[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 12, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61465-61488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22036]


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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

16 CFR Part 305

RIN 3084-AB15


Energy Labeling Rule

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') 
issues routine updates to comparability range information on 
EnergyGuide labels for refrigerators and freezers, dishwashers, water 
heaters, room air conditioners (ranges only), clothes washers, 
furnaces, and pool heaters in the Energy Labeling Rule (``Rule''). The 
Commission also makes a minor, clarifying change to requirements for 
determining room air conditioner capacity.

DATES: The amendments are effective January 10, 2023, with the 
exception of amendatory instructions 9 (appendix E1) and 15 (appendix 
L), which are effective on October 1, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Relevant portions of the record of this proceeding, 
including this document, are available at https://www.ftc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hampton Newsome (202-326-2889), 
Attorney, Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 
Federal Trade Commission, Room CC-9528, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 
Washington, DC 20580.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

[[Page 61466]]

I. Background

    The Commission issued the Energy Labeling Rule (``Rule'') in 
1979,\1\ pursuant to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 
(``EPCA'').\2\ The Rule requires energy labeling for major home 
appliances and other consumer products to help consumers compare 
competing models. It also contains labeling requirements for 
refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, freezers, dishwashers, water 
heaters, clothes washers, room air conditioners, furnaces, central air 
conditioners, heat pumps, plumbing products, lighting products, ceiling 
fans, and televisions.
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    \1\ 44 FR 66466 (Nov. 19, 1979).
    \2\ 42 U.S.C. 6294. EPCA also requires the Department of Energy 
(DOE) to develop test procedures that measure how much energy 
appliances use, and to determine the representative average cost a 
consumer pays for different types of energy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Rule requires manufacturers to attach yellow EnergyGuide labels 
to many covered products and prohibits retailers from removing these 
labels or rendering them illegible. In addition, it directs sellers, 
including retailers, to post label information on websites and in paper 
catalogs from which consumers can order products. EnergyGuide labels 
for most covered products contain three key disclosures: estimated 
annual energy cost, a product's energy consumption or energy efficiency 
rating as determined by Department of Energy (``DOE'') test procedures, 
and a comparability range displaying the highest and lowest energy 
costs or efficiency ratings for all similar models. For cost 
calculations, the Rule specifies national average costs for applicable 
energy sources (e.g., electricity, natural gas, oil) based on DOE 
estimates. Under the Rule, the Commission periodically updates 
comparability range and annual energy cost information based on 
manufacturer data submitted pursuant to the Rule's reporting 
requirements. The Rule sets a five-year schedule for updating range of 
comparability and annual energy cost information.\3\ Pursuant to that 
schedule, the Commission announces the following amendments.
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    \3\ 16 CFR 305.12.
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II. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

    Consistent with the Rule's five-year schedule, on May 25, 2022 (87 
FR 31754), the Commission proposed routine updates to comparability 
ranges and national average energy cost figures (appendices K1 and K2) 
for several product categories. The proposed amendments also updated 
Sec.  305.10 to clarify that manufacturers must determine capacity for 
room air conditioners using current DOE requirements. In response, the 
Commission received nine comments, several of which raised specific 
issues with the proposed amendments.\4\ We discuss these issues below.
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    \4\ The comments are available at www.regulations.gov. Several 
comments also discussed broad issues unrelated to the notice of 
proposed rulemaking's (``NPRM'') proposed range updates, including 
full fuel cycle label disclosures (NPGA) (#007), EnergyGuide label 
design and content (Consumer Technology Association (CTA) (#009); 
Electrolux (#006); ACEEE (#010); and Anonymous (#003)), clothes 
dryer labeling (Electrolux (#006)), and the implementation of 
electronic labeling in lieu of physical labels (CTA) (#009). These 
issues fall outside the scope of the current proceeding, but the 
Commission may address them in a future review of the Rule.
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III. Final Amendments

    As discussed below, the Commission updates comparability ranges and 
national average energy cost figures (appendices K1 and K2) for several 
product categories consistent with the Rule's five-year schedule. The 
amendments also update Sec.  305.10 to clarify that manufacturers must 
determine capacity for room air conditioners using current DOE 
requirements.\5\
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    \5\ The final amendments also insert the term ``water heaters'' 
to Sec.  305.27(a)(1)(i) to correct an inadvertent omission from a 
previous proceeding. See 77 FR 15298 (Mar. 15, 2012) and 78 FR 2200 
(Jan. 10, 2013) (no intent expressed to exclude water heaters from 
the group of products covered by the website requirement). Given the 
inadvertent nature of this omission, the Commission finds good cause 
to make this correction without additional comment. Finally, the 
amendments revise the next scheduled range update in Sec.  305.12 
from 2022 to 2027.
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A. Comparability Range and Energy Cost Revisions

    In accordance with the Rule's five-year schedule (Sec.  305.12), 
the Commission revises the comparability range and energy cost 
information for refrigerators and freezers, dishwashers, water heaters, 
room air conditioners (ranges only), clothes washers, furnaces, and 
pool heaters.\6\ In addition, the Commission updates the average energy 
cost figures manufacturers must use to calculate a model's estimated 
energy cost.\7\ Specifically, the Commission now updates the energy 
cost tables in appendices K1 and K2.\8\
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    \6\ This document also contains conforming changes to the sample 
labels in the Rule's appendices to reflect the new range and cost 
information.
    \7\ 87 FR 12681 (Mar. 7, 2022) (DOE notice for ``Representative 
Average Unit Costs of Energy''). Fuel costs in the FTC tables in 
appendices K1 and K2 are rounded to the nearest cent.
    \8\ In response to AHAM's comments (#008), the final amendments 
consistently use the term ``Energy Costs'' in the appendix headings, 
instead of ``Operating Costs.''
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    Television Ranges: In response to comments, the Commission will 
wait to update television ranges until DOE completes proposed test 
procedure changes for those products. Comments from the Association of 
Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) (#008) and American Council for an 
Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) (#010) explained DOE is currently 
finalizing changes to the television test procedure that will make 
substantive changes to the measured energy use for these products.\9\ 
To avoid multiple updates to the television label within a short period 
of time, the FTC, in coordination with DOE, will publish updated ranges 
after data derived from the upcoming test procedure becomes available.
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    \9\ 87 FR 11892 (March 2, 2022).
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    Clothes Washer Ranges: In response to AHAM's comment (#008), the 
final amendments correct the proposed clothes washer ranges to reflect 
only the annual energy consumption of the tested model. The proposed 
ranges in the NPRM were inadvertently derived from energy consumption 
figures that reflected DOE's Integrated Modified Energy Factor, an 
efficiency rating that does not appear on the label and accounts for 
expected dryer use associated with the washer.
    Timing of Updates: Consistent with Sec.  305.12, manufacturers must 
begin using this information on new product labels within 90 days after 
publication of a final notification announcing updated ranges for 
specific products. Manufacturers do not have to relabel products 
labeled prior to the effective date of the changes. For room air 
conditioners, however, the final notification sets a compliance date of 
October 1, 2023.
    In the NPRM, the Commission proposed setting an October 1, 2022, 
effective date for those ranges because this label must appear on 
product boxes, and such package changes can require additional planning 
and coordination. The proposed October date coincides with the annual 
production cycle (i.e., the cooling season) for those products.
    However, in its comments, AHAM (#008) stressed that, given the 
likely timing of the final range publication, manufacturers will be 
unable to change labels on packaging to reflect the new labels for this 
year's production cycle. Therefore, AHAM recommended a compliance date 
for the new room air conditioner ranges coinciding with next year's 
production cycle. In response, this document sets the compliance date 
for 2023. Adjusting the compliance date should have minimal impact on 
the

[[Page 61467]]

label's usefulness in the interim because the old and new ranges are 
not substantially different for many model categories, and the label's 
primary feature--the model-specific cost number--will not change 
because of these amendments. Additionally, extending the compliance 
date will promote consistency in labels and otherwise foster an orderly 
transition over the next year by setting a compliance date that all 
manufacturers will be able to meet.
    Cost Figures for Room and Portable Air Conditioners: As explained 
in the NPRM, the amendments do not change the range and cost 
information for central air conditioner and portable air conditioner 
labels because the Commission recently updated those ranges.\10\ 
Additionally, the amendments do not change the cost figure for room air 
conditioner labels because such a change would make room air 
conditioner labels inconsistent with cost information on portable air 
conditioners, a similar product category. This inconsistency could 
cause consumer confusion and make comparison shopping more difficult. 
Accordingly, the electricity cost figure ($0.13/kWh) for those two 
categories appears in appendix K2 and in the calculations for the room 
air conditioner cost ranges (appendix E) in the amendments. No comments 
opposed this change.
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    \10\ See 86 FR 9274 (Feb. 12, 2021) (portable air conditioners); 
86 FR 57985 (Oct. 20, 2021) (central air conditioners).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Capacity Determinations for Room Air Conditioners and Portable Air 
Conditioners

    The amendments also update Sec.  305.10 to clarify that 
manufacturers must determine capacity for room air conditioners using 
current DOE requirements. Specifically, the amendment eliminates 
obsolete text related to rounding and updates references to existing 
DOE requirements for capacity determinations.\11\ No comments opposed 
this change.
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    \11\ 86 FR 9274 (Feb. 12, 2022). In its comments, AHAM (#008) 
also sought FTC guidance regarding the content, including the 
capacity measurements, for the new portable air conditioner labels 
announced in an earlier proceeding. Manufacturers should use the 
seasonally adjusted cooling capacity for these products on the 
labels. The FTC will address the issue further should pending DOE 
test procedure changes (87 FR 34934 (June 8, 2022)) necessitate an 
alteration in that guidance. In addition, the FTC staff has added a 
sample label template for portable air conditioners to the FTC 
website to aid manufacturers in creating their own labels. See 
https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/energyguide-labels-templates-manufacturers.
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IV. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The current Rule contains recordkeeping, disclosure, testing, and 
reporting requirements that constitute information collection 
requirements as defined by 5 CFR 1320.3(c), the definitional provision 
within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations that 
implement the Paperwork Reduction Act. OMB has approved the Rule's 
existing information collection requirements through February 29, 2024 
(OMB Control No. 3084-0069). The amendments do not change the substance 
or frequency of the recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting 
requirements and, therefore, do not require further OMB clearance.

V. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act relating to a 
Regulatory Flexibility Act analysis (5 U.S.C. 603-604) are not 
applicable to this proceeding because the amendments do not impose any 
new obligations on entities regulated by the Energy Labeling Rule. As 
explained elsewhere in this document, the amendments do not change the 
substance or frequency of the recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting 
requirements. Thus, the amendments will not have a ``significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.'' 5 U.S.C. 
605. The Commission has concluded, therefore, that a regulatory 
flexibility analysis is not necessary, and certifies, under Section 605 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 605(b)), that the 
amendments will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities.

VI. Other Matters

    Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs designated this rule 
as not a ``major rule,'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 305

    Advertising, Energy conservation, Household appliances, Labeling, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    For the reasons stated above, the Commission amends part 305 of 
title 16 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 305--ENERGY AND WATER USE LABELING FOR CONSUMER PRODUCTS UNDER 
THE ENERGY POLICY AND CONSERVATION ACT (``ENERGY LABELING RULE'')

0
1. The authority citation for part 305 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  42 U.S.C. 6294.


0
2. Amend Sec.  305.10 by revising paragraph (f) to read as follows:


Sec.  305.10  Determinations of capacity.

* * * * *
    (f) Room air conditioners and portable air conditioners. The 
capacity for room air conditioners and portable air conditioners shall 
be determined according to 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, with rounding 
determined in accordance with 10 CFR part 430.
* * * * *

0
3. Amend Sec.  305.12 by revising paragraphs (a) and (b) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  305.12  Ranges of comparability on the required labels.

    (a) Range of estimated annual energy costs or energy efficiency 
ratings. The range of estimated annual operating costs or energy 
efficiency ratings for each covered product (except televisions, 
ceiling fans, fluorescent lamp ballasts, lamps, metal halide lamp 
fixtures, showerheads, faucets, water closets, and urinals) shall be 
taken from the appropriate appendix to this part in effect at the time 
the labels are affixed to the product. The Commission shall publish 
revised ranges in the Federal Register in 2027. When the ranges are 
revised, all information disseminated after 90 days following the 
publication of the revision shall conform to the revised ranges. 
Products that have been labeled prior to the effective date of a 
modification under this section need not be relabeled.
    (b) Representative average unit energy cost. The Representative 
Average Unit Energy Cost to be used on labels as required by Sec. Sec.  
305.14 through 305.19 and disclosures as required by Sec.  305.27 are 
listed in appendices K1 and K2 to this part. The Commission shall 
publish revised Representative Average Unit Energy Cost figures in the 
Federal Register in 2027. When the cost figures are revised, all 
information disseminated after 90 days following the publication of the 
revision shall conform to the new cost figure.
* * * * *

0
4. Amend Sec.  305.27 by revising paragraph (a)(1)(i) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  305.27  Paper catalogs and websites.

    (a) * * *

[[Page 61468]]

    (1) * * *
    (i) Products required to bear EnergyGuide or Lighting Facts labels. 
All websites advertising covered refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, 
freezers, room air conditioners, portable air conditioners, clothes 
washers, dishwashers, ceiling fans, pool heaters, water heaters, 
central air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, general service lamps, 
specialty consumer lamps (for products offered for sale after May 2, 
2018), and televisions must display, for each model, a recognizable and 
legible image of the label required for that product by this part. The 
website may hyperlink to the image of the label using the sample 
EnergyGuide and Lighting Facts icons depicted in appendix L of this 
part. The website must hyperlink the image in a way that does not 
require consumers to save the hyperlinked image to view it.
* * * * *

0
5. Revise appendices A1 through A9 to read as follows:

Appendix A1 to Part 305--Refrigerators With Automatic Defrost

                            Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Range of estimated annual
 Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated    energy costs (dollars/year)
          volume in cubic feet           -------------------------------
                                                Low            High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 10.5..........................             $20              45
10.5 to 12.4............................              28              40
12.5 to 14.4............................              33              47
14.5 to 16.4............................              33              46
16.5 to 18.4............................              38              52
18.5 to 20.4............................              42              50
20.5 to 22.4............................              35              57
22.5 to 24.4............................              51              59
24.5 to 26.4............................             (*)             (*)
26.5 to 28.4............................             (*)             (*)
28.5 and over...........................             (*)             (*)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(*) No data.

Appendix A2 to Part 305--Refrigerators and Refrigerator-Freezers With 
Manual Defrost

                            Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Range of estimated annual
 Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated    energy costs (dollars/year)
          volume in cubic feet           -------------------------------
                                                Low            High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 10.5..........................             $11             $46
10.5 to 12.4............................             (*)             (*)
12.5 to 14.4............................             (*)             (*)
14.5 to 16.4............................             (*)             (*)
16.5 to 18.4............................             (*)             (*)
18.5 to 20.4............................             (*)             (*)
20.5 to 22.4............................             (*)             (*)
22.5 to 24.4............................             (*)             (*)
24.5 to 26.4............................             (*)             (*)
26.5 to 28.4............................             (*)             (*)
28.5 and over...........................             (*)             (*)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(*) No data.

Appendix A3 to Part 305--Refrigerator-Freezers With Partial Automatic 
Defrost

                            Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Range of estimated annual
 Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated    energy costs (dollars/year)
          volume in cubic feet           -------------------------------
                                                Low            High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 10.5..........................             $27             $55
10.5 to 12.4............................             (*)             (*)
12.5 to 14.4............................             (*)             (*)

[[Page 61469]]

 
14.5 to 16.4............................             (*)             (*)
16.5 to 18.4............................              53              53
18.5 to 20.4............................              48              55
20.5 to 22.4............................             (*)             (*)
22.5 to 24.4............................             (*)             (*)
24.5 to 26.4............................             (*)             (*)
26.5 to 28.4............................             (*)             (*)
28.5 and over...........................             (*)             (*)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(*) No data.

Appendix A4 to Part 305--Refrigerator-Freezers With Automatic Defrost 
With Top-Mounted Freezer No Through-The-Door Ice

                            Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Range of estimated annual
 Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated    energy costs (dollars/year)
          volume in cubic feet           -------------------------------
                                                Low            High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 10.5..........................             $40             $62
10.5 to 12.4............................              43              61
12.5 to 14.4............................              44              64
14.5 to 16.4............................              45              66
16.5 to 18.4............................              49              70
18.5 to 20.4............................              48              72
20.5 to 22.4............................              51              76
22.5 to 24.4............................              58              78
24.5 to 26.4............................              66              81
26.5 to 28.4............................             (*)             (*)
28.5 and over...........................             (*)             (*)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(*) No data.

Appendix A5 to Part 305--Refrigerator-Freezers With Automated Defrost 
With Side-Mounted Freezer No Through-The-Door Ice

                            Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Range of estimated annual
 Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated   energy costs  (dollars/year)
          volume in cubic feet           -------------------------------
                                                Low            High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 10.5..........................             $54             $82
10.5 to 12.4............................             (*)             (*)
12.5 to 14.4............................              39              40
14.5 to 16.4............................              49              65
16.5 to 18.4............................              69              70
18.5 to 20.4............................              66              70
20.5 to 22.4............................              70             101
22.5 to 24.4............................              78             105
24.5 to 26.4............................              80             109
26.5 to 28.4............................              91             113
28.5 and over...........................              84             118
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(*) No data.


[[Page 61470]]

Appendix A6 to Part 305--Refrigerator-Freezers With Automatic Defrost 
With Bottom-Mounted Freezer No Through-The-Door Ice

                            Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Range of estimated annual
 Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated   energy costs  (dollars/year)
          volume in cubic feet           -------------------------------
                                                Low            High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 10.5..........................             $42             $73
10.5 to 12.4............................              47              79
12.5 to 14.4............................              50              77
14.5 to 16.4............................              53              85
16.5 to 18.4............................              60              86
18.5 to 20.4............................              60              91
20.5 to 22.4............................              62              94
22.5 to 24.4............................              65              98
24.5 to 26.4............................              74              96
26.5 to 28.4............................              67              95
28.5 and over...........................              91             101
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(*) No data.

Appendix A7 to Part 305--Refrigerator-Freezers With Automatic Defrost 
With Bottom-Mounted Freezer With Through-The-Door Ice Service

                            Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Range of estimated annual
 Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated   energy costs  (dollars/year)
          volume in cubic feet           -------------------------------
                                                Low            High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 10.5..........................             (*)             (*)
10.5 to 12.4............................             (*)             (*)
12.5 to 14.4............................             (*)             (*)
14.5 to 16.4............................             (*)             (*)
16.5 to 18.4............................             $80             $90
18.5 to 20.4............................              83              98
20.5 to 22.4............................              91             103
22.5 to 24.4............................              77             106
24.5 to 26.4............................              89             109
26.5 to 28.4............................              83             112
28.5 and over...........................              90             113
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(*) No data.

Appendix A8 to Part 305--Refrigerator-Freezers With Automatic Defrost 
With Side-Mounted Freezer With Through-The-Door Ice Service

                            Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Range of estimated annual
 Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated   energy costs  (dollars/year)
          volume in cubic feet           -------------------------------
                                                Low            High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 10.5..........................             (*)             (*)
10.5 to 12.4............................             (*)             (*)
12.5 to 14.4............................             (*)             (*)
14.5 to 16.4............................             (*)             (*)
16.5 to 18.4............................             $87             $88
18.5 to 20.4............................              78             110
20.5 to 22.4............................              72             109

[[Page 61471]]

 
22.5 to 24.4............................              76             115
24.5 to 26.4............................              81             116
26.5 to 28.4............................              89             122
28.5 and over...........................             104             124
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(*) No data.

Appendix A9 to Part 305--All Refrigerators and Refrigerator-Freezers

                            Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Range of estimated annual
 Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated   energy costs  (dollars/year)
          volume in cubic feet           -------------------------------
                                                Low            High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 10.5..........................             $11             $82
10.5 to 12.4............................              28              79
12.5 to 14.4............................              33              77
14.5 to 16.4............................              33              84
16.5 to 18.4............................              38              90
18.5 to 20.4............................              42             110
20.5 to 22.4............................              35             109
22.5 to 24.4............................              51             115
24.5 to 26.4............................              66             116
26.5 to 28.4............................              67             122
28.5 and over...........................              84             124
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(*) No data.

    6. Revise appendices B1 through B3 to read as follows:

Appendix B1 to Part 305--Upright Freezers With Manual Defrost

                            Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Range of estimated annual
 Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated   energy costs  (dollars/year)
          volume in cubic feet           -------------------------------
                                                Low            High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 5.5...........................             $18             $43
5.5 to 7.4..............................              35              47
                                                      34              40
7.5 to 9.4..............................              36              36
9.5 to 11.4.............................             (*)             (*)
11.5 to 13.4............................              42              47
13.5 to 15.4............................              49              51
15.5 to 17.4............................             (*)             (*)
17.5 to 19.4............................              49              56
19.5 to 21.4............................             (*)             (*)
21.5 to 23.4............................             (*)             (*)
23.5 to 25.4............................             (*)             (*)
25.5 to 27.4............................             (*)             (*)
27.5 to 29.4............................             (*)             (*)
29.5 and over...........................  ..............  ..............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(*) No data.

Appendix B2 to Part 305--Upright Freezers With Automatic Defrost

[[Page 61472]]



                            Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Range of estimated annual
 Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated   energy costs  (dollars/year)
          volume in cubic feet           -------------------------------
                                                Low            High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 5.5...........................             $37             $63
5.5 to 7.4..............................             (*)             (*)
                                                      44              69
7.5 to 9.4..............................              44              68
9.5 to 11.4.............................              54              79
11.5 to 13.4............................              54              85
13.5 to 15.4............................              58              89
15.5 to 17.4............................              62              84
17.5 to 19.4............................              63              91
19.5 to 21.4............................             101             104
21.5 to 23.4............................             (*)             (*)
23.5 to 25.4............................             (*)             (*)
25.5 to 27.4............................             (*)             (*)
27.5 to 29.4............................             (*)             (*)
29.5 and over...........................  ..............  ..............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(*) No data.

Appendix B3 to Part 305--Chest Freezers and All Other Freezers

                            Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Range of estimated annual
 Manufacturer's rated total refrigerated   energy costs  (dollars/year)
          volume in cubic feet           -------------------------------
                                                Low            High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 5.5...........................             $19             $32
5.5 to 7.4..............................              31              36
                                                      27              37
7.5 to 9.4..............................              28              35
9.5 to 11.4.............................              35             $38
11.5 to 13.4............................              39              42
13.5 to 15.4............................              38              46
15.5 to 17.4............................              46              47
17.5 to 19.4............................              50              53
19.5 to 21.4............................              48              55
21.5 to 23.4............................              59              59
23.5 to 25.4............................             (*)             (*)
25.5 to 27.4............................             (*)             (*)
27.5 to 29.4............................             (*)             (*)
29.5 and over...........................  ..............  ..............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(*) No data.


0
7. Revise appendices C1 and C2 to read as follows:

Appendix C1 to Part 305--Compact Dishwashers

Range Information

    ``Compact'' includes countertop dishwasher models with a capacity 
of fewer than eight (8) place settings. Place settings shall be in 
accordance with appendix C to 10 CFR part 430, subpart B. Load patterns 
shall conform to the operating normal for the model being tested.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Range of estimated annual
                                          energy costs  (dollars/year)
               Capacity                ---------------------------------
                                              Low              High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compact...............................             $14              $32
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 61473]]

Appendix C2 to Part 305--Standard Dishwashers

Range Information

    ``Standard'' includes dishwasher models with a capacity of eight 
(8) or more place settings. Place settings shall be in accordance with 
appendix C to 10 CFR part 430, subpart B. Load patterns shall conform 
to the operating normal for the model being tested.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Range of estimated annual
                                          energy costs  (dollars/year)
               Capacity                ---------------------------------
                                              Low              High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standard..............................             $28              $43
------------------------------------------------------------------------


0
8. Revise appendices D1 through D5 to read as follows:

Appendix D1 to Part 305--Water Heaters--Gas

                                                Range Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Range of estimated annual energy costs  (dollars/year)
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Capacity  (first hour rating in gallons)           Natural gas ($/year)              Propane ($/year)
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Low            High             Low            High
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
``Very Small''--less than 18....................             (*)             (*)             (*)             (*)
``Low''--18 to 50.9.............................            $162            $172             (*)             (*)
``Medium''--51 to 74.9..........................             227             300             460             606
``High''--over 75...............................             227             336             460             679
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(*) No data.

Appendix D2 to Part 305--Water Heaters--Electric

                            Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Capacity                     Range of estimated annual
-----------------------------------------  energy costs  (dollars/year)
                                         -------------------------------
            First hour rating                   Low            High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
``Very Small''--less than 18............             (*)             (*)
``Low''--18 to 50.9.....................             $90            $357
``Medium''--51 to 74.9..................             154             630
``High''--over 75.......................             173             747
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(*) No data.

Appendix D3 to Part 305--Water Heaters--Oil

                            Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Capacity                     Range of estimated annual
-----------------------------------------  energy costs  (dollars/year)
                                         -------------------------------
            First hour rating                   Low            High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
``Very Small''--less than 18............             (*)             (*)
``Low''--18 to 50.9.....................             (*)             (*)
``Medium''--51 to 74.9..................             (*)             (*)
``High''--over 75.......................            $625            $686
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(*) No data.


[[Page 61474]]

Appendix D4 to Part 305--Water Heaters--Instantaneous--Gas

                                                Range Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Capacity                           Range of estimated annual energy costs (dollars/year)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Natural gas ($/year)              Propane ($/year)
Capacity (maximum flow rate); gallons per minute ---------------------------------------------------------------
                      (gpm)                             Low            High             Low            High
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
``Very Small''--less than 1.6...................             $24             $30             $50             $61
``Low''--1.7 to 2.7.............................             (*)             (*)             (*)             (*)
``Medium''--2.8 to 3.9..........................             183             216             370             437
``High''--over 4.0..............................             210             253             427             511
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(*) No data.

Appendix D5 to Part 305--Water Heaters--Instantaneous--Electric

                            Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Capacity                     Range of estimated annual
-----------------------------------------  energy costs  (dollars/year)
  Capacity (maximum flow rate); gallons  -------------------------------
            per minute (gpm)                    Low            High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
``Very Small''--less than 1.6...........             $82             $90
``Low''--1.7 to 2.7.....................             (*)             (*)
``Medium''--2.8 to 3.9..................             (*)             (*)
``High''--over 4.0......................             (*)             (*)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(*) No data.


0
9. Effective October 1, 2023, revise appendix E1 to read as follows:

Appendix E1 to Part 305--Room Air Conditioners

                            Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Range of estimated annual
Manufacturer's rated cooling capacity in    energy costs (dollars/year)
                 Btu/hr                  -------------------------------
                                                Low            High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Without Reverse Cycle and with Louvered
 Sides:
    Less than 6,000 Btu.................             $40             $46
    6,000 to 7,999 Btu..................              47              69
    8,000 to 13,999 Btu.................              49             121
    14,000 to 19,999 Btu................              91             169
    20,000 to 27,999 Btu................             147             287
    28,000 and more Btu.................             275             380
Without Reverse Cycle and without
 Louvered Sides:
    Less than 8,000 Btu.................             (*)             (*)
    8,000 to 10,999 Btu.................              73             102
    11,000 to 13,999 Btu................             107             140
    14,000 to 19,999 Btu................             144             162
    20,000 or more Btu..................             (*)             (*)
With Reverse Cycle and with Louvered                  79             230
 Sides..................................
With Reverse Cycle, without Louvered                  81             117
 Sides..................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(*) No data.


0
10. Revise appendices F1 and F2 to read as follows:

[[Page 61475]]

Appendix F1 to Part 305--Standard Clothes Washers

Range Information

    ``Standard'' includes all household clothes washers with a tub 
capacity of 1.6 cu. ft. or more.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Range of estimated annual
                                           energy costs (dollars/year)
               Capacity                ---------------------------------
                                              Low              High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standard..............................              $4              $48
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix F2 to Part 305--Compact Clothes Washers

Range Information

    ``Compact'' includes all household clothes washers with a tub 
capacity of less than 1.6 cu. ft.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Range of estimated annual
                                           energy costs (dollars/year)
               Capacity                ---------------------------------
                                              Low              High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compact...............................              $2              $14
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(*) No data.


0
11. Revise appendices G1 through G8 to read as follows:

Appendix G1 to Part 305--Furnaces--Gas

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Range of annual fuel
                                             utilization efficiencies
              Furnace type                            (AFUEs)
                                         -------------------------------
                                                Low            High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-Weatherized Gas Furnaces--All                   80.0            99.0
 Capacities.............................
Weatherized Gas Furnaces--All Capacities            81.0            95.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix G2 to Part 305--Furnaces--Electric

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Range of annual fuel utilization
                                              efficiencies (AFUEs)
             Furnace type              ---------------------------------
                                              Low              High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electric Furnaces--All Capacities.....           100.0            100.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix G3 to Part 305--Furnaces--Oil

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Range of annual fuel
                                             utilization efficiencies
                  Type                                (AFUEs)
                                         -------------------------------
                                                Low            High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-Weatherized Oil Furnaces--All                   83.0            96.7
 Capacities.............................
Weatherized Oil Furnaces--All Capacities             (*)             (*)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(*) No data.


[[Page 61476]]

Appendix G4 to Part 305--Mobile Home Furnaces--Gas

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Range of annual fuel utilization
                                              efficiencies (AFUEs)
                 Type                  ---------------------------------
                                              Low              High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mobile Home Gas Furnaces--All                     80.0             97.3
 Capacities...........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix G5 to Part 305--Mobile Home Furnaces--Oil

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Range of annual fuel utilization
                                              efficiencies (AFUEs)
                 Type                  ---------------------------------
                                              Low              High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mobile Home Oil Furnaces--All                     80.0             87.0
 Capacities...........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix G6 to Part 305--Boilers (Gas)

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Range of annual fuel
                                             utilization efficiencies
                  Type                                (AFUEs)
                                         -------------------------------
                                                Low            High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gas Boilers (except steam)--All                       84            96.4
 Capacities.............................
Gas Boilers (steam)--All Capacities.....              82            83.4
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix G7 to Part 305--Boilers (Oil)

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Range of annual fuel utilization
                                              efficiencies (AFUEs)
                 Type                  ---------------------------------
                                              Low              High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oil Boilers--All Capacities...........              85             88.2
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix G8 to Part 305--Boilers (Electric)

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Range of annual fuel utilization
                                              efficiencies (AFUEs)
                 Type                  ---------------------------------
                                              Low              High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electric Boilers--All Capacities......             100              100
------------------------------------------------------------------------


0
12. Revise appendices J1 and J2 to read as follows:

Appendix J1 to Part 305--Pool Heaters--Gas

                                                Range Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Range of thermal efficiencies (percent)
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------
   Manufacturer's rated heating capacities               Natural gas                         Propane
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Low              High             Low              High
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All capacities..............................            82.0             95.0             82.0             95.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 61477]]

Appendix J2 to Part 305--Pool Heaters--Oil

                            Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Range of thermal efficiencies
     Manufacturer's rated heating                   (percent)
              capacities               ---------------------------------
                                              Low              High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
All capacities........................             (*)              (*)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(*) No data.


0
13. Revise appendices K1 and K2 to read as follows:

Appendix K1 to Part 305--Representative Average Unit Energy Costs for 
Refrigerators, Refrigerator-Freezers, Freezers, Clothes Washers, 
Dishwashers, and Water Heater Labels

    This table contains the representative unit energy costs that must 
be utilized to calculate estimated annual energy cost disclosures 
required under this part for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, 
freezers, clothes washers, dishwashers, and water heaters. This table 
is based on information published by the U.S. Department of Energy in 
2022.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   In commonly used   As required by DOE
         Type of energy                  terms          test procedure
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electricity.....................  [cent]14/kWh \1\    $.1400/kWh.
                                   \2\.
Natural Gas.....................  $1.21/therm \3\...  $0.00001209/
                                  $12.6/MCF \5\ \6\.   Btu.\4\
No. 2 Heating Oil...............  $3.45/gallon \7\..  $0.00002511/Btu.
Propane.........................  $223/gallon \8\...  $0.00002446/Btu.
Kerosene........................  $4.01/gallon \9\..  $ 0.00002973/Btu.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ kWh stands for kiloWatt hour.
\2\ 1 kWh = 3,412 Btu.
\3\ 1 therm = 100,000 Btu. Natural gas prices include taxes.
\4\ Btu stands for British thermal unit.
\5\ MCF stands for 1,000 cubic feet.
\6\ For the purposes of this table, 1 cubic foot of natural gas has an
  energy equivalence of 1,039 Btu.
\7\ For the purposes of this table, one gallon of No. 2 heating oil has
  an energy equivalence of 13,738 Btu.
\8\ For the purposes of this table, one gallon of liquid propane has an
  energy equivalence of 91,333 Btu.
\9\ For the purposes of this table, one gallon of kerosene has an energy
  equivalence of 135,000 Btu.

Appendix K2 to Part 305--Representative Average Unit Energy Costs for 
Room Air Conditioner and Portable Air Conditioner Labels

    This table contains the representative unit energy costs that must 
be utilized to calculate estimated annual energy cost disclosures 
required under this part for room air conditioners and portable air 
conditioners. This table is based on information published by the U.S. 
Department of Energy in 2017.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   In commonly used   As required by DOE
         Type of energy                  terms          test procedure
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electricity.....................  [cent]13/kWh \1\..  $.1300/kWh.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ kWh stands for kilowatt hour.


0
14. Amend appendix L by revising prototype labels 1 and 2 and sample 
labels 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, and 9A to read as follows:

Appendix L to Part 305--Sample Labels

BILLING CODE 6750-01-P

[[Page 61478]]

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[[Page 61479]]


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* * * * *

[[Page 61480]]

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[[Page 61481]]


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[[Page 61482]]


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* * * * *

[[Page 61483]]

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[[Page 61484]]


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* * * * *

[[Page 61485]]

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[[Page 61486]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR12OC22.012

* * * * *
    15. Effective October 1, 2023, appendix L is further amended by 
revising sample label 4 to read as follows:

Appendix L to Part 305--Sample Labels

* * * * *

[[Page 61487]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR12OC22.013

* * * * *


[[Page 61488]]


    By direction of the Commission, Commissioner Wilson dissenting.
April J. Tabor,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-22036 Filed 10-11-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-C