products (see section of 
this IV.F.9 SNOPR)

[[Page 60874]]

    14. DOE requests comments on it approach to developing the 
shipments forecast and the use of relevant data in the shipments 
analysis (see section IV.G of this SNOPR).
    15. DOE requests comment on extending data it received from AHAM on 
the average lifetime for ovens to cooktop products as well, resulting 
in an average lifetime estimate for all gas ovens and cooktops of 13 
years and all electric ovens and cooktops of 16 years (See section 
IV.F. 6).
    16. DOE requests data that would allow for use of different price 
trend projections for electric and gas cooking products (see section 
IV.H.3.b of this SNOPR).
    17. To estimate the impact on shipments of the price increase for 
the considered efficiency levels, DOE determined that the new 
construction market will be inelastic to price changes and will not 
impact shipments, and any impact of the price increase would be on the 
replacement market. DOE welcomes input on the effect of new and amended 
standards on impacts across products within the same fuel class and 
equipment (see section IV.G of this SNOPR).
    18. DOE requests comment on the reasonableness of the approach DOE 
has used to consider the rebound effect with higher-efficiency cooking 
products (see section IV.F.3 of this document).
    19. DOE requests comment on DOE's approach for estimating monetary 
benefits associated with emissions reductions (see section IV.L of this 
SNOPR).
    20. DOE seeks comment on the use of 1.20 as a manufacturer markup 
for all residential conventional cooking products (see section IV.J.2 
of this SNOPR).
    21. DOE seeks comment on the potential domestic employment impacts 
to residential conventional cooking product manufacturers at the 
proposed efficiency levels (see section V.B.2 of this SNOPR).
    22. DOE requests comment on any potential manufacturer capacity 
constraints caused by the proposed standards in this SNOPR, TSL 2 (see 
section V.B.2 of this SNOPR).
    23. DOE requests comment on the two manufacturer subgroups that DOE 
identified, the impacts of the proposed standards on those manufacturer 
subgroups, and any other potential manufacturer subgroups that could be 
disproportionally impacted by this rulemaking (see section V.B.2 of 
this SNOPR).
    24. DOE seeks comment on the compliance costs of any other 
regulations that residential conventional cooking product manufacturers 
may incur, especially if compliance with those regulations is required 
3 years before or after the estimated compliance date of this proposed 
standard (2019) (see section V.B.2 of this SNOPR).
    25. DOE requests comments on the number of small businesses 
identified and on the impacts of new and amended energy conservation 
standards on small businesses, including small rebranders and small 
manufacturers (see section VI.B of this SNOPR).

VIII. Approval of the Office of the Secretary

    The Secretary of Energy has approved publication of this proposed 
rule.

List of Subjects

10 CFR Part 429

    Confidential business information, Energy conservation, Household 
appliances, Imports, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

10 CFR Part 430

    Administrative practice and procedure, Confidential business 
information, Energy conservation, Household appliances, Imports, 
Intergovernmental relations, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
and Small businesses.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 16, 2016.
David Friedman,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, DOE proposes to amend 
parts 429 and 430 of chapter II, subchapter D, of title 10 of the Code 
of Federal Regulations, as set forth below:

PART 429--CERTIFICATION, COMPLIANCE, AND ENFORCEMENT FOR CONSUMER 
PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT

0
1. The authority citation for part 429 continues to read as follows:

     Authority:  42 U.S.C. 6291-6317; 28 U.S.C, 2461 note.

0
2. Section 429.23 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  429.23   Cooking products.

    (a) Sampling plan for selection of units for testing. (1) The 
requirements of Sec.  429.11 are applicable to cooking products; and
    (2) For each basic model of cooking products a sample of sufficient 
size shall be randomly selected and tested to ensure that any 
represented value of estimated annual operating cost, standby mode 
power consumption, off mode power consumption, annual energy 
consumption, integrated annual energy consumption, or other measure of 
energy consumption of a basic model for which consumers would favor 
lower values shall be greater than or equal to the higher of:

[[Page 60875]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP02SE16.002

    And x is the sample mean; s is the sample standard deviation; n 
is the number of samples; and t0.975 is the t statistic 
for a 97.5% one-tailed confidence interval with n-1 degrees of 
freedom (from Appendix A).

    (b) Certification reports. (1) The requirements of Sec.  429.12 are 
applicable to cooking products; and
    (2) Pursuant to Sec.  429.12(b)(13), a certification report shall 
include the following public product-specific information:
    (i) Conventional gas cooking tops: The integrated annual energy 
consumption in thousand British thermal units per year (kBtu/yr);
    (ii) Conventional electric cooking tops: The integrated annual 
energy consumption in thousand watt-hours per year (kWh/yr);
    (iii) Conventional gas ovens: The type of gas ignition and power 
supply with a declaration that the manufacturer has incorporated the 
applicable design requirements;
    (iv) Conventional electric ovens: The type of power supply with a 
declaration that the manufacturer has incorporated the applicable 
design requirements; and
    (v) Microwave ovens: The average standby power in watts (W).

PART 430--ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAM FOR CONSUMER PRODUCTS

0
 3. The authority citation for part 430 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  42 U.S.C. 6291-6309; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note.

0
 4. Section 430.2 is amended by adding definitions for ``intermittent/
interrupted ignition'' and ``intermittent pilot ignition'' in 
alphabetical order to read as follows:


Sec.  430.2  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Intermittent/interrupted ignition is an ignition source which is 
ignited or energized upon initiation of each main burner operational 
cycle and which is extinguished or no longer energized after the main 
burner is ignited.
    Intermittent pilot ignition is an ignition source which, upon 
initiation of each main burner operational cycle, ignites a pilot that 
remains lit continuously during the main burner operational cycle and 
is extinguished when the main burner operational cycle is completed.
* * * * *
0
5. In Sec.  430.32, revise paragraph (j) to read as follows:


Sec.  430.32  Energy and water conservation standards and their 
compliance dates.

* * * * *
    (j) Cooking Products. (1) The control system of a conventional oven 
shall:
    (i) Not be equipped with a constant burning pilot light for gas 
ovens manufactured on or after April 9, 2012;
    (ii) Be equipped with an intermittent/interrupted ignition or 
intermittent pilot ignition for gas ovens manufactured on or after 
[DATE 3 years after final rule Federal Register publication]; and
    (iii) Not be equipped with a linear power supply for electric and 
gas ovens manufactured on or after [DATE 3 years after final rule 
Federal Register publication].
    (2) Conventional cooking tops manufactured on or after [Date 3 
years after final rule Federal Register publication] shall have an 
integrated annual energy consumption no greater than:

 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Maximum
                                                       Integrated Annual
                    Product class                            Energy
                                                          Consumption
                                                        (IAEC)  (kWh/yr)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electric Open (Coil) Element Cooking Tops............              113.2
Electric Smooth Element Cooking Tops.................              121.2
Gas Cooking Tops.....................................              924.4
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (3) Microwave-only ovens and countertop convection microwave ovens 
manufactured on or after June 17, 2016 shall have an average standby 
power not more than 1.0 watt. Built-in and over-the-range convection 
microwave ovens manufactured on or after June 17, 2016

[[Page 60876]]

shall have an average standby power not more than 2.2 watts.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2016-20721 Filed 9-1-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P