[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 30, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34624-34705]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10849]



[[Page 34623]]

Vol. 88

Tuesday,

No. 103

May 30, 2023

Part III





Department of Energy





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 10 CFR Parts 429 and 430





Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer 
Pool Heaters; Final Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 88 , No. 103 / Tuesday, May 30, 2023 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 34624]]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Parts 429 and 430

[EERE-2021-BT-STD-0020]
RIN 1904-AD49


Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for 
Consumer Pool Heaters

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (``EPCA''), 
prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products 
and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including consumer 
pool heaters. EPCA also requires the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'' 
or ``the Department'') to periodically determine whether more-
stringent, standards would be technologically feasible and economically 
justified, and would result in significant energy savings. In this 
final rule, DOE is adopting new and amended energy conservation 
standards for consumer pool heaters. It has determined that the new and 
amended energy conservation standards for these products would result 
in significant conservation of energy, and are technologically feasible 
and economically justified.

DATES: The effective date of this rule is July 31, 2023. Compliance 
with the new and amended standards established for consumer pool 
heaters in this final rule is required on and after May 30, 2028.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this rulemaking, 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, not all documents listed in 
the index may be publicly available, such as information that is exempt 
from public disclosure.
    The docket web page can be found at www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE-2021-BT-STD-0020. The docket web page contains instructions on how 
to access all documents, including public comments, in the docket.
    For further information on how to review the docket, contact the 
Appliance and Equipment Standards Program staff at (202) 287-1445 or by 
email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    Ms. Julia Hegarty, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Office, EE-5B, 
1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: 
(240) 597-6737. Email: [email protected].
    Mr. Nolan Brickwood, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the 
General Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 
20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-4498. Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents

I. Synopsis of the Final 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 Consumer Pool Heaters
III. General Discussion
    A. General Comments
    B. Scope of Coverage
    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
    a. Economic Impact on Manufacturers and Consumers
    b. Savings in Operating Costs Compared to Increase in Price (LCC 
and PBP)
    c. Energy Savings
    d. Lessening of Utility or Performance of Products
    e. Impact of Any Lessening of Competition
    f. Need for National Energy Conservation
    g. Other Factors
    2. Rebuttable Presumption
    G. Other Topics
    1. Test Procedure Updates
    2. Enforcement Provisions
    3. Certification Requirements
IV. Methodology and Discussion of Related Comments
    A. Market and Technology Assessment
    1. Product Classes
    2. Technology Options
    B. Screening Analysis
    1. Screened-Out Technologies
    2. Remaining Technologies
    C. Engineering Analysis
    1. Efficiency Analysis
    a. Baseline Efficiency
    b. Higher Efficiency Levels
    2. Cost Analysis
    a. Manufacturer Production Costs
    b. Manufacturer Selling Prices
    3. Cost-Efficiency Results
    D. Markups Analysis
    E. Energy Use Analysis
    1. Pool Heater Consumer Samples
    2. Energy Use Estimation
    a. Consumer Pool Heater Operating Hours
    b. Heat Pump Pool Heater Energy Use
    c. Modulating Equipment
    d. Consumer Pool Heater Standby and Off Mode Energy Use
    F. Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period Analysis
    1. Product Cost
    2. Installation Cost
    3. Annual Energy Consumption
    a. Rebound Effect
    4. Energy Prices
    5. Maintenance and Repair Costs
    6. Product Lifetime
    7. Discount Rates
    8. Energy Efficiency Distribution in the No-New-Standards Case
    9. Payback Period Analysis
    G. Shipments Analysis
    H. National Impact Analysis
    1. Product Efficiency Trends
    2. National Energy Savings
    3. Net Present Value Analysis
    I. Consumer Subgroup Analysis
    J. Manufacturer Impact Analysis
    1. Overview
    2. Government Regulatory Impact Model and Key Inputs
    a. Manufacturer Production Costs
    b. Shipments Projections
    c. Product and Capital Conversion Costs
    d. Stranded Assets
    e. Manufacturer Markup Scenarios
    3. Manufacturer Interviews
    a. Manufacturer Product Costs, Manufacturer Selling Prices, and 
Manufacturer Markups
    b. Conversion Costs
    K. Emissions Analysis
    1. Air Quality Regulations Incorporated in DOE's Analysis
    L. Monetizing Emissions Impacts
    1. Monetization of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
    a. Social Cost of Carbon
    b. Social Cost of Methane and Nitrous Oxide
    2. Monetization of Other Emissions Impacts
    M. Utility Impact Analysis
    N. Employment Impact Analysis

[[Page 34625]]

V. Analytical Results and Conclusions
    A. Trial Standard Levels
    B. Economic Justification and Energy Savings
    1. Economic Impacts on Individual Consumers
    a. Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period
    b. Consumer Subgroup Analysis
    c. Rebuttable Presumption Payback
    2. Economic Impacts on Manufacturers
    a. Industry Cash Flow Analysis Results
    b. Direct Impacts on Employment
    c. Impacts on Manufacturing Capacity
    d. Impacts on Subgroups of Manufacturers
    e. Cumulative Regulatory Burden
    3. National Impact Analysis
    a. Significance of Energy Savings
    b. Net Present Value of Consumer Costs and Benefits
    c. Indirect Impacts on Employment
    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 Economic Impacts
    C. Conclusion
    1. Benefits and Burdens of TSLs Considered for Consumer Pool 
Heaters Standards
    2. Annualized Benefits and Costs of the Adopted Standards
VI. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review
    A. Review Under Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
    B. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act
    1. Description of Reasons Why Action Is Being Considered
    2. Objectives of, and Legal Basis for, Rule
    3. Description on Estimated Number of Small Entities Regulated
    4. Description and Estimate of Compliance Requirements Including 
Differences in Cost, if Any, for Different Groups of Small Entities
    5. Duplication, Overlap, and Conflict With Other Rules and 
Regulations
    6. 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. Information Quality
    M. Congressional Notification
VII. Approval of the Office of the Secretary

I. Synopsis of the Final Rule

    The Energy Policy and Conservation Act,\1\ as amended, Public Law 
94-163, (42 U.S.C. 6291-6317, as codified) (``EPCA''), authorizes DOE 
to regulate the energy efficiency of a number of consumer products and 
certain industrial equipment. Title III, Part B of EPCA \2\ established 
the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than 
Automobiles. (42 U.S.C. 6291-6309) These products include consumer pool 
heaters, the subject of this rulemaking.
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    \1\ All references to EPCA in this document refer to the statute 
as amended through the Energy Act of 2020, Public Law 116-260 (Dec. 
27, 2020), which reflect the last statutory amendments that impact 
Parts A and A-1 of EPCA.
    \2\ For editorial reasons, upon codification in the U.S. Code, 
Part B was redesignated Part A.
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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 DOE determines is technologically feasible and 
economically justified. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(A)) Furthermore, the new 
or amended standard must result in 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 (proceeding to a final rule, as appropriate). (42 U.S.C. 
6295(m))
    In accordance with these and other statutory provisions discussed 
in this document, DOE is adopting amended energy conservation standards 
for gas-fired pool heaters and new energy conservation standards for 
electric pool heaters. The adopted new and amended standards are 
expressed in terms of the integrated thermal efficiency 
(``TEI'') metric, which replaces the thermal efficiency 
(``TE'') metric for gas-fired pool heaters, and are shown in Table I.1. 
The TEI standards are expressed as a function of the active 
mode electrical input power (``PE'') in British thermal units per hour 
(``Btu/h'') for electric pool heaters and the gas input rating 
(``QIN'') in Btu/h for gas-fired pool heaters. These 
standards apply to all products listed in Table I.1 and manufactured 
in, or imported into, the United States starting on May 30, 2028.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR30MY23.009

A. Benefits and Costs to Consumers

    Table I.2 summarizes DOE's evaluation of the economic impacts of 
the adopted standards on consumers of consumer pool heaters, as 
measured by the average life-cycle cost (``LCC'') savings and the 
simple payback period (``PBP'').\3\ The average LCC savings are 
positive for electric pool heaters and

[[Page 34626]]

gas-fired pool heaters, and the PBP is less than the average lifetime 
of electric pool heaters and gas-fired pool heaters, which is estimated 
to be 11.1 years (see section IV.F of this document).
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    \3\ The average LCC savings refer to consumers that are affected 
by a standard and are measured relative to the efficiency 
distribution in the no-new-standards case, which depicts the market 
in the compliance year in the absence of new or amended standards 
(see section IV.F.8 of this document). The simple PBP, which is 
designed to compare specific efficiency levels, is measured relative 
to the baseline product (see section IV.F.9 of this document).

Table I.2--Impacts of Adopted Energy Conservation Standards on Consumers
                        of Consumer Pool Heaters
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Average LCC       Simple
              Product class                   savings         payback
                                              (2021$)     period (years)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electric Pool Heaters...................           1,130             0.5
Gas-fired Pool Heaters..................              80             2.3
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE's analysis of the impacts of the adopted standards on consumers 
is described in section IV.F of this document.

B. Impact on Manufacturers

    The industry net present value (``INPV'') is the sum of the 
discounted cash flows to the industry from the base year through the 
end of the analysis period (2023-2057). Using a real discount rate of 
7.4 percent,\4\ DOE estimates that the INPV for manufacturers of 
consumer pool heaters in the case without new and amended standards is 
$585.7 million in 2021 dollars. Under the adopted standards, DOE 
estimates the change in INPV to range from -6.4 percent to 0.3 percent, 
which is approximately -$37.3 million to $2.0 million. In order to 
bring products into compliance with the new and amended standards, it 
is estimated that industry will incur total conversion costs of $48.4 
million.
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    \4\ The discount rate was derived from industry financials from 
publicly traded companies and then modified according to feedback 
received during manufacturer interviews.
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    DOE's analysis of the impacts of the adopted standards on 
manufacturers is described in sections IV.J and V.B.2 of this document.

C. National Benefits and Costs 5
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    \5\ All monetary values in this document are expressed in 2021 
dollars.
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    DOE's analyses indicate that the adopted energy conservation 
standards for consumer pool heaters will save a significant amount of 
energy. Relative to the case without new or amended standards, the 
lifetime energy savings for consumer pool heaters purchased in the 30-
year period that begins in the anticipated year of compliance with the 
new or amended standards (2028-2057), amount to 0.70 quadrillion 
British thermal units (``Btu''), or quads.\6\ This represents a savings 
of 2.9 percent relative to the energy use of these products in the case 
without new or amended standards (referred to as the ``no-new-standards 
case'').
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    \6\ 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.1 of this document.
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    The cumulative net present value (``NPV'') of total consumer 
benefits of the standards for consumer pool heaters ranges from $1.18 
billion (at a 7-percent discount rate) to $3.00 billion (at a 3-percent 
discount rate). This NPV expresses the estimated total value of future 
operating-cost savings minus the estimated increased product and 
installation costs for consumer pool heaters purchased in 2028-2057.
    In addition, the adopted standards for consumer pool heaters are 
projected to yield significant environmental benefits. DOE estimates 
that the standards will result in cumulative emission reductions (over 
the same period as for energy savings) of 29 million metric tons 
(``Mt'') \7\ of carbon dioxide (``CO2''), 6.0 thousand tons 
of sulfur dioxide (``SO2''), 241 thousand tons of nitrogen 
oxides (``NOX''), 284 thousand tons of methane 
(``CH4''), 0.17 thousand tons of nitrous oxide 
(``N2O''), and 0.04 tons of mercury (``Hg'').\8\ The 
estimated cumulative reduction in CO2 emissions through 2030 
amounts to 0.57 Mt, which is equivalent to the emissions resulting from 
the annual electricity use of more than 0.1 million homes.
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    \7\ A metric ton is equivalent to 1.1 short tons. Results for 
emissions other than CO2 are presented in short tons.
    \8\ DOE calculated emissions reductions relative to the no-new-
standards-case, which reflects key assumptions in the Annual Energy 
Outlook 2022 (``AEO2022''). AEO2022 represents current Federal and 
state legislation and final implementation of regulations as of the 
time of its preparation. See section IV.K of this document for 
further discussion of AEO2022 assumptions that affect air pollutant 
emissions.
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    DOE estimates the value of climate benefits from a reduction in 
greenhouse gases (``GHG'') using four different estimates of the social 
cost of CO2 (``SC-CO2''), the social cost of 
methane (``SC-CH4''), and the social cost of nitrous oxide 
(``SC-N2O''). Together these represent the social cost of 
GHG (``SC-GHG'').\9\ DOE used interim SC-GHG values developed by an 
Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases 
(``IWG'').\10\ The derivation of these values is discussed in section 
IV.L of this document. For presentational purposes, the climate 
benefits associated with the average SC-GHG at a 3-percent discount 
rate are estimated to be $1.5 billion. DOE does not have a single 
central SC-GHG point estimate and it emphasizes the importance and 
value of considering the benefits calculated using all four sets of SC-
GHG estimates.
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    \9\ To monetize the benefits of reducing GHG emissions this 
analysis uses the interim estimates presented in the Technical 
Support Document: Social Cost of Carbon, Methane, and Nitrous Oxide 
Interim Estimates Under Executive Order 13990 published in February 
2021 by the Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of 
Greenhouse Gases (IWG).
    \10\ See Interagency Working Group on Social Cost of Greenhouse 
Gases, Technical Support Document: Social Cost of Carbon, Methane, 
and Nitrous Oxide. Interim Estimates Under Executive Order 13990, 
Washington, DC, February 2021 (``February 2021 SC-GHG TSD''). 
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/TechnicalSupportDocument_SocialCostofCarbonMethaneNitrousOxide.pdf.
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    DOE estimated the monetary health benefits of SO2 and 
NOX emissions reductions, using benefit per ton estimates 
from the scientific literature, as discussed in section IV.L of this 
document. DOE estimated the present value of the health benefits will 
be $0.9 billion using a 7-percent discount rate, and $2.3 billion using 
a 3-percent discount rate.\11\ DOE is currently only monetizing (for 
SO2 and NOX) PM2.5 precursor health 
benefits and (for NOX) ozone precursor health benefits but 
will continue to assess the ability to monetize other effects such as 
health benefits from reductions in direct PM2.5 emissions.
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    \11\ DOE estimates the economic value of these emissions 
reductions resulting from the adopted standards for the purpose of 
complying with the requirements of Executive Order 12866.
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    Table I.3 summarizes the economic benefits and costs expected to 
result from the new and amended standards for consumer pool heaters. 
There are

[[Page 34627]]

other important unquantified effects, including certain unquantified 
climate benefits, unquantified public health benefits from the 
reduction of toxic air pollutants and other emissions, unquantified 
energy security benefits, and distributional effects, among others.

  Table I.3--Summary of Monetized Benefits and Costs of Adopted Energy
            Conservation Standards for Consumer Pool Heaters
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Billion 2021$
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            3% discount rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consumer Operating Cost Savings.........................             4.3
Climate Benefits *......................................             1.5
Health Benefits **......................................             2.3
Total Monetized Benefits [dagger].......................             8.0
Consumer Incremental Product Costs [Dagger].............             1.3
Net Monetized Benefits..................................             6.7
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            7% discount rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consumer Operating Cost Savings.........................             1.8
Climate Benefits * (3% discount rate)...................             1.5
Health Benefits **......................................             0.9
Total Monetized Benefits [dagger].......................             4.2
Consumer Incremental Product Costs [Dagger].............             0.7
Net Monetized Benefits..................................             3.5
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: This table presents the costs and benefits associated with
  consumer pool heaters shipped in 2028-2057. These results include
  benefits to consumers which accrue after 2057 from the products
  shipped in 2028-2057.
* Climate benefits are calculated using four different estimates of the
  social cost of carbon (SC-CO2), methane (SC-CH4), and nitrous oxide
  (SC-N2O) (model average at 2.5-percent, 3-percent, and 5-percent
  discount rates; 95th percentile at a 3-percent discount rate) (see
  section IV.L of this document). Together these represent the global SC-
  GHG. For presentational purposes of this table, the climate benefits
  associated with the average SC-GHG at a 3-percent discount rate are
  shown, but DOE does not have a single central SC-GHG point estimate.
  To monetize the benefits of reducing GHG emissions this analysis uses
  the interim estimates presented in the Technical Support Document:
  Social Cost of Carbon, Methane, and Nitrous Oxide Interim Estimates
  Under Executive Order 13990 published in February 2021 by the
  Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases
  (IWG).
** Health benefits are calculated using benefit-per-ton values for NOX
  and SO2. DOE is currently only monetizing (for SO2 and NOX) PM2.5
  precursor health benefits and (for NOX) ozone precursor health
  benefits, but will continue to assess the ability to monetize other
  effects such as health benefits from reductions in direct PM2.5
  emissions. See section IV.L of this document for more details.
[dagger] Total and net benefits include those consumer, climate, and
  health benefits that can be quantified and monetized. For presentation
  purposes, total and net benefits for both the 3-percent and 7-percent
  cases are presented using the average SC-GHG with a 3-percent discount
  rate, but DOE does not have a single central SC-GHG point estimate.
  DOE emphasizes the importance and value of considering the benefits
  calculated using all four sets of SC-GHG estimates.
[Dagger] Costs include incremental equipment costs as well as
  installation costs.

    The benefits and costs of the adopted standards can also be 
expressed in terms of annualized values. The monetary values for the 
total annualized net benefits are (1) the reduced consumer operating 
costs, minus (2) the increase in product purchase prices and 
installation costs, plus (3) the monetized value of climate and health 
benefits of emission reductions, all annualized.\12\
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    \12\ To convert the time-series of costs and benefits into 
annualized values, DOE calculated a present value in 2022, 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 2022. 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.
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    The national operating cost savings are domestic private U.S. 
consumer monetary savings that occur as a result of purchasing the 
covered products and are measured for the lifetime of consumer pool 
heaters shipped in 2028-2057. The benefits associated with reduced 
emissions achieved as a result of the adopted standards are also 
calculated based on the lifetime of consumer pool heaters shipped in 
2028-2057. Total benefits for both the 3-percent and 7-percent cases 
are presented using the average GHG social costs with 3-percent 
discount rate. Estimates of SC-GHG values are presented for all four 
discount rates in section IV.L.1 of this document.
    Table I.4 presents the total estimated monetized benefits and costs 
associated with the adopted standards, expressed in terms of annualized 
values. The results under the primary estimate are as follows.
    Using a 7-percent discount rate for consumer benefits and costs and 
health benefits from reduced NOX and SO2 
emissions, and the 3-percent discount rate case for climate benefits 
from reduced GHG emissions, the estimated cost of the standards adopted 
in this rule is $74.1 per year in increased equipment costs, while the 
estimated annual benefits are $208.0 million in reduced equipment 
operating costs, $88.3 million in monetized climate benefits, and $97.7 
million in monetized health benefits. In this case, the net monetized 
benefit will amount to $319.8 million per year.
    Using a 3-percent discount rate for all benefits and costs, the 
estimated cost of the standards is $75.3 million per year in increased 
equipment costs, while the estimated annual benefits are $252.7 million 
in reduced operating costs, $88.3 million in monetized climate 
benefits, and $133.1 million in monetized health benefits. In this 
case, the net monetized benefit will amount to $398.8 million per year.

[[Page 34628]]



             Table I.4--Annualized Benefits and Costs of Adopted Standards for Consumer Pool Heaters
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                Million 2021$/year
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Low-net-        High-net-
                                                                      Primary        benefits        benefits
                                                                     estimate        estimate        estimate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                3% discount rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consumer Operating Cost Savings.................................           252.7           238.5           270.0
Climate Benefits *..............................................            88.3            85.3            91.2
Health Benefits **..............................................           133.1           128.8           137.6
Total Monetized Benefits [dagger]...............................           474.1           452.6           498.7
Consumer Incremental Product Costs [Dagger].....................            75.3            76.5            73.4
Net Monetized Benefits..........................................           398.8           376.1           425.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                7% discount rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consumer Operating Cost Savings.................................           208.0           197.5           220.3
Climate Benefits * (3% discount rate)...........................            88.3            85.3            91.2
Health Benefits **..............................................            97.7            94.8           100.7
Total Monetized Benefits [dagger]...............................           393.9           377.6           412.2
Consumer Incremental Product Costs [Dagger].....................            74.1            74.6            73.2
Net Monetized Benefits..........................................           319.8           303.0           339.1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: This table presents the costs and benefits associated with products shipped in 2028-2057. These results
  include benefits to consumers which accrue after 2057 from the products shipped in 2028-2057. The Primary, Low
  Net Benefits, and High Net Benefits Estimates utilize projections of energy prices from the AEO2022 Reference
  case, Low Economic Growth case, and High Economic Growth case, respectively. In addition, incremental
  equipment costs reflect a constant price in the Primary Estimate, an increasing rate in the Low Net Benefits
  Estimate, and a declining rate in the High Net Benefits Estimate. The methods used to derive projected price
  trends are explained in sections IV.F.1 and IV.F.4 of this document. Note that the Benefits and Costs may not
  sum to the Net Benefits due to rounding.
* Climate benefits are calculated using four different estimates of the global SC-GHG (see section IV.L of this
  document). For presentational purposes of this table, the climate benefits associated with the average SC-GHG
  at a 3-percent discount rate are shown, but the Department does not have a single central SC-GHG point
  estimate, and it emphasizes the importance and value of considering the benefits calculated using all four
  sets of SC-GHG estimates. To monetize the benefits of reducing GHG emissions this analysis uses the interim
  estimates presented in the Technical Support Document: Social Cost of Carbon, Methane, and Nitrous Oxide
  Interim Estimates Under Executive Order 13990 published in February 2021 by the Interagency Working Group on
  the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases (IWG).
** Health benefits are calculated using benefit-per-ton values for NOX and SO2. DOE is currently only monetizing
  (for SO2 and NOX) PM2.5 precursor health benefits and (for NOX) ozone precursor health benefits, but will
  continue to assess the ability to monetize other effects such as health benefits from reductions in direct
  PM2.5 emissions. See section IV.L of this document for more details.
[dagger] Total benefits for both the 3-percent and 7-percent cases are presented using the average SC-GHG with a
  3-percent discount rate, but the Department does not have a single central SC-GHG point estimate.
[Dagger] Costs include incremental equipment costs as well as installation costs.

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

D. Conclusion

    DOE concludes that the standards adopted in this final rule 
represent the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that is 
technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result 
in the significant conservation of energy. Specifically, with regards 
to technological feasibility, products achieving these standard levels 
are already commercially available for all product classes covered by 
this proposal. As for economic justification, DOE's analysis shows that 
the benefits of the standards exceed, to a great extent, the burdens of 
the standards.
    Using a 7-percent discount rate for consumer benefits and costs and 
NOX and SO2 reduction benefits, and a 3-percent 
discount rate case for GHG social costs, the estimated cost of the 
standards for consumer pool heaters is $74.1 million per year in 
increased product costs, while the estimated annual benefits are $208.0 
million in reduced product operating costs, $88.3 million in monetized 
climate benefits, and $97.7 million in monetized health benefits. The 
net monetized benefit amounts to $319.8 million per year.
    The significance of energy savings offered by a new or amended 
energy conservation standard cannot be determined without knowledge of 
the specific circumstances surrounding a given rulemaking.\13\ For 
example, some covered products and equipment have most of their energy 
consumption occur during periods of peak energy demand. The impacts of 
these products on the energy infrastructure can be more pronounced than 
products with relatively constant demand. Accordingly, DOE evaluates 
the significance of energy savings on a case-by-case basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ Procedures, Interpretations, and Policies for Consideration 
in New or Revised Energy Conservation Standards and Test Procedures 
for Consumer Products and Commercial/Industrial Equipment, 86 FR 
70892, 70901 (Dec. 13, 2021).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As previously mentioned, the standards are projected to result in 
estimated national energy savings of 0.70 quads FFC, the equivalent of 
the primary annual energy use of 7.5 million homes. In addition, they 
are projected to reduce CO2 emissions by 29 Mt. Based on 
these findings, DOE has determined the energy savings from the standard 
levels adopted in this final rule are ``significant'' within the 
meaning of 42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(3)(B). A more detailed discussion of the 
basis for these conclusions is contained in the remainder of this 
document and the accompanying technical support document (``TSD'').

II. Introduction

    The following section briefly discusses the statutory authority 
underlying this final rule, as well as some of the relevant historical 
background related to the establishment of standards for consumer pool 
heaters.

A. Authority

    EPCA authorizes DOE to regulate the energy efficiency of a number 
of consumer products and certain industrial equipment. Title III, Part 
B of

[[Page 34629]]

EPCA established the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products 
Other Than Automobiles. These products include consumer pool heaters, 
the subject of this document. (42 U.S.C. 6292(a)(11)) EPCA prescribed 
energy conservation standards for these products (42 U.S.C. 
6295(e)(2)), and directs DOE to conduct two cycles of rulemakings to 
determine whether to amend these standards. (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(4)) EPCA 
further provides that, not later than 6 years after the 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 (``NOPR'') including new 
proposed energy conservation standards (proceeding to a final rule, as 
appropriate). (42 U.S.C. 6295(m)(1))
    The energy conservation program under EPCA, consists essentially of 
four parts: (1) testing, (2) labeling, (3) the establishment of Federal 
energy conservation standards, and (4) certification and enforcement 
procedures. Relevant provisions of the EPCA specifically include 
definitions (42 U.S.C. 6291), test procedures (42 U.S.C. 6293), 
labeling provisions (42 U.S.C. 6294), energy conservation standards (42 
U.S.C. 6295), and the authority to require information and reports from 
manufacturers (42 U.S.C. 6296).
    Federal energy efficiency requirements for covered products 
established under EPCA generally supersede State laws and regulations 
concerning energy conservation testing, labeling, and standards. (42 
U.S.C. 6297(a)-(c)) DOE may, however, grant waivers of Federal 
preemption in limited instances for particular State laws or 
regulations, in accordance with the procedures and other provisions set 
forth under EPCA. (See 42 U.S.C. 6297(d))
    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. 
6295(o)(3)(A) and 42 U.S.C. 6295(r)) 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. (42 U.S.C. 6295(s)) The DOE test 
procedure for consumer pool heaters appears at title 10 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations (``CFR'') part 430, subpart B, appendix P 
(``appendix P'').
    DOE must follow specific statutory criteria for prescribing new or 
amended standards for covered products, including consumer pool 
heaters. Any new or amended standard for a covered product must be 
designed to achieve the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that 
the Secretary of Energy determines 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)(B))
    Moreover, DOE may not prescribe a standard (1) for certain 
products, including consumer pool heaters, 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 proposed 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 
standard;
    (3) The total projected amount of energy (or as applicable, 
water) savings likely to result directly from the standard;
    (4) Any lessening of the utility or the performance of the 
covered products likely to result from 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 
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))
    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 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))
    EPCA 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 in 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))
    Additionally, EPCA specifies requirements when promulgating an 
energy conservation standard for a covered product that has two or more 
subcategories. DOE must specify a different standard level for a type 
or class of products that has 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 such a 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))
    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 
a single

[[Page 34630]]

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 procedure for consumer pool heaters addresses standby mode 
and off mode energy use by use of the integrated thermal efficiency 
metric, as do the new and amended standards adopted in this final rule.

B. Background

1. Current Standards
    The current energy conservation standard for gas-fired pool heaters 
is set forth in DOE's regulations at 10 CFR 430.32(k) and is repeated 
in Table II.1 of this document. The current energy conservation 
standard for gas-fired pool heaters is in terms of thermal efficiency 
(Et), which measures only active mode efficiency. Electric 
pool heaters are a covered product under EPCA, but prior to this 
rulemaking there was no Federal energy conservation standard for this 
product class.

   Table II.1--Federal Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Pool
                                 Heaters
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Minimum thermal
                     Product class                          efficiency
                                                            (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gas-Fired Pool Heaters.................................              82
------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. History of Standards Rulemaking for Consumer Pool Heaters
    On April 16, 2010, DOE published a final rule in which it concluded 
the first round of rulemaking required under EPCA and established an 
amended energy conservation standard for consumer pool heaters. 75 FR 
20112 (``April 2010 Final Rule'').\14\ In relevant part, the April 2010 
Final Rule amended the statutorily prescribed standards for gas-fired 
pool heaters with a compliance date of April 16, 2013, on and after 
which gas-fired pool heaters were required to achieve an Et 
of 82 percent.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ A correction notice was published on April 27, 2010, 
correcting a reference to the compliance date for the energy 
conservation standard. 75 FR 21981.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On December 17, 2012, DOE published a final rule in the Federal 
Register that established a new efficiency metric, integrated thermal 
efficiency (TEI), for gas-fired pool heaters. 77 FR 74559, 
74565 (``December 2012 TP Final Rule''). The TEI metric 
built on the existing Et metric for measuring active mode 
energy efficiency, and accounts for the energy consumption during 
standby mode and off mode operation. DOE stated in the December 2012 TP 
Final Rule that for purposes of compliance with the energy conservation 
standard, the test procedure amendments related to standby mode and off 
mode (i.e., integrated thermal efficiency) are not required until the 
compliance date of the next standards final rule, which addresses 
standby and off mode. 77 FR 74559, 74559.
    On January 6, 2015, DOE published a final rule pertaining to its 
test procedures for direct heating equipment (``DHE'') and consumer 
pool heaters. 80 FR 792 (``January 2015 TP Final Rule''). In that final 
rule, DOE established test methods for measuring the integrated thermal 
efficiency of electric resistance and electric heat pump pool heaters. 
Id.
    To evaluate whether to propose amendments to the energy 
conservation standard for consumer pool heaters, DOE issued a request 
for information (``RFI'') in the Federal Register on March 26, 2015. 80 
FR 15922 (``March 2015 RFI''). Through the March 2015 RFI, DOE 
requested data and information pertaining to its planned technical and 
economic analyses for DHE and consumer pool heaters. Among other 
topics, the March 2015 RFI sought data and information pertaining to 
electric pool heaters. 80 FR 15922, 15924-15925. Although the March 
2015 RFI and the previous energy conservation standards rulemaking 
(concluding with the April 2010 Final Rule) included both DHE and 
consumer pool heaters, DOE has elected to review its energy 
conservation standards for each of these products separately.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ The rulemaking docket for DHE can be found at: 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2016-BT-STD-0007.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE subsequently published a notice of data availability (``NODA'') 
in the Federal Register on October 26, 2015, which announced the 
availability of its analyses for electric pool heaters. 80 FR 65169 
(``October 2015 NODA''). The purpose of the October 2015 NODA was to 
make publicly available the initial technical and economic analyses 
conducted for electric pool heaters, and present initial results of 
those analyses to seek further input from stakeholders. DOE did not 
propose new or amended standards for consumer pool heaters at that 
time. The initial TSD and accompanying analytical spreadsheets for the 
October 2015 NODA provided the analyses DOE undertook to examine the 
potential for establishing energy conservation standards for electric 
pool heaters and provided preliminary discussions in response to 
several issues raised by comments to the March 2015 RFI. The October 
2015 NODA described the analytical methodology that DOE used, and each 
analysis DOE had performed.
    Most recently, on April 15, 2022, DOE published a NOPR (``April 
2022 NOPR'') for consumer pool heaters, in which DOE proposed new 
energy conservation standards for electric pool heaters and amended 
energy conservation standards for gas-fired pool heaters. 87 FR 22640. 
The new and amended standards proposed in the April 2022 NOPR were 
defined in terms of the TEI metric, adopted in the December 
2012 TP Final Rule (for gas-fired pool heaters) and January 2015 TP 
Final Rule (for electric pool heaters). DOE received 11 comments in 
response to the April 2022 NOPR from interested parties which are 
listed in Table II.2.

           Table II.2--Interested Parties Providing Written Comment in Response to the April 2022 NOPR
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Comment No. in
              Commenter(s)                       Abbreviation           the docket          Commenter type
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air-Conditioning, Heating, and            AHRI and PHTA.............              20  Trade Association.
 Refrigeration Institute; Pool & Hot Tub
 Alliance.
American Gas Association; American        Gas Associations..........              15  Utility Association.
 Public Gas Association.
Appliance Standards Awareness Project;    Joint Advocates...........              13  Efficiency Organization.
 American Council for an Energy-
 Efficient Economy; Natural Resources
 Defense Council; Northwest Energy
 Efficiency Alliance; National Consumer
 Law Center.
Aqua Cal AutoPilot, Inc.................  AquaCal...................              11  Manufacturer.
Bradford White Corporation..............  BWC.......................              12  Manufacturer.
Fluidra.................................  Fluidra...................              18  Manufacturer.

[[Page 34631]]

 
Hayward Holdings, Inc...................  Hayward...................              17  Manufacturer.
New York State Energy Research and        NYSERDA...................              10  State Agency.
 Development Authority.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company;         CA IOUs...................              16  Utility Association.
 Southern California Edison; San Diego
 Gas & Electric Company.
Rheem Manufacturing Company.............  Rheem.....................              19  Manufacturer.
Union of Concerned Scientists; Center     Environmental Advocates...              14  Efficiency Organization.
 for Climate and Energy Solutions;
 Montana Environmental Information
 Center; Institute for Policy Integrity,
 NYU School of Law; Sierra Club; Natural
 Resources Defense Council.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A parenthetical reference at the end of a comment quotation or 
paraphrase provides the location of the item in the public record.\16\ 
To the extent that interested parties have provided written comments 
that are substantively consistent with any oral comments provided 
during the May 4, 2022, public meeting, DOE cites the written comments 
throughout this final rule. Any oral comments provided during the 
webinar that are not substantively addressed by written comments are 
summarized and cited separately throughout this final rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ The parenthetical reference provides a reference for 
information located in the docket of DOE's rulemaking to develop 
energy conservation standards for consumer pool heaters. (Docket No. 
EERE-2021-BT-STD-0020, which is maintained at www.regulations.gov). 
The references are arranged as follows: (commenter name, comment 
docket ID number, page of that document).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. General Discussion

    DOE developed this final rule after considering oral and written 
comments, data, and information from interested parties that represent 
a variety of interests. The following discussion addresses issues 
raised by these commenters.

A. General Comments

    This section summarizes general comments received from interested 
parties regarding rulemaking timing and process.
    The Gas Associations commented that DOE should adopt changes to its 
rulemaking process as outlined in a report by National Academies of 
Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (``NASEM'') \17\ for both test 
procedures and standards. (Gas Associations, No. 15 at p. 3) In 
response, the Department notes that the rulemaking process for 
standards of covered products and equipment are outlined at appendix A 
to subpart C of 10 CFR part 430 (``appendix A''), and DOE periodically 
examines and revises these provisions in separate rulemaking 
proceedings.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ Although not specified, DOE interprets this comment to 
refer to the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and 
Medicine 2021 report entitled ``Review of Methods Used by the U.S. 
Department of Energy in Setting Appliance and Equipment Standards.'' 
Copies of the report are available at nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/25992/review-of-methods-used-by-the-us-department-of-energy-in-setting-appliance-and-equipment-standards (last accessed on 
October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    AHRI and PHTA suggested that the Department perform another round 
of manufacturer interviews to determine if the data sources and 
methodology used are still accurate to ensure DOE's analyses capture 
products and conditions that best represent the current state of the 
market. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at p. 6) BWC urged DOE to utilize the 
most recently available data when conducting its analysis for this 
rulemaking, stating that many sources cited throughout the April 2022 
NOPR are outdated and may provide an inaccurate picture of current 
market impacts for manufacturers of consumer pool heaters. BWC 
specifically noted that the Department cited information that was 
gathered during manufacturer interviews conducted in 2015. BWC asserted 
that several major events have transpired since that time, which have 
had significant consequences for pool heater manufacturers (including 
significant pricing increases for components and materials that are 
utilized in manufacturing). Thus, BWC also recommended that DOE re-
interview product manufacturers and conduct additional research to 
obtain updated costing information before issuing a final rule. (BWC, 
No. 12 at pp. 1-2)
    Throughout the rulemaking process, DOE seeks feedback and insight 
from interested parties to improve the information used in the 
analyses. During Phase III of the manufacturer impact analysis 
(``MIA'') (see section IV.J of this document and chapter 12 of the 
final rule TSD), DOE interviews manufacturers to gather information on 
the effects of new and amended energy conservation standards on 
revenues and finances, direct employment, capital assets, and industry 
competitiveness. DOE also verifies findings from its other analyses 
with manufacturers. The Phase III analysis for the April 2022 NOPR 
occurred several years prior to this final rule, and given this unique 
circumstance, the Department conducted additional interviews after the 
publication of the April 2022 NOPR in order to collect the most recent 
information, as stakeholders suggested. The analysis conducted for this 
final rule takes into account the most recent feedback from 
manufacturers and other interested parties.

B. Scope of Coverage

    This final rule covers those consumer products that meet the 
statutory and regulatory definition of ``pool heater,'' as codified at 
10 CFR 430.2. (see also 42 U.S.C. 6291(25)) Consumer ``pool heaters'' 
are defined as an appliance designed for heating nonpotable water 
contained at atmospheric pressure, including heating water in swimming 
pools, spas, hot tubs and similar applications. 10 CFR 430.2. In this 
rulemaking, DOE has addressed comments requesting the Department to 
limit the scope of consumer pool heater regulations to products with 
capacities that are below a certain limit in order to distinguish these 
products from pool heaters that are commercial equipment. However, EPCA 
places no capacity limit on the pool heaters it covers under its 
definition of ``pool heater.'' (42 U.S.C. 6291(25)) Furthermore, EPCA 
covers pool heaters as a ``consumer product,'' (42 U.S.C. 6291(2), 42 
U.S.C. 6292(a)(11)) and defines ``consumer product,'' in part, as an 
article that ``to any significant extent, is distributed in commerce 
for personal use or consumption by individuals.'' (42 U.S.C. 6291(1)) 
Standards established for pool heaters as a consumer product under EPCA 
therefore apply to any pool heater distributed to any significant 
extent as a consumer product for personal use or consumption by 
individuals, regardless of input capacity

[[Page 34632]]

and including consumer pool heater models that may also be installed in 
commercial applications.
    In the April 2022 NOPR, DOE initially concluded that further 
delineation by adding an input capacity limit is not necessary. 87 FR 
22640, 22653. DOE maintained its position initially stated in the April 
2010 Final Rule that pool heaters marketed as commercial equipment 
contain additional design modifications related to safety requirements 
for installation in commercial buildings, including being designed to 
meet a high volume flow and are matched with a pump from the point of 
manufacture to accommodate the needs of commercial facilities, which 
allows manufacturers to distinguish those units from pool heaters 
distributed to any significant extent for residential use, regardless 
of input capacity. Id.; (see also 75 FR 20112, 20127-20128). Moreover, 
standards for gas-fired pool heaters regardless of size have been in 
place since 1990, and to place a capacity limit on standards now would 
result in backsliding for products over the capacity limit, which would 
be contrary to the anti-backsliding provision in EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 
6295(o)(1))
    In response to the April 2022 NOPR, several commenters requested 
that DOE further clarify the distinction between consumer pool heaters 
and pool heaters which do not meet the definition of a consumer product 
(i.e., ``commercial pool heaters''). Hayward requested that DOE utilize 
a physical parameter to distinguish consumer pool heaters from 
commercial pool heaters because the proposals in the April 2022 NOPR 
may allow manufacturers to use marketing or branding in order to 
exclude products from the scope of the rule. (Hayward, No. 17 at p. 3) 
AHRI and PHTA suggested the following physical criteria could be used 
to determine whether a pool heater is not a consumer pool heater: uses 
a voltage above 277 volts, uses 3-phase current, is rated to Section IV 
of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (``ASME'') Boiler and 
Pressure Vessel Code, is rated for 400,000 Btu/h or greater, and is 
designed and marketed as commercial equipment. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 
at p. 3)
    Rheem supported the product classes DOE analyzed for this consumer 
pool heater rulemaking and agreed with DOE's interpretation on coverage 
of standards for consumer products. Specifically, Rheem indicated that 
it differentiates consumer and commercial pool heaters through 
marketing materials as well as unique design aspects such as: high-
volume flow, matching with a pump, ASME standards certification, and 
voltage/phase. (Rheem, No. 19 at p. 3)
    Comments from Hayward, Rheem, AHRI, and PHTA state that there are 
certain physical characteristics of pool heaters which indicate they 
are not distributed in commerce for personal use or consumption by 
individuals. This is not inconsistent with DOE's position that consumer 
pool heaters as products can presently be sufficiently distinguished 
from ``commercial pool heaters.'' DOE notes, however, that EPCA places 
no limitation on the physical characteristics for a pool heater to 
qualify as a consumer product, (42 U.S.C. 6291(25)), and has concluded 
that explicitly specifying design criteria to define consumer pool 
heaters is unnecessary at this time.
    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 justify 
differing standards. In determining whether a performance-related 
feature justifies a different standard, DOE must consider such factors 
as the utility of the feature to the consumer and other factors DOE 
determines are appropriate. (42 U.S.C. 6295(q)(1))
    As discussed in section IV.A.1 of this document, this final rule 
considered consumer gas-fired pool heaters, oil-fired pool heaters, 
electric pool heaters, and electric spa heaters. However, DOE is 
establishing standards for only two product classes in this rulemaking: 
gas-fired pool heaters and electric pool heaters. DOE may, in a future 
rulemaking addressing energy conservation standards for consumer pool 
heaters, analyze standards for oil-fired pool heaters and/or electric 
spa heaters, or consider setting differential standards for new product 
classes that may be considered.
    NYSERDA supported DOE's effort to set standards for electric pool 
heaters for the first time and concurred that the proposed standards 
are cost effective and technologically feasible. (NYSERDA, No. 10 at p. 
1) Hayward stated that electric resistance heaters should be included 
in the scope of the rule to achieve the power usage and efficiency 
goals for all pool heating systems. (Hayward, No. 17 at p. 2)
    As discussed in section IV.C.1.a of this document, the baseline 
efficiency level that DOE selected for electric pool heaters is based 
on use of electric resistance elements. See section IV.A.1 of this 
document for discussion of the product classes analyzed in this final 
rule.

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 
current energy conservation standards for consumer pool heaters are 
expressed in terms of Et. (See 10 CFR 430.32(k)(2).) DOE's 
test procedure for consumer pool heaters is found at appendix P.
    As discussed in section II.A of this document, EISA 2007 amended 
EPCA to require DOE to amend its test procedures for covered consumer 
products generally to include measurement of standby mode and off mode 
energy consumption. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(A)) The current test 
procedure established for fossil fuel-fired pool heaters determines an 
integrated thermal efficiency metric (TEI), which accounts 
for energy consumption during active mode operation (sections 2.1.1, 
3.1.1, and 4.1.1 of appendix P) and standby mode (sections 2.2, 3.2, 
and 4.2 of appendix P) and off mode operation (sections 2.3, 3.2, and 
4.3 of appendix P), as required by EISA 2007. 77 FR 74559, 74572. See 
also 77 FR 74559, 74564-74565. The DOE test procedure for electric 
resistance and electric heat pump pool heaters determines the active 
mode energy use for electric resistance (sections 2.1.2, 3.1.2, and 
4.1.2 of appendix P) and electric heat pump pool heaters (sections 
2.1.3, 3.1.3, and 4.1.3 of appendix P). Standby mode and off mode 
energy use are also recorded using the same procedures used for fossil-
fuel fired pool heaters (sections 2.2, 3.2, and 4.2 and 2.3, 3.2, and 
4.3 of appendix P, respectively). The active mode, standby mode, and 
off mode energy use are then combined into the TEI metric 
(section 5 of appendix P).
    In this document, DOE is establishing new and amended energy 
conservation standards for consumer pool heaters in terms of 
TEI to align with the metric in the current test procedure.
    To the extent DOE is also making amendments to the test procedure, 
such amendments are limited to those necessary to accommodate the 
proposed definitions and the proposed product classes. As discussed 
further in sections III.G.1 and IV.A.1 of this document, DOE is 
amending appendix P to add definitions for ``active electrical power,'' 
``input capacity,'' and ``output capacity;'' to add a calculation to

[[Page 34633]]

determine the output capacity for electric pool heaters; and to clarify 
the calculation of input capacity for fossil fuel-fired pool heaters. 
These amendments to appendix P would not impact test procedure conduct 
nor the measurements taken, but rather the new provisions use existing 
measurements to calculate the values necessary for comparing product 
efficiency to the proposed standards.
    In response to the April 2022 NOPR, DOE received comments from 
stakeholders relating to the method of testing in the consumer pool 
heater test procedure. Specifically, AHRI and PHTA suggested that the 
Department use mass flow rate as an alternative calculation to using 
the mass of water in the test procedure, as the use of a mass flow 
meter would provide a significantly more accurate and repeatable data 
collection that would also allow for automation of the test procedure. 
AHRI and PHTA also encouraged DOE to update its references to the 
latest edition of ANSI Z21.56.\18\ AHRI and PHTA noted that there are 
measurable increases in efficiency due to part-load operation when 
operating at colder ambient conditions that are not captured in the 
current rating test. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at pp. 3-4) Similarly, 
Rheem suggested that DOE investigate part-load efficiency in the next 
test procedure rulemaking. (Rheem, No. 19 at p. 4)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ The most recent version of ANSI Z21.56 is ANSI Z21.56/CSA 
4.7-2017, Gas-Fired Pool Heaters. Copies of the standard are 
available for purchase at: webstore.ansi.org/Standards/CSA/ansiz21562017csa (last accessed on October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE will consider these comments further in the next revision of 
its consumer pool heater test procedure.

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. Sections 6(b)(3)(i) and 7(b)(1) of appendix A 
to 10 CFR part 430 subpart C (``appendix A'').
    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; (3) adverse impacts on 
health or safety and (4) unique-pathway proprietary technologies. 
Section 7(b)(2)-(5) of appendix A. Section IV.B of this document 
discusses the results of the screening analysis for consumer pool 
heaters, particularly the designs DOE considered, those it screened 
out, and those that are the basis for the standards adopted in this 
rulemaking. For further details on the screening analysis for this 
rulemaking, see chapter 4 of the final rule TSD.
2. Maximum Technologically Feasible Levels
    When DOE adopts a new or 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 
engineering analysis, DOE determined the maximum technologically 
feasible (``max-tech'') improvements in energy efficiency for consumer 
pool heaters, using the design parameters for the most efficient 
products available on the market or in working prototypes. The max-tech 
levels that DOE determined for this rulemaking are described in section 
IV.C of this document and in chapter 5 of the final rule TSD.

E. Energy Savings

1. Determination of Savings
    For each trial standard level (``TSL''), DOE projected energy 
savings from application of the TSL to consumer pool heaters purchased 
in the 30-year period that begins in the first full year of compliance 
with the new and amended standards (2028-2057).\19\ 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 that reflects how the market for a 
product would likely evolve in the absence of new and amended energy 
conservation standards.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ DOE also presents a sensitivity analysis that considers 
impacts for products shipped in a 9-year period.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE used its national impact analysis (``NIA'') spreadsheet models 
to estimate national energy savings (``NES'') from potential new and 
amended standards for consumer pool heaters. The NIA spreadsheet model 
(described in section IV.H of this document) calculates energy savings 
in terms of site energy, which is the energy directly consumed by 
products at the locations where they are used. For electricity, DOE 
reports national energy savings in terms of primary energy savings, 
which is the savings in the energy that is used to generate and 
transmit the site electricity. For natural gas, the primary energy 
savings are considered to be equal to the site energy savings. DOE also 
calculates NES in terms of 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.\20\ 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 document.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ 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))
    The significance of energy savings offered by a new or amended 
energy conservation standard cannot be determined without knowledge of 
the specific circumstances surrounding a given rulemaking. For example, 
some covered products and equipment have most of their energy 
consumption occur during periods of peak energy demand. The impacts of 
these products on the energy infrastructure can be more pronounced than 
products with relatively constant demand. Accordingly, DOE evaluates 
the significance of energy savings on a case-by-case basis, taking into 
account the significance of cumulative FFC national energy savings, the 
cumulative FFC emissions reductions, and the need to confront the 
global climate crisis, among other factors.
    The standard levels adopted in this final rule are projected to 
result in

[[Page 34634]]

national energy savings of 0.70 quads, the equivalent of the 
electricity use of 7.5 million homes in one year. Based on the amount 
of FFC savings, the corresponding reduction in emissions, and the need 
to confront the global climate crisis, DOE has determined the energy 
savings from the standard levels adopted in this final rule are 
``significant'' within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(3)(B).

F. Economic Justification

1. Specific Criteria
    As noted previously, 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)(I)(VII)) The 
following sections discuss how DOE has addressed each of those seven 
factors in this final rule.
a. Economic Impact on Manufacturers and Consumers
    EPCA requires DOE to consider the economic impact of the standard 
on manufacturers and consumers of the product that would be subject to 
the standard. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i)(I). In determining the 
impacts of potential amended standards on manufacturers, DOE conducts 
an MIA, as discussed in section IV.J of this document. 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 consumer costs and benefits expected to result from particular 
standards. DOE also evaluates the impacts of potential standards on 
identifiable subgroups of consumers that may be affected 
disproportionately by a 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 cost (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 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 full year of compliance with 
new or amended standards. The LCC savings for the considered efficiency 
levels are calculated relative to the case that reflects projected 
market trends in the absence of new or amended standards. DOE's LCC and 
PBP analysis is discussed in further detail in section IV.F of this 
document.
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 IV.H of this document, 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 adopted in this document will 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 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 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)) To assist the 
Department of Justice (``DOJ'') in making such a determination, DOE 
transmitted copies of its proposed rule and the NOPR TSD to the 
Attorney General for review, with a request that the DOJ provide its 
determination on this issue. In its assessment letter responding to 
DOE, DOJ concluded that the proposed energy conservation standards for 
consumer pool heaters are unlikely to have a significant adverse impact 
on competition. DOE is publishing the Attorney General's assessment at 
the end of this final rule.
f. Need for National Energy Conservation
    DOE also considers the need for national energy and water 
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 the adopted 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

[[Page 34635]]

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 document.
    DOE maintains that environmental and public health benefits 
associated with the more efficient use of energy are important to take 
into account when considering the need for national energy 
conservation. The adopted standards are likely to result in 
environmental benefits in the form of reduced emissions of air 
pollutants and GHGs associated with energy production and use. DOE 
conducts an emissions analysis to estimate how potential standards may 
affect these emissions, as discussed in section IV.K of this document; 
the estimated emissions impacts are reported in section V.B.6 of this 
document. DOE also estimates the economic value of emissions reductions 
resulting from the considered TSLs, as discussed in section IV.L of 
this document.
g. Other Factors
    In determining whether an energy conservation standard is 
economically justified, DOE may consider any other factors that the 
Secretary deems to be relevant. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i)(VII)) To 
the extent DOE identifies any relevant information regarding economic 
justification that does not fit into the other categories described 
previously, 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 full 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 effect potential amended 
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 of this document.

G. Other Topics

1. Test Procedure Updates
    This final rule establishes amended standards for gas-fired pool 
heaters and new standards for electric pool heaters in terms of 
TEI. These standards are functions of the input capacity 
(``QIN'') for gas-fired pool heaters and the active 
electrical power (``PE'') for electric pool heaters. To provide clarity 
on how values would be determined for certification, DOE is adopting 
definitions for ``input capacity,'' ``active electrical power,'' and 
``output capacity'' (``QOUT'') and identifying which 
measured variables in the test procedure represent these 
characteristics.
    Given the dependency of TEI on QIN and PE, in 
the April 2022 NOPR DOE proposed updates to the test procedure and 
product-specific enforcement provisions to ensure clarity in 
determination of these parameters. Specifically, DOE proposed to amend 
appendix P to:
     Use values measured during the active mode test described 
in Section 2.10.1 of ANSI.Z21.56-2006 (i.e., heating value times 
correction factor times the quantity of fossil fuel used divided by the 
length of the test) to determine the input capacity of a fossil fuel-
fired pool heater, as this calculation was not stated clearly within 
appendix P;
     Clarify that active electrical power is represented by the 
variable PE; and
     Provide a calculation for output capacity so that the 
product class for an electric pool heater can be appropriately 
determined.
    87 FR 22640, 22651.
    In response, Rheem suggested DOE add provisions to appendix P to 
describe how to appropriately calculate input capacity for gas-fired 
pool heaters at standard temperature and pressure conditions. (Rheem, 
No. 19 at p. 2) AHRI and PHTA provided similar feedback, requesting 
that DOE specify values for barometric pressure, as this value can vary 
depending on numerous factors including test location and environmental 
conditions. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at p. 3)
    Section 2.10.1 of ANSI Z21.56-2006, the industry test standard that 
is incorporated by reference into appendix P for gas-fired pool 
heaters, includes the use of a correction factor (``CF'') ``to correct 
observed gas volume to the conditions of pressure and temperature at 
which the heating value of the gas is specified [normally 30 inches 
mercury column (101.6 kPa) and 60 [deg]F (15.5 [deg]C)]''. As such, the 
standard temperature and pressure is already specified as 60 degrees 
Fahrenheit (``[deg]F'') and 30 inches of mercury (``in. Hg'') for the 
calculation of QIN. If the laboratory barometric conditions 
do not match the standard pressure, as AHRI and PHTA suggested, section 
2.10.1 of ANSI Z21.56-2006 requires the gas measurement to be 
mathematically corrected.
    Rheem also requested that DOE clarify whether coefficient of 
performance (``COP'') representations in manufacturer literature may 
continue to be made at ambient conditions other than the ``High Air 
Temperature--Mid Humidity'' condition in AHRI Standard 1160. (Rheem, 
No. 19 at p. 10)
    Section 3.1.3 of appendix P states that the test conditions for 
electric heat pump pool heaters shall be at the ``High Air 
Temperature--Mid Humidity (63% RH)'' level specified in section 6 of 
AHRI 1160-2009, the industry test standard that is incorporated by 
reference into appendix P for heat pump pool heaters. EPCA mandates 
that no manufacturer, distributor, retailer, and or private labeler may 
make any representation with respect to the energy use or efficiency of 
a covered product to which a test procedure is applicable unless such 
product has been tested in accordance with such test procedure and such 
representation fairly discloses the results of such testing. (42 U.S.C. 
6293(c)(1)(A)-(B)) Therefore, although manufacturers may make 
representations of COP according to the test conditions in appendix P, 
manufacturers may not make representations for heat pump pool heaters 
at test conditions which are not included in appendix P.
    Taking into consideration the feedback received on the necessary 
updates to the test procedure to accommodate the transition to 
TEI-based standards, DOE is amending appendix P as proposed 
in the April 2022 NOPR to include new definitions and methods for 
determining for input capacity, active electrical power, and output 
capacity.
2. Enforcement Provisions
    The Department codifies product-specific enforcement provisions at 
10 CFR 429.134 to indicate how DOE would conduct certain aspects of 
assessment or enforcement testing on covered products and equipment.

[[Page 34636]]

    In the April 2022 NOPR, DOE proposed that the input capacity or 
active electrical power (as applicable) for enforcement testing would 
be measured pursuant to appendix P and compared against the rated value 
certified by the manufacturer. If the measured input capacity or active 
electrical power (as applicable) is within 2 percent of the 
certified value, then DOE would use the certified value when 
determining the applicable standard. The 2 percent 
threshold was chosen because it is already used for commercial water 
heating equipment (see 10 CFR 429.134(n)) and it represents a 
reasonable range to account for manufacturing variations that may 
affect the input capacity. DOE proposed that, during enforcement 
testing for a gas-fired pool heater, if the measured input capacity is 
not within 2 percent of the certified value, then DOE would 
follow these steps to attempt to bring the fuel input rate to within 
2 percent of the certified value. First, DOE would attempt 
to adjust the gas pressure in order to increase or decrease the input 
capacity as necessary. If the input capacity is still not within 2 percent of the certified value, DOE would then attempt to 
modify the gas inlet orifice (i.e., drill) if the unit is equipped with 
one. Finally, if these measures do not bring the input capacity to 
within 2 percent of the certified value, DOE would use the 
mean measured input capacity (either for a single unit sample or the 
average for a multiple-unit sample) when determining the applicable 
standard for the basic model. 87 FR 22640, 22651.
    In the April 2022 NOPR, DOE proposed that, for an electric pool 
heater, it would not take any steps to modify the unit to bring the 
active electrical power of the unit within the 2 percent 
threshold. Rather, if the active electrical power is not within 2 percent of the certified value, DOE would use the measured 
active electrical power (either for a single unit sample or the average 
for a multiple unit sample) when determining the applicable standard 
for the basic model. Id. at 87 FR 22652.
    AHRI and PHTI commented that the Department's suggested 2 percent threshold is appropriate for the certified value of 
input capacity or active electrical power for gas-fired pool heaters 
because adjustment of the valve should be allowed to achieve input 
rate. However, AHRI and PHTA recommended that DOE should apply the 
5 percent threshold that is specified in section 6.3 \21\ 
of AHRI 1160 on the certified value of input capacity or active 
electrical power for electric pool heaters, and requested that the 
Department offer additional clarification for the proposed definition 
of ``certified.'' (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at pp. 2-3) Hayward similarly 
supported a 2 percent threshold for gas-fired pool heaters, 
but believed that a  5 percent threshold would be 
appropriate for heat pump pool heaters due to variances in compressor 
performance. (Hayward, No. 17 at p. 3) Rheem supported the DOE proposal 
to add a 2 percent threshold to its enforcement provisions 
at 10 CFR 429.134 regarding input capacity, which is required for gas-
fired pool heaters. For electric products, Rheem stated there are no 
methods to easily adjust power, so while a threshold should be placed 
on active electrical power in the enforcement provisions, due to the 
inherent variability in active electrical power for electric pool 
heaters this threshold should be 5 percent. (Rheem, No. 19 
at p. 2)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ The commenters referenced section 6.2 of AHRI 1160, which 
specifies application ratings. DOE interprets this comment as 
intending to reference section 6.3 of AHRI 1160-2006, which 
specifies tolerances on heating capacity and COP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE agrees with Rheem that electrical power cannot be readily 
adjusted on a pool heater the way gas input is designed to be adjusted 
for a field-installed unit, and thus, for electric pool heaters, 
inherent product variability is not able to be compensated for with in-
field adjustments to energy input, as is possible for gas-fired pool 
heaters. For this reason, DOE concludes that a higher threshold for 
electrical power in the enforcement testing provisions for electrical 
pool heaters as compared to the input capacity threshold for gas-fired 
pool heaters is warranted. Section 6.3 of AHRI 1160-2006 states that 
measured test results for heating capacity and COP shall not be less 
than 95 percent of published ratings. Based on these considerations, 
DOE agrees that the 5 percent threshold recommended by 
stakeholders is appropriate for enforcement testing of electric pool 
heaters. In this final rule, DOE is establishing product-specific 
enforcement provisions for consumer pool heaters which allow a 2 percent threshold for gas-fired pool heaters and a 5 percent threshold for electric pool heaters.
    Rheem also recommended changing the title to 10 CFR 429.134(s)(2) 
to ``Verification of active electrical power for electric pool 
heaters.'' (Rheem, No. 19 at p. 2) DOE understands this to be a 
typographical correction to the title proposed in the April 2022 NOPR, 
which read, ``Verification of active electrical power for pool 
heaters.'' 87 FR 22640, 22716. Due to the additions of several product-
specific enforcement provisions since the April 2022 NOPR, the 
enforcement provisions for pool heaters have been relocated to 10 CFR 
429.134(dd). Because the title suggested by Rheem clarifies that the 
provision applies only to electric pool heaters and not all pool 
heaters, DOE is adopting the suggested title for 10 CFR 429.134(cc)(2).
3. Certification Requirements
    In the April 2022 NOPR, DOE stated that if new and amended energy 
conservation standards were adopted in this rulemaking, the Department 
would review and revise the certification provisions accordingly to 
establish certification provisions for electric pool heaters and to 
allow for appropriate reporting of TEI values. DOE stated 
that it would consider such amendments in a separate rulemaking. 87 FR 
22640, 22651.
    In response, Rheem generally recommended DOE update the 
certification provisions at 10 CFR 429.24 to require certification of 
integrated thermal efficiency and either input capacity or active 
electrical power as necessary. (Rheem, No. 19 at p. 2) Rheem also 
requested that DOE add certification provisions which allow for the 
propane gas version of a basic model to be rated using the natural gas 
version if the propane gas input rate is within 10 percent of the 
natural gas input rate. (Rheem, No. 19 at p. 10)
    DOE is considering these comments in a separate rulemaking 
addressing certification requirements for consumer pool heaters and 
other products and equipment. Interested parties may find this 
rulemaking at Docket No. EERE-2023-BT-CE-0001. Compliance with the 
energy conservation standards promulgated by this final rule must be 
demonstrated on and after May 30, 2028.

IV. Methodology and Discussion of Related Comments

    This section addresses the analyses DOE has performed for this 
final rule with regard to consumer pool heaters. Separate subsections 
address each component of DOE's analyses.
    DOE used several analytical tools to estimate the impact of the 
standards considered in this document. The first tool is a spreadsheet 
that calculates the LCC savings and PBP of potential amended or new 
energy conservation standards. The national impacts analysis uses a 
second spreadsheet set that provides shipments projections and

[[Page 34637]]

calculates NES and NPV of total consumer costs and savings expected to 
result 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 on the DOE website for this rulemaking: 
www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE-2021-BT-STD-0020. Additionally, DOE 
used output from the latest version of the Energy Information 
Administration's (``EIA's'') Annual Energy Outlook (``AEO'') for the 
emissions and utility impact analyses.

A. Market and Technology Assessment

    DOE develops information in the market and technology assessment 
that provides an overall picture of the market for the products 
concerned, including the purpose of the products, the industry 
structure, manufacturers, market characteristics, and technologies used 
in the products. This activity includes both quantitative and 
qualitative assessments, based primarily on publicly-available 
information. The subjects addressed in the market and technology 
assessment for this rulemaking include (1) a determination of the scope 
of the rulemaking and product classes, (2) manufacturers and industry 
structure, (3) existing efficiency programs, (4) shipments information, 
(5) market and industry trends, and (6) technologies or design options 
that could improve the energy efficiency of consumer pool heaters. The 
key findings of DOE's market assessment are summarized in the following 
sections. See chapter 3 of the final rule TSD for further discussion of 
the market and technology assessment.
1. Product Classes
    When evaluating and establishing energy conservation standards, DOE 
may establish separate standards for a group of covered products (i.e., 
establish a separate product class) if DOE determines that separate 
standards are justified based on the type of energy used, or if DOE 
determines that a product's capacity or other performance-related 
feature justifies a different standard. (42 U.S.C. 6295(q)) In making a 
determination whether a performance-related feature justifies a 
different standard, DOE must consider such factors as the utility of 
the feature to the consumer and other factors DOE determines are 
appropriate. (Id.)
    Under EPCA, pool heaters are covered products. (42 U.S.C. 
6292(a)(11)) EPCA defines ``pool heater'' as an appliance designed for 
heating nonpotable water contained at atmospheric pressure, including 
heating water in swimming pools, spas, hot tubs and similar 
applications. (42 U.S.C. 6291(25)) This includes electric pool heaters, 
gas-fired pool heaters, and oil-fired pool heaters. However, energy 
conservation standards have been previously established only for gas-
fired pool heaters.\22\ In this final rule, DOE establishes definitions 
for gas-fired pool heaters, electric pool heaters, electric spa 
heaters, and oil-fired pool heaters; establishes new energy 
conservation standards for electric pool heaters; and for gas-fired 
pool heaters, translates the existing standard from the Et 
metric to an equivalent level in terms of the TEI metric and 
amends the energy conservation standards. DOE has not analyzed 
potential standards for oil-fired pool heaters because they comprise a 
very small market share and such standards would result in very little 
energy savings. DOE also did not perform energy conservation standards 
analysis for electric spa heaters, as DOE was unable to identify 
technology options available to improve the efficiency of such 
products. Accordingly, DOE is not establishing standards for these 
products in this final rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ EPCA prescribed a minimum thermal efficiency of pool 
heaters and initially defined thermal efficiency of pool heaters 
only in the context of test conditions for gas-fired pool heaters. 
(See 42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(2) and 42 U.S.C. 6291(26))
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As discussed in the April 2022 NOPR, some commenters responding to 
the March 2015 RFI suggested DOE consider atmospherically vented gas-
fired pool heaters separately from fan-assisted gas-fired pool heaters 
or to consider condensing and non-condensing products separately. 87 FR 
22640, 22653. As previously noted by DOE, the standard for gas-fired 
pool heaters proposed in the April 2022 NOPR, and adopted in this final 
rule, can be achieved by atmospherically vented and/or non-condensing 
gas-fired pool heaters.
    In the March 2015 RFI, DOE sought comment on whether capacity or 
other performance related features that may affect efficiency would 
justify the establishment of consumer pool heater product classes that 
would be subject to different energy conservation standards. 
Specifically, DOE sought comment on whether heat pump technology was a 
viable design for applications which typically utilize electric 
resistance pool heaters. 80 FR 15922, 15925. As discussed in the April 
2022 NOPR, some commenters recommended DOE create separate product 
classes for electric resistance and electric heat pump pool heaters, 
and others urged DOE to regulate both under one product class covering 
all electric pool heaters. 87 FR 22640, 22654. In the April 2022 NOPR, 
DOE noted that although heat pump pool heaters perform best when 
operating within an environment with high air temperature and high air 
humidity, they are nonetheless capable of operating effectively in 
cooler climates during the swimming season. Additionally, rare cases in 
which the ambient temperature is too low for the heat pump pool heater 
to work effectively could be accommodated through the incorporation of 
electric resistance backup elements. Therefore, DOE proposed to 
maintain a single product class for electric pool heaters. Id.
    In response to the April 2022 NOPR, the Joint Advocates stated 
their support of a single product class for all electric pool heaters 
because electric resistance heaters provide no unique utility. (Joint 
Advocates, No. 13 at p. 1-2) The CA IOUs also agreed with DOE that 
separate product classes for electric resistance and electric heat pump 
pool heaters are not justified. (CA IOUs, No. 16 at p. 6) DOE received 
no other comments in response to the April 2022 NOPR on this issue and, 
for the reasons discussed, maintains a single product class for 
electric pool heaters in this final rule.
    In the April 2022 NOPR, DOE proposed definitions for electric pool 
heaters (note that ``electric spa heater'' is defined later in this 
section), gas-fired pool heaters, and oil-fired pool heaters. 87 FR 
22640, 22656. The proposed definitions were as follows:
    Electric pool heater means a pool heater other than an electric spa 
heater that uses electricity as its primary energy source.
    Gas-fired pool heater means a pool heater that uses gas as its 
primary energy source.
    Oil-fired pool heater means a pool heater that uses oil as its 
primary energy source.
    In response to the April 2022 NOPR, BWC agreed with DOE's proposal 
to clarify regulations by adding a definition for ``gas-fired pool 
heater'' at 10 CFR 430.2. (BWC, No. 12 at p. 2) AHRI and PHTA stated 
their general agreement with DOE's proposed definitions, but urged the 
Department to create separate definitions for electric heat pump and 
electric resistance pool heaters, and provided a recommended definition 
for electric heat pump pool heaters. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at p. 4)
    DOE acknowledges that there are differences in the components and 
operation of electric resistance pool heaters and electric heat pump 
pool heaters. However, because DOE is

[[Page 34638]]

maintaining one product class for all electric pool heaters, there is 
no need to distinguish between these two types of electric pool 
heaters. As such, DOE adopts the definitions above as proposed in the 
April 2022 NOPR.
    The definition of an electric pool heater adopted by this final 
rule specifically excludes pool heaters meeting the definition of an 
``electric spa heater''. In the April 2022 NOPR, DOE explained that 
lower capacity \23\ electric heaters used to heat water in spas are a 
covered product by virtue of being within EPCA's definition of pool 
heater. 87 FR 22640, 22654-22656; (see 42 U.S.C. 6291(25).) In 
addition, DOE noted in the April 2022 NOPR that electric spa heaters 
are often incorporated into the construction of a self-contained spa or 
hot tub, resulting in the heater performing its major function (heating 
spa water) in an environment that would preclude the use of higher 
efficiency technologies (heat pump) and manufacturers instead rely on 
electric resistance heating elements. Therefore, DOE determined that 
heat pump technology is not a viable option for electric spa heaters 
designed for use within a self-contained portable electric spa because 
a heat pump cannot be readily incorporated into the construction of a 
spa or hot tub. However, DOE also determined that heat pump technology 
is a viable option for heating a spa or hot tub if the heater is 
separate from the construction of the hot tub or spa (i.e., non-self-
contained as defined in section 1 of ANSI/APSP/International Code 
Council Standard 6-2013, ``American National Standard for Residential 
Portable Spas and Swim Spas''). Therefore, in the April 2022 NOPR, DOE 
proposed to define ``electric spa heater'' as follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ In this case, ``lower-capacity'' means an input rating of 
less than 11 kW. DOE identified 11 kW as being a typical output 
capacity below which electric resistance heaters are integrated in 
spas based on its assessment of the market performed for the October 
2015 NODA. 80 FR 65169. This threshold was also suggested by a 
commenter responding to the March 2015 RFI. 87 FR 22640, 22655.

    Electric spa heater means a pool heater that (1) uses 
electricity as its primary energy source; (2) has an output capacity 
(as measured according to appendix P to subpart B of part 430) of 11 
kW or less; and (3) is designed to be installed within a portable 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
electric spa.

    87 FR 22640, 22656.
    In the April 2022 NOPR, DOE also proposed a definition for 
``portable electric spa,'' because at that time, DOE had not codified 
such a definition.
    Portable electric spa means a self-contained, factory-built spa or 
hot tub in which all control, water heating and water circulating 
equipment is an integral part of the product. Self-contained spas may 
be permanently wired, or cord connected.
    87 FR 22640, 22656.
    Commenting in response to the April 2022 NOPR, the CA IOUs stated 
their agreement with DOE's decision to exclude electric spa heaters 
from this rulemaking due to differences in consumer utility, but 
suggested DOE modify the definition for electric spa heater by 
replacing the phrase ``to be installed'' with ``and marketed for use as 
an electric pool heater.'' The CA IOUs explained that ``designed and 
marketed'' means that the equipment is designed to fulfill the 
indicated application and, when distributed in commerce, is marketed 
for that application, with the designation on the packaging and any 
publicly available documents, citing a definition from 10 CFR 431.462 
(related to DOE's regulations for commercial pumps). (CA IOUs, No. 16 
at pp. 5-6)
    Rheem recommended aligning the definitions for portable electric 
spas from the coverage determination for portable electric spas (Docket 
No. EERE-2022-BT-DET-0006) and the NOPR prior to the publication of 
either the final portable electric spa determination or consumer pool 
heaters standards final rule. (Rheem, No. 19 at p. 3) AHRI and PHTA 
sought clarification on whether swim spas are captured within the 
definition of portable electric spas. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at p. 4)
    On September 2, 2022, DOE published a final determination 
(``September 2022 Final Determination'') that established portable 
electric spas as a covered consumer product and included the following 
definition to be codified in 10 CFR 430.2:
    Portable electric spa means a factory-built electric spa or hot 
tub, supplied with equipment for heating and circulating water at the 
time of sale or sold separately for subsequent attachment.
    87 FR 54123, 54129.
    This newly established definition is substantively the same as the 
one DOE proposed in the April 2022 NOPR and thus, DOE is not adopting 
any amendments to that definition in this final rule.
    In response to the comment from AHRI and PHTA, DOE notes that swim 
spas are captured by the newly established definition for portable 
electric spa to the extent that they meet the description included in 
the definition. DOE also notes that portable electric spas are not 
within the scope of this rulemaking and will not be subject to the 
energy conservation standards adopted in this final rule. DOE 
appreciates the suggested definitional change for electric spa heaters 
from the CA IOUs but notes that the cited definition for commercial 
pumps is not relevant to consumer products, including electric spa 
heaters, a type of consumer pool heater. EPCA defines a consumer 
product, in relevant part, as any article of a type which, to any 
significant extent, is distributed in commerce for personal use or 
consumption by individuals; without regard to whether such article of 
such type is in fact distributed in commerce for personal use or 
consumption by an individual. (42 U.S.C. 6291(1)) As such, the design 
of an electric spa heater is sufficient to determine whether the 
product is a covered consumer product; coverage does not hinge on how 
the product is marketed. For this reason, DOE is not incorporating the 
language suggested by the CA IOUs in the definition of ``electric spa 
heater'' in this final rule.
    Hayward suggested that DOE define pool heaters by technology (e.g., 
gas-fired, air vapor compression heating/cooling, ground-source vapor 
compression heating/cooling, absorption heating/cooling, electric 
resistance) because different technology types correspond to different 
applications. (Hayward, No. 17 at pp. 3-4)
    In response the suggestion from Hayward, DOE notes that EPCA 
provides that product classes shall be defined if the Secretary 
determines that covered products with the class consume a different 
kind of energy from that consumed by other covered products within such 
type (or class); or 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 from that which 
applies (or will apply) to other products within such type (or class). 
(42 U.S.C. 6295(q)(1)) Accordingly, DOE is adopting separate 
definitions and analyzed different energy conservation standards for 
gas-fired and electric pool heaters, which consume different kinds of 
energy. However, among the technologies listed by Hayward that consume 
electricity, DOE was unable to identify, nor did Hayward suggest, a 
correlation between technology type and capacity or other performance-
related feature that would constitute a ``feature'' under 42 U.S.C. 
6295(q)(1). Therefore, DOE is declining to additionally define consumer 
pool heater products by technology type.

[[Page 34639]]

    In the April 2022 NOPR, DOE proposed a definition for output 
capacity along with equations for its calculation for electric pool and 
spa heaters to be incorporated in the consumer pool heaters test 
procedure at appendix P. The proposed calculation for output capacity 
for an electric pool or spa heater utilizes measurements already taken 
for other calculations in appendix P and therefore DOE would not 
consider the provision to result in any additional test procedure 
burden. 87 FR 22640, 22656. DOE proposed to define output capacity for 
electric pool and spa heaters as follows:

    Output capacity for an electric pool or spa heater means the 
maximum rate at which energy is transferred to the water.

    DOE proposed separate equations for the calculation of output 
capacity of an electric resistance pool heater and electric heat pump 
pool heater. 87 FR 22640, 22656. For electric pool heaters that rely on 
electric resistance heating elements, DOE proposed that the output 
capacity be calculated as:

QOUT,ER = k * W * (Tmo-Tmi) * (60/30)

where k is the specific heat of water, W is the mass of water collected 
during the test, Tmo is the average outlet water temperature 
recorded during the primary test, Tmi is the average inlet 
water temperature record during the primary test, all as defined in 
section 11.1 of ASHRAE 146, and (60/30) is the conversion factor to 
convert the output capacity measured during the 30-minute test to 
output capacity per hour.
    DOE proposed that the output capacity of an electric pool heater 
that uses heat pump technology be calculated as:

QOUT,HP = k * W * (Tohp-Tihp) * (60/
tHP)

where k is the specific heat of water, W is the mass of water collected 
during the test, Tohp is the average outlet water 
temperature during the standard rating test, Tihp is the 
average inlet water temperature during the standard rating test, all as 
defined in section 11.2 of ASHRAE 146, and tHP is the 
elapsed time of data recording during the thermal efficiency test on 
electric heat pump pool heater, as defined in section 9.1 of ASHRAE 
146, in minutes. 87 FR 22640, 22656.
    DOE did not receive any comments pertaining to the definition and 
calculations for output capacity proposed in the April 2022 NOPR and 
therefore will adopt them, as proposed, in this final rule.
    In the April 2022 NOPR, DOE tentatively determined that the 
creation of a separate product class for heat pump pool heaters with 
cooling capability was not necessary, and requested comment on its 
assumption that electric pool heaters with cooling capabilities do not 
suffer diminished efficiency performance in heating mode. 87 FR 22640, 
22655-22656.
    Responding to the April 2022 NOPR, Hayward commented that heat pump 
pool heaters with heating and cooling need to have some efficiency 
offset to accommodate additional system components that affect 
efficiency in heating mode; the alternatives to heat pumps with cooling 
include evaporative coolers, which consume both energy and water, and 
are not currently regulated by DOE. (Hayward, No. 17 at p. 1) AHRI and 
PHTA stated that the efficiency and performance for a heat pump with 
cooling capabilities should be evaluated independently, as the pressure 
drop from the reversing valve could have negative impacts on overall 
performance compared to a similar model without cooling capabilities. 
(AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at p. 3) Hayward commented that heat pump pool 
heaters that have both heating and cooling capabilities suffer 
diminished efficiency performance in heating mode due to pressure drops 
from the reversing valve and heat exchanger designs. Therefore, Hayward 
argued that the standards for heat pumps with heating and cooling 
should be lower than those for heating-only heat pumps. (Hayward, No. 
17 at p. 3) Rheem stated that its heat pump pool heaters with cooling 
capability experience minimal effect on efficiency performance when in 
heating mode, but any difference is captured in performance ratings. 
(Rheem, No. 19 at p. 3)
    DOE's market assessment performed for this rulemaking included both 
heating-only and heating- and cooling-capable consumer pool heaters. Of 
the models DOE identified, differences in COP are negligible between 
the heating- and cooling-capable pool heaters and the heating-only pool 
heaters. As such, DOE maintains that the creation of a separate product 
class for heat pump pool heaters with cooling capability is not 
warranted and does not establish one in this final rule.
2. Technology Options
    In the April 2022 NOPR, DOE identified nine technology options for 
electric pool heaters and eight technology options for gas-fired pool 
heaters that would be expected to improve the efficiency as measured by 
DOE test procedure. 87 FR 22640, 22656-22657. Table IV.1 below lists 
all technology options identified.

                        Table IV.1--Technology Options Identified for the April 2022 NOPR
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Technology option                         Electric pool heater      Gas-fired pool heater
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Insulation improvements.....................................                        X                         X
Control improvements........................................                        X                         X
Heat pump technology........................................                        X   ........................
Heat exchanger improvements.................................                        X                         X
Compressor improvements.....................................                        X   ........................
Expansion valve improvements................................                        X   ........................
Fan improvements............................................                        X   ........................
Condensing heat exchanger...................................  ........................                        X
Electronic ignition systems.................................  ........................                        X
Switch mode power supply....................................                        X                         X
Seasonal off switch.........................................                        X                         X
Condensing pulse combination................................  ........................                        X
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the April 2022 NOPR, DOE discussed comments it received from 
interested parties requesting the Department consider fan motor 
improvements as a technology option to improve efficiency at multiple 
load conditions. DOE noted that these improvements are unlikely to 
yield improvements because heat pump pool heaters operate at full 
capacity to satisfy the call for heat. Heat pump pool heaters on the 
market use permanent split capacitor (``PSC'') motors and do not 
currently utilize brushless permanent magnet (``BPM'') fan

[[Page 34640]]

motors.\24\ Therefore, DOE has not been able to test products in order 
to determine the magnitude of efficiency improvement, if any, that 
could be expected due to the incorporation of BPM motors. The 
Department requested more information on this topic to determine 
whether there would be an efficiency improvement from replacing PSC 
motors with BPM motors. 87 FR 22640, 22660-22661.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ The efficiency of PSC motors is highest at a single speed, 
with significant diminishing operation efficiency at other speeds, 
whereas BPM motors are capable of maintaining a high operating 
efficiency at multiple speeds.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Responding to the April 2022 NOPR, Fluidra stated it generally 
agreed with the technology options analyzed. (Fluidra, No. 18 at p. 2) 
Hayward suggested consideration of modulating heaters, as they can 
provide both improved efficiency and a better user experience, and 
recommended further analysis on average energy or part load energy 
consumption to provide credit for variable-capacity (modulating) pool 
heaters. (Hayward, No. 17 at pp. 4-5) Hayward added that variable-
capacity heat pump pool heaters and gas-fired pool heaters, which would 
allow for efficiency calculations at part loads, should be considered 
for additional efficiency levels. Hayward also suggested that a 
variable-capacity heat pump pool heater would constitute a new max-tech 
electric pool heater efficiency level, and a variable-capacity gas-
fired pool heater would fall between 84-percent and 95-percent thermal 
efficiency. (Hayward, No. 17 at p. 2) Conversely, AHRI and PHTA stated 
that their testing shows variable-speed fans have minimal impact on 
heat pump efficiency, and that the current efficiency metric does not 
benefit from variable-capacity equipment. In addition, these commenters 
noted that variable-capacity equipment will have higher standby mode 
and off mode losses. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at p. 4)
    Rheem stated that fan motor efficiency improvements will affect 
only the active mode testing in the current DOE test procedure. Rheem 
noted that the current DOE test procedure does not address part-load 
efficiency, which could be improved with fan motor efficiency (e.g., 
switching from a PSC to a BPM fan motor). (Rheem, No. 19 at p. 4) 
Hayward claimed that while BPM fan motors may offer improved efficiency 
at reduced speed, the energy consumed by the fan motor is small 
compared to the energy consumed by the compressor motor. (Hayward, No. 
17 at p. 4)
    In order for a given technology to be considered a technology 
option by DOE for the purposes of evaluating potential new or amended 
energy conservation standards, the technology must be expected to 
improve the efficiency or energy consumption as measured by DOE test 
procedure. Appendix P does not capture part-load performance; 
therefore, DOE is unable to determine the efficiency impacts of 
modulating heaters or variable-capacity heat pumps for consumer pool 
heaters. Thus, DOE did not evaluate either of these technologies as a 
technology option for this final rule.
    In response to the comment from Hayward, DOE acknowledges that the 
energy consumed by the fan motor is generally smaller than that of the 
compressor in an electric heat pump water heater. However, DOE agrees 
with Rheem that improvements in fan motor efficiency will improve the 
efficiency of a consumer pool heater as measured by appendix P and, 
therefore, continued to consider fan motor improvements as part of the 
general fan improvements technology option for this final rule. As 
discussed in section III.C of this document, DOE may consider comments 
related to part-load efficiency provisions in appendix P in its next 
test procedure rulemaking for consumer pool heaters.
    In summary, DOE retains the same list of technology options from 
the April 2022 NOPR in this final rule. After considering all 
identified potential technology options for improving the efficiency of 
consumer pool heaters, DOE performed the screening analysis (see 
section IV.B of this document and chapter 4 of the final rule TSD) on 
these technologies to determine which were considered further in the 
final rule analysis.

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 commercially viable, existing 
prototypes will not be considered further.
    (2) Practicability to manufacture, install, and service. If it is 
determined that mass production of a technology in commercial products 
and reliable installation and servicing of the technology could not be 
achieved on the scale necessary to serve the relevant market at the 
time of the projected compliance date of the standard, then that 
technology will not be considered further.
    (3) Impacts on product utility. If a technology is determined to 
have a significant adverse impact on the utility of the product to 
subgroups of consumers, or 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) Safety of technologies. If it is determined that a technology 
would have significant adverse impacts on health or safety, it will not 
be considered further.
    (5) Unique-pathway proprietary technologies. If a technology has 
proprietary protection and represents a unique pathway to achieving a 
given efficiency level, it will not be considered further, due to the 
potential for monopolistic concerns. Sections 6(b)(3) and 7(b) of 
appendix A.
    In sum, if DOE determines that a technology, or a combination of 
technologies, fails to meet one or more of the listed five criteria, it 
will be excluded from further consideration in the engineering 
analysis. The reasons for eliminating any technology are discussed in 
the following sections.
    The subsequent sections describe 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
    In the April 2022 NOPR, DOE proposed eliminating condensing pulse 
combustion from its analysis, having tentatively determined that this 
technology option is not technologically feasible and not practicable 
to manufacture, install, and service. DOE stated that, although 
condensing pulse combustion technology shows promising results in 
increasing efficiency, it has not yet penetrated the consumer pool 
heater market, and similar efficiencies are achievable with other 
technologies that have already been introduced on the market. 87 FR 
22640, 22657. BWC agreed with screening out condensing pulse combustion 
technology. (BWC, No. 12 at p. 2) For the reasons stated, DOE screened 
out the condensing pulse combustion technology option in the final rule 
analysis. Although condensing pulse combustion technology shows 
promising results in increasing efficiency, it has not yet penetrated 
the consumer pool heater market, and similar efficiencies are 
achievable with

[[Page 34641]]

other technologies that have already been introduced on the market.
2. Remaining Technologies
    Through a review of each technology, DOE concludes that all of the 
other identified technologies listed in section IV.B.2 of this document 
met all five screening criteria to be examined further as design 
options in DOE's final rule analysis. In summary, DOE did not screen 
out the following technology options shown in Table IV.2:

      Table IV.2--Technology Options That Passed Screening Criteria
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Electric pool    Gas-fired pool
           Technology option                 heater           heater
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Insulation improvements...............         [check]          [check]
Control improvements..................         [check]          [check]
Heat pump technology..................         [check]   ...............
Heat exchanger improvements...........         [check]          [check]
Expansion valve improvements..........         [check]   ...............
Fan improvements......................         [check]   ...............
Condensing heat exchanger.............  ...............         [check]
Electronic ignition systems...........  ...............         [check]
Switch mode power supply..............         [check]          [check]
Seasonal off switch...................         [check]          [check]
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    BWC agreed that the technology options identified by DOE in Table 
IV.2 of the April 2022 NOPR (which are the same as those retained for 
this final rule) are comprehensive and appropriate in assessing gas-
fired pool heaters, although many of the retained technologies are 
unlikely to lead to significant overall energy efficiency improvements 
for these consumer pool heaters. (BWC, No. 12 at p. 2)
    DOE determined that these technology options are technologically 
feasible because they are being used or have previously been used in 
commercially-available products or working prototypes. DOE also found 
that all of the remaining technology options meet the other screening 
criteria (i.e., practicable to manufacture, install, and service and do 
not result in adverse impacts on consumer utility, product 
availability, health, or safety). For additional details, see chapter 4 
of the final rule TSD. DOE notes that the technology options which 
passed screening criteria do not in their entirety constitute the list 
of technologies which were analyzed as representative of the major 
design pathways to improving TEI values for consumer pool 
heaters; those ``design options'' are described in further detail in 
the engineering analysis (see section IV.C.1.b of this document).

C. Engineering Analysis

    The purpose of the engineering analysis is to establish the 
relationship between the efficiency and cost of consumer pool heaters. 
There are two elements to consider in the engineering analysis; the 
selection of efficiency levels to analyze (i.e., the ``efficiency 
analysis'') and the determination of product cost at each efficiency 
level (i.e., the ``cost analysis''). In determining the performance of 
higher-efficiency products, DOE considers technologies and design 
option combinations not eliminated by the screening analysis. For each 
product class, DOE estimates the baseline cost, as well as the 
incremental cost for the product at efficiency levels above the 
baseline. The output of the engineering analysis is a set of cost-
efficiency ``curves'' that are used in downstream analyses (i.e., the 
LCC and PBP analyses and the NIA).
1. Efficiency Analysis
    DOE typically uses one of two approaches to develop energy 
efficiency levels for the engineering analysis: (1) relying on observed 
efficiency levels in the market (i.e., the efficiency-level approach), 
or (2) determining the incremental efficiency improvements associated 
with incorporating specific design options to a baseline model (i.e., 
the design-option approach). Using the efficiency-level approach, the 
efficiency levels established for the analysis are determined based on 
the market distribution of existing products (in other words, based on 
the range of efficiencies and efficiency level ``clusters'' that 
already exist on the market). Using the design option approach, the 
efficiency levels established for the analysis are determined through 
detailed engineering calculations and/or computer simulations of the 
efficiency improvements from implementing specific design options that 
have been identified in the technology assessment. DOE may also rely on 
a combination of these two approaches. For example, the efficiency-
level approach (based on actual products on the market) may be extended 
using the design option approach to interpolate to define ``gap fill'' 
levels (to bridge large gaps between other identified efficiency 
levels) and/or to extrapolate to the ``max-tech'' level (particularly 
in cases where the ``max-tech'' level exceeds the maximum efficiency 
level currently available on the market).
    In this final rule, DOE relied on the efficiency-level approach. 
Efficiency levels for electric pool heaters were initially identified 
in the October 2015 NODA based on a review of products on the market 
and then revised in the April 2022 NOPR. DOE applied the same 
analytical approach for the efficiency analysis of gas-fired pool 
heaters in the April 2022 NOPR. 87 FR 22640, 22658.
    As discussed in the April 2022 NOPR, the efficiency-level approach 
enabled DOE to identify incremental improvements in efficiency 
resulting from design options that consumer pool heater manufacturers 
already incorporate in commercially available models. 87 FR 22640, 
22658. However, as of this final rule, manufacturers have not yet begun 
publishing ratings in terms of TEI because there are no 
standards or certification requirements for electric pool heaters, and 
requirements for gas-fired pool heaters are limited only to 
Et representations. Due to this lack of certified or 
otherwise publicly available TEI ratings, the Department's 
efficiency analysis included a process to convert existing 
Et ratings for gas-fired pool heaters and COP ratings for 
heat pump pool heaters to representative TEI values based on 
the calculation procedures found in section 5.1 of the appendix P test 
procedure. Typical values for active mode, standby mode, and off mode 
energy consumption were estimated based on test data and feedback from

[[Page 34642]]

manufacturers during confidential interviews. Id.
    The TEI metric improves upon the Et metric by 
taking into account standby mode and off mode energy consumption, as 
discussed in section III.C of this document. The current standard for 
gas-fired pool heaters requires an Et of 82 percent for 
products of all capacities. Figure 3.2.24 of the April 2010 Final Rule 
TSD (``Distribution of Pool Heater Models by Input Capacity and Thermal 
Efficiency'') demonstrated that Et is not strongly dependent 
upon capacity. However, the transition to a regulated TEI 
metric has required additional consideration for how standby and off 
mode energy consumption may affect ratings for products of different 
capacities. From information collected throughout this rulemaking 
process, DOE has determined that standby and off mode energy 
consumption is not directly correlated to input capacity, 
QIN, for a gas-fired pool heater or active mode electrical 
energy consumption, PE, for an electric pool heater. As a result, 
consumer pool heaters with lower capacities cannot achieve the same 
TEI levels as products with higher capacities because the 
standby and off mode energy consumption is a more significant 
contribution to the overall energy consumption of lower-capacity 
products.
    To account for this, in the April 2022 NOPR, DOE developed 
efficiency levels in which the TEI requirement is a function 
of the capacity of the unit. 87 FR 22640, 22659. In the engineering 
analysis for the April 2022 NOPR, the Department used several 
performance parameters measured in the appendix P test procedure as 
inputs to determining TEI efficiency levels for consumer 
pool heaters as a function of capacity. Id. at 87 FR 22658-22659.
    In response to the April 2022 NOPR, Hayward argued that standards 
for heat pump and gas-fired pool heaters should be strictly focused on 
thermal efficiency and not include standby power. Hayward suggested 
that standby mode power could be considered in a future revision when 
these other requirements are more mature and understood. (Hayward, No. 
17 at p. 2) Rheem stated the methodology used to estimate standby 
energy use was appropriate. Rheem also supported the use of the 
integrated thermal efficiency metric as it would allow manufacturers to 
make tradeoffs between active mode, standby mode, and off mode energy 
use regarding the overall efficiency and other features. (Rheem, No. 19 
at p. 6) BWC agreed with the Department's estimates for standby mode 
and off mode power consumption for gas-fired pool heaters, as well as 
the assertion that this energy consumption accounts for a very small 
amount of the total overall annual energy use for such products, and 
will not increase with higher input products. (BWC, No. 12 at p. 3)
    DOE notes first that EPCA requires that any final rule for new or 
amended energy conservation standards promulgated after July 1, 2010, 
must address standby mode and off mode energy use, (42 U.S.C. 
6295(gg)(3)), in that 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 a single 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)). The TEI metric, 
which incorporates energy consumption in active mode, standby mode, and 
off mode and upon which potential new and amended energy conservation 
standards for consumer pool heaters were evaluated, has been 
established in the appendix P test procedure since July 6, 2015, as 
discussed in section III.C of this document, allowing ample time for 
manufacturers to assess products per this metric.
    For this final rule, DOE revisited market energy efficiency 
distributions (see chapter 3 of the final rule TSD) and performed 
another round of manufacturer interviews (see section IV.J.3 of this 
document) to determine that the same efficiency levels from the April 
2022 NOPR remain representative of the current consumer pool heater 
market. The following subsections detail the baseline, intermediate, 
and max-tech efficiency levels addressed in this final rule. Further 
discussion can be found in chapter 5 of the final rule TSD.
a. Baseline Efficiency
    For each product class, DOE generally selects a baseline model as a 
reference point for each class, and measures changes resulting from 
potential energy conservation standards against the baseline. The 
baseline model in each product class represents the characteristics of 
a product typical of that class (e.g., capacity, physical size). 
Generally, a baseline model is one that just meets current energy 
conservation standards, or, if no standards are in place, the baseline 
is typically the most common or least efficient unit on the market.
    DOE uses the baseline model for comparison in several analyses, 
including the engineering analysis, LCC analysis, PBP analysis, and 
NIA. To determine energy savings that will results from a new or 
amended energy conservation standard, DOE compared energy use at each 
of the higher energy efficiency levels to the energy consumption of the 
baseline unit. Similarly, to determine the change sin price to the 
consumer that will result from an amended energy conservation standard, 
DOE compares the price of a baseline unit to the price of a unit at 
each higher efficiency level.
    For gas-fired pool heaters, DOE analyzed a baseline efficiency 
level corresponding to a product which is minimally compliant with the 
current standard (82-percent Et) and uses a standing pilot 
light. As discussed in the April 2022 NOPR, standing pilot lights 
operate when the product is not in use and contribute to fossil fuel 
energy use in standby mode, thereby resulting in lower TEI 
values than products with electronic ignition. 87 FR 22640, 22659. 
Table IV.3 depicts the baseline efficiency level for gas-fired pool 
heaters analyzed for the April 2022 NOPR (and, as discussed later, also 
analyzed in this final rule).
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P

[[Page 34643]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR30MY23.004

    For electric pool heaters, DOE analyzed a baseline efficiency level 
corresponding to electric resistance heating, which was found to be the 
least efficient electric pool heater design on the market. Table IV.4 
depicts the baseline efficiency level for electric pool heaters 
analyzed for the April 2022 NOPR and this final rule.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR30MY23.005

    BWC believed that the baseline efficiency levels established in the 
April 2022 NOPR were appropriate based on the DOE test procedure for 
these products. (BWC, No. 12 at p. 2)
    DOE did not receive any other comments specifically on the baseline 
efficiency levels proposed in the April 2022 NOPR. Comments relating to 
energy use in standby mode and off mode power, which factor into the 
baseline TEI equations, have been discussed previously in 
section IV.C.1 of this document. For the reasons described, DOE 
maintained these baseline efficiency levels for the final rule 
analysis.
    Additional details on the selection of baseline models and the 
development of the baseline efficiency equations may be found in 
chapter 5 of the final rule TSD.
b. Higher Efficiency Levels
    As part of DOE's analysis, the maximum available efficiency level 
is the highest efficiency unit currently available on the market. DOE 
also defines a ``max-tech'' efficiency level to represent the maximum 
possible efficiency for a given product. For consumer pool heaters, the 
max-tech efficiency levels are achieved by gas-fired pool heaters that 
utilize condensing technology and by electric pool heaters that utilize 
heat pump technology.
    As discussed in section IV.C.1 of this document, efficiency levels 
for electric pool heaters were initially analyzed in the October 2015 
NODA. DOE requested comment on these efficiency levels and reviewed 
stakeholder feedback in the April 2022 NOPR. In response to that 
feedback, DOE incorporated additional design options in the April 2022 
NOPR to decrease the standby mode and off mode energy consumption at 
the max-tech levels and to further improve TEI values: 
transformer improvements, switch mode power supply, and a seasonal off 
switch. 87 FR 22640, 22660.
    Between the baseline efficiency level and the max-tech efficiency 
level, DOE analyzed several intermediate higher efficiency levels for 
gas-fired pool heaters and electric pool heaters in the April 2022 
NOPR. 87 FR 22640, 22659-22660. These efficiency levels, and 
corresponding major design options to achieve these efficiency levels, 
are shown in Table IV.5 through Table IV.8. As discussed in this 
section, the Department is using these efficiency levels and design 
options for this final rule analysis.

[[Page 34644]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR30MY23.006


          Table IV.6--Design Options for Gas-Fired Pool Heaters
------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Efficiency level                        Technology
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EL 0.........................  Standing Pilot + Cu or CuNi Finned Tube +
                                Atmospheric.
EL 1.........................  Electronic Ignition + Cu or CuNi Finned
                                Tube + Atmospheric.
EL 2.........................  Electronic Ignition + Cu or CuNi Finned
                                Tube + Blower Driven Gas/Air Mix.
EL 3.........................  Condensing + CuNi and Cu Finned Tube +
                                seasonal off switch + switch mode power
                                supply.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR30MY23.007
                                
BILLING CODE 6450-01-C

[[Page 34645]]



          Table IV.8--Design Options for Electric Pool Heaters
------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Efficiency level                        Technology
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EL 0.........................  Electric Resistance.
EL 1.........................  Heat Pump, twisted Titanium tube coil in
                                concentric/counter flow PVC Pipe.
EL 2.........................  EL 1 + increased evaporator surface area.
EL 3.........................  EL 2 + increased evaporator surface area.
EL 4.........................  EL 3 + increased evaporator surface area.
EL 5.........................  EL4 + condenser coil length + seasonal
                                off switch + switch mode power supply.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The April 2022 NOPR requested comment on the proposed efficiency 
levels above the baseline and the typical technological changes 
associated with each efficiency level. 87 FR 22640, 22663.
    In response, the Joint Advocates encouraged DOE to consider 
additional efficiency levels for both electric and gas-fired pool 
heaters that include designs employing seasonal off switches and switch 
mode power supplies. The Joint Advocates suggested that adding seasonal 
off switches would increase energy savings with minimal cost, and cited 
State regulations for heat pump pool heaters in California, 
Connecticut, and Florida which already require an off switch mounted on 
the pool heater that permits shutoff without adjusting the thermostat. 
The Joint Advocates commented that the proposed standard levels should 
be adjusted to include seasonal off switches and/or a switch mode power 
supply and that the analysis include the reduced standby mode and off 
mode energy consumption associated with the use of these technology 
options. (Joint Advocates, No. 13 at pp. 2-3) Similarly, the CA IOUs 
recommended that DOE consider incorporating the assumption that all 
consumer pool heaters are equipped with a seasonal off switch and 
updating the efficiency levels as appropriate. The CA IOUs indicated 
that heat pump pool heaters certified in the California Energy 
Commission's Modernized Appliance Efficiency Database System 
(``MAEDbS'') all have an on/off switch as California's Appliance 
Efficiency Regulations (Title 20) adopted this as a prescriptive design 
requirement for all consumer pool heaters sold in the state. CA IOUs 
suggested that the seasonal off switch would be a cost effective means 
for many models to reach the EL 4 level without needing to redesign for 
a higher COP. (CA IOUs, No. 16 at pp. 3-5)
    AquaCal suggested that the proposed efficiency level for electric 
pool heaters was more stringent, in terms of relative level of 
technological advancement required, than that for gas-fired pool 
heaters. AquaCal recommended DOE should consider proposing efficiency 
levels that are more comparable, in terms of the relative level of 
technological advancement required, for electric and gas-fired pool 
heaters. (AquaCal, No. 11 at p. 1) However, as results have shown, the 
benefits and burdens for higher efficiency levels of gas-fired pool 
heaters are not equivalent to the benefits and burdens for higher 
efficiency levels of electric pool heaters, and DOE accounts for this 
when constructing TSLs.
    Rheem generally supported the technology changes associated with 
each efficiency level. However, Rheem stated that the off-mode energy 
use may not actually be zero when there is a seasonal off switch, and 
the commenter recommended DOE either amend appendix P to require that 
any non-zero off mode energy use be measured or provide clarification 
on whether seasonal off switches with non-zero off mode energy use meet 
the definition of a seasonal off switch within appendix P. (Rheem, No. 
19 at pp. 4-5)
    Section 1.7 of appendix P defines ``off mode'' as the condition 
during the pool non-heating season in which the consumer pool heater is 
connected to the power source, and neither the main burner, nor the 
electric resistance elements, nor the heat pump is activated, and the 
seasonal off switch, if present, is in the ``off'' position. Section 
1.8 defines ``seasonal off switch'' as a switch that results in 
different energy consumption in off mode as compared to standby mode. 
Thus, there is no requirement for a seasonal off switch to result in a 
measured energy consumption of zero in off mode in order to meet the 
definition in section 1.8 of appendix P. However, feedback from 
manufacturers and DOE's own testing has led the Department to conclude 
that 0 watts is a representative value for PW,OFF at max-
tech because some seasonal off switches, including those analyzed for 
the max-tech level, are capable of reducing the electrical power 
consumption to 0 watts when in off mode.
    DOE reviewed the regulations and building codes in California,\25\ 
Connecticut,\26\ Texas,\27\ and Florida \28\ to consider the 
requirements for seasonal off switches in these jurisdictions. From its 
research, the Department recognizes that these States do not have the 
same definition or usage for off switches as DOE provides in appendix 
P; the States and DOE are not defining the same type of switch despite 
similar terminology. Specifically, these States require the use of a 
``readily accessible on-off switch'' which allows the unit to shut off 
the heater operation without adjusting the thermostat setting. These 
requirements do not specify that all power-consuming components of the 
pool heater are off--only the heater operation. Therefore, it is 
uncertain whether these State-required on-off switches would put the 
pool heater in a state where it would consume 0 watts of power. As 
noted, DOE defines ``seasonal off switch'' as a switch that results in 
different energy consumption in off mode as compared to standby mode, 
and this would typically cause the pool heater to consume 0 watts in 
the off mode. Additionally, DOE notes that California's regulations 
require such a switch only for heat pump pool heaters.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ See California Code of Regulations at 20 CCR Sec.  
1605.3(g)(2), found online at: govt.westlaw.com/calregs/Index?transitionType=Default&contextData=%28sc.Default%29 (last 
accessed on October 15, 2022).
    \26\ In the current, 2022 version of Connecticut building code, 
an emergency off switch is no longer required for pool heaters. Item 
313.7, which used to address the emergency shutoff switch, has been 
deleted. See 2022 Connecticut State Building code at portal.ct.gov/-/media/DAS/Office-of-State-Building-Inspector/2022-State-Codes/2022-CSBC-Final.pdf (last accessed on October 15, 2022).
    \27\ See Texas Administrative Code Sec.  265.197 at 
texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/
readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=T&app=9&p_dir=N&p_rloc=202557&p_tloc=&p_ploc=1
&pg=3&p_tac=&ti=25&pt=1&ch=265&rl=197 (last accessed on October 15, 
2022).
    \28\ See 2020 Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation at 
C404.9.1, codes.iccsafe.org/content/FLEC2020P1/chapter-4-ce-commercial-energy-efficiency (last accessed on October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    AHRI and PHTA stated that a unit disconnect is required in these 
installations, and this typically functions as the off switch. AHRI and 
PHTA opposed using seasonal off switches at lower efficiency levels in 
DOE's analysis. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at p. 3)

[[Page 34646]]

    As such, it is unclear whether manufacturers are responding to 
State mandates for ``readily accessible on-off switches'' by 
introducing seasonal off switches which meet DOE's definition in 
appendix P.
    DOE agrees that seasonal off switches and switch mode power 
supplies can improve the TEI values of each efficiency 
level. However, DOE notes that the engineering analysis identifies the 
major design pathway manufacturers are expected to use to improve 
efficiency From discussions with manufacturers, DOE understands that 
improvements to heat exchangers and fans would likely be implemented 
first to achieve efficiencies above the baseline, before equipping 
consumer pool heaters with technologies to reduce standby mode and off 
mode energy consumption, because active mode energy consumption is 
significantly larger and would be prioritized when considering which 
design option to implement to achieve a target standard level. For this 
reason, DOE maintains its analysis from the April 2022 NOPR, which 
attributes the incorporation of seasonal off switches, switch mode 
power supply, and transformer improvements only at the max-tech 
efficiency level, after manufacturers have exhausted options to improve 
efficiency via heat exchanger upgrades.
    Furthermore, the CA IOUs suggested increasing the max-tech 
efficiency level for electric pool heaters, given the presence of such 
products with AHRI-certified COP values that exceed the max-tech COP 
level analyzed in the April 2022 NOPR. (CA IOUs, No. 16 at pp. 4-5) In 
response to this, DOE notes that it evaluated the efficiencies of 
electric pool heaters on the basis of the TEI metric, and 
found that, based on expected values of standby and off mode power 
consumption, the max-tech efficiency level assessed in the NOPR is 
still representative of the maximum efficiency that has been 
demonstrated across a full range of capacities.
    The Department also received comments regarding the efficiency 
levels chosen for analysis of gas-fired pool heaters. The Joint 
Advocates urged DOE to evaluate an efficiency level for gas pool 
heaters with an active mode thermal efficiency of 85 percent. The Joint 
Advocates claimed that there exist non-condensing gas-fired products 
from multiple manufacturers with 85-percent thermal efficiency at 
capacities ranging from 150,000 to 750,000 Btu/h, which can be found in 
DOE's Compliance Certification Database (``CCD'') and MAEDbS. (Joint 
Advocates, No. 13 at p. 2) AHRI and PHTA, by contrast, claimed that the 
current Efficiency Level 2 (``EL 2'') (corresponding to an active mode 
Et of 84 percent) for gas-fired pool heaters has the 
potential to condense, and that the Department should set the thermal 
efficiency at 83 percent.
    AHRI and PHTA, along with the Gas Associations, encouraged DOE to 
adopt a standard based on a thermal efficiency of 83 percent to avoid 
venting re-configurations due to this potential condensing operation 
that could occur at the proposed standard that corresponds to 84-
percent thermal efficiency. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at pp. 2 and 5; Gas 
Associations, No. 15 at p. 2) Fluidra provided similar comments, 
indicating that 84-percent thermal efficiency is too close to the 
functional limit for non-condensing gas-fired pool heaters, and 
suggesting that the standard should be set at a level which corresponds 
to a thermal efficiency of 83 percent in order to ensure a margin of 
efficiency is used to prevent new products from operating in condensing 
mode when installed as a non-condensing product. They noted this 
approach would minimize disruption to consumers and industry by 
increasing the minimum thermal efficiency, while allowing adequate 
transition time for gas-fired pool heaters to reach EL 3 in the future. 
(Fluidra, No. 18 at pp. 1-2) At the NOPR public meeting, DOE also 
received comments that 84 percent is the threshold of condensing 
operation, and any thermal efficiency higher than 84 percent would 
inevitably result in condensation. (Pentair, Public Meeting Transcript, 
No. 9 at pp. 5-6)
    In manufacturer interviews since the April 2022 NOPR, stakeholders 
have elaborated that at an 84-percent Et rating, in certain 
installation conditions condensate forms in venting as the flue gases 
exiting the heat exchanger are close to the dew point. Thus, while such 
a gas-fired pool heater would be considered ``non-condensing'' because 
the condensation does not occur in the heat exchanger, installation 
considerations would still include using the appropriate venting 
materials to handle possible condensation. Additionally, stakeholders 
indicated that, when a gas-fired pool heater is operating at an 
efficiency that is close to the condensing threshold, variations in 
ambient temperature and water inlet temperature can cause condensation 
to actually occur in the heat exchanger. While these fluctuations would 
improve the efficiency of the gas-fired pool heater as compared to its 
rating, the result may be corrosive damage to the heat exchanger, 
according to these manufacturers.
    Given these considerations, DOE did not consider an efficiency 
level of 85-percent Et for gas-fired pool heaters, which was 
suggested by the Joint Advocates, because safety or installation 
concerns about near-condensing operation (brought up by manufacturers 
in response to the April 2022 NOPR) would potentially be exacerbated at 
85-percent Et. Additionally, upon its review of the CCD, DOE 
has found that only one model line from one manufacturer is available 
at 85-percent Et, indicating that manufacturers do not 
generally produce gas-fired pool heaters at that efficiency. This would 
indicate that near-condensing operation concerns may hinder the 
production of 85-percent Et pool heaters.
    Although several parties indicated that near-condensing operation 
is also an issue at 84-percent Et, DOE's market assessment 
demonstrates that there are a large number of unique basic models of 
gas-fired pool heaters from six manufacturers available at 84-percent 
Et. This shows that a significant portion of the market uses 
products at this efficiency level, and that the potential for 
condensation to disrupt system performance has apparently been 
adequately mitigated through appropriate product design and 
installation instructions for these products to maintain market share 
in the United States. For example, DOE observed that gas-fired pool 
heaters at 84-percent Et can be equipped with blowers that 
ensure positive vent pressure (for indoor installations) and may need 
to be installed with adequate means to discharge potential condensate. 
Most importantly, far more products exist at 84-percent Et 
than do at 83-percent Et \29\--hence, it would appear that 
the 84-percent Et efficiency level is feasible and generally 
more desirable to consumers than 83-percent Et since the 
market has already largely moved to 84-percent. For these reasons, DOE 
maintains a TEI level based on 84-percent Et in 
its efficiency analysis for gas-fired pool heaters.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ As of October 2022, 51 unique basic models of gas-fired 
pool heaters were certified to DOE at 84% Et, whereas 
only 10 unique basic models were rated at 83% Et. See 
chapter 3 of the TSD for further details on the market assessment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Rheem and AHRI and PHTA stated that copper and cupronickel heat 
exchangers are not suitable for condensing operation because they are 
not resistant to the corrosion from condensate and thus should not be 
considered for EL 3. (Rheem, No. 19 at pp. 4-5; AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 
at p. 5) In response, DOE notes that it observed condensing 
cupronickel-based pool heaters in its teardown analysis.

[[Page 34647]]

Therefore, DOE has determined that cupronickel is suitable for 
condensing operation, and the manufacturer production cost (``MPC'') 
for EL 3, as discussed in section IV.C.2.a of this document, reflects 
the use of this material.
    Fluidra also commented that gas-fired pool heaters at EL 0 and EL 
1, which were based on a model with 82-percent Et with and 
without a standing pilot light, respectively, have become less 
prevalent in the marketplace and that these efficiency levels would 
have minimal meaningful impact. (Fluidra, No. 18 at p. 2) However, 
DOE's market assessment reveals that, contrary to Fluidra's comment, 
82-percent Et (the active mode thermal efficiency at EL 0 
and EL 1) is the most commonly found thermal efficiency on the market 
for gas-fired pool heaters. Hence DOE analyzed gas-fired pool heaters 
with 82-percent Et (with and without standing pilot lights) 
for this final rule analysis.
    Hayward suggested that DOE analyze additional efficiency levels for 
both gas-fired pool heaters and electric pool heaters with variable-
capacity technologies (i.e., modulating burners or inverter drives). 
Hayward stated that it believed that manufacturers will be deterred 
from developing modulating consumer pool heaters because the standby 
power consumption for inverter-driven heat pump pool heaters will be 
higher than that for single-capacity heat pump pool heaters. Hayward 
also indicated that standby power requirements could also deter 
development of demand-response technologies. Hayward claimed that 
variable-capacity heat pump pool heaters have significant efficiency 
improvements over single-capacity products. (Hayward, No. 17 at p. 4) 
However, as discussed in section IV.A.2 of this document, DOE has 
determined that modulating burners and inverter-driven (i.e., variable-
speed fan) heat pump designs would not provide substantial improvements 
to TEI as measured by the current appendix P test procedure, 
because the test conditions require consumer pool heaters to operate at 
full-load capacity. Thus, DOE did not analyze additional efficiency 
levels for these technologies.
    AquaCal claimed that the EL 4 level chosen by DOE for electric pool 
heaters, while possible to achieve, only represents 10 percent of the 
existing market because of the price increase for products at that 
level of efficiency. (AquaCal, No. 11 at p. 1) EL 4 for electric pool 
heaters corresponds to a COP of 6.0 or an Et of 600 percent. 
This level was originally selected in the October 2015 NODA because 
many heat pump pool heaters are rated at COPs of 6.0. An efficiency 
level which approximately reflects the top 10 percent of the market is 
a useful point to have in the analysis, because it represents a market-
available stringency which would result in significant energy savings. 
In this final rule analysis, DOE has determined that several 
manufacturers produce heat pump pool heaters which meet or exceed EL 4; 
therefore, DOE is maintaining this efficiency level in its analysis of 
electric pool heaters.
    With respect to the description of technologies implemented at 
higher efficiency levels for electric pool heaters, AHRI and PHTA 
stated that the description for EL 1 is too specific for the heat 
exchanger and does not account for a wide variety of heat exchanger 
technologies on the market at this level. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at p. 
5)
    In the initial October 2015 NODA engineering analysis, DOE 
associated straight titanium tube coils in submerged water tanks as the 
main heat exchanger type for achieving a TEI of 344 percent 
at EL 1. In response to this analysis, AHRI suggested that the design 
features assumed for EL 1 were mischaracterized, and DOE re-evaluated 
this efficiency level in the April 2022 NOPR. In the April 2022 NOPR, 
DOE had tentatively determined that electric pool heaters at EL 1 would 
have more similar designs to electric pool heaters at EL 2, and, as a 
result, DOE revised this efficiency level to reflect a twisted titanium 
tube concentric/counterflow heat exchanger. The TEI rating 
of this efficiency level was increased to 387 percent to correlate with 
the improvement in heat exchanger type from submerged coils. 87 FR 
22640, 22664. See chapter 5 of the April 2022 NOPR TSD for additional 
information. As such, DOE is aware that products that perform at or 
near EL 1 may use either submerged coil or twisted tube concentric/
counterflow heat exchangers. AHRI's previous comments, however, had 
indicated that a submerged coil design misrepresented this efficiency 
level.
    DOE reiterates its assertion in the April 2022 NOPR that its 
association of specific technology options with efficiency levels is 
based on observed designs in commercially available products, and that 
the Department does not assume a priori that certain heat exchanger 
designs would result in specific efficiency levels. 87 FR 22640, 22664. 
DOE discussed technology options in manufacturer interviews conducted 
after the April 2022 NOPR and did not receive further feedback 
indicating that a twisted tube concentric/counterflow heat exchanger 
would not be representative of EL 1. Given that the majority of heat 
pump pool heaters utilize this style of heat exchanger (based on DOE's 
market review and teardowns of other efficiency levels), DOE is 
maintaining this technology option for EL 1 in this final rule 
analysis.
    AHRI and PHTA stated that the descriptions for electric pool 
heaters at EL 2 to EL 4 are too simple, and that other designs must be 
implemented beyond increased evaporator surface area, such as increased 
condenser surface area. AHRI and PHTA requested more information from 
DOE regarding how the measured efficiency increases articulated in the 
different ELs were derived via the increased evaporator surface area 
and urged DOE to consider the impacts of reduced standby mode and off 
mode energy consumption. AHRI and PHTA also encouraged DOE to 
investigate the impact on efficiency levels due to the required change 
in refrigerants. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at p. 5)
    To clarify, efficiency increases for heat pump pool heaters were 
not numerically derived: DOE conducted teardown analyses on products 
which were rated at these efficiency levels and observed that the 
designs differed by evaporator surface area. This trend was verified 
through teardowns of multiple samples spanning a range of efficiencies. 
DOE did not observe condenser coil increases to contribute to 
intermediate efficiency levels across all manufacturers' designs. 
Specifically, several condenser coil lengths were observed for products 
meeting similar efficiencies, and vice-versa: similar condenser coil 
lengths were observed for products meeting different intermediate 
efficiencies. This would indicate that manufacturers did not rely on 
this design option to improve efficiency. The only case where DOE 
observed significant increases in condenser length and coil diameter 
was in the model representing the max-tech efficiency level. Thus, DOE 
determined that condenser coil improvements are necessary to achieve EL 
5.
    In response to AHRI and PHTA's request for DOE to consider the 
impact of standby mode and off mode energy consumption, DOE notes that 
its estimated typical standby mode and off mode energy consumption 
values for the engineering analysis do not mandate that manufacturers 
must meet these values in order to comply with potential standards. 
Because TEI is an integrated metric that combines active 
mode, standby mode, and off mode energy consumption, manufacturers may

[[Page 34648]]

design products to meet potential standards by implementing 
improvements to any combination of the three energy-consuming modes. 
The technology options in this efficiency analysis assess the most 
cost-effective design pathways to improvement efficiency based on 
market evidence.
    With respect to changes in refrigerant, products torn down by DOE 
utilized R-410A refrigerant. While several low-GWP replacements for R-
410A, such as R-441A, R-290, and R-32, are currently being developed 
and implemented in other refrigeration-based consumer products, that 
refrigerant changeover is being driven in part by regulations such as 
those in California. Consumer pool heaters are not subject to those 
regulations at this time and thus the consumer pool heater market has 
not yet experienced a similar shift to other refrigerants. Moreover, 
commenters did not provide any specifics for replacement refrigerants 
that DOE should consider during manufacturer interviews. As such, DOE 
assumes that manufacturers will opt to continue to use R-410A 
refrigerant as long as possible, and thereafter use drop-in 
replacements using an alternative refrigerant wherever feasible to 
limit product and capital conversion costs. Because these drop-in 
replacements have not been taken up by the consumer pool heater market 
at this time, it is uncertain what the MPC of an alternative 
refrigerant system would be, nor whether there would be efficiency 
impacts. Therefore, DOE maintained R-410A as the basis for heat pump 
pool heater efficiency levels and MPCs in this final rule.
    Further details of the efficiency analysis are found in chapter 5 
of the final rule TSD.
2. Cost Analysis
    The cost analysis portion of the engineering analysis is conducted 
using one or a combination of cost approaches. The selection of cost 
approach depends on a suite of factors, including the availability and 
reliability of public information, characteristics of the regulated 
product, the availability and timeliness of purchasing the product on 
the market. The cost approaches are summarized as follows:
     Physical teardowns: Under this approach, DOE physically 
dismantles a commercially available product, component-by-component, to 
develop a detailed bill of materials for the product.
     Catalog teardowns: In lieu of physically deconstructing a 
product, DOE identifies each component using parts diagrams (available 
from manufacturer websites or appliance repair websites, for example) 
to develop the bill of materials for the product.
     Price surveys: If neither a physical nor catalog teardown 
is feasible (for example, for tightly integrated products such as 
fluorescent lamps, which are infeasible to disassemble and for which 
parts diagrams are unavailable) or cost-prohibitive and otherwise 
impractical (e.g., large commercial boilers), DOE conducts price 
surveys using publicly available pricing data published on major online 
retailer websites and/or by soliciting prices from distributors and 
other commercial channels.
    At the start of the engineering analysis, DOE identified the energy 
efficiency levels associated with consumer pool heaters on the market 
using data gathered in the market assessment. DOE also identified 
potential technologies and features that are typically incorporated 
into products at the baseline level and at the various efficiency 
levels analyzed above the baseline. Next, DOE selected products for a 
physical teardown analysis having characteristics of typical products 
on the market at the representative capacity and used these teardowns 
to verify technology options implemented at each efficiency level. DOE 
chose a representative size of 250,000 Btu/h input capacity for gas-
fired pool heaters and 110,000 Btu/h output capacity for electric pool 
heaters. As explained in the April 2022 NOPR, DOE selected these 
representative capacities based on the number of available models on 
the market and by referencing a number of sources, including 
information collected for the market and technology assessment, as well 
as information obtained from product literature. DOE then sought 
feedback on the representative capacities during confidential 
manufacturer interviews. 87 FR 22640, 22664. DOE gathered information 
from performing a physical teardown to create detailed bills of 
materials (``BOMs''), which included all components and processes used 
to manufacture the products. The resulting BOMs provide the basis for 
the MPC estimates. MPCs are estimated spanning the full range of 
efficiencies from the baseline to the maximum technology available. For 
this rulemaking, DOE held interviews with manufacturers to gain insight 
into the consumer pool heater industry and to request feedback on the 
engineering analysis presented in the April 2022 NOPR. DOE used the 
information gathered from these interviews, along with the data 
obtained through teardown analysis and insights from public stakeholder 
comments, to refine its MPC estimates.
a. Manufacturer Production Costs
    To assemble BOMs and to calculate the manufacturing costs for the 
different components in consumer pool heaters, DOE primarily relied 
upon physical teardowns. Using the data gathered from the physical 
teardowns, DOE characterized each component according to its weight, 
dimensions, material, quantity, and the manufacturing processes used to 
fabricate and assemble it. DOE also used catalog teardowns to 
supplement physical teardown data. For the catalog teardowns DOE 
examined published manufacturer catalogs and supplementary component 
data to estimate the major physical differences (such as dimensions, 
weight, design features) between a product that was physically 
disassembled and a similar product that was not.
    The teardown analysis allowed DOE to identify the technologies that 
manufacturers typically incorporate into their products, along with the 
efficiency levels associated with each technology or combination of 
technologies. The BOMs from the teardown analysis were then used as 
inputs to calculate the MPC for each product that was torn down. These 
individual model MPCs take into account the cost of materials, 
fabrication, labor, overhead, depreciation, and all other aspects that 
make up a production facility.
    Fluidra claimed that product pricing has gone up year over year 
since the initial 2015 analysis, and component shortages over the last 
few years have had a significant cost impact to both manufacturers and 
consumers due to decrease of supply and increase of demand. Fluidra 
stated that due to the smaller economy of scale for the consumer pool 
heater market, price breaks for volume are not as large as other 
heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning equipment. (Fluidra, No. 18 
at p. 3)
    DOE collected information on labor rates, tooling costs, raw 
material prices, and other factors as inputs to the cost estimates. For 
fabricated parts, the prices of raw metal materials \30\ (i.e., tube or 
sheet metal) are estimated using the average of the most recent 5-year 
period. The 5-year period for this final rule analysis captures metal 
prices from 2017-2022, and, therefore, the updated resulting MPCs in 
this final rule analysis reflect much of the material price increases 
that manufacturers have experienced in recent years (smoothed over this 
5-year period). For purchased

[[Page 34649]]

parts, DOE estimated the purchase price based on volume-variable price 
quotations and detailed discussions with manufacturers and component 
suppliers. The cost of transforming the intermediate materials into 
finished parts was estimated based on current industry pricing at the 
time of this final rule analysis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \30\ Prices are sourced from the American Metals Market, 
available online at www.amm.com (last accessed on October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The MPCs resulting from the teardowns were used to develop an 
industry average MPC for each efficiency level of each product class 
analyzed.
    For gas-fired pool heaters, DOE's industry average MPCs reflect a 
weighted average of costs for gas-fired pool heaters which use 
different heat exchanger materials (e.g., copper versus cupronickel). 
As discussed in the April 2022 NOPR, DOE surveyed the market and found 
the percentage of models at each efficiency level that currently 
utilize copper or cupronickel heat exchangers and assumed that, under 
an amended standard, the percentage would remain unchanged. DOE 
requested comment on this assumption. 87 FR 22640, 22664.
    In response to the April 2022 NOPR, Hayward claimed that the 
fraction of cupronickel heat exchangers in the market would likely be 
reduced as a result of amended standards, but not to zero. (Hayward, 
No. 17 at p. 4) AHRI and PHTA, stated that amended standards would 
greatly reduce the number of products available on the market, and this 
would in turn drive a large number of redesigns requiring cupronickel 
heat exchangers. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at p. 6)
    Given the uncertainty in the outlook for copper versus cupronickel 
heat exchangers in an amended standards case scenario, DOE maintained 
its approach to assume that these fractions would remain the same as 
they are currently.
b. Manufacturer Selling Prices
    To account for manufacturers' non-production costs and profit 
margin, DOE applies a multiplier (the manufacturer markup) to the MPC. 
The resulting manufacturer selling price (``MSP'') is the price at 
which the manufacturer distributes a unit into commerce. To meet new or 
amended energy conservation standards, manufacturers typically redesign 
their baseline products. These design changes typically increase MPCs 
relative to those of previous baseline MPCs. Depending on the 
competitive environment for these particular products, some or all of 
the increased production costs may be passed from manufacturers to 
retailers and eventually to customers in the form of higher purchase 
prices. As production costs increase, manufacturers may also incur 
additional overhead (e.g., warranty costs).
    The manufacturer markup has an important bearing on profitability. 
A high markup under a standards scenario suggests manufacturers can 
readily pass along the increased variable costs and some of the capital 
and product conversion costs (the one-time expenditures) to consumers. 
A low markup suggests that manufacturers will have greater difficulty 
recovering their investments, product conversion costs, and/or 
incremental MPCs.
    In the April 2022 NOPR analysis, DOE used a manufacturer markup of 
1.33 for gas-fired pool heaters and a manufacturer markup of 1.28 for 
electric pool heaters. DOE conducted interviews with manufacturers 
after the publication of the April 2022 NOPR, during which several 
manufacturers stated the estimated manufacturer markup for each product 
class of consumer pool heaters used in the NOPR analysis were lower 
than their manufacturer markup for those products. Based on these 
additional inputs, DOE revised its markup calculations for this final 
rule, increasing the gas-fired pool heater manufacturer markup from 
1.33 used in the April 2022 NOPR analysis to 1.44 and increasing the 
electric pool heater manufacturer markup from 1.28 used in the April 
2022 NOPR analysis to 1.39.
    See chapter 12 of the final rule TSD for more details about the 
manufacturer markup calculation.
3. Cost-Efficiency Results
    The results of the engineering analysis are reported as cost-
efficiency data (or ``curves'') in the form of TEI (in 
percent) versus MPC (in 2021 dollars), which form the basis for 
subsequent analyses. DOE developed one curve for gas-fired pool heaters 
and one curve for electric pool heaters, and these curves reflect the 
MPCs developed for the representative capacities discussed in the 
previous section. See chapter 5 of the final rule TSD for additional 
detail on the engineering analysis.

 Table IV.9--Manufacturer Production Cost for Gas-Fired Pool Heaters at Representative Input Capacity of 250,000
                                                      Btu/h
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   TEI (percent)
                        Efficiency level                                            MPC (2021$)     MSP (2021$)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EL 0............................................................            61.1            $782          $1,186
EL 1............................................................            81.3             788           1,195
EL 2............................................................            83.3             969           1,444
EL 3............................................................            94.8           1,349           2,016
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Table IV.10--Manufacturer Production Cost for Electric Pool Heaters at Representative Output Capacity of 110,000
                                                      Btu/h
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   TEI (percent)
                        Efficiency level                                            MPC (2021$)     MSP (2021$)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EL 0............................................................              99          $1,028          $1,441
EL 1............................................................             387           1,248           1,845
EL 2............................................................             483           1,305           1,924
EL 3............................................................             534           1,355           1,993
EL 4............................................................             551           1,427           2,094
EL 5............................................................             595           1,523           2,228
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 34650]]

D. Markups Analysis

    The markups analysis develops appropriate markups (e.g., wholesaler 
and distributors, pool contractors, pool retailers, pool builders) in 
the distribution chain and sales taxes to convert the MSP estimates 
derived in the engineering analysis to consumer prices, which are then 
used in the LCC and PBP analysis and in the manufacturer impact 
analysis. At each step in the distribution channel, companies mark up 
the price of the product to cover business costs and profit margin.
    For consumer pool heaters, the main parties in the distribution 
chain are: (1) manufacturers; (2) wholesalers or distributors; (3) pool 
contractors; (4) pool retailers; (5) buying groups; \31\ and (6) pool 
builders. For each actor in the distribution chain except for 
manufacturers, DOE developed baseline and incremental markups. Baseline 
markups are applied to the price of products with baseline efficiency, 
while incremental markups are applied to the difference in price 
between baseline and higher-efficiency models (the incremental cost 
increase). The incremental markup is typically less than the baseline 
markup and is designed to maintain similar per-unit operating profit 
before and after new or amended standards.\32\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ Buying groups are intermediaries between the pool heater 
manufacturers and contractors. A buying group is a coalition of 
companies within a shared category who leverage their collective 
purchasing power to negotiate price reductions from manufacturers.
    \32\ Because the projected price of standards-compliant products 
is typically higher than the price of baseline products, using the 
same markup for the incremental cost and the baseline cost would 
result in higher per-unit operating profit. While such an outcome is 
possible, DOE maintains that in markets that are reasonably 
competitive it is unlikely that standards would lead to a 
sustainable increase in profitability in the long run.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For the NOPR, DOE characterized how pool products pass from the 
manufacturer to residential and commercial consumers \33\ by gathering 
data from several sources including 2020 Pkdata report,\34\ POOLCORP's 
2020 Form 10-K,\35\ PRNewswire,\36\ PoolPro Magazine,\37\ Aqua 
Magazine,\38\ and Pool and Spa News \39\ to determine the distribution 
channels and fraction of shipments going through each distribution 
channel. The distribution channels for replacement or new installation 
of a consumer pool heater for existing swimming pool or spa are 
characterized as follows: \40\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \33\ DOE estimates that 6 percent of electric pool heaters and 
13 percent of gas pool heaters will be shipped to commercial 
applications in 2028. See section IV.E.1 for further discussion.
    \34\ Pkdata, 2020 Residential and Commercial Swimming Pool, Hot 
Tub, and Pool Heater Customized Report for LBNL, October 15, 2020, 
available at: www.pkdata.com/datapointstrade.html#/ (last accessed 
October 15, 2022).
    \35\ POOLCORP, 2020 Form 10-K, available at: 
dd7pmep5szm19.cloudfront.net/603/0000945841-1-000022.pdf (last 
accessed October 15, 2022).
    \36\ PRNewswire, United Aqua Group, one of the nation's largest 
organizations dedicated to the professional pool construction, 
service and retail industry, announces that POOLCORP[supreg] is no 
longer the preferred distributor for its swimming pool products or 
building materials, May 15, 2018, available at: www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-aqua-group-one-of-the-nations-largest-organizations-dedicated-to-the-professional-pool-construction-service-and-retail-industry-announces-that-poolcorp-is-no-longer-the-preferred-distributor-for-its-swimming-pool-produ-300648220.html 
(last accessed October 15, 2022).
    \37\ PoolPro, Channel Choices, PoolPro Magazine, March 5, 2018, 
available at: poolpromag.com/channel-choices/ (last accessed October 
15, 2022).
    \38\ Herman, E., Distributors: The Middleman's Role, Aqua 
Magazine, December 2017, available at: aquamagazine.com/features/the-middleman-s-role.html (last accessed October 15, 2022).
    \39\ Green, L., Forward Thinking: A Look at Distributor Sector 
in Pool, Spa Industry Distributors adapt with the times, Pool and 
Spa News, March 27, 2015, available at: www.poolspanews.com/business/retail-management/forward-thinking-a-look-at-distributor-sector-in-pool-spa-industry_o (last accessed October 15, 2022).
    \40\ Based on 2020 Pkdata, in residential pools and spas, DOE 
assumed that the consumer pool heater goes through the wholesaler 45 
percent of the time, 10 percent of the time wholesaler to retailer, 
40 percent of the time directly through the pool retailer, and 5 
percent of the time through the buying group.

Manufacturer [rarr] Wholesaler [rarr] Pool Contractor [rarr] Consumer
Manufacturer [rarr] Wholesaler [rarr] Pool Retailer [rarr] Consumer
Manufacturer [rarr] Pool Retailer [rarr] Consumer
Manufacturer [rarr] Buying Group [rarr] Pool Contractor [rarr] Consumer

    The distribution channels for installation of consumer pool heaters 
in a new swimming pool or spa are characterized as follows: \41\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \41\ Based on 2020 Pkdata, DOE estimated that about 40 percent 
of consumer pool heater installations in new pools are distributed 
through a wholesaler and about 60 percent are distributed through a 
buying group.

Manufacturer [rarr] Wholesaler [rarr] Pool Builder [rarr] Consumer
Manufacturer [rarr] Buying Group [rarr] Pool Builder [rarr] Consumer

    Lochinvar stated that the distribution channels for pool heaters 
sold for commercial applications are similar to those used in 
commercial packaged boiler and commercial water heater rulemakings. 
(Lochinvar, No. 2 at p. 2) Lochinvar did not provide specific fractions 
of shipments for each distribution channel. For the final rule 
analysis, DOE estimated that half of consumer pool heaters installed in 
commercial applications would use similar distribution channels to 
commercial packaged boilers and commercial water heaters (Manufacturer 
[rarr] Wholesaler [rarr] Mechanical Contractor [rarr] Consumer for 
replacements and new owners; and Manufacturer [rarr] Wholesaler [rarr] 
Mechanical Contractor [rarr] General Contractor [rarr] Consumer for new 
swimming pool construction),\42\ while the remaining consumer pool 
heaters would have the distribution channels described previously.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \42\ Based on 2020 Pkdata, which showed a much larger fraction 
of pool heaters being sold through distributors (about 70 percent) 
and directly to end users (about 20 percent) in commercial 
applications compared to pool heaters in residential applications.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Rheem and BWC stated that the distribution channels appear 
appropriate. Rheem also noted that the market share through each 
distribution channel may change from manufacturer to manufacturer. BWC 
noted that, however, in the residential distribution channel there are 
circumstances where a product passes from a retailer to a contractor 
before the consumer takes possession of the product and that, in the 
commercial distribution channel, there are scenarios where a wholesaler 
never takes ownership of the pool heater prior to it being installed. 
(Rheem, No. 19 at p. 5; BWC, No. 12 at p. 3) Additionally, AHRI and 
PHTA stated that the share of products moving through each channel is a 
constantly moving target. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at p. 6)
    In response to Rheem's and AHRI and PHTA comment, DOE uses PKdata 
to estimate the distribution channel market shares, which account for 
variability of the market shares for each manufacturer. In response to 
BWC comments, for this final rule DOE added a distribution channel to 
account for the cases when the product passes from a retailer to a 
contractor to customer, without involving a wholesaler. For commercial 
pool heater applications, DOE already takes into account ``national 
accounts'', where the wholesaler never takes ownership of the pool 
heater prior to it being installed. For the final rule, DOE updated its 
distribution channel market shares by using the latest PKdata 
available.\43\ The latest data shows a growing market share for direct 
dealers and online retailers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \43\ Pkdata, 2022 Residential and Commercial Swimming Pool, Hot 
Tub, and Pool Heater Customized Report for LBNL, October 15, 2020, 
available at: www.pkdata.com/datapointstrade.html#/ (last accessed 
October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    AHRI and PHTA noted that there would be a slight difference between 
the distribution channels for gas fired pool

[[Page 34651]]

heaters and heat pump pool heaters, which is that heat pump heaters may 
not need to go through a buying group as they can be sold directly from 
manufacturer to a dealer. Given that AHRI and PHTA cannot provide data 
to support this, they stated they would support the sources that DOE 
utilized in the NOPR. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at p. 6)
    As stated previously, DOE uses the latest PKData data available to 
estimate the distribution channel market shares which is not 
disaggregated by gas-fired pool heaters and heat pump pool heaters. At 
this time, DOE does not have data to account for slight differences 
between the distribution channels for gas fired pool heaters and heat 
pump pool heaters.
    DOE developed baseline and incremental markups for each actor in 
the distribution chain. Baseline markups are applied to the price of 
products with baseline efficiency, while incremental markups are 
applied to the difference in price between baseline and higher-
efficiency models (the incremental cost increase). The incremental 
markup is typically less than the baseline markup and is designed to 
maintain similar per-unit operating profit before and after new or 
amended standards.\44\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \44\ Because the projected price of standards-compliant products 
is typically higher than the price of baseline products, using the 
same markup for the incremental cost and the baseline cost would 
result in higher per-unit operating profit. While such an outcome is 
possible, DOE maintains that in markets that are reasonably 
competitive it is unlikely that standards would lead to a 
sustainable increase in profitability in the long run.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To estimate average baseline and incremental markups, DOE relied on 
several sources, including: (1) form 10-K from U.S. Securities and 
Exchange Commission (``SEC'') for Pool Corp (pool wholesaler) \45\ and 
for the Leslie's, Home Depot, Lowe's, Wal-Mart, and Costco (for pool 
retailers); (2) U.S. Census Bureau 2017 Annual Retail Trade Report for 
miscellaneous store retailers (NAICS 453) (for pool retailers),\46\ (3) 
U.S. Census Bureau 2017 Economic Census data \47\ on the residential 
and commercial building construction industry (for pool builder, pool 
contractor, and general and plumbing/mechanical contractors for 
commercial applications); and (4) the Heating, Air Conditioning & 
Refrigeration Distributors International (``HARDI'') 2013 Profit Report 
\48\ (for wholesalers for commercial applications). DOE assumes that 
the markups for buying group is half of the value of pool wholesaler 
markups derived from Pool Corp's form 10-K. In addition, DOE used the 
2005 Air Conditioning Contractors of America's (``ACCA'') Financial 
Analysis on the Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and 
Refrigeration (``HVACR'') contracting industry \49\ to disaggregate the 
mechanical contractor markups into replacement and new construction 
markets for consumer pool heaters used in commercial applications.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \45\ U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC 10-K Reports 
(2017-2021), available at www.sec.gov/ (last accessed October 15, 
2022). Leslie's data was only available from 2018-2021.
    \46\ U.S. Census Bureau, 2017 Annual Retail Trade Report, 
available at www.census.gov/programs-surveys/arts.html (last 
accessed October 15, 2022). Note that the 2017 Annual Retail Trade 
Report is the latest version of the report that includes detailed 
operating expenses data.
    \47\ U.S. Census Bureau, 2017 Economic Census Data. available at 
www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census.html (last accessed 
October 15, 2022). Note that the 2017 Economic Census Data is the 
latest version of this data.
    \48\ Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors 
International (``HARDI''), 2013 HARDI Profit Report, available at 
hardinet.org/ (last accessed October 15, 2022). Note that the 2013 
HARDI Profit Report is the latest version of the report.
    \49\ Air Conditioning Contractors of America (``ACCA''), 
Financial Analysis for the HVACR Contracting Industry (2005), 
available at www.acca.org/store#/storefront (last accessed October 
15, 2022). Note that the 2005 Financial Analysis for the HVACR 
Contracting Industry is the latest version of the report and is only 
used to disaggregate the mechanical contractor markups into 
replacement and new construction markets.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition to the markups, DOE obtained state and local taxes from 
data provided by the Sales Tax Clearinghouse.\50\ These data represent 
weighted average taxes that include county and city rates. DOE derived 
shipment-weighted average tax values for each region considered in the 
analysis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \50\ Sales Tax Clearinghouse Inc., State Sales Tax Rates Along 
with Combined Average City and County Rates (June 8, 2022), 
available at thestc.com/STrates.stm (last accessed October 15, 
2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Chapter 6 of the final rule TSD provides details on DOE's 
development of markups for consumer pool heaters.

E. Energy Use Analysis

    The purpose of the energy use analysis is to determine the annual 
energy consumption of consumer pool heaters at different efficiencies 
in representative U.S. single-family homes, multi-family residences, 
and commercial buildings, and to assess the energy savings potential of 
increased consumer pool heaters efficiency. The energy use analysis 
estimates the range of energy use of consumer pool heaters in the field 
(i.e., as they are actually used by consumers). The energy use analysis 
provides the basis for other analyses DOE performed, particularly 
assessments of the energy savings and the savings in consumer operating 
costs that could result from adoption of amended or new standards.
1. Pool Heater Consumer Samples
    DOE created individual consumer samples for seven pool heater 
market types: (1) pool heaters in single family homes that serve a 
swimming pool only (pool type 1); (2) pool heaters in single family 
homes that serve both a swimming pool and spa (pool type 2); (3) pool 
heaters in single family homes that serve a spa only (pool type 3); 
\51\ (4) pool heaters in single-family community swimming pools or spas 
(pool type 4); (5) pool heaters in multi-family community swimming 
pools or spas (pool type 5); (6) pool heaters in indoor commercial 
swimming pools or spas (pool type 6); (7) pool heaters in outdoor 
commercial swimming pools or spas (pool type 7). DOE used the samples 
not only to determine pool heater annual energy consumption, but also 
as the basis for conducting the LCC and PBP analysis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \51\ For electric pool heater sample, DOE only considered a 
small fraction of large spas that require a pool heater large than 
11 kW. For this final rule, the fraction of spas with an electric 
pool heater larger than 11 kW was determined based on 2022 Pkdata 
and DOE's shipments analysis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For the NOPR, DOE used the EIA's 2015 Residential Energy 
Consumption Survey (``RECS 2015'') to establish a sample of single 
family homes that use an electric or gas-fired pool heater in a 
swimming pool or spa or both.\52\ RECS 2015 includes information such 
as the household or building owner demographics, fuel types used, 
months swimming pool used in the last year, energy consumption and 
expenditures, and other relevant data. For consumer pool heaters used 
in indoor swimming pools in commercial applications, DOE developed a 
sample using the 2012 Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey 
(``CBECS 2012'').\53\ CBECS 2012 does not provide data on community 
pools or outdoor swimming pools in commercial applications. To develop 
samples for consumer pool heaters in single or multi-family

[[Page 34652]]

community pools and/or spas, DOE used a combination of RECS 2015, U.S. 
Census 2017 American Home Survey Data, and the 2020 Pkdata.\54\ To 
develop a sample for pool heaters in outdoor swimming pools in 
commercial applications, DOE used a combination of CBECS 2012 and the 
2020 Pkdata.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \52\ U.S. Department of Energy--Energy Information 
Administration. 2015 RECS Survey Data, available at www.eia.gov/consumption/residential/data/2015/ (last accessed October 15, 2022). 
RECS 2015 uses the term hot tub instead of spa. When a household has 
a pool heater and spa heater of the same fuel, RECS 2015 does not 
provide information about whether the pool heater is used for both. 
For the NOPR and Final Rule, DOE assumed that in this case, a single 
pool heater is used to heat both the pool and spa.
    \53\ U.S. Department of Energy--Energy Information 
Administration. 2012 CBECS Survey Data, available at www.eia.gov/consumption/commercial/data/2012/ (last accessed October 15, 2022).
    \54\ Pkdata. 2020 Residential and Commercial Swimming Pool, Hot 
tub, and Pool Heater Customized Report for LBNL, available at 
www.pkdata.net/datapointstrade.html (last accessed October 15, 
2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    BWC suggested that DOE utilize the CBECS 2018 and RECS 2020 to 
update its analysis for gas-fired pool heaters. (BWC, No. 12 at p. 2) 
AHRI and PHTA requested that DOE review and incorporate the latest RECS 
data as data from 2009 is not a valid basis for today's market. (AHRI 
and PHTA, No. 20 at pp. 8-9)
    The energy consumption and expenditures data for RECS 2020 and 
CBECS 2018 were not yet available at the time the final rule analysis 
was performed. Only the housing characteristics data were available. As 
a result, DOE continued to rely on the RECS 2015 and CBECS 2012 energy 
consumption and expenditures data to develop its energy use analysis. 
For this final rule, DOE did use the RECS 2020 and CBECS 2018 stock and 
housing characteristics by state to update the sample weighting and 
shipments analysis. It also updated the sample weighting factors using 
the latest swimming pool and spa data from PKdata.
    AHRI and PHTA also noted that the analysis does not consider second 
or vacation rental homes with pools and spas that utilize pool heaters 
that will operate only when the home is occupied. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 
20 at pp. 6-7)
    DOE notes that such homes are not part of RECS, which only 
considers occupied housing units. U.S. Census American Housing Survey 
(AHS) does include second or vacation rental homes. The 2015 AHS shows 
that there are about half a million such units which have swimming 
pools or spas. A fraction of these likely include a pool heater. DOE 
notes that a fairly large fraction of these units are rented out and 
likely have significant pool and spa usage, since this is seen as a 
valuable feature for these rentals.\55\ DOE also believes that by using 
RECS data the LCC analysis does include homes with varying levels of 
pool and spa usage that on average likely covers similar usage patterns 
of many second or vacation rental homes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \55\ Li et al., Market Shifts in the Sharing Economy: The Impact 
of Airbnb on Housing Rentals, available at pubsonline.informs.org/doi/abs/10.1287/mnsc.2021.4288 (last accessed October 15, 2022); 
Money, This Summer's Hottest Moneymaker? Renting out Your Swimming 
Pool, available at money.com/swimming-pool-rental-trend-tips/ (last 
accessed October 15, 2022); Bay Property Management Group, Pros and 
Cons of Renting a Property with a Pool: Is It Worth It?, available 
at www.baymgmtgroup.com/blog/renting-a-property-with-a-pool/ (last 
accessed October 15, 2022); ALAGLAS Swimming Pools, Will a Swimming 
Pool Increase the Value of Your Rental Property?, available at 
alaglaspools.com/will-a-swimming-pool-increase-the-value-of-rental-property/ (last accessed October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Table IV.11 shows the estimated weights for the samples of electric 
pool heaters and gas-fired pool heaters by the seven pool heater market 
types. See chapter 7 of the final rule TSD for more details about the 
creation of the samples and the regional breakdowns.

         Table IV.11--Fraction of Electric Pool Heaters and Gas-Fired Pool Heaters by Pool Heater Market
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   Electric pool  Gas-fired pool
                Pool type ID                             Description                heaters (%)     heaters (%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..........................................  Single Family with Pool Heater                 65.9            40.3
                                              Serving Swimming Pool Only.
2..........................................  Single Family with Pool Heater                 19.0            26.4
                                              Serving Swimming Pool + Spa.
3..........................................  Single Family with Pool Heater                  8.8            20.4
                                              Serving Spa Only.
4..........................................  Community Pools or Spas (Single-                0.8             1.5
                                              Family).
5..........................................  Community Pools or Spas (Multi-                 2.8             5.1
                                              Family).
6..........................................  Commercial Indoor Pools and Spas...             1.4             3.8
7..........................................  Commercial Outdoor Pools and Spas..             1.3             2.5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Energy Use Estimation
    For the NOPR, DOE's energy use analysis was based on all available 
data including RECS 2015,\56\ CBECS 2012, a Consortium for Energy 
Efficiency (``CEE'') report,\57\ a Brookhaven National Laboratory 
report,\58\ and 2020 Pkdata. In particular, for consumer pool heaters 
in single family homes, DOE was able to use the energy use estimates 
provided in RECS 2015 to estimate the pool heater load for each sampled 
pool or spa. For consumer pool heaters in commercial buildings, DOE 
first calculated the pool heater load for each sampled consumer based 
on assumptions regarding the size of a typical pool, ambient conditions 
for different locations, length of the swimming pool season, and 
whether the pool has a cover.\59\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \56\ RECS 2015 provides separate estimates for electric spa 
heaters, natural gas pool heaters, and natural gas spa heaters in 
single family homes. However, RECS 2015 does not provide separate 
estimates for electric pool heater energy use and propane pool and 
spa heaters. Instead, RECS 2015 groups these pool heaters in the 
``other devices and purposes not elsewhere classified.''
    \57\ Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE), CEESM High 
Efficiency Residential Swimming Pool Initiative, January 2013, 
available at library.cee1.org/system/files/library/9986/CEE_Res_SwimmingPoolInitiative_01Jan2013_Corrected.pdf (last 
accessed October 15, 2022).
    \58\ Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Performance Study of 
Swimming Pool Heaters, January 2009, available at www.bnl.gov/isd/documents/73878.pdf (last accessed October 15, 2022).
    \59\ RECS 2015 estimates of the annual energy consumption from 
the household's energy bills using conditional demand analysis. RECS 
2015 does not provide any energy use data for community pools with 
pool heaters and CBECS 2012 does not provide separate energy use 
estimates for pool heaters in other commercial applications.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For each household or building with a consumer pool heater, DOE 
matched the pool heating load to the sampled swimming pool based on 
household or building geographical location and an assumption of 
whether the pool is covered or not. DOE then used the pool heating load 
together with the consumer pool heater output \60\ to determine the 
burner operating hours. The electricity or fuel consumption in active 
mode was calculated by multiplying the burner operating hours by the 
input capacity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \60\ For heat pump pool heaters, pool heater output capacity is 
adjusted based on average outdoor conditions, since the rated output 
is measured at outdoor ambient conditions that are often different 
from actual field conditions. The adjustment is done based on 
coefficient of performance (COP) from heat pump pool heater data at 
different ambient conditions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For heat pump pool heaters, DOE accounted for the potential 
increase in pump electricity use due to longer operating hours of these 
products (see discussion). For heat pump pool heaters, to account for 
variations of output capacity, input capacity, and COPs observed in the 
field, DOE

[[Page 34653]]

determined these values based on the geographical location of the 
sampled household. DOE assumed that 32 percent of pools with consumer 
pool heaters in commercial applications use a cover and 68 percent of 
pools with consumer pool heaters do not use a cover based on comments 
from NRDC in a CEC pool pumps rulemaking.\61\ DOE assumes that a pool 
cover can save up to 50-70 percent of overall energy use.\62\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \61\ NRDC's Response to CEC's Invitation to Participate in the 
Development of Appliance Energy Efficiency Measures 2013 Appliance 
Efficiency Pre-Rulemaking on Appliance Efficiency Regulations: 
Docket Number 12-AAER-2F--Residential Pool Pumps and Motors (May 
2013), available at efiling.energy.ca.gov/GetDocument.aspx?tn=70721&DocumentContentId=8266 (last accessed 
October 15, 2022).
    \62\ U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver: Swimming Pool 
Covers, available at www.energy.gov/energysaver/swimming-pool-covers 
(last accessed October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

a. Consumer Pool Heater Operating Hours
    Rheem stated that they appreciated DOE's efforts to adjust pool 
operating hours by geographical location using RECS data. Rheem 
recommended expanding this information by using heating degree days or 
a similar approach to more finely predict pool operating hours 
throughout the United States. (Rheem, No. 19 at p. 6) BWC expressed 
concerns about DOE conducting its analysis with the assumption that 
(gas-fired) pool heaters run approximately 190 hours per year. BWC 
stated that the figure is reliant on a number of installation-specific 
factors, including the size of the pool being heated, whether the pool 
is located indoors or outdoors, and the type of application the pool 
heater is installed in. BWC recommended that DOE utilize the most 
recently available data to learn more about where these products are 
often installed and to recalculate an average run time for each common 
installation for the purposes of this rulemaking. (BWC, No. 12 at p. 3) 
AHRI and PHTA stated that there are many factors that can cause a large 
variance in operating hours including geographic location and use 
preference. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at p. 7) Hayward stated that there 
are many factors that come into play when determining pool heater hours 
of operation that can cause a large variance in hours including 
geographic location and use preference. (Hayward, No. 17 at p. 5)
    DOE notes that the operating hours vary significantly based on 
several factors including geographic location (which accounts for 
ambient temperature conditions), consumer preference in terms of pool 
or spa usage (limited usage to year-round usage), installation location 
(indoor vs. outdoor pools), application (swimming pool only, spa only, 
swimming pool and spa using the pool heater), market segment 
(residential and commercial applications), and whether a pool cover is 
used, etc. Also, operating hours are driven by the output capacity of 
the pool heater. For this final rule analysis, DOE improved its sizing 
methodology to match PKdata swimming pool sizing data and assigned 
appropriate pool heater output capacity sizes for each assumed swimming 
pool and/or spa size. The NOPR analysis assigned only two sizes, one 
for residential (250 kBtu/h input capacity for gas-fired pool heaters 
and 110 kBtu/h output capacity for electric pool heaters) and one for 
commercial applications (500 kBtu/h input capacity for gas-fired pool 
heaters and 220 kBtu/h output capacity for electric pool heaters). The 
final rule analysis, expanded to all available model input capacities 
up to 2 MMBtu/hr for gas-fired pool heaters and 800 kBtu/h output 
capacity for heat pump pool heaters.
    For residential applications, DOE's pool heating load calculations 
are based directly on the RECS 2015 energy use estimates, which show a 
significant variation between different household installations (see 
chapter 7 of the final rule TSD). To improve the energy usage by month 
DOE used typical pool heating load calculators for multiple locations 
around the country.\63\ For commercial applications, DOE's energy use 
pool heating load calculations are based primarily on pool/spa usage 
(length of operating season), weather conditions, pool/spa installation 
location (indoor vs. outdoor pools), application type (swimming pool 
only, spa only, swimming pool and spa using the pool heater), and 
whether a pool/spa cover is used. For the final rule, DOE expanded the 
pool heating load model to include more locations with weather data. 
For heat pump pool heaters, DOE also considered that the output 
capacity varies by ambient air temperature conditions around the heat 
pump pool heater. In contrast, for electric resistance and gas-fired 
pool heaters, output is assumed to not vary with ambient temperature.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \63\ Raypak, Residential Gas Heater Sizing, available at 
apps.raypak.com/gas_sizing/Raypak_gas.php (last accessed October 15, 
2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Rheem agreed with DOE's statement in section 7.3.3.3 of the TSD 
that burner operating hours in the field are much higher than assumed 
in the DOE test procedure which states (section 7.3.3.3) that electric 
pool heaters operate an estimated 353 hours per year but also stated 
that electric resistance and heat pump pool heaters have different 
annual operating hours. Rheem requested that electric resistance and 
heat pump pool heater hours of operation be separately provided. 
(Rheem, No. 19 at p. 6) Rheem and AHRI and PHTA both agreed that the 
heat pump pool heaters will have higher hours of operation than gas-
fired pool heaters. (Rheem, No. 19 at p. 6, AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at p. 
7) Fluidra stated that the operating times for both electric and gas 
pool heaters vary widely based on geographical location, user 
preferences, and the difference in heating time between gas heaters and 
electric heaters and that, in general, heat pump pool heater run time 
hours are significantly higher than those of gas-fired pool heaters. 
(Fluidra, No. 18, p. 2)
    For the final rule, DOE accounted for differences in operating 
hours for electric resistance, heat pump, and gas-fired pool heaters. 
As noted by stakeholders these differences account for geographical 
location, user preferences, and the difference in output capacity 
between electric and gas-fired pool heaters. In addition, DOE took into 
account differences between electric resistance vs. heat pump heaters. 
On average electric resistance pool heaters are used in installations 
with lower pool heating load compared to heat pump pool heaters (on 
average 9 MMBtu/yr for electric resistance vs. 15 MMBtu/yr for heat 
pump pool heaters). For heat pump pool heaters, DOE also considered 
that the output capacity varies by ambient air temperature conditions 
around the heat pump pool heater. In contrast, for electric resistance 
and gas-fired pool heaters, output is assumed to not vary with ambient 
temperature. See chapter 7 of the final rule TSD for more information 
and for disaggregated operating hours by pool heater type and 
application.
b. Heat Pump Pool Heater Energy Use
    Rheem noted that many heat pump pool heaters can operate at various 
input rates depending on the ambient conditions and desired pool 
temperature. Rheem stated that DOE appears to have accounted for this 
somewhat in section 7.3.3.2 of the TSD by assigning an ambient 
condition to different geographical locations, however heating load can 
change between the various ambient conditions in the same geographical 
location within the same pool heating season. (Rheem, No. 19 at p. 6) 
AHRI and PHTA specifically requested information from the Department on 
how the outdoor air effects on heat pumps have been

[[Page 34654]]

represented in their EL calculations. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at p. 6)
    For the NOPR, DOE accounted for heat pump pool heater differences 
in performance due to ambient temperatures by using the ambient 
temperature data to determine heat pump pool heater COP field values 
based on the geographical location of the sampled household. 87 FR 
22640, 22670 For example, for EL 2 the weighted COPs by region are 5.44 
for the Hot Humid region, 5.20 for the Warm region, and 3.76 for the 
Cold region. For this final rule, DOE improved its methodology by 
adding additional weather location data by assigned weather stations to 
refine its approach by estimating monthly field adjusted average COP 
values using ambient temperatures (see chapter 7 of the final rule TSD 
for more details).
c. Modulating Equipment
    Hayward stated that modulating heaters run considerably more hours 
(at lower capacity and higher efficiency) than their single speed 
counterparts. (Hayward, No. 17 at p. 5) Rheem added that conditions 
change throughout the pool heating season and part load or variable 
speed operation provides more control and allows the heat pump pool 
heater to adjust its output based on demand. (Rheem, No. 19 at p.4) 
Hayward recommended further analysis on average energy use or part load 
energy consumption to provide credit for dual or variable capacity 
products because at part load conditions, the efficiency of these units 
is improved significantly relative to single speed units (especially 
for heat pumps). Hayward stated that for modulating capacity 
appliances, the standby power should be reduced and the methodology 
should be reassessed to consider this new technology where the heater 
can be run longer at lower capacity (and higher efficiency). (Hayward, 
No. 17 at p. 5) AHRI and PHTA noted that operating hours can change for 
modulating units compared to single speed units. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 
at p. 7)
    DOE agrees that for certain applications modulating pool heaters 
could operate at increased operating hours, which would impact the 
electricity use and might increase the overall efficiency if the part 
load efficiency is greater than the full load efficiency. In contrast, 
longer operating hours could also lead to more electrical consumption 
if the pump and auxiliary equipment does not operate at a reduced 
wattage in the part-load or variable speed operation. DOE does not 
currently have test data and has not found any references to assess the 
part-load efficiency of modulating units (either heat pump or gas-fired 
equipment). DOE also notes that the current test procedure does not 
account for part-load efficiency. Overall, DOE at this time did not 
assess the energy use impact of modulating units compared to single 
speed units due to lack of data and uncertainty related to decreased or 
increased field fuel and electricity usage.
d. Consumer Pool Heater Standby and Off Mode Energy Use
    Rheem stated that the methodology used to measure standby energy 
use is appropriate. Rheem also noted that there are currently 
``seasonal off switches'' which reduce power consumption as compared to 
standby mode, but that do not reduce the electrical power consumption 
to zero. (Rheem, No. 19 at p. 6) BWC also stated that it agrees with 
the Department's estimate of off mode and standby mode power 
consumption for gas-fired pool heaters and that off mode and standby 
mode power consumption for these products will not increase in products 
with higher inputs. (BWC, No. 12 at p. 3) AHRI and PHTA stated that for 
heat pump pool heaters and gas-fired pool heaters the overall standby 
hours will be different and that the off mode hours are essentially 
identical. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at p. 7)
    DOE agrees with the stakeholders input regarding standby and off-
mode and did not change its standby and off mode analysis for the final 
rule.
    Chapter 7 of the final rule TSD provides details on DOE's energy 
use analysis for consumer pool heaters.

F. Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period Analysis

    DOE conducted LCC and PBP analyses to evaluate the economic impacts 
on individual consumers of potential energy conservation standards for 
consumer pool heaters. The effect of new or amended energy conservation 
standards on individual consumers usually involves a reduction in 
operating cost and an increase in purchase cost. DOE used the following 
two metrics to measure consumer impacts:
     The LCC is the total consumer expense of an appliance or 
product over the life of that product, consisting of total installed 
cost (manufacturer selling price, distribution chain markups, sales 
tax, and installation costs) plus operating costs (expenses for energy 
use, maintenance, and repair). To compute the operating costs, DOE 
discounts future operating costs to the time of purchase and sums them 
over the lifetime of the product.
     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 
at higher efficiency levels by the change in annual operating cost for 
the year that amended or new standards are assumed to take effect.
    For any given efficiency level, DOE measures the change in LCC 
relative to the LCC in the no-new-standards case, which reflects the 
estimated efficiency distribution of consumer pool heaters in the 
absence of new or amended energy conservation standards. In contrast, 
the PBP for a given efficiency level is measured relative to the 
baseline product.
    For each considered efficiency level in each product class, DOE 
calculated the LCC and PBP for a nationally representative set of 
consumers. As stated previously, DOE developed household samples 
primarily from the 2015 RECS and 2012 CBECS.\64\ For each sample 
household, DOE determined the energy consumption for the consumer pool 
heaters and the appropriate energy price. By developing a 
representative sample of households, the analysis captured the 
variability in energy consumption and energy prices associated with the 
use of consumer pool heaters.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \64\ At the time of this analysis, only the housing 
characteristics data for 2020 RECS and CBECS 2018 were published by 
EIA. The energy consumption and expenditures data were not yet 
available. The 2015 RECS and CBECS 2012 data set remains the most 
recent full data released at the time of this analysis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Inputs to the calculation of total installed cost include the cost 
of the product--which includes MPCs, manufacturer markups, retailer and 
distributor markups, and sales taxes--and installation costs. Inputs to 
the calculation of operating expenses include annual energy 
consumption, energy prices and price projections, repair and 
maintenance costs, product lifetimes, and discount rates. DOE created 
distributions of values for product lifetime, discount rates, and sales 
taxes, with probabilities attached to each value, to account for their 
uncertainty and variability.
    The computer model DOE uses to calculate the LCC relies on a Monte 
Carlo simulation to incorporate uncertainty and variability into the 
analysis. The Monte Carlo simulations randomly sample input values from 
the probability distributions and consumer

[[Page 34655]]

pool heaters user samples. For this rulemaking, the Monte Carlo 
approach is implemented in MS Excel together with the Crystal Ball\TM\ 
add-on.\65\ The model calculated the LCC for products at each 
efficiency level for 10,000 consumer pool heater installations per 
simulation run. The analytical results include a distribution of 10,000 
data points showing the range of LCC savings for a given efficiency 
level relative to the no-new-standards case efficiency distribution. In 
performing an iteration of the Monte Carlo simulation for a given 
consumer, product efficiency is chosen based on its probability. If the 
chosen product efficiency is greater than or equal to the efficiency of 
the standard level under consideration, the LCC calculation reveals 
that a consumer is not impacted by the standard level. By accounting 
for consumers who already purchase more-efficient products, DOE avoids 
overstating the potential benefits from increasing product efficiency. 
DOE calculated the LCC and PBP for consumers of consumer pool heaters 
as if each were to purchase a new product in the first full year of 
required compliance with new or amended standards. New and amended 
standards apply to consumer pool heaters manufactured 5 years after the 
date on which any new or amended standard is published. (42 U.S.C. 
6295(g)(10)(B)) Therefore, DOE used 2028 as the first full year of 
compliance with any amended standards for consumer pool heaters.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \65\ Crystal Ball\TM\ is commercially-available software tool to 
facilitate the creation of these types of models by generating 
probability distributions and summarizing results within Excel, 
available at www.oracle.com/technetwork/middleware/crystalball/overview/index.html (last accessed October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Table IV.12 summarizes the approach and data DOE used to derive 
inputs to the LCC and PBP calculations. The subsections that follow 
provide further discussion. Details of the spreadsheet model, and of 
all the inputs to the LCC and PBP analyses, are contained in chapter 8 
of the final rule TSD and its appendices.

 Table IV.12--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 project product
                                     costs.
Installation Costs................  Baseline installation cost
                                     determined with data from RS Means.
                                     Assumed no change with efficiency
                                     level.
Annual Energy Use.................  The total annual energy use
                                     multiplied by the hours per year.
                                     Average number of hours based on
                                     field data.
                                    Variability: Based on the 2015 RECS
                                     and 2018 CBECS.
Energy Prices.....................  Natural Gas: Based on EIA's Natural
                                     Gas Navigator data for 2021.
                                    Propane: Based on EIA's SEDS for
                                     2020.
                                    Electricity: Based on EIA's Form 861
                                     data for 2021.
                                    Variability: Regional energy prices
                                     determined for each state and
                                     District of Columbia.
                                    Marginal prices used for both
                                     natural gas and electricity.
Energy Price Trends...............  Based on AEO2022 price projections.
Repair and Maintenance Costs......  Based on 2021 RS Means data and
                                     other sources. Assumed variation in
                                     cost by efficiency.
Product Lifetime..................  Average: 11 years.
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...................  2028.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Not used for PBP calculation. References for the data sources
  mentioned in this table are provided in the sections following the
  table or in chapter 8 of the final rule TSD.

1. Product Cost
    To calculate consumer product costs, DOE multiplied the MPCs 
developed in the engineering analysis by the markups described 
previously (along with sales taxes). DOE used different markups for 
baseline products and higher-efficiency products, because DOE applies 
an incremental markup to the increase in MSP associated with higher-
efficiency products. Many 82-percent thermal efficiency (EL 0 and EL 1) 
gas-fired pool heaters without low-NOX burners are currently 
available that do not meet low-NOX criteria in California, 
Utah, and Texas.\66\ Thus, for the NOPR, DOE included the additional 
cost of a low-NOX burner to all gas-fired pool heaters 
installed in certain California,\67\ Utah,\68\ or Texas \69\ locations 
and applications. DOE assigned a fraction of installations outside 
these three regions the low-NOX burner cost adder since the 
models are so widespread.\70\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \66\ Low-NOX gas-fired pool heaters account for 11 
percent of gas-fired pool heaters at EL 0 and 59 percent of pool 
heaters at EL 1.
    \67\ Low-NOX gas-fired pool heaters with a rated heat 
input capacity less than or equal to 2,000,000 Btu/h Hour are 
required in South Coast Air Quality Management District (``SCAQMD'') 
and San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (``SJAPCD''). 
SCAQMD Rule 1146.2, available at www.aqmd.gov/docs/default-source/rule-book/reg-xi/rule-1146-2.pdf; SJAPCD Rule 4308, available at 
www.valleyair.org/rules/currntrules/03-4308_CleanRule.pdf (last 
accessed October 15, 2022). Low NOX gas-fired pool 
heaters with a rated heat input capacity 400,001 to 2,000,000 Btu/h 
are required in Bay Area Air Quality Management District 
(``BAAQMD''). Regulation 9, available at www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/
dotgov/files/rules/reg-9-rule-6-nitrogen-oxides-emissions-from-
natural-gasfired-water-heaters/documents/rg0906.pdf?la=en (last 
accessed October 15, 2022).
    \68\ Low-NOX gas-fired pool heaters with a rated heat 
input capacity less than 2,000,000 Btu/Hour. Utah Code 15A-6-102, 
available at le.utah.gov/xcode/Title15A/Chapter6/15A-6-S102.html?v=C15A-6-S102_2017050920170509 (last accessed October 15, 
2022).
    \69\ Low NOX gas-fired pool heater with a rated heat 
input capacity less than or equal to 2,000,000 Btu/h Hour are 
required (except for units installed in single-family residences, 
used exclusively to heat swimming pools and hot tubs). Texas 
Administrative Code, Control of Air Pollution from Nitrogen 
Compounds, available at texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/
readtac$ext.ViewTAC?tac_view=5&ti=30&pt=1&ch=117&sch=E÷=3&rl=Y 
(last accessed October 15, 2022).
    \70\ Pires, K. It's A Low-NOX Life. AQUA. November 
2008, available at aquamagazine.com/it-s-a-low-nox-life.html (last 
accessed October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Rheem stated that low NOX pool heaters are marketed 
throughout the United States, but Rheem had no comment on the fraction 
of low NOX pool heaters sold outside California, Utah, or 
Texas. Rheem noted that certain regulations in California covering low 
NOX pool heaters are being amended and recommended that DOE 
account for these changes in the analysis. (Rheem, No. 19 at p. 6) AHRI 
and PHTA appreciated that the

[[Page 34656]]

Department is including low-NOX equipment in their analysis. 
However, the added costs for low-NOX burners needs to be 
applied for the entire country and not just the specific states listed, 
as the majority of manufacturers no longer distribute gas-fired pool 
heaters that are not low-NOX. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at p. 
7) Hayward expects that nearly all gas products in all regions will use 
low-NOX burners. (Hayward, No. 17 at p. 6)
    For the final rule, DOE increased the fraction of installations 
outside California, Utah, and Texas that have a low-NOX 
burner cost adder, since the majority of manufacturers no longer 
distribute gas-fired pool heaters that are not low-NOx. By 2028, the 
analysis assumes that 88 percent of all gas-fired pool heaters have a 
low-NOX burner.
    For the NOPR, DOE developed separate product price projections for 
baseline electric resistance pool heaters, heat pump pool heaters, and 
gas-fired pool heaters using shipment-weighted wholesaler listed prices 
from 2003-2019 from the 2020 Pkdata report.\71\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \71\ Pkdata, 2020 Residential and Commercial Swimming Pool, Hot 
tub, and Pool Heater Customized Report for LBNL, October 15, 2020, 
available at: www.pkdata.com/datapointstrade.html#/ (last accessed 
October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    AHRI and PHTA recommended that DOE reevaluate the price trends 
based on the current economic and supply chain challenges. (AHRI and 
PHTA, No. 20 at p. 7) Fluidra stated that the equipment pricing goes up 
year over year since the 2015 analysis. They added that electronic 
component shortages and electrification codes have had a significant 
cost impact to both manufacturers and consumers due to decrease of 
supply and increase of demand. Fluidra noted that the economy of scale 
for the pool industry compared to space heating HVAC is significantly 
smaller, therefore pool equipment manufacturers do not see the same 
price breaks for volume as other industries. (Fluidra, No. 18, p. 3)
    DOE updated its analysis using the latest PKdata, which shows that 
since 2015 prices have been going up slightly for electric resistance, 
heat pump, and gas-fired pool heaters. In contrast, between 2003 and 
2014 prices of this equipment had been decreasing. Given that it is 
uncertain to project what the commodity prices and economic and supply 
chain challenges will be in the future, DOE decided to use a constant 
price assumption as the default price factor index to project future 
pool heater prices for the final rule. DOE performed a sensitivity 
analysis on price trend as detailed in appendix 8C of the final rule 
TSD. Further details about the development of the price trends can be 
found in chapter 8 and appendix 8C of the final rule TSD.
2. Installation Cost
    Installation cost includes labor, overhead, and any miscellaneous 
materials and parts needed to install the product. DOE estimates all 
the installation costs associated with fitting a consumer pool heater 
in a new housing unit, as a replacement for an existing pool heater, or 
in an existing pool without a pool heater (new owners). This includes 
any additional costs, such as electric modifications that would be 
required to install equipment at various efficiency levels. 
Installation cost includes labor, overhead, and any miscellaneous 
materials and parts needed to install the product. DOE used data from 
RS Means 2022 \72\ to estimate the baseline installation cost for 
consumer pool heaters.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \72\ RS Means Company, Inc., RS Means Residential Cost Data 2020 
(2020), available at www.rsmeans.com/ (last accessed October 15, 
2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Rheem recommends installations be performed by a licensed 
professional and that the installation must be in accordance with local 
codes, or, in the absence of local codes, with the latest edition of 
the National Fuel Gas Code, ANSI Z223.1/NFPA54 and National Electrical 
Code, ANSI/NFPA 70, and for Canada, the latest edition of CAN/CSA-B149 
Installation Codes, and Canadian Electrical Code, CSA C22.1 Part 1 and 
Part 2. (Rheem, No. 19 at p. 7)
    DOE's analysis assumes that pool heater installations are performed 
by licensed professionals and DOE's labor costs are for the appropriate 
crew type based on RS Means data.
    For electric pool heaters, DOE accounted for the increased cost of 
additional electrical requirements for new swimming pool and new owner 
installations. For new electric pool heater owners (including owners of 
new swimming pools and owners of existing swimming pools), DOE assumed 
that an electric resistance pool heater would have higher electrical 
connection installation costs in comparison to the electrical 
requirements for a heat pump pool heater. For replacements in outdoor 
swimming pools, DOE assumed that the installation costs would be the 
same for all efficiency levels because the old consumer pool heater 
already has adequate electrical service for the new pool heater. For 
replacements in indoor installations, DOE assumed that they are all 
electrical resistance and that replacement with a heat pump pool heater 
would add a significant cost to run water piping and an electrical 
connection to outside the building, where the heat pump pool heater 
will be installed.
    Rheem stated that for gas-fired pool heaters it supports the 
proposed EL 2 to the extent it is applied to outdoor installations not 
requiring added venting systems. Rheem added that although 84% thermal 
efficiency is close to the condensing efficiency threshold, for outdoor 
installations it can be achieved without the risk of increased vent 
system corrosion. (Rheem, No. 19 at p. 4) Rheem stated that for gas 
fired heaters, there are different required clearances from combustible 
surfaces for indoor and outdoor installations and that for indoor 
installations, venting is required and increasing thermal efficiency 
too high poses a risk of increased vent corrosion due to condensation. 
In addition, Rheem stated that the venting system varies by 
installation configuration and climate. (Rheem, No. 19 at p. 7)
    DOE's analysis for gas-fired pool heater installations does not 
include any added cost for a venting systems for EL2 and EL 3 for 
outdoor installations. For EL 0 and EL 1 with atmospheric venting, DOE 
added the cost of a draft hood for a fraction of outdoor installations 
in a high wind environment. For gas-fired pool heater installations 
(mainly for commercial applications), DOE took into account the added 
cost of venting for all gas-fired pool heaters, which varies by climate 
and installation configuration. See appendix 8D of the final rule TSD 
for more details.
    Rheem stated that for heat pump pool heaters, installation must be 
at >=3 feet from a gas heater, >=60 inches of clearance above the 
heater, >=12 inches from any wall, gutters above the heater to prevent 
roof runoff into the top of the unit, and redirection of lawn 
irrigation away from the unit and that Texas and Florida mandate the 
use of a minimum 3-inch-thick concrete pad, where the minimum edge 
distance to the unit is 6 inches. Further, if installing hurricane tie 
down brackets then the pad may need to be wider. (Rheem, No. 19 at p. 
7) AHRI and PHTA stated that most electric pool heater installations 
are located in a space-constrained area (within 2 feet of an 
obstruction), which significantly increases the cost of installation. 
In many of these situations it is difficult to maintain enough 
clearance for the product itself without including the required 
clearance from obstructions for a heat pump to properly function. (AHRI 
and PHTA, No. 20 at p. 7) AHRI and PHTA noted that many

[[Page 34657]]

factors have changed since 2015 and there are numerous variables that 
need to be considered when determining installation costs for consumer 
pool heaters and DOE should update its estimates to account for 
significant cost increases where consumers will be required to replace 
an electric resistance pool heater in a constrained space with a heat 
pump water heater. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at pp. 7-8) Hayward believed 
that space constraints are a primary value driver for resistance 
heaters and they expect that most resistance heaters are installed in 
locations that do not provide sufficient space for a heat pump. 
(Hayward, No. 17, p. 6) Fluidra stated that the consumers will likely 
not replace a space constrained electric resistance heater with a heat 
pump because the space and vent restrictions would be a significant 
problem. Fluidra added that heat pumps are optimized for outdoor 
installations and may not be effective when installed indoors, 
resulting in dramatically increased installation costs to convert and 
properly vent an indoor heat pump installation. (Fluidra, No. 18, p.3)
    For the NOPR analysis, DOE included significant costs associated 
with space constraints for heat pump pool heaters installed to replace 
an electric resistance pool heater, including installing the heat pump 
pool heater far away (outdoors) from the current installation location. 
87 FR 22640, 22674. In order to take into account stakeholder comments 
and regional code requirements, for this final rule, DOE refined its 
installation cost methodology to include additional costs associated 
with installing a heat pump pool heater as a replacement of an electric 
resistance pool heater, especially in space constrained installations. 
The additional costs account for the requirements such as clearance and 
concrete pads. On average the installation cost associated with 
installing a heat pump pool heater in a space constrained installation 
increased from $549 in the NOPR to $1,039 in the final rule. The 
fraction of installations assigned space constrained costs also 
increased from 15 percent to 20 percent. See appendix 8D of the final 
rule TSD for more details.
3. Annual Energy Consumption
    For each sampled consumer pool heater installation, DOE determined 
the energy consumption for a consumer pool heaters at different 
efficiency levels using the approach described previously in section 
E.2 of this document.
a. Rebound Effect
    Higher-efficiency consumer pool heaters reduce the operating costs 
for a consumer, which can lead to greater use of the consumer pool 
heater. A direct rebound effect occurs when a product that is made more 
efficient is used more intensively, such that the expected energy 
savings from the efficiency improvement may not fully materialize. At 
the same time, consumers benefit from increased utilization of products 
due to rebound. Overall consumer welfare (taking into account 
additional costs and benefits) is generally understood to increase from 
rebound. DOE did not find any data on the rebound effect that is 
specific to consumer pool heaters. In the April 2010 final rule, DOE 
estimated a rebound of 10 percent for pool heaters for the NIA, but did 
not include rebound in the LCC analysis. 75 FR 20112, 20165. Because of 
the uncertainty and lack of data specific to pool heaters necessary to 
generate a representative analysis, DOE does not include the rebound 
effect in the LCC analysis for this final rule. DOE does include the 
rebound effect in the NIA, for a conservative estimate of national 
energy savings (see section H.2).
4. Energy Prices
    Because marginal energy price more accurately captures the 
incremental savings associated with a change in energy use from higher 
efficiency, it provides a better representation of incremental change 
in consumer costs than average energy prices. Therefore, DOE applied 
average energy prices for the energy use of the product purchased in 
the no-new-standards case, and marginal energy prices for the 
incremental change in energy use associated with the other efficiency 
levels considered.
    DOE derived residential and commercial average monthly marginal 
electricity and natural gas prices by state using 2021 data from EIA 
73 74 and average monthly residential and commercial LPG 
prices for the various regions using 2020 data from EIA.\75\ The 
methodology and data sources are described in detail in appendix 8E of 
the final rule TSD.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \73\ U.S. Department of Energy--Energy Information 
Administration, Form EIA-861M (formerly EIA-826) Database Monthly 
Electric Utility Sales and Revenue Data (1990-2021), available at 
www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia861m/ (last accessed October 15, 
2022).
    \74\ U.S. Department of Energy--Energy Information 
Administration, Natural Gas Navigator (1990-2021), available at 
www.eia.gov/dnav/ng/ng_pri_sum_dcu_nus_m.htm (last accessed October 
15, 2022).
    \75\ U.S. Department of Energy--Energy Information 
Administration, 2020 State Energy Consumption, Price, and 
Expenditure Estimates (SEDS) (2020), available at www.eia.gov/state/seds/ (last accessed October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE's methodology allows energy prices to vary by sector, state, 
and season. In the analysis, variability in energy prices is chosen to 
be consistent with the way the consumer economic and energy use 
characteristics are defined in the LCC analysis. See chapter 8 of the 
final rule TSD for details.
    To estimate energy prices in future years, DOE multiplied the 2021 
energy prices by the projection of annual average price changes for 
each of the nine census divisions from the Reference case in AEO 2022, 
which has an end year of 2050.\76\ DOE used simple extrapolations of 
the average annual growth rate in prices from 2045 to 2050 based on the 
methods used in the 2022 Life-Cycle Costing Manual for the Federal 
Energy Management Program (``FEMP'').\77\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \76\ U.S. Department of Energy--Energy Information 
Administration. Annual Energy Outlook 2022 with Projections to 2050. 
Washington, DC. Available at www.eia.gov/forecasts/aeo/ (last 
accessed October 15, 2022).
    \77\ Lavappa, Priya D. and J. D. Kneifel. Energy Price Indices 
and Discount Factors for Life-Cycle Cost Analysis--2022 Annual 
Supplement to NIST Handbook 135. National Institute of Standards and 
Technology (NIST). NISTIR 85-3273-37, available at www.nist.gov/publications/energy-price-indices-and-discount-factors-life-cycle-cost-analysis-2022-annual (last accessed October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Joint Advocates stated that DOE underestimated cost savings from 
higher efficiency gas pool heaters by underestimating the future gas 
prices. Joint Advocates stated that as the movement towards 
electrification grows and the efficiencies of gas appliances improve, 
both customer base and overall natural gas sales will likely decline 
over time. Joint Advocates pointed to a 2022 analysis conducted by the 
NRDC which estimated the impact of customer exits (i.e., consumers who 
switch to electric appliances and disconnect from the gas system) on 
gas prices for the remaining customers and found that gas prices would 
exceed 600% of the AEO projections in the Pacific and Mid-Atlantic 
regions under multiple electrification scenarios, and noted these 
results were consistent with other studies finding the same dynamic. 
(Joint Advocates, No. 13 at pp 3-4)
    DOE's analysis uses the latest AEO energy price scenarios, which 
take into account the dynamics of the entire energy system, to project 
future energy prices. While DOE notes that future switching away from 
gas appliances may affect natural gas prices, at the present these 
dynamics, and policy

[[Page 34658]]

responses to address issues that arise, are too uncertain to be relied 
upon in its analysis. If these dynamics materialize and solidify, they 
will be reflected in the latest EIA data and AEO price forecasts. At 
this time, the AEO price forecasts remain the best available source of 
data regarding probable future energy prices. DOE notes that if future 
natural gas prices end up higher than DOE estimates due to 
electrification, the economic justification for the standards adopted 
for gas-fired pool heaters in this final rule would become stronger 
still.
    AHRI and PHTA stated that DOE may want to consider that for 
equipment such as pool heaters, where they may only need to operate a 
few hours a day, many consumers will be able to heat their pools at 
``off-peak'' electric rates that are much lower than the average rates 
cited by the Department. Therefore, the costs of heating pool water 
would be lower than those estimated by DOE, and the subsequent savings 
are lower by the same percentage. AHRI and PHTA stated that more 
consumers have smart electric meters that may not have been considered 
in the Department's approach and that the consumers with smart electric 
meters will be able to take advantage of time of use and other variable 
electric rates to lower their electric costs. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at 
p. 8)
    While DOE agrees that consumers could possibly take advantage of 
``off-peak'' electric rates in some installation applications, in 
reality there are limited data showing how customers will use ``off-
peak'' electric rates. ``Off-peak'' rates might not coincide with the 
actual usage of the pool and vary from utility to utility. For example, 
PG&E offers ``off-peak'' rates that are designed to coincide with the 
electricity produced by solar generators (outside of the 4-9 p.m. peak 
pricing),\78\ while FPU has peak rates in the summer months (May 1-
Sept. 30) between 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Using ``off-peak'' rates would 
require some planning or additional controls in the pool heater as well 
as the ability to ``over heat'' the pool/spa so that it is at the 
appropriate temperature once in use. It is not apparent whether 
consumers would be able to or want to take advantage of these rates. 
Therefore, at this time DOE did not use ``off-peak'' rates in its 
analysis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \78\ PG&E, Time-of-Use, available at www.pge.com/en_US/residential/rate-plans/rate-plan-options/time-of-use-base-plan/tou-everyday.page (last accessed October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. Maintenance and Repair Costs
    Repair costs are associated with repairing or replacing product 
components that have failed in an appliance; maintenance costs are 
associated with maintaining the operation of the product. Typically, 
small incremental increases in product efficiency entail no, or only 
minor, changes in repair and maintenance costs compared to baseline 
efficiency products. DOE included additional repair costs for higher 
efficiency heat pump pool heaters and gas-fired pool heaters (including 
repair costs associated with electronic ignition, controls, and blowers 
for fan-assisted designs, compressor, evaporator fan) based on 2022 RS 
Means data.\79\ DOE accounted for regional differences in labor costs 
by using RS Means regional cost factors.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \79\ RS Means Company, Inc., RS Means Facilities Repair and 
Maintenance 2022 (2022), available at www.rsmeans.com/ (last 
accessed October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    AHRI and PHTA noted that the costs for repairs and parts have 
increased compared to the data used in this analysis, so the analysis 
should be updated. Additionally, AHRI and PHTA stated that DOE should 
consider a separate labor rate for the different pool heater 
applications when calculating maintenance and repair costs as well. 
They cited industry estimates as $90/hour--gas service and $120/hour--
heat pump service. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at pp. 8-9)
    DOE's analysis uses RS Means labor rates that vary by state, but 
does not assign a different labor rate for the maintenance and repair 
costs for a gas-fired pool heater compared to a heat pump pool heater.
    AHRI and PHTA stated that pool heating equipment is more likely to 
be repaired then replaced. AHRI and PHTA agreed with the DOE's repair 
and maintenance approach, specifically, that higher efficiency gas-
fired pool heaters are more expensive to maintain--condensation 
neutralization adds costs, they are more complex and more likely to 
have technical issues and the heat pumps cost more to service and 
repair as they require technicians with refrigeration certification--
therefore costs are higher as this work takes more time and an 
increased level of expertise. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at pp. 8-9) BWC 
also noted that condensing gas-fired pool heaters will be more 
difficult and more expensive to maintain since these products are more 
complex, which makes them more likely to experience technical issues. 
(BWC, No. 12 at p. 4) Rheem supported the AHRI and PHTA comment on this 
topic. (Rheem, No. 19 at p.8)
    DOE maintained its repair and maintenance cost methodology for the 
final rule. The methodology and data sources are described in detail in 
appendix 8F of the final rule TSD.
6. Product Lifetime
    For the NOPR analysis, DOE used lifetime estimates from historical 
shipments data and pool heater stock data from RECS 1987-2015 and 2020 
Pkdata. 87 FR 22640, 22676 This data allowed DOE to develop a survival 
function, which provides a distribution of lifetime ranging from 1 to 
30 years with a mean value of 11 years. DOE assumes that the 
distribution of lifetimes accounts for the impact of the pool water 
quality on the life of the product, the level of maintenance of a 
consumer pool heater, and the fraction of consumers winterizing the 
consumer pool heater.
    AHRI and PHTA supported the use of RECS and Pkdata to calculate 
lifetime estimates, but suggested that DOE should also consider 
regional impacts to lifetime estimates, since not including these 
regional impacts could mean that the lifetime is potentially over 
inflated compared to the real lifetime for these units. In addition, 
AHRI and PHTA stated that improper winterization of a heat pump could 
shorten the life of a heat pump. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at p. 9) Rheem 
supported the AHRI and PHTA's comments on regional impacts to lifetime 
estimates. Rheem found that lower efficiency (legacy) units typically 
have a longer life than higher efficiency units, and noted that 
consumers who don't perform routine maintenance, especially 
winterization, will see lower lifetimes. (Rheem, No. 19 at p. 8) BWC 
generally agreed with DOE's lifetime average of 11 years for gas-fired 
pool heaters that are identified as representative models and 
recommended that DOE utilize most recently available data to learn more 
about common applications for these products and recalculate average 
product lifetimes for each common installation type. (BWC, No. 12 at p. 
4) For the final rule, DOE updated its methodology to include the 
latest data including RECS 2020, CBECS 2018, and shipment and other 
data from 2022 PKdata. This resulted in the same average lifetime value 
of 11 years.
    Appendix 8G of the final rule of the TSD includes a sensitivity 
analysis of higher and lower lifetime estimates as well as a table of 
consumer pool heater lifetime estimates from published literature and 
manufacturer input.

[[Page 34659]]

7. Discount Rates
    In the calculation of LCC, DOE applies discount rates appropriate 
to households to estimate the present value of future operating cost 
savings. DOE estimated a distribution of discount rates for consumer 
pool heaters based on the opportunity cost of consumer funds.
    DOE applies weighted average discount rates calculated from 
consumer debt and asset data, rather than marginal or implicit discount 
rates.\80\ The LCC analysis estimates net present value over the 
lifetime of the product, so the appropriate discount rate will reflect 
the general opportunity cost of household funds, taking this time scale 
into account. Given the long time horizon modeled in the LCC, the 
application of a marginal interest rate associated with an initial 
source of funds is inaccurate. Regardless of the method of purchase, 
consumers are expected to continue to rebalance their debt and asset 
holdings over the LCC analysis period, based on the restrictions 
consumers face in their debt payment requirements and the relative size 
of the interest rates available on debts and assets. DOE estimates the 
aggregate impact of this rebalancing using the historical distribution 
of debts and assets.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \80\ The implicit discount rate is inferred from a consumer 
purchase decision between two otherwise identical goods with 
different first cost and operating cost. It is the interest rate 
that equates the increment of first cost to the difference in net 
present value of lifetime operating cost, incorporating the 
influence of several factors: transaction costs; risk premiums and 
response to uncertainty; time preferences; interest rates at which a 
consumer is able to borrow or lend. The implicit discount rate is 
not appropriate for the LCC analysis because it reflects a range of 
factors that influence consumer purchase decisions, rather than the 
opportunity cost of the funds that are used in purchases.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To establish residential discount rates for the LCC analysis, DOE 
identified all relevant household debt or asset classes in order to 
approximate a consumer's opportunity cost of funds related to appliance 
energy cost savings. It 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 triennial Survey of Consumer Finances 
\81\ (``SCF'') starting in 1995 and ending in 2019. Using the SCF and 
other sources, DOE 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \81\ Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Survey of 
Consumer Finances. 1995, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 
and 2019, available at www.federalreserve.gov/econres/scfindex.htm 
(last accessed October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To establish commercial discount rates for the fraction of 
instances where businesses are using consumer pool heaters, DOE 
estimated the weighted-average cost of capital using data from 
Damodaran Online.\82\ The weighted-average cost of capital is commonly 
used to estimate the present value of cash flows to be derived from a 
typical company project or investment. Most companies use both debt and 
equity capital to fund investments, so their cost of capital is the 
weighted average of the cost to the firm of equity and debt financing. 
DOE estimated the cost of equity using the capital asset pricing model, 
which assumes that the cost of equity for a particular company is 
proportional to the systematic risk faced by that company.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \82\ Damodaran Online, Data Page: Costs of Capital by Industry 
Sector, (2021), available at pages.stern.nyu.edu/~adamodar/ (last 
accessed October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The average rate across all types of household debt and equity and 
income groups and commercial building business activity types, weighted 
by the shares of each type, is 3.9 percent for electric and gas-fired 
pool heaters. See chapter 8 of the final rule TSD for further details 
on the development of consumer discount rates.
8. Energy Efficiency Distribution in the No-New-Standards Case
    To accurately 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 under the no-new-
standards case (i.e., the case without amended or new energy 
conservation standards).
    To estimate the energy efficiency distribution of consumer pool 
heaters for 2021 and the compliance year, DOE used the 2022 AHRI 
Directory of Certified Product Performance,\83\ CEC's 2022 Modernized 
Appliance Efficiency Database System (``MAEDbS''),84 85 and 
DOE's 2021 Compliance Certification Management System (``CCMS'') \86\ 
as well as manufacturer product literature.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \83\ AHRI. Directory of Certified Heat Pump Pool Heater Models. 
October 9, 2021, available at www.ahridirectory.org (last accessed 
October 15, 2022).
    \84\ CEC. Modernized Appliance Efficiency Database System. 
October 9, 2021, available at cacertappliances.energy.ca.gov/Pages/Search/AdvancedSearch.aspx (last accessed October 15, 2022).
    \85\ CEC. Modernized Appliance Efficiency Database System. 
October 9, 2021, available at cacertappliances.energy.ca.gov/Pages/Search/AdvancedSearch.aspx (last accessed October 15, 2022).
    \86\ DOE. Compliance Certification Management System. October 9, 
2021, available at www.regulations.doe.gov/certification-data/ (last 
accessed October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The fraction of heat pump pool heaters was adjusted to take into 
account codes in Florida \87\ and California \88\ that require higher 
efficiency heat pump pool heaters. The region and market-specific 
fraction of electric resistance pool heaters was determined for each 
region and consumer pool heater market. For example, DOE assumed that 
warmer areas of the country such as Florida, which are better suited 
for heat pump installations, have a lower fraction of electric 
resistance installations (pool type 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7; see section 
IV.E.1 of this document), while large spas (pool type 3) have a larger 
fraction of electric resistance installations, and all indoor 
installations (pool type 6) were estimated to be electric resistance 
pool heaters. Based on input from manufacturer interviews for the NOPR, 
DOE adjusted its fraction of electric resistance pool heaters in 2021, 
as shown in Table IV.13, by assuming a larger growth in heat pump pool 
heater shipments compared to electric resistance pool heater shipments 
and an overall lower total fraction of electric resistance pool 
heaters. The fraction of heat pump pool heaters was also adjusted to 
take into account standards in Connecticut that require higher 
efficiency heat pump pool heaters,\89\ in

[[Page 34660]]

addition to standards in California and Florida. To extrapolate from 
2021 to 2028, DOE assumed different growth rates for the electric 
resistance and heat pump pool heater shipments. These assumptions 
resulted in an 8.8 percent overall market share for electric resistance 
pool heaters in 2028. See chapter 8 of the final rule TSD for further 
information on the derivation of the efficiency distributions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \87\ 2017 Florida Energy & Conservation Code Chapter 4 section 
R403.10.5 states: ``Heat pump pool heaters shall have a minimum COP 
of 4.0 when tested in accordance with AHRI 1160, Table 2, Standard 
Rating Conditions-Low Air Temperature.'' State of Florida. Energy & 
Conservation Code, Chapter 4, available at codes.iccsafe.org/content/FEC2017/chapter-4-re-residential-energy-efficiency?site_type=public (last accessed October 15, 2022).
    \88\ California Title 20 Section 1605.3 (g)(3) states: ``For 
heat pump pool heaters manufactured on or after March 1, 2003, the 
average of the coefficient of performance (COP) at Standard 
Temperature Rating and the coefficient of performance (COP) at Low 
Temperature Rating shall be not less than 3.5.'' California Energy 
Commission. California Code of Regulations: Title 20. Public 
Utilities and Energy, Division 2. State Energy Resources 
Conservation and Development Commission, Chapter 4. Energy 
Conservation, Article 4. Appliance Efficiency Regulations (Refs & 
Annos), 1605.3. State Standards for Non-Federally-Regulated 
Appliances available at govt.westlaw.com/calregs/Document/IEEDE2D64EF7B4F168C0E85379828A8C2?viewType=FullText&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=CategoryPageItem&contextData=(sc.Default
) (last accessed October 15, 2022).
    \89\ Connecticut's Regulations and Procedures for Establishing 
Energy Efficiency Standards for Certain Appliances and Products 
Section 16a-48-4(S)(4) states: ``Heat pump pool heaters shall have a 
coefficient of performance (COP) of not less than 3.5 at standard 
temperature rating and at low temperature rating.'' State of 
Connecticut. Title 16a--Planning and Energy Policy. 2015, available 
at eregulations.ct.gov/eRegsPortal/Browse/RCSA/Title_16aSubtitle_16a-48Section_16a-48-4/ (last accessed October 15, 
2022).

 Table IV.13--Market Share of Electric Resistance Pool Heaters by Consumer Pool Heater Market and Region in 2028
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Electric resistance pool
                                                                     heater market share  (%)      Sample weight
         Consumer pool heater market type * and  region          -------------------------------- of pool heater
                                                                       2021            2028         market  (%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pool Type = 1 and 2, 4, 5, 7 (in Florida).......................             1.9             1.6            53.7
Pool Type = 1 and 2, 4, 5, 7 (in California, Connecticut).......             3.8             3.2             6.3
Pool Type = 1 and 2, 4, 5, 7 (in Rest of Country)...............             7.5             6.3            29.8
Pool Type = 3 (in Florida)......................................            18.8            15.8             0.8
Pool Type = 3 (in California, Connecticut)......................            37.5            31.7             1.1
Pool Type = 3 (in Rest of Country)..............................            75.0            63.4             6.8
Pool Type = 6...................................................            87.5            73.9             1.4
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Overall Electric Resistance Market Share....................             9.2             8.8  ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Consumer Pool Heater Market Types are described in Table IV.11.

    During manufacturer interviews for the NOPR, DOE received input 
that consumer pool heaters with standing pilot only represented about 4 
percent of gas-fired pool heater shipments. In addition, DOE accounted 
for the ban on pilot lights in gas-fired pool heaters in 
California,\90\ Connecticut,\91\ Florida,\92\ and New York.\93\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \90\ California Title 20 Section 1605.3 (g)(1) states: ``Energy 
Design Standard for Natural Gas Pool Heaters. Natural gas pool 
heaters shall not be equipped with constant burning pilots.'' 
California Energy Commission. California Code of Regulations: Title 
20. Public Utilities and Energy, Division 2. State Energy Resources 
Conservation and Development Commission, Chapter 4. Energy 
Conservation, Article 4. Appliance Efficiency Regulations (Refs & 
Annos), 1605.3. State Standards for Non-Federally-Regulated 
Appliances available at govt.westlaw.com/calregs/Document/IEEDE2D64EF7B4F168C0E85379828A8C2?viewType=FullText&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=CategoryPageItem&contextData=(sc.Default
) (last accessed October 15, 2022).
    \91\ Connecticut's Regulations and Procedures for Establishing 
Energy Efficiency Standards for Certain Appliances and Products 
Section 16a-48-4 (S) (2) states: ``Natural gas pool heaters shall 
not be equipped with a constantly burning pilot light.'' State of 
Connecticut. Title 16a--Planning and Energy Policy. 2015, available 
at eregulations.ct.gov/eRegsPortal/Browse/RCSA/Title_16aSubtitle_16a-48Section_16a-48-4/ (last accessed October 15, 
2022).
    \92\ 2017 Florida Energy & Conservation Code Chapter 4 section 
R403.10.4 states: ``Pool heaters fired by natural or LP gas shall 
not have continuously burning pilot lights.'' State of Florida. 
Energy & Conservation Code, Chapter 4, available at 
codes.iccsafe.org/content/FEC2017/chapter-4-re-residential-energy-efficiency?site_type=public (last accessed October 15, 2022).
    \93\ 2020 Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York 
State Chapter 4 section R403.10.1 states: ``Gas-fired heaters shall 
not be equipped with continuously burning ignition pilots.'' State 
of New York, available at codes.iccsafe.org/content/NYSECC2020P1 
(last accessed October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The estimated market shares in the no-new-standards case for 
consumer pool heaters used for the final rule are shown in Table IV.14 
and Table IV.15. See chapter 8 of the final rule TSD for further 
information on the derivation of the efficiency distributions.

  Table IV.14--Efficiency Distribution in the No-New-Standards Case for
                      Electric Pool Heaters in 2028
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             National
            Efficiency level              Representative   market share
                                              TEI (%)           (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EL 0....................................              99             8.8
EL 1....................................             387            10.4
EL 2....................................             483            59.2
EL 3....................................             534             9.4
EL 4....................................             551             9.3
EL 5....................................             595             3.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------


  Table IV.15--Efficiency Distribution in the No-New-Standards Case for
                     Gas-Fired Pool Heaters in 2028
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             National
            Efficiency level              Representative   market share
                                              TEI (%)           (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EL 0....................................            61.1             4.1
EL 1....................................            81.3            46.1
EL 2....................................            83.3            41.1
EL 3....................................            94.8             8.6
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 34661]]

    The LCC Monte Carlo simulations draw from the efficiency 
distributions and randomly assign an efficiency to the consumer pool 
heater purchased by each sample household or building in the no-new-
standards case. The resulting percent shares within the sample match 
the market shares in the efficiency distributions.
    While DOE acknowledges that economic factors may play a role when 
consumers, commercial building owners, or builders decide on what type 
of pool heater to install, assignment of pool heater efficiency for a 
given installation, based solely on economic measures such as life-
cycle cost or simple payback period most likely would not fully and 
accurately reflect actual real-world installations. There are a number 
of market failures discussed in the economics literature that 
illustrate how purchasing decisions with respect to energy efficiency 
are unlikely to be perfectly correlated with energy use, as described 
below. DOE maintains that the method of assignment, which is in part 
random, is a reasonable approach, one that simulates behavior in the 
pool heater market, where market failures and other consumer 
preferences result in purchasing decisions not being perfectly aligned 
with economic interests, more realistically than relying only on 
apparent cost-effectiveness criteria derived from the limited 
information in CBECS or RECS. DOE further emphasizes that its approach 
does not assume that all purchasers of pool heaters make economically 
irrational decisions (i.e., the lack of a correlation is not the same 
as a negative correlation). As part of the random assignment, some 
homes or buildings with large pool heater usage will be assigned higher 
efficiency pool heaters, and some homes or buildings with particularly 
low pool heater usage will be assigned baseline pool heaters, which 
aligns with the available data. By using this approach, DOE 
acknowledges the variety of market failures and other consumer 
behaviors present in the pool heater market. This approach minimizes 
any bias in the analysis by using random assignment, as opposed to 
assuming certain market conditions that are unsupported given the 
available evidence.
    First, consumers are motivated by more than simple financial trade-
offs. There are consumers who are willing to pay a premium for more 
energy-efficient products because they are environmentally 
conscious.\94\ There are also several behavioral factors that can 
influence the purchasing decisions of complicated multi-attribute 
products, such as pool heaters. For example, consumers (or decision 
makers in an organization) are highly influenced by choice 
architecture, defined as the framing of the decision, the surrounding 
circumstances of the purchase, the alternatives available, and how they 
are presented for any given choice scenario.\95\ The same consumer or 
decision maker may make different choices depending on the 
characteristics of the decision context (e.g., the timing of the 
purchase, competing demands for funds), which have nothing to do with 
the characteristics of the alternatives themselves or their prices. 
Consumers or decision makers also face a variety of other behavioral 
phenomena including loss aversion, sensitivity to information salience, 
and other forms of bounded rationality.\96\ Thaler, who won the Nobel 
Prize in Economics in 2017 for his contributions to behavioral 
economics, and Sunstein point out that these behavioral factors are 
strongest when the decisions are complex and infrequent, when feedback 
on the decision is muted and slow, and when there is a high degree of 
information asymmetry.\97\ These characteristics describe almost all 
purchasing situations of appliances and equipment, including pool 
heaters. The installation of a new or replacement pool heater is done 
infrequently, as evidenced by the mean lifetime for pool heaters. 
Additionally, it would take at least one full pool heating season for 
any impacts on operating costs to be fully apparent. Further, if the 
purchaser of the pool heater is not the entity paying the energy costs 
(e.g., a building owner and tenant), there may be little to no feedback 
on the purchase. Additionally, there are systematic market failures 
that are likely to contribute further complexity to how products are 
chosen by consumers, as explained in the following paragraphs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \94\ Ward, D.O., Clark, C.D., Jensen, K.L., Yen, S.T., & 
Russell, C.S. (2011): ``Factors influencing willingness-to pay for 
the ENERGY STAR[supreg] label,'' Energy Policy, 39(3), 1450-1458. 
(Available at: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301421510009171) (Last accessed Feb. 15, 2022).
    \95\ Thaler, R.H., Sunstein, C.R., and Balz, J.P. (2014). 
``Choice Architecture'' in The Behavioral Foundations of Public 
Policy, Eldar Shafir (ed).
    \96\ Thaler, R.H., and Bernartzi, S. (2004). ``Save More 
Tomorrow: Using Behavioral Economics in Increase Employee Savings,'' 
Journal of Political Economy 112(1), S164-S187. See also Klemick, 
H., et al. (2015) ``Heavy-Duty Trucking and the Energy Efficiency 
Paradox: Evidence from Focus Groups and Interviews,'' Transportation 
Research Part A: Policy & Practice, 77, 154-166. (providing evidence 
that loss aversion and other market failures can affect otherwise 
profit-maximizing firms).
    \97\ Thaler, R.H., and Sunstein, C.R. (2008). Nudge: Improving 
Decisions on Health, Wealth, and Happiness. New Haven, CT: Yale 
University Press.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The first of these market failures is the split-incentive or 
principal-agent problem. The principal-agent problem is a market 
failure that results when the consumer that purchases the equipment 
does not internalize all of the costs associated with operating the 
equipment. Instead, the user of the product, who has no control over 
the purchase decision, pays the operating costs. There is a high 
likelihood of split incentive problems in the case of rental properties 
where the landlord makes the choice of what pool heater to install, 
whereas the renter is responsible for paying energy bills. In new 
construction, builders influence the type of water heater used in many 
homes but do not pay operating costs. Finally, contractors install a 
large share of pool heaters in replacement situations, and they can 
exert a high degree of influence over the type of pool heater 
purchased.
    In addition to the split-incentive problem, there are other market 
failures that are likely to affect the choice of pool heater efficiency 
made by consumers. For example, emergency replacements of pool heaters 
are strongly biased toward like-for-like replacement (i.e., replacing 
the non-functioning equipment with a similar or identical product). The 
consideration of alternative product options is far more likely for 
planned replacements and installations in new construction.
    Additionally, Davis and Metcalf \98\ conducted an experiment 
demonstrating that the nature of the information available to consumers 
from EnergyGuide labels posted on air conditioning equipment results in 
an inefficient allocation of energy efficiency across households with 
different usage levels. Their findings indicate that households are 
likely to make decisions regarding the efficiency of the climate 
control equipment of their homes that do not result in the highest net 
present value for their specific usage pattern (i.e., their decision is 
based on imperfect information and, therefore, is not necessarily 
optimal). This effect is likely to translate to pool heaters as well, 
whose efficiency rating, while visible to consumers at the time of 
purchase, is similar information to that found on an EnergyGuide label.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \98\ Davis, L.W., and G.E. Metcalf (2016): ``Does better 
information lead to better choices? Evidence from energy-efficiency 
labels,'' Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource 
Economists, 3(3), 589-625. (Available at: www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10.1086/686252) (Last accessed November 1, 2022).

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[[Page 34662]]

    In part because of the way information is presented, and in part 
because of the way consumers process information, there is also a 
market failure consisting of a systematic bias in the perception of 
equipment energy usage, which can affect consumer choices. Attari et 
al.\99\ show that consumers tend to underestimate the energy use of 
large energy-intensive appliances and equipment (such as a pool 
heater), but overestimate the energy use of small appliances. 
Therefore, it is likely that consumers systematically underestimate the 
energy use associated with a pool heater, resulting in less cost-
effective pool heater purchases.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \99\ Attari, S.Z., M.L. DeKay, C.I. Davidson, and W. Bruine de 
Bruin (2010): ``Public perceptions of energy consumption and 
savings.'' Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107(37), 
16054-16059 (Available at: www.pnas.org/content/107/37/16054) (Last 
accessed November 1, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    These market failures affect a sizeable share of the consumer 
population. A study by Houde \100\ indicates that there is a 
significant subset of consumers that appear to purchase appliances or 
equipment without taking into account their energy efficiency and 
operating costs at all.
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    \100\ Houde, S. (2018): ``How Consumers Respond to Environmental 
Certification and the Value of Energy Information,'' The RAND 
Journal of Economics, 49 (2), 453-477 (Available at: 
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1756-2171.12231) (Last 
accessed November 1, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    There are market failures relevant to consumer pool heaters 
installed in commercial or community applications as well. It is often 
assumed that because commercial or community customers are businesses 
or organizations that have trained or experienced individuals making 
decisions regarding investments in cost-saving measures, some of the 
commonly observed market failures present in the general population of 
residential customers should not be as prevalent in a commercial 
setting. However, there are many characteristics of organizational 
structure and historic circumstance in commercial settings that can 
lead to underinvestment in energy efficiency.
    First, a recognized problem in commercial settings is the 
principal-agent problem, where the building owner (or building 
developer) selects the equipment and the tenant (or subsequent building 
owner) pays for energy costs.101 102 Indeed, more than a 
quarter of commercial buildings in the CBECS 2012 sample are occupied 
at least in part by a tenant, not the building owner (indicating that, 
in DOE's experience, the building owner likely is not responsible for 
paying energy costs). There are other similar misaligned incentives 
embedded in the organizational structure within a given firm or 
business that can impact the choice of a pool heater. For example, if 
one department or individual within an organization is responsible for 
capital expenditures (and therefore equipment selection) while a 
separate department or individual is responsible for paying the energy 
bills, a market failure similar to the principal-agent problem can 
result.\103\ Additionally, managers may have other responsibilities and 
often have other incentives besides operating cost minimization, such 
as satisfying shareholder expectations, which can sometimes be focused 
on short-term returns.\104\ Decision-making related to commercial 
buildings is highly complex and involves gathering information from and 
for a variety of different market actors. It is common to see 
conflicting goals across various actors within the same organization as 
well as information asymmetries between market actors in the energy 
efficiency context in commercial building construction.\105\
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    \101\ Vernon, D., and Meier, A. (2012). ``Identification and 
quantification of principal-agent problems affecting energy 
efficiency investments and use decisions in the trucking industry,'' 
Energy Policy, 49, 266-273.
    \102\ Blum, H. and Sathaye, J. (2010). ``Quantitative Analysis 
of the Principal-Agent Problem in Commercial Buildings in the U.S.: 
Focus on Central Space Heating and Cooling,'' Lawrence Berkeley 
National Laboratory, LBNL-3557E. (Available at: escholarship.org/uc/item/6p1525mg) (Last accessed November 1, 2022).
    \103\ Prindle, B., Sathaye, J., Murtishaw, S., Crossley, D., 
Watt, G., Hughes, J., and de Visser, E. (2007). ``Quantifying the 
effects of market failures in the end-use of energy,'' Final Draft 
Report Prepared for International Energy Agency. (Available from 
International Energy Agency, Head of Publications Service, 9 rue de 
la Federation, 75739 Paris, Cedex 15 France).
    \104\ Bushee, B.J. (1998). ``The influence of institutional 
investors on myopic R&D investment behavior,'' Accounting Review, 
305-333. DeCanio, S.J. (1993). ``Barriers Within Firms to Energy 
Efficient Investments,'' Energy Policy, 21(9), 906-914. (explaining 
the connection between short-termism and underinvestment in energy 
efficiency).
    \105\ International Energy Agency (IEA). (2007). Mind the Gap: 
Quantifying Principal-Agent Problems in Energy Efficiency. OECD Pub. 
(Available at: www.iea.org/reports/mind-the-gap) (Last accessed 
November 1, 2022)
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    Second, the nature of the organizational structure and design can 
influence priorities for capital budgeting, resulting in choices that 
do not necessarily maximize profitability.\106\ Even factors as simple 
as unmotivated staff or lack of priority-setting and/or a lack of a 
long-term energy strategy can have a sizable effect on the likelihood 
that an energy efficient investment will be undertaken.\107\ U.S. tax 
rules for commercial buildings may incentivize lower capital 
expenditures, since capital costs must be depreciated over many years, 
whereas operating costs can be fully deducted from taxable income or 
passed through directly to building tenants.\108\
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    \106\ DeCanio, S.J. (1994). ``Agency and control problems in US 
corporations: the case of energy-efficient investment projects,'' 
Journal of the Economics of Business, 1(1), 105-124.
    Stole, L.A., and Zwiebel, J. (1996). ``Organizational design and 
technology choice under intrafirm bargaining,'' The American 
Economic Review, 195-222.
    \107\ Rohdin, P., and Thollander, P. (2006). ``Barriers to and 
driving forces for energy efficiency in the non-energy intensive 
manufacturing industry in Sweden,'' Energy, 31(12), 1836-1844.
    Takahashi, M and Asano, H (2007). ``Energy Use Affected by 
Principal-Agent Problem in Japanese Commercial Office Space 
Leasing,'' In Quantifying the Effects of Market Failures in the End-
Use of Energy. American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. 
February 2007.
    Visser, E and Harmelink, M (2007). ``The Case of Energy Use in 
Commercial Offices in the Netherlands,'' In Quantifying the Effects 
of Market Failures in the End-Use of Energy. American Council for an 
Energy-Efficient Economy. February 2007.
    Bjorndalen, J. and Bugge, J. (2007). ``Market Barriers Related 
to Commercial Office Space Leasing in Norway,'' In Quantifying the 
Effects of Market Failures in the End-Use of Energy. American 
Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. February 2007.
    Schleich, J. (2009). ``Barriers to energy efficiency: A 
comparison across the German commercial and services sector,'' 
Ecological Economics, 68(7), 2150-2159.
    Muthulingam, S., et al. (2013). ``Energy Efficiency in Small and 
Medium-Sized Manufacturing Firms,'' Manufacturing & Service 
Operations Management, 15(4), 596-612. (Finding that manager 
inattention contributed to the non-adoption of energy efficiency 
initiatives).
    Boyd, G.A., Curtis, E.M. (2014). ``Evidence of an `energy 
management gap' in US manufacturing: Spillovers from firm management 
practices to energy efficiency,'' Journal of Environmental Economics 
and Management, 68(3), 463-479.
    \108\ Lovins, A. (1992). Energy-Efficient Buildings: 
Institutional Barriers and Opportunities. (Available at: rmi.org/insight/energy-efficient-buildings-institutional-barriers-and-opportunities/) (Last accessed November 1, 2022).
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    Third, there are asymmetric information and other potential market 
failures in financial markets in general, which can affect decisions by 
firms with regard to their choice among alternative investment options, 
with energy efficiency being one such option.\109\

[[Page 34663]]

Asymmetric information in financial markets is particularly pronounced 
with regard to energy efficiency investments.\110\ There is a dearth of 
information about risk and volatility related to energy efficiency 
investments, and energy efficiency investment metrics may not be as 
visible to investment managers,\111\ which can bias firms towards more 
certain or familiar options. This market failure results not because 
the returns from energy efficiency as an investment are inherently 
riskier, but because information about the risk itself tends not to be 
available in the same way it is for other types of investment, like 
stocks or bonds. In some cases energy efficiency is not a formal 
investment category used by financial managers, and if there is a 
formal category for energy efficiency within the investment portfolio 
options assessed by financial managers, they are seen as weakly 
strategic and not seen as likely to increase competitive 
advantage.\112\ This information asymmetry extends to commercial 
investors, lenders, and real-estate financing, which is biased against 
new and perhaps unfamiliar technology (even though it may be 
economically beneficial).\113\ Another market failure known as the 
first-mover disadvantage can exacerbate this bias against adopting new 
technologies, as the successful integration of new technology in a 
particular context by one actor generates information about cost-
savings, and other actors in the market can then benefit from that 
information by following suit; yet because the first to adopt a new 
technology bears the risk but cannot keep to themselves all the 
informational benefits, firms may inefficiently underinvest in new 
technologies.\114\
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    \109\ Fazzari,, S.M., Hubbard, R.G., Petersen, B.C., Blinder, 
A.S., and Poterba, J.M. (1988). ``Financing constraints and 
corporate investment,'' Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, 
1988(1), 141-206.
    Cummings, J.G., Hassett, K.A., Hubbard, R.G., Hall, R.E., and 
Caballero, R.J. (1994). ``A reconsideration of investment behavior 
using tax reforms as natural experiments,'' Brookings Papers on 
Economic Activity, 1994(2), 1-74.
    DeCanio, S.J., and Watkins, W.E. (1998). ``Investment in energy 
efficiency: do the characteristics of firms matter?'' Review of 
Economics and Statistics, 80(1), 95-107.
    Hubbard R.G. and Kashyap A. (1992). ``Internal Net Worth and the 
Investment Process: An Application to U.S. Agriculture,'' Journal of 
Political Economy, 100, 506-534.
    \110\ Mills, E., Kromer, S., Weiss, G., and Mathew, P.A. (2006). 
``From volatility to value: analysing and managing financial and 
performance risk in energy savings projects,'' Energy Policy, 34(2), 
188-199.
    Jollands, N., Waide, P., Ellis, M., Onoda, T., Laustsen, J., 
Tanaka, K., and Meier, A. (2010). ``The 25 IEA energy efficiency 
policy recommendations to the G8 Gleneagles Plan of Action,'' Energy 
Policy, 38(11), 6409-6418.
    \111\ Reed, J.H., Johnson, K., Riggert, J., and Oh, A.D. (2004). 
``Who plays and who decides: The structure and operation of the 
commercial building market,'' U.S. Department of Energy Office of 
Building Technology, State and Community Programs. (Available at: 
www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/commercial_initiative/who_plays_who_decides.pdf) (Last accessed 
November 1, 2022).
    \112\ Cooremans, C. (2012). ``Investment in energy efficiency: 
do the characteristics of investments matter?'' Energy Efficiency, 
5(4), 497-518.
    \113\ Lovins 1992, op. cit. The Atmospheric Fund. (2017). Money 
on the table: Why investors miss out on the energy efficiency 
market. (Available at: taf.ca/publications/money-table-investors-
energy-efficiency-market/) (Last accessed November 1, 2022).
    \114\ Blumstein, C. and Taylor, M. (2013). Rethinking the 
Energy-Efficiency Gap: Producers, Intermediaries, and Innovation. 
Energy Institute at Haas Working Paper 243. (Available at: 
haas.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/WP243.pdf) (Last accessed 
November 1, 2022).
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    In sum, the commercial sector faces many market failures that can 
result in an under-investment in energy efficiency. This means that 
discount rates implied by hurdle rates \115\ and required payback 
periods of many firms are higher than the appropriate cost of capital 
for the investment.\116\ The preceding arguments for the existence of 
market failures in the commercial sector is corroborated by empirical 
evidence. One study in particular showed evidence of substantial gains 
in energy efficiency that could have been achieved without negative 
repercussions on profitability, but the investments had not been 
undertaken by firms.\117\ The study found that multiple organizational 
and institutional factors caused firms to require shorter payback 
periods and higher returns than the cost of capital for alternative 
investments of similar risk. Another study demonstrated similar results 
with firms requiring very short payback periods of 1-2 years in order 
to adopt energy-saving projects, implying hurdle rates of 50 to 100 
percent, despite the potential economic benefits.\118\ A number of 
other case studies similarly demonstrate the existence of market 
failures preventing the adoption of energy-efficient technologies in a 
variety of commercial sectors around the world, including office 
buildings,\119\ supermarkets,\120\ and the electric motor market.\121\
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    \115\ A hurdle rate is the minimum rate of return on a project 
or investment required by an organization or investor. It is 
determined by assessing capital costs, operating costs, and an 
estimate of risks and opportunities.
    \116\ DeCanio 1994, op. cit.
    \117\ DeCanio, S.J. (1998). ``The Efficiency Paradox: 
Bureaucratic and Organizational Barriers to Profitable Energy-Saving 
Investments,'' Energy Policy, 26(5), 441-454.
    \118\ Andersen, S.T., and Newell, R.G. (2004). ``Information 
programs for technology adoption: the case of energy-efficiency 
audits,'' Resource and Energy Economics, 26, 27-50.
    \119\ Prindle 2007, op. cit. Howarth, R.B., Haddad, B.M., and 
Paton, B. (2000). ``The economics of energy efficiency: insights 
from voluntary participation programs,'' Energy Policy, 28, 477-486.
    \120\ Klemick, H., Kopits, E., Wolverton, A. (2017). ``Potential 
Barriers to Improving Energy Efficiency in Commercial Buildings: The 
Case of Supermarket Refrigeration,'' Journal of Benefit-Cost 
Analysis, 8(1), 115-145.
    \121\ de Almeida, E.L.F. (1998). ``Energy efficiency and the 
limits of market forces: The example of the electric motor market in 
France'', Energy Policy, 26(8), 643-653. Xenergy, Inc. (1998). 
United States Industrial Electric Motor Systems Market Opportunity 
Assessment. (Available at: www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2014/04/f15/mtrmkt.pdf) (Last accessed January 20, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The existence of market failures in the residential and commercial 
sectors is well supported by the economics literature and by a number 
of case studies. If DOE developed an efficiency distribution that 
assigned pool heater efficiency in the no-new-standards case solely 
according to energy use or economic considerations such as life-cycle 
cost or payback period, the resulting distribution of efficiencies 
within the building sample would not reflect any of the market failures 
or behavioral factors above. DOE thus concludes such a distribution 
would not be representative of the pool heater market. Further, even if 
a specific household/building/organization is not subject to the market 
failures above, the purchasing decision of pool heater efficiency can 
be highly complex and influenced by a number of factors not captured by 
the building characteristics available in the RECS or CBECS samples. 
These factors can lead to households or building owners choosing a pool 
heater efficiency that deviates from the efficiency predicted using 
only energy use or economic considerations such as life-cycle cost or 
payback period (as calculated using the information from RECS 2015 or 
CBECS 2012).
    Responding to the April 2022 NOPR, Fluidra suggested that, for gas-
fired pool heaters in 2028, the market share for EL2 should be 
significantly higher than that for EL1, adding that the new market 
share significantly favors EL2 gas-fire pool heaters. Fluidra also 
suggested that the EL0 market share for gas-fired pool heaters should 
be zero, stating that this level would not comply with the existing 
minimum efficiency requirement of 82 percent thermal efficiency. 
(Fluidra, No. 18 at p. 3).
    In response, DOE notes that EL0 is defined as products which 
minimally comply with the existing thermal efficiency standards and 
include a standing pilot ignition system (see section IV.C.1.a for 
details), and therefore, in a no-new-standards case, these products 
would continue to be sold in the market. DOE assumed that the market 
share of EL 0 would decrease over time, compared to the 8 percent 
market share assumed in the 2010 Heating Products Final Rule based on 
manufacturer input. DOE does not currently have shipments data by 
efficiency to distinguish between EL 1 and EL 2, but based on available 
model data, the market shares appear to be similar. These model data 
informed the efficiency distribution used in the analysis.

[[Page 34664]]

9. Payback Period Analysis
    The payback period is the amount of time (expressed in years) it 
takes the consumer to recover the additional installed cost of more-
efficient products, compared to baseline products, through energy cost 
savings. Payback periods 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 for each efficiency level are the 
change in total installed cost of the product and the change in the 
first-year annual operating expenditures relative to the baseline. DOE 
refers to this as a ``simple PBP'' because it does not consider changes 
over time in operating cost savings. The PBP calculation uses the same 
inputs as the LCC analysis when deriving first-year operating costs.
    As noted previously, 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 first full year's energy savings resulting from the 
standard, as calculated under the applicable test procedure. (42 U.S.C. 
6295(o)(2)(B)(iii)) For each considered efficiency level, DOE 
determined the value of the first year's energy savings by calculating 
the energy savings in accordance with the applicable DOE test 
procedure, and multiplying those savings by the average energy price 
projection for the year in which compliance with the new and amended 
standards would be required.

G. Shipments Analysis

    DOE uses projections of annual product shipments to calculate the 
national impacts of potential amended or new energy conservation 
standards on energy use, NPV, and future manufacturer cash flows.\122\ 
The shipments model takes an accounting approach, tracking market 
shares of each product class and the vintage of units in the stock. 
Stock accounting uses product shipments as inputs to estimate the age 
distribution of in-service product stocks for all years. The age 
distribution of in-service product stocks is a key input to 
calculations of both the NES and NPV, because operating costs for any 
year depend on the age distribution of the stock.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \122\ DOE uses data on manufacturer shipments as a proxy for 
national sales, as aggregate data on sales are lacking. In general, 
one would expect a close correspondence between shipments and sales.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For the NOPR, DOE estimated consumer pool heater shipments by 
projecting shipments in three market segments: (1) replacements; (2) 
new swimming pool owners; and (3) new owners with an existing swimming 
pool that did not previously have a pool heater (both in residential 
and commercial applications),\123\ as follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \123\ DOE assumed in the October 2015 NODA that new owners also 
account for potential switching between gas and electric pool heater 
products.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (1) To project consumer pool heater replacement shipments in the 
residential and commercial sectors, DOE developed retirement functions 
for consumer pool heaters from the lifetime estimates (see section 
IV.F.6 of this document) and applied them to the existing products in 
the stock. DOE estimated the existing stock of products using estimated 
historical shipments 124 125 126 127 and the survival 
function for consumer pool heaters from the lifetime estimates. DOE 
took into account replacement rate of retired (failed) consumer pool 
heaters.
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    \124\ DOE had limited historical shipments data for electric 
pool heaters, so DOE ``backcasted'' the shipments model (i.e., 
applied the shipments model to years prior to 2015) to estimate 
historical shipments.
    \125\ U.S. Department of Energy-Office of Codes and Standards, 
Technical Support Document: Energy Efficiency Standards for Consumer 
Products: Room Air Conditioners, Water Heaters, Direct Heating 
Equipment, Mobile Home Furnaces, Kitchen Ranges and Ovens, Pool 
Heaters, Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts & Television Sets, 1993. 
Washington, DC Vol. 1 of 3. Report No. DOE/EE-0009.
    \126\ Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP). 2003-2009 
Gas-fired Pool Heater Shipments Data (Comment #135 for 2010 Heating 
Products Final Rule), available at www.regulations.gov/document/EERE-2006-STD-0129-0135 (last accessed October 15, 2022).
    \127\ 2016 Pkdata provided estimated combined historical 
shipments for electric and gas-fired pool heaters used in commercial 
applications from 2010-2015.
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    (2) To project shipments to the new swimming pool and spa market in 
the residential and commercial sector, DOE utilized projected new 
swimming pool (inground and above ground) installations and saturation 
rates. DOE estimated projected new swimming pool (inground and above 
ground) installations based on 2016 Pkdata,\128\ and 2020 Pkdata \129\ 
and projected saturation rates based on saturation data from 2020 
Pkdata and 1990-2015 RECS data.\130\
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    \128\ Pkdata. 2016 Residential and Commercial Swimming Pool, Hot 
tub, and Pool Heater Customized Report for LBNL, June 21, 2016, 
available at www.pkdata.com/datapointstrade.html#/ (last accessed 
October 15, 2022).
    \129\ Pkdata. 2020 Residential Swimming Pool, Hot tub, and Pool 
Heater Customized Report for LBNL, October 15, 2020, available at 
www.pkdata.com/datapointstrade.html#/ (last accessed October 15, 
2022).
    \130\ U.S. EIA. 1990, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009, and 2015 
RECS Survey Data, available at www.eia.gov/consumption/residential/ 
(last accessed October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (3) To project shipments to new owners in existing swimming pools 
that did not previously have a consumer pool heater in the residential 
sector, DOE estimated that a small fraction of existing swimming pools 
would add a consumer pool heater.\131\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \131\ Number of existing swimming pools without an electric or 
gas pool heater was based on 1990-2015 RECS data.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    AHRI and PHTA supported the fact that DOE updated its analysis 
based on 2015 feedback that resulted in a lower average annual growth 
and acknowledged that many unknown factors exist that could impact this 
projection. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at p. 9)
    For the final rule, DOE kept the same methodology for projecting 
shipments and updated its shipments estimates based on the latest data 
available, including 2022 Pkdata,\132\ RECS 2020 and CBECS 2018 data. 
The 2022 PKData also included estimated 2003-2021 inground pool heater 
shipments, which were used to calibrate DOE's shipments model. See 
chapter 9 of the final rule TSD for details.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \132\ Pkdata. 2022 Residential Swimming Pool, Hot tub, and Pool 
Heater Customized Report for LBNL, October 1, 2022, available at 
www.pkdata.com/datapointstrade.html#/ (last accessed October 15, 
2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Because the standards-case projections take into account the 
increase in purchase price and the decrease in operating costs caused 
by amended standards, projected shipments for a standards case 
typically deviate from those for the no-new-standards case. Because 
purchase price tends to have a larger impact than operating cost on 
appliance purchase decisions, standards-case projections typically show 
a decrease in product shipments relative to the no-new-standards case.
    Rheem generally supported the relative price elasticity approach 
and agrees that an increase in energy conservation standards will 
result in a reduction of shipments for a period, as compared to the no 
new standards case. (Rheem, No. 19 at p. 8) In response, DOE maintained 
its approach to estimate the impact of the considered standards on 
consumer pool heater shipments. Appendix 10C of the final rule TSD 
describes this analysis, which includes a sensitivity analysis.
    BWC suggested that the Department consider ongoing building 
electrification efforts in cities and states

[[Page 34665]]

throughout the country related to assumptions for gas-fired pool 
heaters. (BWC, No. 12 at p. 4) Rheem recommended DOE fully evaluate the 
impact of standards on fuel switching. Rheem noted that DOE stated in 
section 9.5.1 of the TSD that they did not consider the potential 
impact of consumers opting to switch from an electric to gas or gas to 
electric pool heater, suggesting that installation issues associated 
with a fuel change would limit switching. Rheem agreed that adding a 
propane tank (and associated supply service) or an electrical panel 
upgrade would limit fuel switching, but extending the gas line and 
accounting for venting would not prevent a consumer to switch from 
electric resistance to gas in installations where gas is already 
available. (Rheem, No. 19 at p. 7-8) AHRI and PHTA had concerns with 
EL4 for electric pool heaters, as the proposed standards would increase 
the consumer purchase cost, reduce overall sales, lengthen payback 
periods, and incentivize fuel switching to gas-fired pool heaters due 
to the price increase for electric pool heaters. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 
at p. 5) Joint Advocates supported DOE's conclusion that the potential 
for fuel switching as a result of the proposed standard levels is 
limited because, as DOE explained, the costs associated with switching 
from an electric pool heater to a gas pool heater (e.g., having to 
extend a gas line) would likely limit switching, and heat pump pool 
heaters already make up more than 90 percent of the electric pool 
heater market. (Joint Advocates, No. 13 at p. 3)
    DOE agrees with Joint Advocates that the costs associated with 
switching from an electric pool heater to a gas-fired pool heater (such 
as extending the gas line, adding a propane tank, or accounting for 
venting) would tend to limit such switching. However, it also agrees 
with Rheem that extending the gas line and accounting for venting would 
not prevent a consumer to switch from electric resistance to gas in 
installations where gas is already available. DOE also agrees that 
ongoing electrification efforts could impact the decision to switch 
from gas, but has limited data on the potential fraction of shipments 
that might switch from gas-fired pool heaters to electric pool heaters 
in the no-new amended standards case.
    For the final rule analysis, assumptions regarding future policies 
encouraging electrification of households and electric pool heating 
were speculative at the time of analysis, so such policies were not 
incorporated into the shipments projection. DOE agrees that ongoing 
electrification policies at the Federal, State, and local level are 
likely to encourage installation of electric pool heaters in new homes 
and adoption of electric pool heaters in homes that currently use gas-
fired pool heaters. However, there are many uncertainties about the 
timing and impact of these policies that make it difficult to fully 
account for their likely impact on gas and electric pool heater market 
shares in the time frame for this analysis (i.e., 2028 through 2057). 
Nonetheless, DOE has modified some of its projections to attempt to 
account for impacts that seem most likely in the relevant time frame. 
For example, DOE accounted for the 2022 update to Title 24 in 
California \133\ and for the decision of the California Public 
Utilities Commission to entirely eliminate ratepayer subsidies for the 
extension of new gas lines beginning in July 2023. Together, these 
policies are reasonably expected to lead to the phase-out of gas-fired 
pool heaters in new single-family homes in California. The California 
Air Resources Board has also adopted a 2022 State Strategy for the 
State Implementation Plan that would effectively ban sales of new gas-
fired pool heaters beginning in 2030.\134\ However, because a final 
decision on an implementing rule would not happen until 2025, DOE did 
not include this policy in its analysis for the final rule. The 
assumptions are described in chapter 9 and appendix 9A of the final 
rule TSD.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \133\ The 2022 update includes heat pumps as a performance 
standard baseline for water or space heating in single-family homes, 
and space heating in multi-family homes. Builders will need to 
either include one high-efficiency heat pump in new constructions or 
subject those buildings to more stringent energy efficiency 
standards.
    \134\ https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/documents/2022-state-
strategy-state-implementation-plan-2022-state-sip-
strategy#:~:text=The%202022%20State%20SIP%20Strategy,all%20nonattainm
ent%20areas%20across%20California.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE acknowledges that these and other electrification policies may 
result in a larger decrease in shipments of gas-fired water heaters 
than projected in this final rule, especially if stronger policies are 
adopted in coming years. However, this would occur in the no-new-
standards case, and thus would only reduce the energy savings estimated 
to result from this proposed rule. For example, if incentives and 
rebates shifted 5 percent of shipments in the no-new-amended standards 
case from gas-fired pool heaters to heat pump pool heaters, then the 
energy savings estimated for gas-fired pool heaters that would result 
from this proposed rule would decline by approximately 5 percent. The 
estimated consumer impacts are likely to be similar, however, except 
that the percentage of consumers with no impact at a given efficiency 
level would increase. However, at this time the impact of many of these 
policies remains too uncertain to be included in the shipments 
analysis.

H. National Impact Analysis

    The NIA assesses the national energy savings (``NES'') and the NPV 
from a national perspective of total consumer costs and savings that 
would be expected to result from new or amended standards at specific 
efficiency levels.\135\ (``Consumer'' in this context refers to 
consumers of the product being regulated.) DOE calculates the NES and 
NPV for the potential standard levels considered based on projections 
of annual product shipments, along with the annual energy consumption 
and total installed cost data from the energy use and LCC 
analyses.\136\ For the present analysis, DOE projected the energy 
savings, operating cost savings, product costs, and NPV of consumer 
benefits over the lifetime of consumer pool heaters sold from 2028 
through 2057.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \135\ The NIA accounts for impacts in the 50 states and U.S. 
territories.
    \136\ For the NIA, DOE adjusts the installed cost data from the 
LCC analysis to exclude sales tax, which is a transfer.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE evaluates the impacts of new or amended standards by comparing 
a case without such standards with standards-case projections. The no-
new-standards case characterizes energy use and consumer costs for each 
product class in the absence of new or amended energy conservation 
standards. For this projection, DOE considers historical trends in 
efficiency and various forces that are likely to affect the mix of 
efficiencies over time. 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. For the standards 
cases, DOE considers how a given standard would likely affect the 
market shares of products with efficiencies greater than the standard.
    DOE uses a spreadsheet model to calculate the energy savings and 
the national consumer costs and savings from each TSL. Interested 
parties can review DOE's analyses by changing various input quantities 
within the spreadsheet. The NIA spreadsheet model uses typical values 
(as opposed to probability distributions) as inputs.
    Table IV.16 summarizes the inputs and methods DOE used for the NIA

[[Page 34666]]

analysis for the final rule. Discussion of these inputs and methods 
follows the table. See chapter 10 of the final rule TSD for further 
details.

   Table IV.16--Summary of Inputs and Methods for the National Impact
                                Analysis
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Inputs                               Method
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shipments....................  Annual shipments from shipments model.
Compliance Date of Standard..  2028.
Efficiency Trends............  No-new-standards case: Based on
                                historical data. Standards cases: Roll-
                                up in the compliance year and then DOE
                                estimated growth in shipment-weighted
                                efficiency in all the standards cases,
                                except max-tech.
Annual Energy Consumption per  Annual weighted-average values are a
 Unit.                          function of energy use at each TSL.
Total Installed Cost per Unit  Annual weighted-average values are a
                                function of cost at each TSL.
                                Incorporates projection of future
                                product prices based on historical data.
Annual Energy Cost per Unit..  Annual weighted-average values as a
                                function of the annual energy
                                consumption per unit and energy prices.
Repair and Maintenance Cost    Annual values do not change with
 per Unit.                      efficiency level.
Energy Price Trends..........  AEO2022 projections (to 2050) and
                                extrapolation thereafter.
Energy Site-to-Primary and     A time-series conversion factor based on
 FFC Conversion.                AEO2022.
Discount Rate................  Three and seven percent.
Present Year.................  2022.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Product Efficiency Trends
    A key component of the NIA is the trend in energy efficiency 
projected for the no-new-standards case and each of the standards 
cases. Section IV.F.8 of this document describes how DOE developed an 
energy efficiency distribution for the no-new-standards case (which 
yields a shipment-weighted average efficiency) for each of the 
considered product classes for the year of anticipated compliance with 
an amended or new standard. To project the trend in efficiency absent 
amended standards for consumer pool heaters over the entire shipments 
projection period, DOE used available historical shipments data and 
manufacturer input. The approach is further described in chapter 10 of 
the final rule TSD.
    For the standards cases, DOE used a ``roll-up'' scenario to 
establish the shipment-weighted efficiency for the year that standards 
are assumed to become effective (2028). In this scenario, the market 
shares of products in the no-new-standards case that do not meet the 
standard under consideration would ``roll up'' to meet the new standard 
level, and the market share of products above the standard would remain 
unchanged.
    To develop no-new standards case efficiency trends after 2020, DOE 
assumed an annual decreasing trend of negative 2 percent in the market 
share for the minimum efficiency levels (EL 0) for both electric and 
gas-fired pool heaters. This resulted in a market share for EL 0 of 8 
percent in 2028 and 4 percent in 2057 for electric pool heaters and 4 
percent in 2028 and 2 percent in 2057 for gas-fired pool heaters.
2. National Energy Savings
    The national energy savings analysis involves a comparison of 
national energy consumption of the considered products between each 
potential standards case (``TSL'') and the case with no new or amended 
energy conservation standards. DOE calculated the national energy 
consumption by multiplying the number of units (stock) of each product 
(by vintage or age) by the unit energy consumption (also by vintage). 
DOE calculated annual NES based on the difference in national energy 
consumption for the no-new-standards case and for each higher 
efficiency standard case. DOE estimated energy consumption and savings 
based on site energy and converted the electricity consumption and 
savings to primary energy (i.e., the energy consumed by power plants to 
generate site electricity) using annual conversion factors derived from 
AEO2022. Cumulative energy savings are the sum of the NES for each year 
over the timeframe of the analysis.
    Use of higher-efficiency products is sometimes associated with a 
direct rebound effect, which refers to an increase in utilization of 
the product due to the increase in efficiency. For the NOPR, DOE did 
not include the rebound effect in the NPV analysis. 87 FR 22640, 22681. 
DOE did not find any data on the rebound effect specific to consumer 
pool heaters. DOE applied a rebound effect of 10 percent for consumer 
pool heaters used in residential applications, based on studies of 
other residential products, and 0 percent for consumer pool heaters 
used in commercial applications (see section IV.F.3.a of this document 
for more details). The calculated NES at each efficiency level is 
therefore reduced by 10 percent in residential applications. For the 
final rule analysis, DOE included the rebound effect in the NPV 
analysis by accounting for the additional net benefit from increased 
consumer pool heaters usage, as described in section IV.H.3 of this 
document.
    Rheem agreed that there could be some rebound effect if energy 
conservation standards are increased. While it is unlikely that a 
consumer would increase the temperature of their pool, it is possible 
that a consumer will be less diligent with shutting off pool heating 
between periods of pool usage during the heating season. (Rheem, No. 19 
at p.7) BWC agreed with DOE's estimate that there will be very little, 
if any, rebound effect for these products installed in commercial 
applications. (BWC, No. 12 at p. 4) AHRI and PHTA did not believe the 
approach of using other residential products to determine the rebound 
effect is appropriate for pool heating because consumers who choose to 
install pool heating will use them the same regardless of product 
efficiency. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at p. 8) They stated that they did 
not believe there is a rebound effect for pool heaters. Id.
    DOE continued to incorporate a rebound effect in order to have a 
conservative estimate of the potential energy savings from an energy 
conservation standard on pool heaters. DOE notes that an estimated 
rebound of 10 percent is modest and comparable to several other 
residential end uses, which typically range from 0 to 15 percent. While 
the inclusion of the rebound effect at the energy savings level reduces 
energy savings and the inclusion in the net present value analysis 
increases the net present value,

[[Page 34667]]

overall the exclusion of the rebound effect would not be sufficient to 
change DOE's conclusion regarding economic justification.
    In 2011, 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 Sciences, 
DOE announced its intention to use FFC measures of energy use and 
greenhouse gas and other emissions in the national impact analyses and 
emissions analyses included in future energy conservation standards 
rulemakings. 76 FR 51281 (Aug. 18, 2011). After evaluating the 
approaches discussed in the August 18, 2011 notice, DOE published a 
statement of amended policy in which DOE explained its determination 
that EIA's National Energy Modeling System (``NEMS'') is the most 
appropriate tool for its FFC analysis and its intention to use NEMS for 
that purpose. 77 FR 49701 (Aug. 17, 2012). NEMS is a public domain, 
multi-sector, partial equilibrium model of the U.S. energy sector \137\ 
that EIA uses to prepare its Annual Energy Outlook. The FFC factors 
incorporate losses in production and delivery in the case of natural 
gas (including fugitive emissions) and additional energy used to 
produce and deliver the various fuels used by power plants. The 
approach used for deriving FFC measures of energy use and emissions is 
described in appendix 10B of the final rule TSD.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \137\ For more information on NEMS, refer to The National Energy 
Modeling System: An Overview 2009, DOE/EIA-0581(2009), October 2009. 
Available at www.eia.gov/forecasts/aeo/index.cfm (last accessed 
October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Net Present Value Analysis
    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 (energy costs and repair and maintenance costs), 
and (3) a discount factor to calculate the present value of costs and 
savings. DOE calculates net savings each year as the difference between 
the no-new-standards case and each standards case in terms of total 
savings in operating costs versus total increases in installed costs. 
DOE calculates operating cost savings over the lifetime of each product 
shipped during the projection period.
    As discussed in section IV.F.1 of this document, DOE developed 
consumer pool heaters price trends based on 2022 PKData. DOE applied 
the same constant trend to project prices for each product class at 
each considered efficiency level. DOE's projection of product prices is 
described in appendix 10C of the final rule TSD.
    To evaluate the effect of uncertainty regarding the price trend 
estimates, DOE investigated the impact of different product price 
projections on the consumer NPV for the considered TSLs for consumer 
pool heaters. In addition to the default price trend, DOE considered 
two product price sensitivity cases: (1) a declining price trend case 
based on 2003-2014 price data and (2) an increasing price trend case 
based on 2015-2021 data. The derivation of these price trends and the 
results of these sensitivity cases are described in appendix 10C of the 
final rule TSD.
    The operating cost savings are the sum of the differences in energy 
cost savings, maintenance, and repair costs. The maintenance and repair 
costs derivation is described in section IV.F.5 of this document. The 
energy cost savings are calculated using the estimated energy savings 
in each year and the projected price of the appropriate form of energy. 
To estimate energy prices in future years, DOE multiplied the average 
regional energy prices by the projection of annual national-average 
residential energy price changes in the Reference case from AEO2022, 
which has an end year of 2050. To estimate price trends after 2050, DOE 
used the average of annual growth rates in prices from 2045 through 
2050.\138\ As part of the NIA, DOE also analyzed scenarios that used 
inputs from variants of the AEO2022 Reference case that have lower and 
higher economic growth. Those cases have lower and higher energy price 
trends compared to the Reference case. NIA results based on these cases 
are presented in appendix 10C of the final rule TSD.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \138\ Lavappa, Priya D. and J.D. Kneifel. Energy Price Indices 
and Discount Factors for Life-Cycle Cost Analysis--2022 Annual 
Supplement to NIST Handbook 135. National Institute of Standards and 
Technology (NIST). NISTIR 85-3273-37, available at www.nist.gov/publications/energy-price-indices-and-discount-factors-life-cycle-cost-analysis-2022-annual (last accessed October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In considering the consumer welfare gained due to the direct 
rebound effect, DOE accounted for change in consumer surplus attributed 
to additional heating from the purchase of a more efficient unit. 
Overall consumer welfare is generally understood to be enhanced from 
rebound. The net consumer impact of the rebound effect is included in 
the calculation of operating cost savings in the consumer NPV results. 
See appendix 10F of the final rule TSD for details on DOE's treatment 
of the monetary valuation of the rebound effect.
    In calculating the NPV, DOE multiplies the net savings in future 
years by a discount factor to determine their present value. For this 
final rule, DOE estimated the NPV of consumer benefits using both a 3-
percent and a 7-percent real discount rate. DOE uses these discount 
rates in accordance with guidance provided by the Office of Management 
and Budget (``OMB'') to Federal agencies on the development of 
regulatory analysis.\139\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \139\ United States Office of Management and Budget. Circular A-
4: Regulatory Analysis. September 17, 2003. Section E. Available at 
www.whitehouse.gov/omb/memoranda/m03-21.html (last accessed October 
15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Consumer Subgroup Analysis

    In analyzing the potential impact of new or amended energy 
conservation standards on consumers, DOE evaluates the impact on 
identifiable subgroups of consumers that may be disproportionately 
affected by a new or amended national standard. 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 final rule, DOE 
analyzed the impacts of the considered standard levels on two 
subgroups: (1) senior-only and (2) small business. The analysis used 
subsets of the RECS 2015 sample composed of households and CBECS 2012 
sample composed of commercial buildings that meet the criteria for the 
considered subgroups. DOE used the LCC and PBP spreadsheet model to 
estimate the impacts of the considered efficiency levels on these 
subgroups. Chapter 11 in the final rule TSD describes the consumer 
subgroup analysis.

J. Manufacturer Impact Analysis

1. Overview
    DOE performed an MIA to estimate the financial impacts of new and 
amended energy conservation standards on manufacturers of consumer pool 
heaters and to estimate the potential

[[Page 34668]]

impacts of such standards on employment and manufacturing capacity. The 
MIA has both quantitative and qualitative aspects and includes analyses 
of projected industry cash flows, the INPV, investments in research and 
development (``R&D'') and manufacturing capital, and domestic 
manufacturing employment. Additionally, the MIA seeks to determine how 
new and amended energy conservation standards might affect domestic 
manufacturing employment, capacity, and competition, as well as how 
standards contribute to overall regulatory burden. Finally, the MIA 
serves to identify any disproportionate impacts on manufacturer 
subgroups, including small business manufacturers.
    The quantitative part of the MIA primarily relies on the Government 
Regulatory Impact Model (``GRIM''), an industry cash flow model with 
inputs specific to this rulemaking. The key GRIM inputs include data on 
the industry cost structure, unit production costs, product shipments, 
manufacturer markups, and investments in R&D and manufacturing capital 
required to produce compliant products. The key GRIM outputs are the 
INPV, which is the sum of industry annual cash flows over the analysis 
period, discounted using the industry-weighted average cost of capital, 
and the impact to domestic manufacturing employment. The model uses 
standard accounting principles to estimate the impacts of more-
stringent energy conservation standards on a given industry by 
comparing changes in INPV and domestic manufacturing employment between 
a no-new-standards case and the various standards cases (i.e., TSLs). 
To capture the uncertainty relating to manufacturer pricing strategies 
following new and amended standards, the GRIM estimates a range of 
possible impacts under different manufacturer markup scenarios.
    The qualitative part of the MIA addresses manufacturer 
characteristics and market trends. Specifically, the MIA considers such 
factors as a potential standard's impact on manufacturing capacity, 
competition within the industry, the cumulative impact of other DOE and 
non-DOE regulations, and impacts on manufacturer subgroups. The 
complete MIA is outlined in chapter 12 of the final rule TSD.
    DOE conducted the MIA for this rulemaking in three phases. In Phase 
1 of the MIA, DOE prepared a profile of the consumer pool heaters 
manufacturing industry based on the market and technology assessment, 
preliminary manufacturer interviews, and publicly available 
information. This included a top-down analysis of consumer pool heaters 
manufacturers that DOE used to derive preliminary financial inputs for 
the GRIM (e.g., revenues; materials, labor, overhead, and depreciation 
expenses; selling, general, and administrative expenses (``SG&A''); and 
R&D expenses). DOE also used public sources of information to further 
calibrate its initial characterization of the consumer pool heaters 
manufacturing industry, including company filings of form 10-K from the 
SEC,\140\ corporate annual reports, the U.S. Census Bureau's ``Economic 
Census,'' \141\ and reports from D&B Hoovers.\142\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \140\ See online at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml (Last accessed on 
October 17, 2022).
    \141\ See online at www.census.gov/programs-surveys/asm/data/tables.html (Last accessed on October 17, 2022).
    \142\ See online at app.avention.com (Last accessed on October 
17, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In Phase 2 of the MIA, DOE prepared a framework industry cash-flow 
analysis to quantify the potential impacts of new and amended energy 
conservation standards. The GRIM uses several factors to determine a 
series of annual cash flows starting with the announcement of the 
standard and extending over a 30-year period following the compliance 
date of the standard. These factors include annual expected revenues, 
costs of sales, SG&A and R&D expenses, taxes, and capital expenditures. 
In general, energy conservation standards can affect manufacturer cash 
flow in three distinct ways: (1) creating a need for increased 
investment, (2) raising production costs per unit, and (3) altering 
revenue due to higher per-unit prices and changes in sales volumes.
    In addition, during Phase 2, DOE developed interview guides to 
distribute to manufacturers of consumer pool heaters in order to 
develop other key GRIM inputs, including product and capital conversion 
costs, and to gather additional information on the anticipated effects 
of energy conservation standards on revenues, direct employment, 
capital assets, industry competitiveness, and subgroup impacts.
    In Phase 3 of the MIA, DOE conducted structured, detailed 
interviews with representative manufacturers. During these interviews, 
DOE discussed engineering, manufacturing, procurement, and financial 
topics to validate assumptions used in the GRIM and to identify key 
issues or concerns. See section IV.J.3 of this document for a 
description of the key issues raised by manufacturers during the 
interviews. As part of Phase 3, DOE also evaluated subgroups of 
manufacturers that may be disproportionately impacted by new and 
amended standards or that may not be accurately represented by the 
average cost assumptions used to develop the industry cash flow 
analysis. Such manufacturer subgroups may include small business 
manufacturers, low-volume manufacturers (``LVMs''), niche players, and/
or manufacturers exhibiting a cost structure that largely differs from 
the industry average. DOE identified one subgroup for a separate impact 
analysis: small business manufacturers. The small business subgroup is 
discussed in section VI.B, ``Review under the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act'' and in chapter 12 of the final rule TSD.
2. Government Regulatory Impact Model and Key Inputs
    DOE uses the GRIM to quantify the changes in cash flow due to new 
and amended standards that result in a higher or lower industry value. 
The GRIM uses a standard, annual discounted cash-flow analysis that 
incorporates manufacturer costs, manufacturer markups, shipments, and 
industry financial information as inputs. The GRIM models changes in 
costs, distribution of shipments, investments, and manufacturer margins 
that could result from new and amended energy conservation standard. 
The GRIM spreadsheet uses the inputs to arrive at a series of annual 
cash flows, beginning in 2023 (the base year of the analysis) and 
continuing to 2057. DOE calculated INPVs by summing the stream of 
annual discounted cash flows during this period. For manufacturers of 
consumer pool heaters, DOE used a real discount rate of 7.4 percent, 
which was derived from industry financials and then modified according 
to feedback received during manufacturer interviews.
    The GRIM calculates cash flows using standard accounting principles 
and compares changes in INPV between the no-new-standards case and each 
standards case. The difference in INPV between the no-new-standards 
case and a standards case represents the financial impact of the new 
and amended energy conservation standards on manufacturers. As 
discussed previously, DOE developed critical GRIM inputs using a number 
of sources, including publicly available data, results of the 
engineering analysis, and information gathered from industry 
stakeholders during the course of manufacturer interviews. The GRIM 
results are presented in section V.B.2 of this document. Additional 
details about the

[[Page 34669]]

GRIM, the discount rate, and other financial parameters can be found in 
chapter 12 of the final rule TSD.
a. Manufacturer Production Costs
    Manufacturing more efficient products is typically more expensive 
than manufacturing baseline products due to the use of more complex 
components, which are typically more costly than baseline components. 
The changes in the MPCs of covered products can affect the revenues, 
gross margins, and cash flow of the industry.
    In the MIA, DOE used the MPCs calculated in the engineering 
analysis, as described in section IV.C of this document. DOE used 
information from its teardown analysis, described in section IV.C.3 of 
this document to disaggregate the MPCs into material, labor, 
depreciation, and overhead costs. To calculate the MPCs for products 
above the baseline, DOE added incremental material, labor, 
depreciation, and overhead costs from the engineering cost-efficiency 
curves to the baseline MPCs. These cost breakdowns were validated with 
manufacturers during manufacturer interviews.
    For a complete description of the MPCs, see chapter 5 of the final 
rule TSD.
b. Shipments Projections
    The GRIM estimates manufacturer revenues based on total unit 
shipment projections and the distribution of those shipments by 
efficiency level. Changes in sales volumes and efficiency mix over time 
can significantly affect manufacturer finances. For this analysis, the 
GRIM uses the NIA's annual shipment projections derived from the 
shipments analysis from 2023 (the base year) to 2057 (the end year of 
the analysis period). See chapter 9 of the final rule TSD for 
additional details.
c. Product and Capital Conversion Costs
    New and amended energy conservation standards could cause 
manufacturers to incur conversion costs to bring their production 
facilities and product designs into compliance. DOE evaluated the level 
of conversion-related expenditures that would be needed to comply with 
each considered efficiency level in each product class. For the MIA, 
DOE classified these conversion costs into two major groups: (1) 
product conversion costs; and (2) capital conversion costs. Product 
conversion costs are investments in research, development, testing, 
marketing, and other non-capitalized costs necessary to make product 
designs comply with new and amended energy conservation standards. 
Capital conversion costs are investments in property, plant, and 
equipment necessary to adapt or change existing production facilities 
such that new compliant product designs can be fabricated and 
assembled.
    To evaluate the level of capital conversion costs manufacturers 
would likely incur to comply with new and amended energy conservation 
standards, DOE used data gathered from manufacturer interviews as well 
as information derived from the product teardown analysis and 
engineering model. In developing its conversion cost estimates, DOE 
conservatively assumed manufacturers would redesign all noncompliant 
consumer gas-fired and heat pump pool heaters to comply with new and 
amended energy conservation standards (electric resistance pool heaters 
are discussed further in this section). Manufacturers could choose to 
drop some models that do not meet the levels prescribed by new and 
amended standards. Therefore, total product and capital conversion 
costs may be lower than the estimates calculated as part of this 
analysis.
    In response to the April 2022 NOPR, several interested parties 
commented on the conversion cost estimates used in the April 2022 NOPR 
analysis. BWC stated that DOE underestimated the amount of time and 
resources required to meet compliance of the proposed consumer pool 
heater standards and test procedures. (BWC, No. 12 at pp. 4-5) Fluidra 
stated they could provide information regarding industry capital and 
product conversion costs of compliance associated with the analyzed 
energy conservation standards for consumer pool heaters evaluated in 
this NOPR only in a confidential manufacturer interview. (Fluidra, No. 
18 at p. 4) Rheem also stated that they are willing to discuss DOE's 
conversion cost analysis with DOE's consultant during a confidential 
meeting. (Rheem, No. 19 at p. 9) AquaCal also claimed that the EL 4 
proposed by DOE for electric consumer pool heaters would have a major 
impact on the heat pump pool heater industry from cost to engineer and 
produce. (AquaCal, No. 11 at p. 1)
    After the April 2022 NOPR was published, DOE interviewed several 
manufacturers to discuss specific conversion costs their companies 
would likely incur at each efficiency level. BWC stated that the DOE 
significantly underestimated the burden that manufacturers would face 
to redesign products. They claimed that redesigning gas-fired consumer 
pool heaters to meet the EL 2 levels would require more time and 
resources than the 18 months of engineering time per model that DOE 
estimated in the April 2022 NOPR analysis. As this would require 
modifications to input rates and heat exchanger designs, and product 
testing, all of which would require more than 18 months of engineering 
time. BWC also stated that manufacturers would need to conduct a 
variety of testing including combustion, emissions, and certification 
testing in addition to redesigning non-compliant models. (BWC, No. 12 
at pp. 2-3)
    DOE updated the conversion cost estimates for this final rule 
analysis based on these comments and the confidential manufacturer 
interviews conducted after the publication of the April 2022 NOPR.
    Product conversion costs are calculated on a per model basis and 
are primarily driven by engineering R&D costs and testing costs. R&D 
costs include engineering time necessary to redesign non-compliant 
consumer pool heater models. DOE assumed that manufacturers would 
discontinue all their electric resistance consumer pool heater models 
for any standard level above baseline for electric consumer pool 
heaters, because electric resistance consumer pool heaters use 
different technologies and designs than heat pump consumer pool 
heaters. Consequently, no redesign costs are assigned to the redesign 
of electric resistance consumer pool heater models.
    For heat pump consumer pool heaters, all design options include 
growing the size of the evaporator. DOE assumed that the per model 
redesign effort, for electric heat pump consumer pool heaters, is the 
same to redesign a product to meet EL 2 and EL 3 but would require more 
engineering design time to redesign a product to meet EL 4 and EL 5. 
However, the number of models that would be required to be redesigned 
would vary for each EL required by the analyzed standard. In the April 
2022 NOPR analysis, DOE estimated six months of engineering time per 
model for electric heat pump consumer pool heaters to meet all analyzed 
ELs. 87 FR 22640, 22684-22685. However, based on confidential 
interviews with manufacturers conducted after the publication of the 
April 2022 NOPR, manufacturers stated that there would be a higher per 
model redesign effort to meet standards at EL 4 and EL 5, compared to 
meeting standards at EL 2 or EL 3. Manufacturers stated that more 
complicated engineering designs would be required to be used at EL 4 
and EL 5 as well as tighter manufacturing tolerances that would require 
more engineering time. Therefore, DOE increased the engineering effort 
for electric heat pump

[[Page 34670]]

consumer pool heaters to meet EL 4 and EL 5. For this final rule, DOE 
estimated a redesign effort of six months of engineering time per model 
for electric heat pump consumer pool heaters to meet EL 2 and EL 3 (the 
same estimate used in the April 2022 NOPR), and 12 months of 
engineering time per model to meet EL 4 and EL 5 (based on feedback 
provided during confidential manufacturer interviews).
    For gas-fired consumer pool heaters, DOE estimated that the 
redesign effort varies for each efficiency level. The design option 
analyzed at EL 1 replaces the standing pilot with an electronic 
ignition system. This entails a component swap and requires the 
addition of a sparker. DOE estimates a total of two months of 
engineering time per model to redesign a model with a standing pilot to 
an electronic ignition. The design option analyzed at EL 2 incorporates 
a blower. Product conversion costs involve the selection, 
qualification, and safety testing of the blower. In the April 2022 NOPR 
analysis DOE estimated 18 months of engineering time per model to meet 
EL 2, and 24 months of engineering time per model to meet EL 3 for gas-
fired consumer pool heaters. 87 FR 22640, 22685. However, based on 
confidential interviews with manufacturer conducted after the 
publication of the April 2022 NOPR, DOE increased the engineering 
effort for gas-fired consumer pool heaters to meet EL 2 and EL 3. 
Manufacturers stated that at EL 2 there would be a much smaller margin 
between the standards required at EL 2 and efficiencies at which gas-
fired pool heater will condense. Therefore, there will be a significant 
engineering effort to ensure both product reliability and compliance at 
EL 2. Therefore, in this Final Rule analysis, DOE estimated a redesign 
effort of 24 months of engineering time to redesign a gas-fired 
consumer pool heater model to meet EL 2 (per model). The design option 
analyzed at max-tech level incorporates condensing technology, which 
requires a significant amount of redesign to fine tune the gas-fired 
consumer pool heater such that it can accommodate condensate. 
Manufacturers stated that they will have to change the material for 
most of their heat exchangers, which would require substantially more 
resources than estimated in the April 2022 NOPR analysis. Therefore, in 
this Final Rule analysis, DOE estimated a redesign effort of 48 months 
of engineering time to redesign a gas-fired consumer pool heater model 
to meet EL 3 (per model). Based on this additional, and more recent, 
information provided during manufacturers interviews DOE increased the 
estimated per model conversion costs for gas-fired consumer pool 
heaters at EL 2 and EL 3.
    In addition to these redesign costs, DOE estimated a variety of 
testing costs including certification testing, verification testing, 
and combustion and emissions testing (for gas-fired consumer pool 
heaters). DOE estimated that gas-fired consumer pool heaters would 
require approximately 100 hours of testing to meet EL 1; 1,200 hours of 
testing to meet EL 2; and 3,500 hours of testing to meet EL 3 for each 
model that would need to be redesigned due to energy conservation 
standards. These testing costs include engineers, lab technicians, and 
all other employees involved in the testing process. For electric heat 
pump consumer pool heaters DOE estimated testing costs would be 
approximately $6,500 per model for all efficiency levels analyzed that 
would need to be redesigned due to energy conservation standards.
    Capital conversion costs are estimated on a per manufacturer basis. 
DOE developed a list of manufacturers of gas-fired, heat pump, and 
electric resistance consumer pool heaters using manufacturer's websites 
and public databases such as AHRI,\143\ DOE's publicly available 
CCD,\144\ and CEC's MAEDbS.\145\ For gas-fired consumer pool heaters, 
capital conversion costs would not be required at EL 1, since 
manufacturers would likely meet this EL by switching the ignition 
system from a standing pilot to electronic ignition. This is a 
component swap and likely would not require any capital investments. At 
EL 2, DOE estimated each manufacturer making gas-fired consumer pool 
heaters would be required to invest approximately $1 million per 
manufacturer to incorporate the blower that would likely be needed to 
meet this EL. At EL 3, manufacturers would likely be required to use 
condensing technology to meet this EL. This would require larger 
investments from manufacturers to necessitate major changes to tooling 
to make condensing heat exchangers as well as changes to injection 
molding machinery to accommodate larger cabinet sizes. At EL 2, DOE 
estimated each manufacturer making gas-fired consumer pool heaters 
would be required to invest approximately $4 million per manufacturer 
to incorporate condensing technology for all gas-fired consumer pool 
heater models manufactured. This $4 million investment per manufacturer 
would be in addition to the $1 million required to achieve EL 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \143\ See www.ahridirectory.org (Last accessed on October 10, 
2022).
    \144\ See www.regulations.doe.gov/certification-data (Last 
accessed on October 10, 2022).
    \145\ See cacertappliances.energy.ca.gov/Pages/Search/AdvancedSearch.aspx (Last accessed on October 10, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For electric heat pump consumer pool heaters, DOE estimated that a 
manufacturer that makes their own heat exchangers would be required to 
make approximately $2.5 million in capital investments (per 
manufacturer) to meet EL 3 and above. For a manufacturer that does not 
make their own heat exchangers, would be required to make approximately 
$130,000 in tooling costs to be able to incorporate a larger heat 
exchanger into their products.
    Lastly, for this final rule analysis DOE updated the model database 
of consumer pool heaters from the database that was used in the NOPR 
analysis, to reflect all consumer pool heater models that are currently 
available on the market. DOE used the most recent data available from 
DOE's CCD, CEC's MAEDbS, and AHRI's certification database for this 
final rule analysis. DOE identified a total of 79 unique basic models 
for gas-fired consumer pool heaters, 190 unique basic models for 
electric heat pump consumer pool heaters, and 20 unique basic models 
for electric resistance consumer pool heaters. These unique basic model 
counts, along with their estimated ELs, were used when estimating the 
total industry product and capital conversion costs used in this final 
rule analysis.
    DOE assumed all conversion costs will occur between the year of 
publication of the final rule and the year by which manufacturers must 
comply with new and amended energy conservation standards. 
Additionally, for the final rule analysis DOE updated the conversion 
cost estimates from 2020 dollars into 2021 dollars.
    The conversion cost estimates used in the GRIM can be found in 
Table IV.17 and in section IV.J.2.c of this document. For additional 
information on the estimated capital and product conversion costs, see 
chapter 12 of the final rule TSD.

[[Page 34671]]



                                     Table IV.17--Industry Product and Capital Conversion Costs per Efficiency Level
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                 Efficiency level
                                                Units                Product class      ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             EL 1         EL 2         EL 3         EL 4         EL 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product Conversion Costs.............  2021$ millions.........  Gas-Fired..............         $0.1        $14.1        $63.1  ...........  ...........
                                                                Electric...............          1.2          2.6          9.0        $19.9        $24.8
Capital Conversion Costs.............  2021$ millions.........  Gas-Fired..............          0.0          5.0         29.0  ...........  ...........
                                                                Electric...............          0.0          0.8          9.5          9.5          9.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

d. Stranded Assets
    In addition to capital and product conversion costs, new and 
amended energy conservation standards could create stranded assets 
(i.e., tooling and equipment that would have been used for a longer 
time if the energy conservation standard had not made them obsolete). 
In the compliance year, manufacturers write down the remaining 
undepreciated book value of existing tooling and equipment rendered 
obsolete by new and amended energy conservation standards.
    DOE assumed that manufacturers discontinue all electric resistance 
consumer pool heaters for any electric consumer pool heater standard 
established above baseline. Manufacturers of electric resistance 
consumer pool heaters typically purchase components from vendors and 
assemble them in-house. These manufacturers do not own capital 
equipment or machinery and therefore stranded assets are limited for 
electric resistance consumer pool heater manufacturers.
    In response to the NOPR, AHRI and PHTA stated they have no 
information at this time to suggest that the estimates provided for 
stranded assets are inaccurate. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at p. 9) Rheem 
stated that it was willing to discuss DOE's stranded asset analysis 
with DOE's consultant during a confidential meeting. (Rheem, No. 19 at 
p. 9)
    For the final rule analysis DOE converted the April 2022 NOPR 
stranded asset estimates from 2020$ into 2021$. DOE did not make any 
other updates to these stranded asset estimates.
e. Manufacturer Markup Scenarios
    MSPs include direct manufacturing production costs (i.e., labor, 
materials, and overhead estimated in DOE's MPCs) and all non-production 
costs (i.e., SG&A, R&D, and interest), along with profit. To calculate 
the MSPs in the GRIM, DOE applied non-production cost markups to the 
MPCs estimated in the engineering analysis for each product class and 
efficiency level. Modifying these markups in the standards case yields 
different sets of impacts on manufacturers.
    In the April 2022 NOPR analysis DOE used a manufacturer markup of 
1.33 for gas-fired consumer pool heaters and a manufacturer markup of 
1.28 for electric consumer pool heaters. 87 FR 22640, 22686. AHRI and 
PHTA encouraged DOE to conduct additional manufacturer interviews to 
ensure it captures products and conditions that best represent the 
current state of markups. (AHRI and PHTA, No. 20 at p. 6) As stated 
previously, DOE conducted interviews with manufacturers after the 
publication of the April 2022 NOPR. During these manufacturer 
interviews, several manufacturers stated the estimated manufacturer 
markups for each product class of consumer pool heaters used in the 
April 2022 NOPR analysis were lower than their manufacturer markups for 
those products. To address this, DOE revisited all publicly traded 
consumer pool heater manufacturer's financial statements for the past 5 
years. For this time frame, all publicly traded consumer pool heater 
manufacturers had a corporate-level manufacturer markups greater than 
1.33 (the highest manufacturer markup used in the April 2022 NOPR 
analysis) and during manufacturer interviews conducted after the 
publication of the April 2022 NOPR, all manufacturers stated that the 
manufacturer markups used in the April 2022 NOPR analysis should be 
increased. DOE recognizes that corporate-level manufacturer markups can 
significantly vary by products (for manufacturers that manufacture 
multiple products). However, DOE revised the manufacturer markups for 
this final rule analysis, based on the public corporate-level data and 
the confidential product-specific data provided by manufacturers during 
manufacturer interviews. DOE increased the gas-fired consumer pool 
heater manufacturer markup from 1.33 used in the April 2022 NOPR 
analysis to 1.44 and increased the electric consumer pool heater 
manufacturer markup from 1.28 used in the April 2022 NOPR analysis to 
1.39 for this final rule analysis.
    For the MIA, DOE modeled two standards-case markup scenarios to 
represent uncertainty regarding the potential impacts on prices and 
profitability for manufacturers following the implementation of new and 
amended energy conservation standards: (1) a preservation of gross 
margin scenario; and (2) a preservation of operating profit scenario. 
These scenarios lead to different manufacturer margins that, when 
applied to the MPCs, result in varying revenue and cash flow impacts.
    Under the preservation of gross margin scenario, DOE applied a 
single uniform ``gross margin'' across all efficiency levels, which 
assumes that manufacturers would be able to maintain the same amount of 
profit as a percentage of revenues at all efficiency levels within a 
product class. As MPCs increase with efficiency, this scenario implies 
that the absolute dollar markup will increase as well. Therefore, DOE 
assumes that this scenario represents the upper bound to industry 
profitability under energy conservation standards.
    Under the preservation of operating profit scenario, DOE modeled a 
situation in which manufacturers are not able to increase per-unit 
operating profit in proportion to increases in MPCs. Under this 
scenario, as the MPCs increase, manufacturers are generally required to 
reduce the manufacturer markup to maintain a cost competitive offering 
in the market. Therefore, gross margin (as a percentage) shrinks in the 
standards cases. This manufacturer markup scenario represents the lower 
bound to industry profitability under new and amended energy 
conservation standards.
    A comparison of industry financial impacts under the two 
manufacturer markup scenarios is presented in section V.B.2.a of this 
document.
3. Manufacturer Interviews
    DOE conducted interviews with manufacturers following the October 
2015 NODA, which was used to conduct parts of the April 2022 NOPR 
analysis. Additionally, DOE conducted interviews with manufacturers

[[Page 34672]]

following the publication of the April 2022 NOPR. Both of these rounds 
of manufacturer interviews informed the final rule analysis. In these 
interviews, DOE asked manufacturers to describe their major concerns 
with new and amended consumer pool heater energy conservation 
standards. During manufacturers interviews conducted prior to the 
publication of the April 2022 NOPR, manufacturers identified three 
major areas of concern: (1) use of integrated thermal efficiency metric 
for electric consumer pool heaters; (2) cost and complexity of 
installing condensing gas-fired consumer pool heaters; and (3) impact 
on profitability. These concerns were discussed in the April 2022 NOPR 
(see 87 FR 22640, 22686).
    Additionally, manufacturers identified two areas of concern 
regarding the April 2022 NOPR analysis during manufacturer interviews 
conducted after the publication of the April 2022 NOPR: (1) analyzed 
MPCs, MSPs, and manufacturer markups being low and needing to reflect 
the latest economic status; and (2) conversion costs estimated in the 
April 2022 NOPR analysis being too low.
    Manufacturer interviews are conducted under non-disclosure 
agreements (``NDAs''), so DOE does not document these discussions in 
the same way that it does public comments in the comment summaries and 
DOE's responses throughout the rest of this document.
a. Manufacturer Product Costs, Manufacturer Selling Prices, and 
Manufacturer Markups
    Manufacturers stated that there have been increases in costs of 
shipping, materials, and labor due to disruptions in the global supply 
chains, inflation, and other factors related to COVID-19 since the 
analysis was conducted for the April 2022 NOPR. Manufacturers urged DOE 
to update specific costs to be more reflective of the current market 
conditions. Additionally, manufacturers stated that the manufacturer 
markups used in the April 2022 NOPR were smaller than the manufacturer 
markups in the current consumer pool heater market. As discussed in 
section IV.C.2 of this document, DOE increased the MPCs used in this 
final rule analysis to better reflect the current market conditions 
consumer pool heater manufacturers are facing. Additionally, as 
discussed in section IV.J.2.e of this document, DOE increased the 
manufacturer markups used in this final rule analysis to better 
represent the current consumer pool heater market.
b. Conversion Costs
    Manufacturers stated that DOE underestimated the conversion costs 
that manufacturers would incur for both gas-fired and electric consumer 
pool heater manufacturers that were estimated in the April 2022 NOPR. 
Manufacturers claimed that, in addition to underestimating the redesign 
costs, DOE also did not accurately account for the additional 
combustion, emissions, and other safety testing that manufacturers 
would have to conduct if they had to redesign a gas-fired consumer pool 
heater model. As discussed in section IV.J.2.c of this document, DOE 
increased the estimated conversion costs used in this final rule 
analysis and included additional testing costs associated with 
redesigning gas-fired consumer pool heater models.

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 in emissions of other gases 
due to ``upstream'' activities in the fuel production chain. These 
upstream activities comprise extraction, processing, and transporting 
fuels to the site of combustion.
    The analysis of electric power sector emissions of CO2, 
NOX, SO2, and Hg uses emissions intended to 
represent the marginal impacts of the change in electricity consumption 
associated with amended or new standards. The methodology is based on 
results published for the AEO, including a set of side cases that 
implement a variety of efficiency-related policies. The methodology is 
described in appendix 13A in the final rule TSD. The analysis presented 
in this rulemaking uses projections from AEO2022. Power sector 
emissions of CH4 and N2O from fuel combustion are 
estimated using Emission Factors for Greenhouse Gas Inventories 
published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).\146\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \146\ Available at www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2021-04/documents/emission-factors_apr2021.pdf (last accessed October 15, 
2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The on-site operation of consumer pool heaters involves combustion 
of fossil fuels and results in emissions of CO2, 
NOX, SO2, CH4, and N2O 
where these products are used. Site emissions of these gases were 
estimated using Emission Factors for Greenhouse Gas Inventories and, 
for NOX and SO2, emissions intensity factors from 
an EPA publication.\147\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \147\ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. External Combustion 
Sources. In Compilation of Air Pollutant Emission Factors. AP-42. 
Fifth Edition. Volume I: Stationary Point and Area Sources. Chapter 
1. Available at www.epa.gov/air-emissions-factors-and-quantification/ap-42-compilation-air-emissions-factors#Proposed/ 
(last accessed October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FFC upstream emissions, which include emissions from fuel 
combustion during extraction, processing, and transportation of fuels, 
and ``fugitive'' emissions (direct leakage to the atmosphere) of 
CH4 and CO2, are estimated based on the 
methodology described in chapter 15 of the final rule TSD.
    The emissions intensity factors are expressed in terms of physical 
units per MWh or MMBtu of site energy savings. For power sector 
emissions, specific emissions intensity factors are calculated by 
sector and end use. Total emissions reductions are estimated using the 
energy savings calculated in the national impact analysis.
    AHRI and PHTA noted that the proposed EL for electric pool heaters 
requires the use of heat pump technology. Therefore, DOE should 
consider refrigerant leaks in its emissions analysis. (AHRI and PHTA, 
No. 20 at pp. 910)
    In response, given that the vast majority of the electric pool 
heater market is already at efficiency levels using heat pumps, any 
analysis including refrigerant leaks would not alter the economic 
justification for the rule. DOE also notes that refrigerant leaks are 
not captured within the scope of DOE's emissions analysis, which 
focuses on power plant emissions and emissions from site combustion.
1. Air Quality Regulations Incorporated in DOE's Analysis
    DOE's no-new-standards case for the electric power sector reflects 
the AEO, which incorporates the projected impacts of existing air 
quality regulations on emissions. AEO2022 generally represents current 
legislation and environmental regulations, including recent government 
actions, that were in place at the time of preparation of AEO2022, 
including the emissions control programs discussed in the following 
paragraphs.\148\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \148\ For further information, see the Assumptions to AEO2022 
report that sets forth the major assumptions used to generate the 
projections in the Annual Energy Outlook. Available at www.eia.gov/outlooks/aeo/assumptions/ (last accessed October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    SO2 emissions from affected electric generating units 
(``EGUs'') are subject to

[[Page 34673]]

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 
numerous States in the eastern half of the United States are also 
limited under the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (``CSAPR''). 76 FR 
48208 (Aug. 8, 2011). CSAPR requires these States to reduce certain 
emissions, including annual SO2 emissions, and went into 
effect as of January 1, 2015.\149\ AEO2022 incorporates implementation 
of CSAPR, including the update to the CSAPR ozone season program 
emission budgets and target dates issued in 2016. 81 FR 74504 (Oct. 26, 
2016). Compliance with CSAPR is flexible among EGUs and is enforced 
through the use of tradable emissions allowances. Under existing EPA 
regulations, for states subject to SO2 emissions limits 
under CSAPR, 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 another regulated EGU.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \149\ CSAPR requires states to address annual emissions of 
SO2 and NOX, precursors to the formation of 
fine particulate matter (``PM2.5'') pollution, in order 
to address the interstate transport of pollution with respect to the 
1997 and 2006 PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality 
Standards (``NAAQS''). CSAPR also requires certain states to address 
the ozone season (May-September) emissions of NOX, a 
precursor to the formation of ozone pollution, in order to address 
the interstate transport of ozone pollution with respect to the 1997 
ozone NAAQS. 76 FR 48208 (Aug. 8, 2011). EPA subsequently issued a 
supplemental rule that included an additional five states in the 
CSAPR ozone season program; 76 FR 80760 (Dec. 27, 2011) 
(Supplemental Rule), and EPA issued the CSAPR Update for the 2008 
ozone NAAQS. 81 FR 74504 (Oct. 26, 2016).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    However, beginning in 2016, SO2 emissions began to fall 
as a result of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (``MATS'') for 
power plants. 77 FR 9304 (Feb. 16, 2012). The final rule establishes 
power plant emission standards for mercury, acid gases, and non-mercury 
metallic toxic pollutants. In order to continue operating, coal plants 
must have either flue gas desulfurization or dry sorbent injection 
systems installed. Both technologies, which are used to reduce acid gas 
emissions, also reduce SO2 emissions. Because of the 
emissions reductions under the MATS, 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 another regulated EGU. 
Therefore, energy conservation standards that decrease electricity 
generation will generally reduce SO2 emissions. DOE 
estimated SO2 emissions reduction using emissions factors 
based on AEO2022.
    CSAPR also established limits on NOX emissions for 
numerous States in the eastern half of the United States. Energy 
conservation standards would have little effect on NOX 
emissions in those States covered by CSAPR emissions limits if excess 
NOX emissions allowances resulting from the lower 
electricity demand could be used to permit offsetting increases in 
NOX emissions from other EGUs. In such case, NOX 
emissions would remain near the limit even if electricity generation 
goes down. Depending on the configuration of the power sector in the 
different regions and the need for allowances, however, NOX 
emissions might not remain at the limit in the case of lower 
electricity demand. That would mean that standards might reduce 
NOX emissions in covered States. Despite this possibility, 
DOE has chosen to be conservative in its analysis and has maintained 
the assumption that standards will not reduce NOX emissions 
in States covered by CSAPR. Standards would be expected to reduce 
NOX emissions in the States not covered by CSAPR. DOE used 
AEO2022 data to derive NOX emissions factors for the group 
of States not covered by CSAPR.
    The MATS limit mercury emissions from power plants, but they do not 
include emissions caps and, as such, DOE's energy conservation 
standards would be expected to slightly reduce Hg emissions. DOE 
estimated mercury emissions reduction using emissions factors based on 
AEO2022, which incorporates the MATS.

L. Monetizing Emissions Impacts

    As part of the development of this final rule, for the purpose of 
complying with the requirements of Executive Order 12866, DOE 
considered the estimated monetary benefits from the reduced emissions 
of CO2, CH4, N2O, NOX, and 
SO2 that are expected to result from each of the TSLs 
considered. In order to make this calculation analogous to the 
calculation of the NPV of consumer benefit, DOE considered the reduced 
emissions expected to result over the lifetime of products shipped in 
the projection period for each TSL. This section summarizes the basis 
for the values used for monetizing the emissions benefits and presents 
the values considered in this final rule.
    To monetize the benefits of reducing GHG emissions this analysis 
uses the interim estimates presented in the Technical Support Document: 
Social Cost of Carbon, Methane, and Nitrous Oxide Interim Estimates 
Under Executive Order 13990 published in February 2021 by the 
Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases (IWG). 
On social cost of emissions, Environmental Advocates suggested that DOE 
strengthen its economic and policy justifications, such as by 
explicitly concluding that the theory and evidence for international 
reciprocity justify a focus on the full global values and consider 
including a discussion of domestic-only estimates. Environmental 
Advocates stated that DOE should consider conducting sensitivity 
analysis using a sounder domestic-only estimate as a backstop and 
should explicitly conclude that the rule is cost-benefit justified even 
using a domestic-only valuation that may still undercount climate 
benefits--and that the rule is easily cost-benefit justified even 
without counting any climate benefits. Environmental Advocates stated 
that DOE should continue to use of the interim SC-GHG values in its 
rulemakings as conservative estimates. (Environmental Advocates, No. 14 
at p. 2)
1. Monetization of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
    DOE estimates the monetized benefits of the reductions in emissions 
of CO2, CH4, and N2O by using a 
measure of the SC of each pollutant (e.g., SC-CO2). These 
estimates represent the monetary value of the net harm to society 
associated with a marginal increase in emissions of these pollutants in 
a given year, or the benefit of avoiding that increase. These estimates 
are intended to include (but are not limited to) climate-change-related 
changes in net agricultural productivity, human health, property 
damages from increased flood risk, disruption of energy systems, risk 
of conflict, environmental migration, and the value of ecosystem 
services.
    DOE exercises its own judgment in presenting monetized climate 
benefits as recommended by applicable Executive orders, and DOE would 
reach the same conclusion presented in this proposed rulemaking in the 
absence of the social cost of greenhouse gases. That is, the social 
costs of greenhouse gases, whether measured using the February 2021 
interim estimates presented by the Interagency Working Group on the 
Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases or by another means, did not affect the 
rule ultimately proposed by DOE.
    DOE estimated the global social benefits of CO2, 
CH4, and N2O reductions (i.e., SC-GHGs) using the 
estimates presented in the Technical Support Document: Social Cost of

[[Page 34674]]

Carbon, Methane, and Nitrous Oxide Interim Estimates under Executive 
Order 13990, published in February 2021 by the IWG. The SC-GHGs is the 
monetary value of the net harm to society associated with a marginal 
increase in emissions in a given year, or the benefit of avoiding that 
increase. In principle, SC-GHGs includes the value of all climate 
change impacts, including (but not limited to) changes in net 
agricultural productivity, human health effects, property damage from 
increased flood risk and natural disasters, disruption of energy 
systems, risk of conflict, environmental migration, and the value of 
ecosystem services. The SC-GHGs therefore, reflects the societal value 
of reducing emissions of the gas in question by one metric ton. The SC-
GHGs is the theoretically appropriate value to use in conducting 
benefit-cost analyses of policies that affect CO2, 
N2O and CH4 emissions. As a member of the IWG involved in 
the development of the February 2021 SC-GHG TSD, DOE agrees that the 
interim SC-GHG estimates represent the most appropriate estimate of the 
SC-GHG until revised estimates have been developed reflecting the 
latest, peer-reviewed science.
    The SC-GHGs estimates presented here were developed over many 
years, using transparent process, peer-reviewed methodologies, the best 
science available at the time of that process, and with input from the 
public. Specifically, in 2009, the IWG, that included the DOE and other 
executive branch agencies and offices was established to ensure that 
agencies were using the best available science and to promote 
consistency in the social cost of carbon (SC-CO2) values 
used across agencies. The IWG published SC-CO2 estimates in 
2010 that were developed from an ensemble of three widely cited 
integrated assessment models (IAMs) that estimate global climate 
damages using highly aggregated representations of climate processes 
and the global economy combined into a single modeling framework. The 
three IAMs were run using a common set of input assumptions in each 
model for future population, economic, and CO2 emissions 
growth, as well as equilibrium climate sensitivity--a measure of the 
globally averaged temperature response to increased atmospheric 
CO2 concentrations. These estimates were updated in 2013 
based on new versions of each IAM. In August 2016 the IWG published 
estimates of the social cost of methane (SC-CH4) and nitrous 
oxide (SC-N2O) using methodologies that are consistent with 
the methodology underlying the SC-CO2 estimates. The 
modeling approach that extends the IWG SC-CO2 methodology to 
non-CO2 GHGs has undergone multiple stages of peer review. 
The SC-CH4 and SC-N2O estimates were developed by 
Marten et al.\150\ and underwent a standard double-blind peer review 
process prior to journal publication.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \150\ Marten, A.L., E.A. Kopits, C.W. Griffiths, S.C. Newbold, 
and A. Wolverton. Incremental CH4 and N2O 
mitigation benefits consistent with the U.S. Government's SC-
CO2 estimates. Climate Policy. 2015. 15(2): pp. 272-298.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In 2015, as part of the response to public comments received to a 
2013 solicitation for comments on the SC-CO2 estimates, the 
IWG announced a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and 
Medicine review of the SC-CO2 estimates to offer advice on 
how to approach future updates to ensure that the estimates continue to 
reflect the best available science and methodologies. In January 2017, 
the National Academies released their final report, Valuing Climate 
Damages: Updating Estimation of the Social Cost of Carbon Dioxide, and 
recommended specific criteria for future updates to the SC-
CO2 estimates, a modeling framework to satisfy the specified 
criteria, and both near-term updates and longer-term research needs 
pertaining to various components of the estimation process (National 
Academies, 2017).\151\ Shortly thereafter, in March 2017, President 
Trump issued Executive Order 13783, which disbanded the IWG, withdrew 
the previous TSDs, and directed agencies to ensure SC-CO2 
estimates used in regulatory analyses are consistent with the guidance 
contained in OMB's Circular A-4, ``including with respect to the 
consideration of domestic versus international impacts and the 
consideration of appropriate discount rates'' (E.O. 13783, Section 
5(c)). Benefit-cost analyses following E.O. 13783 used SC-GHG estimates 
that attempted to focus on the U.S.-specific share of climate change 
damages as estimated by the models and were calculated using two 
discount rates recommended by Circular A-4, 3 percent and 7 percent. 
All other methodological decisions and model versions used in SC-GHG 
calculations remained the same as those used by the IWG in 2010 and 
2013, respectively.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \151\ National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 
Valuing Climate Damages: Updating Estimation of the Social Cost of 
Carbon Dioxide. 2017. The National Academies Press: Washington, DC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On January 20, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 13990, 
which re-established the IWG and directed it to ensure that the U.S. 
Government's estimates of the social cost of carbon and other 
greenhouse gases reflect the best available science and the 
recommendations of the National Academies (2017). The IWG was tasked 
with first reviewing the SC-GHG estimates currently used in Federal 
analyses and publishing interim estimates within 30 days of the E.O. 
that reflect the full impact of GHG emissions, including by taking 
global damages into account. The interim SC-GHG estimates published in 
February 2021 are used here to estimate the climate benefits for this 
proposed rulemaking. The E.O. instructs the IWG to update the interim 
SC-GHG estimates by January 2022, taking into consideration the advice 
of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine as 
reported in Valuing Climate Damages: Updating Estimation of the Social 
Cost of Carbon Dioxide (2017) and other recent scientific literature. 
The February 2021 SC-GHG TSD provides a complete discussion of the 
IWG's initial review conducted under E.O. 13990. In particular, the IWG 
found that the SC-GHG estimates used under E.O. 13783 fail to reflect 
the full impact of GHG emissions in multiple ways.
    First, the IWG found that the SC-GHG estimates used under E.O. 
13783 fail to fully capture many climate impacts that affect the 
welfare of U.S. citizens and residents, and those impacts are better 
reflected by global measures of the SC-GHG. Examples of omitted effects 
from the E.O. 13783 estimates include direct effects on U.S. citizens, 
assets, and investments located abroad, supply chains, U.S. military 
assets and interests abroad, and tourism, and spillover pathways such 
as economic and political destabilization and global migration that can 
lead to adverse impacts on U.S. national security, public health, and 
humanitarian concerns. In addition, assessing the benefits of U.S. GHG 
mitigation activities requires consideration of how those actions may 
affect mitigation activities by other countries, as those international 
mitigation actions will provide a benefit to U.S. citizens and 
residents by mitigating climate impacts that affect U.S. citizens and 
residents. A wide range of scientific and economic experts have 
emphasized the issue of reciprocity as support for considering global 
damages of GHG emissions. If the United States does not consider 
impacts on other countries, it is difficult to convince other countries 
to consider the impacts of their emissions on the United States. The 
only way to achieve an

[[Page 34675]]

efficient allocation of resources for emissions reduction on a global 
basis--and so benefit the U.S. and its citizens--is for all countries 
to base their policies on global estimates of damages. As a member of 
the IWG involved in the development of the February 2021 SC-GHG TSD, 
DOE agrees with this assessment and, therefore, in this proposed rule 
DOE centers attention on a global measure of SC-GHG. This approach is 
the same as that taken in DOE regulatory analyses from 2012 through 
2016. A robust estimate of climate damages that accrue only to U.S. 
citizens and residents does not currently exist in the literature. As 
explained in the February 2021 TSD, existing estimates are both 
incomplete and an underestimate of total damages that accrue to the 
citizens and residents of the U.S. because they do not fully capture 
the regional interactions and spillovers previously discussed, nor do 
they include all of the important physical, ecological, and economic 
impacts of climate change recognized in the climate change literature. 
As noted in the February 2021 SC-GHG TSD, the IWG will continue to 
review developments in the literature, including more robust 
methodologies for estimating a U.S.-specific SC-GHG value, and explore 
ways to better inform the public of the full range of carbon impacts. 
As a member of the IWG, DOE will continue to follow developments in the 
literature pertaining to this issue.
    Second, the IWG found that the use of the social rate of return on 
capital (7 percent under current OMB Circular A-4 guidance) to discount 
the future benefits of reducing GHG emissions inappropriately 
underestimates the impacts of climate change for the purposes of 
estimating the SC-GHG. Consistent with the findings of the National 
Academies (2017) and the economic literature, the IWG continued to 
conclude that the consumption rate of interest is the theoretically 
appropriate discount rate in an intergenerational context,\152\ and 
recommended that discount rate uncertainty and relevant aspects of 
intergenerational ethical considerations be accounted for in selecting 
future discount rates.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \152\ Interagency Working Group on Social Cost of Carbon. Social 
Cost of Carbon for Regulatory Impact Analysis under Executive Order 
12866. 2010. United States Government. Available at www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-12/documents/scc_tsd_2010.pdf (last 
accessed October 15, 2022); Interagency Working Group on Social Cost 
of Carbon. Technical Update of the Social Cost of Carbon for 
Regulatory Impact Analysis Under Executive Order 12866. 2013. 
Available at www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/11/26/2013-28242/technical-support-document-technical-update-of-the-social-cost-of-carbon-for-regulatory-impact (last accessed October 15, 
2022); Interagency Working Group on Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases, 
United States Government. Technical Support Document: Technical 
Update on the Social Cost of Carbon for Regulatory Impact Analysis-
Under Executive Order 12866. August 2016. Available at www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-12/documents/sc_co2_tsd_august_2016.pdf 
(last accessed October 15, 2022); Interagency Working Group on 
Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases, United States Government. Addendum 
to Technical Support Document on Social Cost of Carbon for 
Regulatory Impact Analysis under Executive Order 12866: Application 
of the Methodology to Estimate the Social Cost of Methane and the 
Social Cost of Nitrous Oxide. August 2016. Available at www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-12/documents/addendum_to_sc-ghg_tsd_august_2016.pdf (last accessed October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Furthermore, the damage estimates developed for use in the SC-GHG 
are estimated in consumption-equivalent terms, and so an application of 
OMB Circular A-4's guidance for regulatory analysis would then use the 
consumption discount rate to calculate the SC-GHG. DOE agrees with this 
assessment and will continue to follow developments in the literature 
pertaining to this issue. DOE also notes that while OMB Circular A-4, 
as published in 2003, recommends using 3% and 7% discount rates as 
``default'' values, Circular A-4 also reminds agencies that ``different 
regulations may call for different emphases in the analysis, depending 
on the nature and complexity of the regulatory issues and the 
sensitivity of the benefit and cost estimates to the key assumptions.'' 
On discounting, Circular A-4 recognizes that ``special ethical 
considerations arise when comparing benefits and costs across 
generations,'' and Circular A-4 acknowledges that analyses may 
appropriately ``discount future costs and consumption benefits . . . at 
a lower rate than for intragenerational analysis.'' In the 2015 
Response to Comments on the Social Cost of Carbon for Regulatory Impact 
Analysis, OMB, DOE, and the other IWG members recognized that 
``Circular A-4 is a living document'' and ``the use of 7 percent is not 
considered appropriate for intergenerational discounting. There is wide 
support for this view in the academic literature, and it is recognized 
in Circular A-4 itself.'' Thus, DOE concludes that a 7% discount rate 
is not appropriate to apply to value the social cost of greenhouse 
gases in the analysis presented in this analysis.
    To calculate the present and annualized values of climate benefits, 
DOE uses the same discount rate as the rate used to discount the value 
of damages from future GHG emissions, for internal consistency. That 
approach to discounting follows the same approach that the February 
2021 TSD recommends ``to ensure internal consistency--i.e., future 
damages from climate change using the SC-GHG at 2.5 percent should be 
discounted to the base year of the analysis using the same 2.5 percent 
rate.'' DOE has also consulted the National Academies' 2017 
recommendations on how SC-GHG estimates can ``be combined in RIAs with 
other cost and benefits estimates that may use different discount 
rates.'' The National Academies reviewed several options, including 
``presenting all discount rate combinations of other costs and benefits 
with [SC-GHG] estimates.''
    Environmental Advocates suggested that DOE consider including 
additional justification for adopting the range of discount rates 
endorsed by the Working Group and appropriately deciding not to apply a 
7% capital-based discount rate to climate impacts. Environmental 
Advocates stated that DOE should provide additional justification for 
combining climate effects discounted at an appropriate consumption-
based rate with other costs and benefits discounted at a capital-based 
rate. Environmental Advocates stated that DOE should also argue that it 
is appropriate generally to focus its analysis of this rule on 
consumption-based rates given that most costs and benefits are 
projected to fall to consumption rather than to capital investments. 
Environmental Advocates suggested that DOE consider providing 
additional sensitivity analysis using discount rates of 2% or lower for 
climate impacts. (Environmental Advocates, No. 14 at p. 2)
    DOE notes that it presents its results using four different 
discount rates for the SC-GHG, combined with consumer impacts at both 3 
and 7 percent, in section V.B.8. For presentational purposes, DOE uses 
the climate benefits associated with the average SC-GHG at a 3-percent 
discount rate when summarizing national impacts. DOE does not have a 
single central SC-GHG point estimate and it emphasizes the importance 
and value of considering the benefits calculated using all four SC-GHG 
estimates.
    As a member of the IWG involved in the development of the February 
2021 SC-GHG TSD, DOE agrees with the above assessment and will continue 
to follow developments in the literature pertaining to this issue. 
While the IWG works to assess how best to incorporate the latest, peer 
reviewed science to develop an updated set of SC-GHG estimates, it set 
the interim estimates to be the most recent estimates developed by the 
IWG prior to the group being disbanded in 2017. The estimates rely on 
the same models and harmonized

[[Page 34676]]

inputs and are calculated using a range of discount rates. As explained 
in the February 2021 SC-GHG TSD, the IWG has recommended that agencies 
revert to the same set of four values drawn from the SC-GHG 
distributions based on three discount rates as were used in regulatory 
analyses between 2010 and 2016 and were subject to public comment. For 
each discount rate, the IWG combined the distributions across models 
and socioeconomic emissions scenarios (applying equal weight to each) 
and then selected a set of four values recommended for use in benefit-
cost analyses: an average value resulting from the model runs for each 
of three discount rates (2.5 percent, 3 percent, and 5 percent), plus a 
fourth value, selected as the 95th percentile of estimates based on a 3 
percent discount rate. The fourth value was included to provide 
information on potentially higher-than-expected economic impacts from 
climate change. As explained in the February 2021 SC-GHG TSD, and DOE 
agrees, this update reflects the immediate need to have an operational 
SC-GHG for use in regulatory benefit-cost analyses and other 
applications that was developed using a transparent process, peer-
reviewed methodologies, and the science available at the time of that 
process. Those estimates were subject to public comment in the context 
of dozens of proposed rulemakings as well as in a dedicated public 
comment period in 2013.
    There are a number of limitations and uncertainties associated with 
the SC-GHG estimates. First, the current scientific and economic 
understanding of discounting approaches suggests discount rates 
appropriate for intergenerational analysis in the context of climate 
change are likely to be less than 3 percent, near 2 percent or 
lower.\153\ Second, the IAMs used to produce these interim estimates do 
not include all of the important physical, ecological, and economic 
impacts of climate change recognized in the climate change literature 
and the science underlying their ``damage functions''--i.e., the core 
parts of the IAMs that map global mean temperature changes and other 
physical impacts of climate change into economic (both market and 
nonmarket) damages--lags behind the most recent research. For example, 
limitations include the incomplete treatment of catastrophic and non-
catastrophic impacts in the integrated assessment models, their 
incomplete treatment of adaptation and technological change, the 
incomplete way in which inter-regional and intersectoral linkages are 
modeled, uncertainty in the extrapolation of damages to high 
temperatures, and inadequate representation of the relationship between 
the discount rate and uncertainty in economic growth over long time 
horizons. Likewise, the socioeconomic and emissions scenarios used as 
inputs to the models do not reflect new information from the last 
decade of scenario generation or the full range of projections. The 
modeling limitations do not all work in the same direction in terms of 
their influence on the SC-CO2 estimates. However, as 
discussed in the February 2021 TSD, the IWG has recommended that, taken 
together, the limitations suggest that the interim SC-GHG estimates 
used in this final rule likely underestimate the damages from GHG 
emissions. DOE concurs with this assessment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \153\ Interagency Working Group on Social Cost of Greenhouse 
Gases (IWG). 2021. Technical Support Document: Social Cost of 
Carbon, Methane, and Nitrous Oxide Interim Estimates under Executive 
Order 13990. February. United States Government. Available at: 
www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/blog/2021/02/26/a-return-to-science-evidence-based-estimates-of-the-benefits-of-reducing-climate-pollution/ (last accessed October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE's derivations of the SC-CO2, SC-N2O, and 
SC-CH4 values used for this final rule are discussed in the 
following sections, and the results of DOE's analyses estimating the 
benefits of the reductions in emissions of these GHGs are presented in 
section V.B.6 of this document.
a. Social Cost of Carbon
    The SC-CO2 values used for this final rule were based on 
the values developed for the IWG's February 2021 TSD. Table IV.18 shows 
the updated sets of SC-CO2 estimates from the IWG's TSD in 
5-year increments from 2020 to 2050. The full set of annual values that 
DOE used is presented in appendix 14-A of the final rule TSD. For 
purposes of capturing the uncertainties involved in regulatory impact 
analysis, DOE has determined it is appropriate to include all four sets 
of SC-CO2 values, as recommended by the IWG.\154\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \154\ For example, the February 2021 TSD discusses how the 
understanding of discounting approaches suggests that discount rates 
appropriate for intergenerational analysis in the context of climate 
change may be lower than 3 percent.

                    Table IV.18--Annual SC-CO2 Values From 2021 Interagency Update, 2020-2050
                                           [2020$ per metric ton CO2]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Discount rate and statistic
                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Year                                                                           3%  95th
                                                 5%  Average     3%  Average    2.5%  Average      percentile
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2020.........................................              14              51              76                152
2025.........................................              17              56              83                169
2030.........................................              19              62              89                187
2035.........................................              22              67              96                206
2040.........................................              25              73             103                225
2045.........................................              28              79             110                242
2050.........................................              32              85             116                260
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For 2051 to 2070, DOE used SC-CO2 estimates published by 
EPA, adjusted to 2020$.\155\ These estimates are based on methods, 
assumptions, and parameters identical to the 2020-2050 estimates 
published by the IWG. DOE expects additional climate benefits to accrue 
for any longer-life consumer pool heaters after 2070, but a lack of 
available SC-CO2 estimates for emissions years beyond 2070 
prevents DOE from monetizing these potential benefits in this analysis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \155\ See EPA, Revised 2023 and Later Model Year Light-Duty 
Vehicle GHG Emissions Standards: Regulatory Impact Analysis, 
Washington, DC, December 2021. Available at www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2021-12/420r21028.pdf (last accessed October 15, 
2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE multiplied the CO2 emissions reduction estimated for 
each year by the SC-CO2 value for that year in each of the 
four cases. DOE adjusted the values to 2021$ using the implicit price 
deflator for gross domestic product (``GDP'') from the Bureau of 
Economic

[[Page 34677]]

Analysis. 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 SC-
CO2 values in each case.
b. Social Cost of Methane and Nitrous Oxide
    The SC-CH4 and SC-N2O values used for this 
final rule were based on the values developed for the February 2021 
TSD. Table IV.19 shows the updated sets of SC-CH4 and SC-
N2O estimates from the latest interagency update in 5-year 
increments from 2020 to 2050. The full set of annual values used is 
presented in appendix 14-A of the final rule TSD. To capture the 
uncertainties involved in regulatory impact analysis, DOE has 
determined it is appropriate to include all four sets of SC-
CH4 and SC-N2O values, as recommended by the IWG. 
DOE derived values after 2050 using the approach described above for 
the SC-CO2.

                                  Table IV.19--Annual SC-CH4 and SC-N2O Values From 2021 Interagency Update, 2020-2050
                                                                 [2020$ per metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 SC-CH4 discount rate and statistic                        SC-N2O discount rate and statistic
                                     -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Year                                                2.5%          3%  95th                                    2.5%          3%  95th
                                      5%  Average  3%  Average    Average        percentile     5%  Average  3%  Average    Average        percentile
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2020................................          670        1,500        2,000              3,900        5,800       18,000       27,000             48,000
2025................................          800        1,700        2,200              4,500        6,800       21,000       30,000             54,000
2030................................          940        2,000        2,500              5,200        7,800       23,000       33,000             60,000
2035................................        1,100        2,200        2,800              6,000        9,000       25,000       36,000             67,000
2040................................        1,300        2,500        3,100              6,700       10,000       28,000       39,000             74,000
2045................................        1,500        2,800        3,500              7,500       12,000       30,000       42,000             81,000
2050................................        1,700        3,100        3,800              8,200       13,000       33,000       45,000             88,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE multiplied the CH4 and N2O emissions 
reduction estimated for each year by the SC-CH4 and SC-
N2O estimates for that year in each of the cases. DOE 
adjusted the values to 2021$ using the implicit price deflator for 
gross domestic product (``GDP'') from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. 
To calculate a present value of the stream of monetary values, DOE 
discounted the values in each of the cases using the specific discount 
rate that had been used to obtain the SC-CH4 and SC-
N2O estimates in each case.
2. Monetization of Other Emissions Impacts
    For the final rule, DOE estimated the monetized value of 
NOX and SO2 emissions reductions from electricity 
generation using benefit per ton estimates for that sector from the 
EPA's Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program.\156\ DOE used EPA's values 
for PM2.5-related benefits associated with NOX 
and SO2 and for ozone-related benefits associated with 
NOX for 2025 and 2030, and 2040, calculated with discount 
rates of 3 percent and 7 percent. DOE used linear interpolation to 
define values for the years not given in the 2025 to 2040 range; for 
years beyond 2040 the values are held constant. DOE derived values 
specific to the sector for consumer pool heaters using a method 
described in appendix 14B of the final rule TSD.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \156\ Estimating the Benefit per Ton of Reducing 
PM2.5 Precursors from 21 Sectors. www.epa.gov/benmap/estimating-benefit-ton-reducing-pm25-precursors-21-sectors.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE also estimated the monetized value of NOX and 
SO2 emissions reductions from site use of natural gas in 
PRODUCT using benefit per ton estimates from the EPA's Benefits Mapping 
and Analysis Program. Although none of the sectors covered by EPA 
refers specifically to residential and commercial buildings, the sector 
called ``area sources'' would be a reasonable proxy for residential and 
commercial buildings.\157\ The EPA document provides high and low 
estimates for 2025 and 2030 at 3- and 7-percent discount rates.\158\ 
DOE used the same linear interpolation and extrapolation as it did with 
the values for electricity generation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \157\ ``Area sources'' represents all emission sources for which 
states do not have exact (point) locations in their emissions 
inventories. Because exact locations would tend to be associated 
with larger sources, ``area sources'' would be fairly representative 
of small dispersed sources like homes and businesses.
    \158\ ``Area sources'' are a category in the 2018 document from 
EPA, but are not used in the 2021 document cited previously. See: 
www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2018-02/documents/sourceapportionmentbpttsd_2018.pdf (last accessed October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE multiplied the site 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.

M. Utility Impact Analysis

    The utility impact analysis estimates the changes in installed 
electrical capacity and generation projected to result for each 
considered TSL. The analysis is based on published output from the NEMS 
associated with AEO2022. 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. For the current analysis, impacts 
are quantified by comparing the levels of electricity sector 
generation, installed capacity, fuel consumption and emissions in the 
AEO2022 Reference case and various side cases. Details of the 
methodology are provided in the appendices to chapters 13 and 15 of the 
final rule 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 potential new or 
amended energy conservation standards.
    The utility analysis also estimates the impact on gas utilities in 
terms of projected changes in natural gas deliveries to consumers for 
each TSL.

N. Employment Impact Analysis

    DOE considers employment impacts in the domestic economy as one 
factor in selecting a standard. Employment impacts from new or amended 
energy conservation standards include both direct and indirect impacts. 
Direct employment impacts are any changes in the number of employees of 
manufacturers of the products subject to

[[Page 34678]]

standards, their suppliers, and related service firms. 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 appliances. Indirect employment impacts from standards 
consist of the net jobs created or eliminated in the national economy, 
other than in the manufacturing sector being regulated, caused by (1) 
reduced spending by consumers on energy, (2) reduced spending on new 
energy supply by the utility industry, (3) increased consumer spending 
on the products to which the new standards apply and other goods and 
services, 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.\159\ 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 due to shifts in 
economic activity resulting from energy conservation standards.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \159\ 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 www.bea.gov/scb/pdf/regional/perinc/meth/rims2.pdf (last accessed October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE estimated indirect national employment impacts for the standard 
levels considered in this final rule using an input/output model of the 
U.S. economy called Impact of Sector Energy Technologies version 4 
(``ImSET'').\160\ 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 
187 sectors most relevant to industrial, commercial, and residential 
building energy use.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \160\ Livingston, O.V., S.R. Bender, M.J. Scott, and R.W. 
Schultz. ImSET 4.0: Impact of Sector Energy Technologies Model 
Description and User's Guide. 2015. Pacific Northwest National 
Laboratory: Richland, WA. PNNL-24563.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE notes that ImSET is not a general equilibrium forecasting 
model, and that 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 for this rule. Therefore, DOE used ImSET only to generate results 
for near-term timeframes (2028-2033), where these uncertainties are 
reduced. For more details on the employment impact analysis, see 
chapter 16 of the final rule TSD.

V. Analytical Results and Conclusions

    The following section addresses the results from DOE's analyses 
with respect to the considered energy conservation standards for 
consumer pool heaters. It addresses the TSLs examined by DOE, the 
projected impacts of each of these levels if adopted as energy 
conservation standards for consumer pool heaters, and the standards 
levels that DOE is adopting in this final rule. Additional details 
regarding DOE's analyses are contained in the final rule TSD supporting 
this document.

A. Trial Standard Levels

    In general, DOE typically evaluates potential amended standards for 
products and equipment by grouping individual efficiency levels for 
each class into TSLs. Use of TSLs allows DOE to identify and consider 
manufacturer cost interactions between the product classes, to the 
extent that there are such interactions, and market cross elasticity 
from consumer purchasing decisions that may change when different 
standard levels are set.
    In the analysis conducted for this final rule, DOE analyzed the 
benefits and burdens of six TSLs for consumer pool heaters. DOE 
developed TSLs that combine efficiency levels for each analyzed product 
class. DOE presents the results for the TSLs in this document, while 
the results for all efficiency levels that DOE analyzed are in the 
final rule TSD.
    Table V.1 presents the TSLs and the corresponding efficiency levels 
that DOE has identified for potential amended energy conservation 
standards for consumer pool heaters.
    TSL 6 represents the maximum technologically feasible (``max-
tech'') energy efficiency for all product classes. TSL 5 represents 
efficiency levels below max-tech for both electric and gas-fired pool 
heaters and represents the maximum energy savings excluding max-tech 
efficiency levels. A much greater fraction of gas-fired pool heater 
consumers experience a net cost compared to electric pool heater 
consumers at TSL 5. Therefore, TSL 4 is constructed with the same 
efficiency level for electric pool heaters (i.e., EL 4) but reduces the 
efficiency level for gas-fired pool heaters (i.e., EL 1). Finally, 
because EL 1 is the lowest analyzed efficiency level above baseline, 
TSLs 3, 2, and 1 are also constructed with EL 1 for gas-fired pool 
heaters as opposed to analyzing a no-new-standards case for this 
product class. TSLs 3, 2, and 1 consist of the remaining efficiency 
levels for electric pool heaters.

                                               Table V.1--Trial Standard Levels for Consumer Pool Heaters
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               Trial standard level
                      Product class                      -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 1               2               3               4               5               6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Efficiency Level and Representative TEI
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electric Pool Heaters...................................        1 (387%)        2 (483%)        3 (534%)        4 (551%)        4 (551%)        5 (595%)

[[Page 34679]]

 
Gas-fired Pool Heaters..................................       1 (81.3%)       1 (81.3%)       1 (81.3%)       1 (81.3%)       2 (83.3%)       3 (94.8%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Economic Justification and Energy Savings

1. Economic Impacts on Individual Consumers
    DOE analyzed the economic impacts on consumer pool heaters 
consumers by looking at the effects that potential new and amended 
standards at each TSL would have on the LCC and PBP. DOE also examined 
the impacts of potential standards on selected consumer subgroups. 
These analyses are discussed in the following sections.
a. Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period
    In general, higher-efficiency products affect consumers in two 
ways: (1) purchase price increases and (2) annual 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 use, 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 final rule 
TSD provides detailed information on the LCC and PBP analyses.
    Table V.2 through Table V.5 show the LCC and PBP results for the 
TSLs considered for each 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 impacts are measured relative to the 
efficiency distribution in the in the no-new-standards case in the 
compliance year (see section IV.F.8 of this document). 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 baseline product 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.2--Average LCC and PBP Results for Electric Pool Heaters
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Average costs  (2021$)
                                 Representative TEi  (%) ----------------------------------------------------------------     Simple          Average
              TSL                                                          First year's      Lifetime                         payback        lifetime
                                                          Installed cost  operating cost  operating cost        LCC           (years)         (years)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.............................  342.....................           4,117             556           4,771           8,888             0.3            11.2
2.............................  483.....................           4,226             460           3,968           8,193             0.4            11.2
3.............................  534.....................           4,326             420           3,637           7,963             0.4            11.2
4,5...........................  551.....................           4,472             406           3,521           7,993             0.5            11.2
6.............................  595 (Max Tech)..........           4,666             392           3,404           8,070             0.6            11.2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The results for each TSL are calculated assuming that all consumers use products at that efficiency level.


         Table V.3--Average LCC Savings Relative to the No-New-Standards Case for Electric Pool Heaters
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Life-cycle cost savings
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                                                                   Percent of
                     TSL                          Representative TEi (%)         Average LCC     consumers that
                                                                                  savings *      experience net
                                                                                   (2021$)          cost (%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...........................................  342...........................             8,090               1.1
2...........................................  483...........................             4,403               2.3
3...........................................  534...........................             1,302              22.4
4,5.........................................  551...........................             1,130              45.3
6...........................................  595 (Max Tech)................               946              62.9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The savings represent the average LCC for affected consumers.


                                            Table V.4--Average LCC and PBP Results for Gas-Fired Pool Heaters
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Average costs  (2021$)
                                     Representative TEi  ----------------------------------------------------------------     Simple          Average
                TSL                          (%)                           First year's      Lifetime                         payback        lifetime
                                                          Installed cost  operating cost  operating cost        LCC           (years)         (years)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,2,3,4...........................  81.3................           3,479           1,819          15,462          18,940             0.2            11.2
5.................................  83.3................           3,723           1,785          15,182          18,906             2.3            11.2

[[Page 34680]]

 
6.................................  94.7(Max Tech)......           4,655           1,617          13,805          18,460             4.2            11.2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The results for each TSL are calculated assuming that all consumers use products at that efficiency level.


         Table V.5--Average LCC Savings Relative to the No-New-Standards Case for Gas-Fired Pool Heaters
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Life-cycle cost savings
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                                                                   Percent of
                     TSL                          Representative TEi  (%)        Average LCC     consumers that
                                                                                  savings *      experience net
                                                                                   (2021$)          cost  (%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,2,3,4.....................................  81.3..........................               783               0.2
5...........................................  83.3..........................                80              39.1
6...........................................  94.7 (Max Tech)...............               497              72.6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The savings represent the average LCC for affected consumers.

b. Consumer Subgroup Analysis
    In the consumer subgroup analysis, DOE estimated the impact of the 
considered TSLs on senior-only households and small businesses. Table 
V.6 and Table V.7 compare the average LCC savings and PBP at each 
efficiency level for the consumer subgroups with similar metrics for 
the entire consumer sample for Electric Pool Heaters and Gas-fired Pool 
Heaters. In most cases, the average LCC savings and PBP for senior-only 
households and small business at the considered efficiency levels are 
not substantially different from the average for all households. 
Chapter 11 of the final rule TSD presents the complete LCC and PBP 
results for the subgroups.

  Table V.6--Comparison of LCC Savings and PBP for Consumer Subgroups and All Households; Electric Pool Heaters
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Senior-only        Small            All
                                                                    households       business       households
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Average LCC Savings (2021$)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................................................           3,560          19,451           8,090
2...............................................................           1,635          19,457           4,403
3...............................................................             309          11,380           1,302
4,5.............................................................             176          11,087           1,130
6...............................................................              19          10,469             946
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Payback Period (years)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................................................             0.6             0.3             0.3
2...............................................................             0.7             0.3             0.4
3...............................................................             0.8             0.3             0.4
4,5.............................................................             1.0             0.3             0.5
6...............................................................             1.2             0.4             0.6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Consumers with Net Benefit (%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................................................              4%             41%              8%
2...............................................................              9%             43%             17%
3...............................................................             45%             78%             56%
4,5.............................................................             31%             77%             42%
6...............................................................             19%             72%             34%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Consumers with Net Cost (%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................................................              1%              6%              1%
2...............................................................              3%              6%              2%
3...............................................................             34%             10%             22%
4,5.............................................................             57%             15%             45%
6...............................................................             78%             27%             63%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 34681]]


 Table V.7--Comparison of LCC Savings and PBP for Consumer Subgroups and All Households; Gas-Fired Pool Heaters
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Senior-only        Small            All
                                                                    households       business       households
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Average LCC Savings (2021$)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,2,3,4.........................................................             752             151             783
5...............................................................           (132)             821              80
6...............................................................           (788)           5,572             497
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Payback Period (years)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,2,3,4.........................................................             0.1             0.6             0.2
5...............................................................             2.7             2.1             2.3
6...............................................................             9.7             1.3             4.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Consumers with Net Benefit (%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,2,3,4.........................................................              5%              1%              4%
5...............................................................              5%             34%             11%
6...............................................................              3%             71%             19%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Consumers with Net Cost (%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,2,3,4.........................................................              0%              0%              0%
5...............................................................             49%             13%             39%
6...............................................................             89%             19%             73%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

c. Rebuttable Presumption Payback
    As discussed in section III.F.2 of this document, EPCA establishes 
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 each of the considered TSLs, 
DOE used discrete values, and, as required by EPCA, based the energy 
use calculation on the DOE test procedures for consumer pool heaters. 
In contrast, the PBPs presented in section V.B.1.a of this document 
were calculated using distributions that reflect the range of energy 
use in the field.
    Table V.8 presents the rebuttable-presumption payback periods for 
the considered TSLs for consumer pool heaters. 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), that considers the full range 
of impacts to the consumer, manufacturer, Nation, and environment. The 
results of that analysis serve as the basis for DOE to definitively 
evaluate the economic justification for a potential standard level, 
thereby supporting or rebutting the results of any preliminary 
determination of economic justification.

            Table V.8--Rebuttable-Presumption Payback Periods
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Electric pool  Gas-fired pool
                   TSL                        heaters         heaters
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................................            1.36            0.12
2.......................................            1.59            0.12
3.......................................            1.83            0.12
4.......................................            2.22            0.12
5.......................................            2.22            2.24
6.......................................            2.72            7.57
------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Economic Impacts on Manufacturers
    DOE performed an MIA to estimate the impact of new and amended 
energy conservation standards on manufacturers of consumer pool 
heaters. The next section describes the expected impacts on 
manufacturers at each considered TSL. Chapter 12 of the final rule TSD 
explains the analysis in further detail.
a. Industry Cash Flow Analysis Results
    In this section, DOE provides GRIM results from the analysis, which 
examines changes in the industry that would result from new and amended 
energy conservation standards. The following tables summarize the 
estimated financial impacts (represented by changes in INPV) of 
potential new and amended energy conservation standards on 
manufacturers of consumer pool heaters, as well as the conversion costs 
that DOE estimates manufacturers of consumer pool heaters would incur 
at each TSL.
    As discussed in section IV.J.2.e of this document, DOE modeled two 
manufacturer markup scenarios to evaluate a range of cash flow impacts 
on the consumer pool heater industry: (1) the preservation of gross 
margin scenario and (2) the preservation of operating profit scenario. 
DOE considered the preservation of gross margin scenario by applying a 
``gross margin percentage'' for each product class across all 
efficiency levels. As MPCs increase with efficiency, this scenario 
implies that the absolute dollar markup will increase. DOE assumed a 
manufacturer markup of 1.44 for gas-fired consumer pool heaters and 
1.39 for electric consumer pool heaters. This manufacturer markup is 
consistent with the one DOE assumed in the engineering analysis and the 
no-new-standards case of the GRIM. Because this scenario assumes that a 
manufacturer's absolute dollar markup would increase as MPCs increase 
in the standards cases, it represents the upper-bound to industry 
profitability under potential new and amended energy conservation 
standards.
    The preservation of operating profit scenario reflects 
manufacturers' concerns about their inability to maintain margins as 
MPCs increase to reach more-stringent efficiency levels. In this 
scenario, while manufacturers make the necessary investments required 
to convert their facilities to produce compliant products, operating 
profit remains the same in absolute

[[Page 34682]]

dollars, but decreases as a percentage of revenue.
    Each of the modeled manufacturer markup scenarios results in a 
unique set of cash-flows and corresponding industry values at each TSL. 
In the following discussion, the INPV results refer to the difference 
in industry value between the no-new-standards case and each standards 
case resulting from the sum of discounted cash-flows from 2023 through 
2057. To provide perspective on the short-run cash-flow impact, DOE 
includes in the discussion of results a comparison of free cash flow 
between the no-new-standards case and the standards case at each TSL in 
the year before new and amended standards are required.
    Table V.9 and Table V.10 show the MIA results for both product 
classes at each TSL using the manufacturer markup scenarios previously 
described.

                    Table V.9--Manufacturer Impact Analysis for Consumer Pool Heaters Under the Preservation of Gross Margin Scenario
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              No-new-                        Trial standard level *
                                                          Units              standards -----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                case        1          2          3          4          5          6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INPV.......................................  2021$ millions................      585.7      585.2      584.5      577.0      575.0      587.7      631.6
Change in INPV.............................  2021$ millions................  .........      (0.6)      (1.2)      (8.7)     (10.7)        2.0       45.9
                                             %.............................  .........      (0.1)      (0.2)      (1.5)      (1.8)        0.3        7.8
Product Conversion Costs...................  2021$ millions................  .........        1.3        2.6        9.1       20.0       34.0       88.0
Capital Conversion Costs...................  2021$ millions................  .........  .........        0.8        9.5        9.5       14.5       38.5
Total Investment Required..................  2021$ millions................  .........        1.3        3.4       18.6       29.4       48.4      126.4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Numbers in parentheses indicate a negative number. Numbers may not sum exactly due to rounding.


                 Table V.10--Manufacturer Impact Analysis for Consumer Pool Heaters Under the Preservation of Operating Profit Scenario
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              No-new-                        Trial standard level *
                                                          Units              standards -----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                case        1          2          3          4          5          6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INPV.......................................  2021$ millions................      585.7      583.6      581.9      570.8      563.0      548.4      482.7
Change in INPV.............................  2021$ millions................  .........      (2.2)      (3.9)     (15.0)     (22.8)     (37.3)    (103.0)
                                             %.............................  .........      (0.4)      (0.7)      (2.6)      (3.9)      (6.4)     (17.6)
Product Conversion Costs...................  2021$ millions................  .........        1.3        2.6        9.1       20.0       34.0       88.0
Capital Conversion Costs...................  2021$ millions................  .........  .........        0.8        9.5        9.5       14.5       38.5
Total Investment Required..................  2021$ millions................  .........        1.3        3.4       18.6       29.4       48.4      126.4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Numbers in parentheses indicate a negative number. Numbers may not sum exactly due to rounding.

    At TSL 1, DOE estimates that impacts on INPV will range from -$2.2 
million to -$0.6 million, or a change in INPV of -0.4 to -0.1 percent. 
At TSL 1, industry free cash-flow is $50.5 million, which is a decrease 
of approximately $0.5 million compared to the no-new-standards case 
value of $51.0 million in 2027, the year leading up to the adopted 
standards.
    TSL 1 would set the energy conservation standard for both gas-fired 
consumer pool heaters and electric consumer pool heaters at EL 1. DOE 
estimates that 96 percent of gas-fired consumer pool heater shipments 
and 92 percent of electric consumer pool heater shipments already meet 
or exceed the efficiency levels analyzed at TSL 1. Gas-fired consumer 
pool heater manufacturers would likely need to redesign any models with 
a standing pilot light. DOE assumed this would require approximately 
two months of engineering time per model, which would cost 
manufacturers approximately $0.1 million. Electric heat pump consumer 
pool heater manufacturers would incur approximately $1.2 million in 
product conversion costs primarily to test all compliant electric 
consumer pool heater models to demonstrate compliance with standards at 
TSL 1. DOE estimates consumer pool heater manufacturers will incur 
minimal to no capital conversion costs at TSL 1.
    Furthermore, no electric resistance pool heaters meet or exceed the 
electric consumer pool heater efficiency level analyzed at TSL 1 or 
above. DOE estimates manufacturers will not incur conversion costs for 
electric resistance pool heaters, because of the expectation that these 
consumer pool heater products will be discontinued, as described in 
section IV.J.2.c of this document.
    At TSL 1, the shipment-weighted average MPC for all consumer pool 
heaters increases by 0.5 percent relative to the no-new-standards case 
shipment-weighted average MPC for all consumer pool heaters in 2028. In 
the preservation of gross margin scenario, manufacturers are able to 
fully pass on this slight cost increase to consumers. The slight 
increase in shipment-weighted average MPC for consumer pool heaters is 
slightly outweighed by the $1.3 million in conversion costs, causing a 
slightly negative change in INPV at TSL 1 under the preservation of 
gross margin scenario.
    Under the preservation of operating profit scenario, manufacturers 
earn the same per-unit operating profit as would be earned in the no-
new-standards case, but manufacturers do not earn additional profit 
from their investments. In this scenario, the 0.5 percent shipment-
weighted average MPC increase results in a reduction in the 
manufacturer margin after the compliance year. This reduction in the 
manufacturer margin and the $1.3 million in conversion costs incurred 
by manufacturers cause a slightly negative change in INPV at TSL 1 
under the preservation of operating profit scenario.
    At TSL 2, DOE estimates that impacts on INPV will range from -$3.9 
million to -$1.2 million, or a change in INPV of -0.7 percent to -0.2 
percent. At TSL 2, industry free cash-flow is $49.7 million, which is a 
decrease of approximately $1.3 million compared to the no-new-standards 
case value of

[[Page 34683]]

$51.0 million in 2027, the year leading up to the adopted standards.
    TSL 2 would set the energy conservation standard at EL 1 for gas-
fired consumer pool heaters and at EL 2 for electric consumer pool 
heaters. DOE estimates that 96 percent of gas-fired consumer pool 
heater shipments and 81 percent of electric consumer pool heater 
shipments already meet or exceed the efficiency levels analyzed at TSL 
2. Gas-fired consumer pool heater manufacturers would likely need to 
redesign any models with a standing pilot light. DOE assumed this would 
cost manufacturers approximately $0.1 million. To bring non-compliant 
electric heat pump consumer pool heaters into compliance and to test 
all electric heat pump consumer pool heaters to demonstrate compliance 
with standards at TSL 2, electric heat pump consumer pool heater 
manufacturers would incur approximately $2.6 million in product 
conversion costs and $0.8 million in capital conversion costs at TSL 2.
    At TSL 2, the shipment-weighted average MPC for all consumer pool 
heaters increases by 0.8 percent relative to the no-new-standards case 
shipment-weighted average MPC for all consumer pool heaters in 2028. In 
the preservation of gross margin scenario, the slight increase in 
shipment-weighted average MPC for consumer pool heaters is slightly 
outweighed by the $3.4 million in conversion costs, causing a slightly 
negative change in INPV at TSL 2 under the preservation of gross margin 
scenario.
    Under the preservation of operating profit scenario, the 0.8 
percent shipment-weighted average MPC increase results in a reduction 
in the manufacturer margin after the compliance year. This reduction in 
the manufacturer margin and the $3.4 million in conversion costs 
incurred by manufacturers cause a slightly negative change in INPV at 
TSL 2 under the preservation of operating profit scenario.
    At TSL 3, DOE estimates that impacts on INPV will range from -$15.0 
million to -$8.7 million, or a change in INPV of -2.6 percent to -1.5 
percent. At TSL 3, industry free cash-flow is $43.5 million, which is a 
decrease of approximately $7.5 million compared to the no-new-standards 
case value of $51.0 million in 2027, the year leading up to the adopted 
standards.
    TSL 3 would set the energy conservation standard at EL 1 for gas-
fired consumer pool heaters and at EL 3 for electric consumer pool 
heaters. DOE estimates that 96 percent of gas-fired consumer pool 
heater shipments and 22 percent of electric consumer pool heater 
shipments already meet or exceed the efficiency levels analyzed at TSL 
3. Gas-fired consumer pool heater manufacturers would likely need to 
redesign any models with a standing pilot light. DOE assumed this would 
cost manufacturers approximately $0.1 million. To bring non-compliant 
electric heat pump consumer pool heaters into compliance and to test 
all electric heat pump consumer pool heaters to demonstrate compliance 
with standards at TSL 3, electric heat pump consumer pool heater 
manufacturers would incur approximately $9.0 million in product 
conversion costs and $9.5 million in capital conversion costs at TSL 3.
    At TSL 3, the shipment-weighted average MPC for all consumer pool 
heaters increases by 1.9 percent relative to the no-new-standards case 
shipment-weighted average MPC for all consumer pool heaters in 2028. In 
the preservation of gross margin scenario, the increase in shipment-
weighted average MPC for consumer pool heaters is outweighed by the 
$18.6 million in conversion costs, causing a slightly negative change 
in INPV at TSL 3 under the preservation of gross margin scenario.
    Under the preservation of operating profit scenario, the 1.9 
percent shipment-weighted average MPC increase results in a reduction 
in the manufacturer margin after the compliance year. This reduction in 
the manufacturer margin and the $18.6 million in conversion costs 
incurred by manufacturers cause a slightly negative change in INPV at 
TSL 3 under the preservation of operating profit scenario.
    At TSL 4, DOE estimates that impacts on INPV will range from -$22.8 
million to -$10.7 million, or a change in INPV of -3.9 percent to -1.8 
percent. At TSL 4, industry free cash-flow is $39.6 million, which is a 
decrease of approximately $11.4 million compared to the no-new-
standards case value of $51.0 million in 2027, the year leading up to 
the adopted standards.
    TSL 4 would set the energy conservation standard at EL 1 for gas-
fired consumer pool heaters and at EL 4 for electric consumer pool 
heaters. DOE estimates that 96 percent of gas-fired consumer pool 
heaters and 12 percent of electric consumer pool heaters meet or exceed 
the efficiency levels analyzed at TSL 4. Gas-fired consumer pool heater 
manufacturers would likely need to redesign any models with a standing 
pilot light. DOE assumed this would cost manufacturers approximately 
$0.1 million. To bring non-compliant electric heat pump consumer pool 
heaters into compliance and to test all electric heat pump consumer 
pool heaters to demonstrate compliance with standards at TSL 4, 
electric heat pump consumer pool heater manufacturers would incur 
approximately $19.9 million in product conversion costs and $9.5 
million in capital conversion costs at TSL 4.
    At TSL 4, the shipment-weighted average MPC for all consumer pool 
heaters increases by 3.6 percent relative to the no-new-standards case 
shipment-weighted average MPC for all consumer pool heaters in 2028. In 
the preservation of gross margin scenario, the increase in shipment-
weighted average MPC for consumer pool heaters is outweighed by the 
$29.4 million in conversion costs, causing a slightly negative change 
in INPV at TSL 4 under the preservation of gross margin scenario.
    Under the preservation of operating profit scenario, the 3.6 
percent shipment-weighted average MPC increase results in a reduction 
in the manufacturer margin after the compliance year. This reduction in 
the manufacturer margin and the $29.4 million in conversion costs 
incurred by manufacturers causing a slightly negative change in INPV at 
TSL 4 under the preservation of operating profit scenario.
    At TSL 5, DOE estimates that impacts on INPV will range from -$37.3 
million to $2.0 million, or a change in INPV of -6.4 percent to 0.3 
percent. At TSL 5, industry free cash-flow is $32.4 million, which is a 
decrease of approximately $18.6 million compared to the no-new-
standards case value of $51.0 million in 2027, the year leading up to 
the adopted standards.
    TSL 5 would set the energy conservation standard at EL 2 for gas-
fired consumer pool heaters and at EL 4 for electric consumer pool 
heaters. DOE estimates that 50 percent of gas-fired consumer pool 
heaters and 12 percent of electric consumer pool heaters meet or exceed 
the efficiency levels analyzed at TSL 5. Gas-fired consumer pool heater 
manufacturers would likely need to incorporate a blower for gas-fired 
pool heaters. DOE assumed this would cost manufacturers approximately 
$14.1 million in product conversion costs and $5.0 million in capital 
conversion costs. To bring non-compliant electric heat pump consumer 
pool heaters into compliance and to test all electric heat pump 
consumer pool heaters to demonstrate compliance with standards at TSL 
5, electric heat pump consumer pool heater manufacturers would incur 
approximately $19.9 million in product conversion costs and $9.5 
million in capital conversion costs at TSL 5.

[[Page 34684]]

    At TSL 5, the shipment-weighted average MPC for all consumer pool 
heaters increases by 10.0 percent relative to the no-new-standards case 
shipment-weighted average MPC for all consumer pool heaters in 2028. In 
the preservation of gross margin scenario, the increase in shipment-
weighted average MPC for consumer pool heaters outweighs the $48.4 
million in conversion costs, causing a slightly positive change in INPV 
at TSL 5 under the preservation of gross margin scenario.
    Under the preservation of operating profit scenario, the 10.0 
percent shipment-weighted average MPC increase results in a reduction 
in the manufacturer margin after the compliance year. This reduction in 
manufacturer margin and the $48.4 million in conversion costs incurred 
by manufacturers cause a moderately negative change in INPV at TSL 5 
under the preservation of operating profit scenario.
    At TSL 6, DOE estimates that impacts on INPV will range from -
$103.0 million to $45.9 million, or a change in INPV of -17.6 percent 
to 7.8 percent. At TSL 6, industry free cash-flow is $2.4 million, 
which is a decrease of approximately $48.6 million compared to the no-
new-standards case value of $51.0 million in 2027, the year leading up 
to the adopted standards.
    TSL 6 would set the energy conservation standard at EL 3 for gas-
fired consumer pool heaters and at EL 5 for electric consumer pool 
heaters. This represents max-tech for both product classes. DOE 
estimates 9 percent of gas-fired consumer pool heaters and 3 percent of 
electric consumer pool heaters meet the efficiency levels analyzed at 
TSL 6. Gas-fired consumer pool heater manufacturers would likely need 
to incorporate condensing technology and electrical upgrades for 
standby mode and off mode power consumption for all gas-fired pool 
heaters. DOE assumed this would cost manufacturers approximately $63.1 
million in product conversion costs and $29.0 million in capital 
conversion costs. To bring non-compliant electric heat pump consumer 
pool heaters into compliance and to test all electric heat pump 
consumer pool heaters to demonstrate compliance with standards at TSL 
6, electric heat pump consumer pool heater manufacturers would likely 
need to incorporate heat pump component improvements and electrical 
upgrades for standby mode and off mode power consumption for all 
electric pool heaters. DOE assumed this would incur approximately $24.8 
million in product conversion costs and $9.5 million in capital 
conversion costs at TSL 6.
    At TSL 6, the shipment-weighted average MPC for all consumer pool 
heaters significantly increases by 37.0 percent relative to the no-new-
standards case shipment-weighted average MPC for all consumer pool 
heaters in 2028. In the preservation of gross margin scenario, the 
large increase in shipment-weighted average MPC for consumer pool 
heaters outweighs the $126.4 million in conversion costs, causing a 
moderately positive change in INPV at TSL 6 under the preservation of 
gross margin scenario.
    Under the preservation of operating profit scenario, the 37.0 
percent shipment-weighted average MPC increase results in a significant 
reduction in the manufacturer margin after the compliance year. This 
large reduction in manufacturer margin and the significant $126.4 
million in conversion costs incurred by manufacturers cause a 
moderately negative change in INPV at TSL 6 under the preservation of 
operating profit scenario.
b. Direct Impacts on Employment
    To quantitatively assess the potential impacts of new and amended 
energy conservation standards on direct employment in the consumer pool 
heaters industry, DOE used the GRIM to estimate the domestic labor 
expenditures and number of direct employees in the no-new-standards 
case and in each of the standards cases during the analysis period.
    Production employees are those who are directly involved in 
fabricating and assembling products within an original equipment 
manufacturer facility. Workers performing services that are closely 
associated with production operations, such as materials handling tasks 
using forklifts, are included as production labor, as well as line 
supervisors.
    DOE used the GRIM to calculate the number of production employees 
from labor expenditures. DOE used statistical data from the U.S. Census 
Bureau's 2019 Annual Survey of Manufacturers (``ASM'') and the results 
of the engineering analysis to calculate industry-wide labor 
expenditures. Labor expenditures related to product manufacturing 
depend on the labor intensity of the product, the sales volume, and an 
assumption that wages remain fixed in real terms over time. The total 
labor expenditures in the GRIM were then converted to domestic 
production employment levels by dividing production labor expenditures 
by the annual payment per production worker.
    Non-production employees account for those workers that are not 
directly engaged in the manufacturing of the covered product. This 
could include sales, human resources, engineering, and management. DOE 
estimated non-production employment levels by multiplying the number of 
consumer pool heater production workers by a scaling factor. The 
scaling factor is calculated by taking the ratio of the total number of 
employees, and the total production workers associated with the 
industry North American Industry Classification System (``NAICS'') code 
333414, which covers consumer pool heater manufacturing.
    Using the GRIM, DOE estimates that there would be 875 domestic 
production workers, and 505 non-production workers for consumer pool 
heaters in 2028 in the absence of new and amended energy conservation 
standards. Table V.11 shows the range of the impacts of energy 
conservation standards on U.S. production on consumer pool heaters.

                                  Table V.11--Total Number of Domestic Consumer Pool Heater Production Workers in 2028
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 No-new-                               Trial standard level *
                                                                standards  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   case          1            2            3            4            5            6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Domestic Production Workers in 2028..........................          875          870          870          873          871          869        1,074
Domestic Non-Production Workers in 2028......................          505          502          502          504          503          501          620
Total Direct Employment in 2028..............................        1,380        1,372        1,372        1,377        1,374        1,370        1,694

[[Page 34685]]

 
Potential Changes in Total Direct Employment in 2028.........  ...........     (32)-(8)     (32)-(8)     (32)-(3)     (32)-(6)    (32)-(10)    (371)-314
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Numbers in parentheses indicate a negative number. Numbers may not sum exactly due to rounding.

    The direct employment impacts shown in Table V.11 represent the 
potential changes in direct employment that could result following the 
compliance date for consumer pool heaters. Employment could increase or 
decrease due to the labor content of the various products being 
manufactured domestically that meet the analyzed standards or if 
manufacturers decided to move production facilities abroad because of 
the new and amended standards. At one end of the range, DOE assumes 
that all manufacturers continue to manufacture the same scope of the 
products domestically after new and amended standards are required. 
However, since the labor content of consumer pool heaters varies by 
efficiency level, this can either result in an increase or decrease in 
domestic employment, even if all domestic product remains in the 
U.S.\161\ The other end of the range assumes that some domestic 
manufacturing either is eliminated or moves abroad due to the analyzed 
new and amended standards. DOE assumes that for electric consumer pool 
heaters, only the electric resistance consumer pool heater employees 
would be impacted at all TSLs analyzed. DOE estimates there would be 
approximately 32 domestic production and non-production employees 
manufacturing electric resistance consumer pool heaters in 2028. 
Therefore, DOE assumes that for all TSLs analyzed, there would be a 
reduction in 32 domestic employees due to electric resistance consumer 
pool heaters no longer being manufactured domestically. For gas-fired 
consumer pool heaters, DOE assumes there would not be any impact to 
domestic production until TSL 6, max-tech. At this TSL, DOE assumes 
that up to half of all domestic gas-fired consumer pool heater 
production could move abroad due to the new and amended standards at 
TSL 6. TSL 6 would most likely require manufacturers of gas-fired 
consumer pool heaters to use condensing technology and implement 
electrical component upgrades. Based on information from manufacturer 
interviews, this would require a significant investment to replace or 
re-tool existing production equipment. Some manufacturers of gas-fired 
consumer pool heaters could explore moving existing domestic production 
facilities abroad if the majority of the existing gas-fired consumer 
pool heater production equipment would need to be replaced or 
significantly re-tooled. DOE estimated there would be approximately 678 
domestic production workers manufacturing gas-fired pool heaters in 
2028. Therefore, DOE estimates that if standards were set at TSL 6, 
max-tech, there could be a loss of up to 371 domestic production 
employees responsible for manufacturing consumer pool heaters.\162\ 
Additional detail on the analysis of direct employment can be found in 
chapter 12 of the final rule TSD.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \161\ TSL 6 is estimated to have an increase in domestic 
employment, while TSL 1 through TSL 5, are estimated to have a 
reduction in domestic employment, assuming all production remains in 
the U.S.
    \162\ 339 domestic production employees, manufacturing gas-fired 
consumer pool heaters, and 32 domestic production and non-production 
employees manufacturing electric resistance consumer pool heaters.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

c. Impacts on Manufacturing Capacity
    DOE identified potential manufacturing production capacity 
constraints at max-tech for both gas-fired consumer pool heaters and 
electric consumer pool heaters. There are 18 consumer pool heater 
manufacturers that manufacture electric consumer pool heaters covered 
by this rulemaking. Only three electric consumer pool heater 
manufacturers currently offer models that meet the efficiency level 
required at max-tech for electric consumer pool heaters, and each of 
these three electric consumer pool heater manufacturers only offer a 
single model that meets the efficiency level required at max-tech for 
electric consumer pool heaters. All other electric consumer pool heater 
models offered by electric consumer pool heater manufacturers do not 
meet the efficiency level required at max-tech for electric pool 
heaters covered by this rulemaking.
    There are six consumer pool heater manufacturers that manufacture 
gas-fired consumer pool heaters covered by this rulemaking. Only one 
gas-fired consumer pool heater manufacturer currently offers a model 
that meet the efficiency level required at max-tech for gas-fired pool 
heaters. All other gas-fired consumer pool heater models offered by 
gas-fired consumer pool heater manufacturers do not meet the efficiency 
level required at max-tech for gas-fired pool heaters covered by this 
rulemaking.
    At max-tech (for both gas-fired consumer pool heaters and electric 
consumer pool heaters), most consumer pool heater manufacturers would 
therefore be required to redesign every consumer pool heater model 
covered by this rulemaking. It is unclear if most manufacturers would 
have the engineering capacity to complete the necessary redesigns 
(required to meet energy conservation standards at max-tech) within the 
5-year compliance period. If some manufacturers require more than 5 
years to redesign all their covered consumer pool heater models, they 
will likely prioritize redesigns based on sales volume. There is risk 
that some consumer pool heater models will become either temporarily or 
permanently unavailable after the compliance date.
    DOE did not identify any significant manufacturing production 
capacity constraints for the design options below max-tech that were 
being evaluated for this final rule. All gas-fired consumer pool heater 
manufacturers offer products that meet the EL below max-tech for gas-
fired pool heaters, and more than half of the electric consumer pool 
heater manufacturers offer products that meet the EL below max-tech for 
electric consumer pool heaters. The design options below max-tech 
evaluated for this final rule are readily available as products that 
are on the market currently. The materials used to manufacture models 
at all ELs below max-tech are widely available on the market. As a 
result, DOE does not anticipate that the industry will likely 
experience any capacity constraints directly resulting from energy 
conservation standards at any of the ELs that are below max-tech.

[[Page 34686]]

d. Impacts on Subgroups of Manufacturers
    As discussed in section IV.J.1 of this document, 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 manufacturers, and manufacturers 
exhibiting a cost structure substantially different from the industry 
average could be affected disproportionately. DOE used the results of 
the industry characterization to group manufacturers exhibiting similar 
characteristics. Consequently, DOE identified small business 
manufacturers as a subgroup for a separate impact analysis.
    For the small business subgroup analysis, DOE applied the small 
business size standards published by the Small Business Administration 
(``SBA'') to determine whether a company is considered a small 
business. The size standards are codified at 13 CFR part 121. To be 
categorized as a small business under NAICS code 333414, ``heating 
equipment (except warm air furnaces) manufacturing,'' a consumer pool 
heater manufacturer and its affiliates may employ a maximum of 500 
employees. The 500-employee threshold includes all employees in a 
business's parent company and any other subsidiaries. Based on this 
classification, DOE identified six potential manufacturers that qualify 
as domestic small businesses.
    All six small businesses manufacture electric consumer pool heaters 
and none of them manufacture gas-fired consumer pool heaters. 
Therefore, only new standards set for electric consumer pool heaters 
would impact any of the small businesses. Five of the six small 
businesses exclusively manufacture electric heat pump consumer pool 
heaters, while the other small business exclusively manufacturers 
electric resistance consumer pool heaters.
    The small business subgroup analysis is discussed in more detail in 
chapter 12 of the final rule TSD. DOE examines the potential impacts on 
small business manufacturers in section VI.B of this document.
e. Cumulative Regulatory Burden
    One aspect of assessing manufacturer burden involves looking at the 
cumulative impact of multiple DOE standards and the regulatory actions 
of other Federal agencies and States that affect the manufacturers of a 
covered product or equipment. While any one regulation may not impose a 
significant burden on manufacturers, the combined effects of several 
existing or impending regulations may have serious consequences for 
some manufacturers, groups of manufacturers, or an entire industry. 
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 an analysis of cumulative regulatory burden as part of its 
rulemakings pertaining to appliance efficiency.
    BWC commented that a large amount regulatory burden will be placed 
on their company and other consumer pool heater manufacturers since DOE 
has multiple rulemaking cycles happening for other products 
manufactured by consumer pool heater manufacturers concurrently, 
including residential water heaters, commercial water heaters, and 
residential boilers, in addition to this consumer pool heater 
rulemaking. BWC claims that all of these amended standards, along with 
DOE underestimating the amount of time and resources required to meet 
compliance of the proposed consumer pool heater standards and test 
procedures will place an overwhelming regulatory burden on these 
manufacturers and the market. (BWC, No. 12 at pp. 4-5)
    Rheem indicated it would experience a high degree of cumulative 
regulatory burden because almost all of the products and equipment it 
manufactures are subject to ongoing DOE rulemakings. Rheem stated that 
it expects compliance with new and amended standards for consumer pool 
heaters to require significant product redesign and reset of production 
facilities between 2026 and 2029. Thus, Rheem urged DOE to take steps 
to alleviate cumulative regulatory burden, for instance, considering 
the AIM Act phasedown of high GWP refrigerants. (Rheem, No. 19 at pp. 
9-10)
    Fluidra provided a list of applicable codes and standards for pool 
heaters that represent a cumulative regulatory burden to manufacturers 
including: ANSI/CSA--Gas Appliance Standard; UL Electrical Standard; 
California Energy Commission; Florida Energy Code; DOE Federal 
Efficiency; ASME; AHRI; ASHRAE; NSF; and FCC/IC. (Fluidra, No. 18 at p. 
4)
    DOE evaluates product-specific regulations that will take effect 
approximately 3 years before or after the estimated 2028 compliance 
date of any new and amended energy conservation standards for consumer 
pool heaters. This information is presented in Table V.12.

Table V.12--Compliance Dates and Expected Conversion Expenses of Federal Energy Conservation Standards Affecting
                                       Consumer Pool Heater Manufacturers
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Industry
                                                   Number of        Approx.         Industry        conversion
 Federal energy conservation      Number of      manufacturers     standards       conversion      costs/product
          standard             manufacturers *   affected from       year             costs         revenue ***
                                                 this rule **                      (millions)           (%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portable Air Conditioners 85                11               2            2025    $320.9 (2015$)             6.7
 FR 1378 (Jan. 10, 2020)....
Room Air Conditioners                        8               1            2026     $24.8 (2021$)             0.4
 [Dagger]...................
Commercial Water Heating                    14               3            2026     $34.6 (2020$)             4.7
 Equipment [dagger] 87 FR
 30610 (May 19, 2022).......
Consumer Furnaces (non-                     15               1            2029            $150.6             1.4
 weatherized gas & mobile                                                                (2020$)
 home) [dagger] 87 FR 40590
 (July 7, 2022..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 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 consumer pool heaters that are also listed as
  manufacturers in the listed energy conservation standard contributing to cumulative regulatory burden.

[[Page 34687]]

 
*** This column presents industry conversion costs as a percentage of product revenue during the conversion
  period. Industry conversion costs are the upfront investments manufacturers must make to sell compliant
  products/equipment. The revenue used for this calculation is the revenue from just the covered product/
  equipment associated with each row. The conversion period is the time frame over which conversion costs are
  made and lasts from the publication year of the final rule to the compliance year of the energy conservation
  standard. The conversion period typically ranges from 3 to 5 years, depending on the rulemaking.
[dagger] Indicates a NOPR publication. Values may change on publication of a final rule.
[Dagger] At the time of issuance of this consumer pool heaters rulemaking, the rulemaking has been issued and is
  pending publication in the Federal Register. Once published, the room air conditioners final rule will be
  available at: www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE-2014-BT-STD-0059.

    In addition to the rulemaking listed in Table V.12 DOE has ongoing 
rulemakings for other products or equipment that consumer pool heater 
manufacturers produce, including consumer furnaces (oil, electric, and 
weatherized gas); \163\ consumer boilers; \164\ consumer furnace fans; 
\165\ consumer water heaters; \166\ and dedicated-purpose pool 
pumps.\167\ However, none of these rulemakings have published a NOPR or 
final rule to be able to estimate the size of the expected conversion 
costs manufacturers of these products or equipment must make.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \163\ www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE-2021-BT-STD-0031.
    \164\ www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE-2019-BT-STD-0036.
    \165\ www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE-2021-BT-STD-0029.
    \166\ www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE-2017-BT-STD-0019.
    \167\ www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE-2022-BT-STD-0001.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. National Impact Analysis
    This section presents DOE's estimates of the national energy 
savings and the NPV of consumer benefits that would result from each of 
the TSLs considered as potential amended standards.
a. Significance of Energy Savings
    To estimate the energy savings attributable to potential new and 
amended standards for consumer pool heaters, DOE compared their energy 
consumption 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 (2028-2057). 
Table V.13 presents DOE's projections of the national energy savings 
for each TSL considered for consumer pool heaters. The savings were 
calculated using the approach described in section IV.H of this 
document.

                             Table V.13--Cumulative National Energy Savings for Consumer Pool Heaters; 30 Years of Shipments
                                                                       [2028-2057]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                           Trial standard level
                Energy savings                            Product class          -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       1           2           3           4           5           6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    (quads *)
                                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Primary energy................................  Electric Pool Heaters...........        0.22        0.28        0.38        0.41        0.41        0.46
                                                Gas-fired Pool Heaters..........        0.02        0.02        0.02        0.02        0.25        2.34
                                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Total..........................        0.24        0.29        0.39        0.43        0.66        2.80
FFC energy....................................  Electric Pool Heaters...........        0.23        0.29        0.39        0.43        0.43        0.47
                                                Gas-fired Pool Heaters..........        0.02        0.02        0.02        0.02        0.27        2.60
                                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Total..........................        0.25        0.31        0.41        0.45        0.70        3.07
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* quads = quadrillion British thermal units.
Note numbers may not add to totals, due to rounding.

    OMB Circular A-4 \168\ 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 9 years, 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.\169\ The review timeframe established in EPCA is generally 
not synchronized with the product lifetime, product manufacturing 
cycles, or other factors specific to consumer pool heaters. 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.14. The impacts are counted over the lifetime of 
consumer pool heaters purchased in 2028-2036.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \168\ U.S. Office of Management and Budget. Circular A-4: 
Regulatory Analysis. September 17, 2003. www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars_a004_a-4/ (last accessed October 15, 2022).
    \169\ 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 
products, the compliance period is 5 years rather than 3 years.

[[Page 34688]]



                             Table V.14--Cumulative National Energy Savings for Consumer Pool Heaters; 9 Years of Shipments
                                                                       [2028-2036]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                           Trial standard level
                Energy savings                            Product class          -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       1           2           3           4           5           6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    (quads *)
                                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Primary energy................................  Electric Pool Heaters...........        0.07        0.09        0.11        0.12        0.12        0.13
                                                Gas-fired Pool Heaters..........        0.01        0.01        0.01        0.01        0.07        0.62
                                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Total..........................        0.08        0.09        0.12        0.13        0.19        0.76
FFC energy....................................  Electric Pool Heaters...........        0.07        0.09        0.12        0.13        0.13        0.14
                                                Gas-fired Pool Heaters..........        0.01        0.01        0.01        0.01        0.07        0.69
                                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Total..........................        0.08        0.10        0.12        0.14        0.20        0.83
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* quads = quadrillion British thermal units.
Note numbers may not add to totals, due to rounding.

b. Net Present Value of Consumer Costs and Benefits
    DOE estimated the cumulative NPV of the total costs and savings for 
consumers that would result from the TSLs considered for consumer pool 
heaters. In accordance with OMB's guidelines on regulatory 
analysis,\170\ DOE calculated NPV using both a 7-percent and a 3-
percent real discount rate. Table V.15 shows the consumer NPV results 
with impacts counted over the lifetime of products purchased in 2028-
2057.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \170\ U.S. Office of Management and Budget. Circular A-4: 
Regulatory Analysis. September 17, 2003. www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars_a004_a-4/ (last accessed October 15, 2022).

                     Table V.15--Cumulative Net Present Value of Consumer Benefits for Consumer Pool Heaters; 30 Years of Shipments
                                                                       [2028-2057]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                           Trial standard level
                 Discount rate                            Product class          -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       1           2           3           4           5           6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 (billion 2021$)
                                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
7 percent.....................................  Electric Pool Heaters...........        0.64        0.78        0.99        0.96        0.96        0.87
                                                Gas-fired Pool Heaters..........        0.05        0.05        0.05        0.05        0.23        2.66
                                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Total..........................        0.70        0.84        1.04        1.01        1.18        3.53
3 percent.....................................  Electric Pool Heaters...........        1.48        1.82        2.33        2.32        2.32        2.20
                                                Gas-fired Pool Heaters..........        0.12        0.12        0.12        0.12        0.68        7.41
                                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Total..........................        1.60        1.93        2.45        2.44        3.00        9.60
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parentheses indicate negative (-) values.
Note numbers may not add to totals, due to rounding.

    The NPV results based on the aforementioned 9-year analytical 
period are presented in Table V.16. The impacts are counted over the 
lifetime of products purchased in 2028-2036. As mentioned previously, 
such results are presented for informational purposes only and are not 
indicative of any change in DOE's analytical methodology or decision 
criteria.

                      Table V.16--Cumulative Net Present Value of Consumer Benefits for Consumer Pool Heaters; 9 Years of Shipments
                                                                       [2028-2036]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                           Trial standard level
                 Discount rate                            Product class          -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       1           2           3           4           5           6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 (billion 2020$)
                                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
7 percent.....................................  Electric Pool Heaters...........        0.35        0.43        0.52        0.51        0.51        0.47
                                                Gas-fired Pool Heaters..........        0.03        0.03        0.03        0.03        0.10        1.23
                                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Total..........................        0.38        0.45        0.55        0.54        0.62        1.69

[[Page 34689]]

 
3 percent.....................................  Electric Pool Heaters...........        0.63        0.76        0.94        0.94        0.94        0.90
                                                Gas-fired Pool Heaters..........        0.05        0.05        0.05        0.05        0.23        2.52
                                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Total..........................        0.68        0.81        1.00        0.99        1.17        3.42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parentheses indicate negative (-) values.
Note numbers may not add to totals, due to rounding.

    The previous results reflect the use of a default trend to estimate 
the change in price for consumer pool heaters over the analysis period 
(see section IV.F.1 of this document). DOE also conducted a sensitivity 
analysis that considered one scenario with an increasing rate of price 
change than the reference case and one scenario with a decreasing rate 
of price change compared to the reference case. The results of these 
alternative cases are presented in appendix 10C of the final rule TSD. 
In the decreasing-price case, the NPV of consumer benefits is higher 
than in the default case. In the increasing-price case, the NPV of 
consumer benefits is lower than in the default case.
c. Indirect Impacts on Employment
    DOE estimates that amended energy conservation standards for 
consumer pool heaters will reduce energy expenditures for consumers of 
those products, with the resulting net savings being 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 document, DOE used an input/output model of the 
U.S. economy to estimate indirect employment impacts of the TSLs that 
DOE considered. 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 
(2028-2033), where these uncertainties are reduced.
    The results suggest that the adopted standards are likely to have a 
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 final rule TSD presents detailed results 
regarding anticipated indirect employment impacts.
4. Impact on Utility or Performance of Products
    As discussed in section IV.C.1.b of this document, DOE has 
concluded that the standards adopted in this final rule will not lessen 
the utility or performance of the consumer pool heaters under 
consideration in this rulemaking. Manufacturers of these products 
currently offer units that meet or exceed the adopted standards.
5. Impact of Any Lessening of Competition
    DOE considered any lessening of competition that would be likely to 
result from new or amended standards. As discussed in section III.F.1.e 
of this document, EPCA directs the Attorney General of the United 
States (``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 in writing 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. To assist the Attorney General 
in making this determination, DOE provided the Department of Justice 
(``DOJ'') with copies of the NOPR and the TSD for review. In its 
assessment letter responding to DOE, DOJ concluded that the proposed 
energy conservation standards for consumer pool heaters are unlikely to 
have a significant adverse impact on competition. DOE is publishing the 
Attorney General's assessment at the end of this final rule.
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. Chapter 15 in the final rule TSD 
presents the estimated impacts on electricity generating capacity, 
relative to the no-new-standards case, for the TSLs that DOE considered 
in this rulemaking.
    Energy conservation resulting from potential energy conservation 
standards for consumer pool heaters is expected to yield environmental 
benefits in the form of reduced emissions of certain air pollutants and 
greenhouse gases. Table V.17 provides DOE's estimate of cumulative 
emissions reductions expected to result from the TSLs considered in 
this rulemaking. The emissions were calculated using the multipliers 
discussed in section IV.K of this document. DOE reports annual 
emissions reductions for each TSL in chapter 13 of the final rule TSD.
    The NPV results based on the aforementioned 9-year analytical 
period are presented in. The impacts are counted over the lifetime of 
products purchased in 2028-2036. As mentioned previously, such results 
are presented for informational purposes only and are not indicative of 
any change in DOE's analytical methodology or decision criteria.

[[Page 34690]]



            Table V.17--Cumulative Emissions Reduction for Consumer Pool Heaters Shipped in 2028-2057
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Trial standard level
                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               1           2           3           4           5           6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Site and Power Sector Emissions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CO2 (million metric tons)...............         7.9         9.6        12.7        13.9        26.1       138.1
CH4 (thousand tons).....................         0.5         0.7         0.9         1.0         1.2         3.7
N2O (thousand tons).....................         0.1         0.1         0.1         0.1         0.2         0.4
NOX (thousand tons).....................        13.0        13.8        15.4        16.0       198.0       217.5
SO2 (thousand tons).....................         3.2         3.9         5.4         5.9         5.9         7.4
Hg (tons)...............................        0.02        0.03        0.03        0.04        0.04        0.04
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Upstream Emissions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CO2 (million metric tons)...............         0.7         0.8         1.1         1.2         2.8        17.4
CH4 (thousand tons).....................        65.9        78.3       101.3       110.4       283.1     1,836.5
N2O (thousand tons).....................       0.003       0.004       0.005        0.01        0.01        0.03
NOX (thousand tons).....................        10.4        12.4        16.0        17.5        42.8       271.0
SO2 (thousand tons).....................        0.04        0.05         0.1         0.1         0.1         0.2
Hg (tons)...............................      0.0001      0.0001      0.0001      0.0001      0.0001      0.0002
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Total FFC Emissions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CO2 (million metric tons)...............         8.6        10.4        13.7        15.0        28.9       155.5
CH4 (thousand tons).....................        66.4        78.9       102.2       111.4       284.4      1840.2
N2O (thousand tons).....................         0.1         0.1         0.1         0.1         0.2         0.4
NOX (thousand tons).....................        23.4        26.2        31.4        33.5       240.8       488.5
SO2 (thousand tons).....................         3.2         4.0         5.4         6.0         6.0         7.6
Hg (tons)...............................        0.02        0.03        0.03        0.04        0.04        0.04
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As part of the analysis for this rule, DOE estimated monetary 
benefits likely to result from the reduced emissions of CO2 
that DOE estimated for each of the considered TSLs for consumer pool 
heaters. Section IV.L of this document discusses the estimated SC-
CO2 values that DOE used. Table V.18 presents the value of 
CO2 emissions reduction at each TSL for each of the SC-
CO2 cases. The time-series of annual values is presented for 
the selected TSL in chapter 14 of the final rule TSD.

       Table V.18--Present Value of CO2 Emissions Reduction for Consumer Pool Heaters Shipped in 2028-2057
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            SC-CO2 case discount rate and statistics
                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------
                     TSL                                                                            3%  95th
                                                 5%  Average     3%  Average    2.5%  Average      percentile
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        (million 2021$)
                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................................            79.0           342.4           536.7            1,040.6
2............................................            94.8           411.6           645.4            1,250.8
3............................................           123.9           539.6           846.9            1,639.4
4............................................           135.5           590.5           926.9            1,793.9
5............................................           258.6         1,132.9         1,780.9            3,440.3
6............................................         1,381.0         6,079.2         9,568.7           18,454.8
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As discussed in section IV.L.2 of this document, DOE estimated the 
climate benefits likely to result from the reduced emissions of methane 
and N2O that DOE estimated for each of the considered TSLs 
for consumer pool heaters. Table V.19 presents the value of the 
CH4 emissions reduction at each TSL, and Table V.20 presents 
the value of the N2O emissions reduction at each TSL. The 
time-series of annual values is presented for the selected TSL in 
chapter 14 of the final rule TSD.

     Table V.19--Present Value of Methane Emissions Reduction for Consumer Pool Heaters Shipped in 2028-2057
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    SC-CH4 case discount rate and statistics (million 2021$)
                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------
                     TSL                                                                            3%  95th
                                                 5%  Average     3%  Average    2.5%  Average      percentile
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        (million 2021$)
                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................................            27.9            83.8           117.2              221.7

[[Page 34691]]

 
2............................................            33.0            99.3           139.0              262.9
3............................................            42.4           128.1           179.4              338.9
4............................................            46.1           139.6           195.5              369.2
5............................................           117.3           356.9           500.4              943.4
6............................................           758.0         2,312.0         3,243.5            6,108.7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  Table V.20--Present Value of Nitrous Oxide Emissions Reduction for Consumer Pool Heaters Shipped in 2028-2057
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    SC-N2O case discount rate and statistics (million 2021$)
                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------
                     TSL                                                            2.5%           3%  (95th
                                                5%  (average)   3%  (average)     (average)       percentile)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        (million 2021$)
                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................................             0.3             1.1             1.7                2.9
2............................................             0.3             1.3             2.1                3.6
3............................................             0.4             1.8             2.8                4.8
4............................................             0.5             2.0             3.1                5.3
5............................................             0.6             2.4             3.7                6.3
6............................................             1.5             6.2             9.6               16.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 
global and U.S. economy continues to evolve rapidly. DOE, together with 
other Federal agencies, will continue to review 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. 
DOE notes, however, that the adopted standards would be economically 
justified even without inclusion of monetized benefits of reduced GHG 
emissions.
    DOE also estimated the monetary value of the economic benefits 
associated with NOX and SO2 emissions reductions 
anticipated to result from the considered TSLs for consumer pool 
heaters. The dollar-per-ton values that DOE used are discussed in 
section IV.L of this document. Table V.21 presents the present value 
for NOX emissions reduction for each TSL calculated using 7-
percent and 3-percent discount rates, and Table V.22 presents similar 
results for SO2 emissions reductions. The results in these 
tables reflect application of EPA's low dollar-per-ton values, which 
DOE used to be conservative. The time-series of annual values is 
presented for the selected TSL in chapter 14 of the final rule TSD.

 Table V.21--Present Value of NOX Emissions Reduction for Consumer Pool
                      Heaters Shipped in 2028-2057
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            7% Discount     3% Discount
                   TSL                         rate            rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   million 2021$
                                         -------------------------------
1.......................................           215.8           546.0
2.......................................           256.6           652.6
3.......................................           330.8           848.9
4.......................................           360.4           927.1
5.......................................           740.8         1,939.0
6.......................................         4,191.7        11,116.6
------------------------------------------------------------------------


 Table V.22--Present Value of SO2 Emissions Reduction for Consumer Pool
                      Heaters Shipped in 2028-2057
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            7% Discount     3% Discount
                   TSL                         rate            rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   million 2021$
                                         -------------------------------
1.......................................            69.7           171.9
2.......................................            85.1           211.4
3.......................................           113.4           284.9
4.......................................           124.7           314.0
5.......................................           123.9           312.1
6.......................................           151.3           383.3
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE has not considered the monetary benefits of the reduction of Hg 
for this final rule. Not all the public health and environmental 
benefits from the reduction of greenhouse gases, NOX, and 
SO2 are captured in the values above, and additional 
unquantified benefits from the reductions of those pollutants as well 
as from the reduction of Hg, direct PM, and other co-pollutants may be 
significant.
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 Economic Impacts
    Table V.23 presents the NPV values that result from adding the 
estimates of the economic benefits resulting from

[[Page 34692]]

reduced GHG and NOX and SO2 emissions to the NPV 
of consumer benefits calculated for each TSL considered in this 
rulemaking. The consumer benefits are domestic U.S. monetary savings 
that occur as a result of purchasing the covered products, and are 
measured for the lifetime of products shipped in 2028-2057. The climate 
benefits associated with reduced GHG emissions resulting from the 
adopted standards are global benefits, and are also calculated based on 
the lifetime of consumer pool heaters shipped in 2028-2057.

          Table V.23--Consumer NPV Combined with Present Value of Climate Benefits and Health Benefits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Category                     TSL 1       TSL 2       TSL 3       TSL 4       TSL 5       TSL 6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Using 3% discount rate for Consumer NPV and Health Benefits (billion 2021$)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5% Average SC-GHG case..................         2.4         2.9         3.7         3.9         5.6        23.3
3% Average SC-GHG case..................         2.7         3.3         4.3         4.4         6.7        29.5
2.5% Average SC-GHG case................         3.0         3.6         4.6         4.8         7.5        34.0
3% 95th percentile SC-GHG case..........         3.6         4.3         5.6         5.8         9.6        45.7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Using 7% discount rate for Consumer NPV and Health Benefits (billion 2021$)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5% Average SC-GHG case..................         1.1         1.3         1.6         1.7         2.4        10.0
3% Average SC-GHG case..................         1.4         1.7         2.2         2.2         3.5        16.3
2.5% Average SC-GHG case................         1.6         2.0         2.5         2.6         4.3        20.7
3% 95th percentile SC-GHG case..........         2.2         2.7         3.5         3.7         6.4        32.5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Conclusion

    When considering new or amended energy conservation standards, the 
standards that DOE adopts for any type (or class) of covered product 
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 by, 
to the greatest extent practicable, considering the seven statutory 
factors discussed previously. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i)) The new or 
amended standard must also result in significant conservation of 
energy. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(3)(B))
    For this final rule, DOE considered the impacts of new and amended 
standards for consumer pool heaters 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 TSL, tables in this section 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. These include 
the impacts on identifiable subgroups of consumers who may be 
disproportionately affected by a national standard and impacts on 
employment.
    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. 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 (for example, 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 the 
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 standard decreases the number of products 
purchased 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 final rule 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.\171\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \171\ P.C. Reiss and M.W. White. Household Electricity Demand, 
Revisited. Review of Economic Studies. 2005. 72(3): pp. 853-883. 
doi: 10.1111/0034-6527.00354.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 conservation 
standards, and potential enhancements to the methodology by which these 
impacts are defined and estimated in the regulatory process.\172\ DOE 
welcomes comments on how to more fully assess the potential impact of

[[Page 34693]]

energy conservation standards on consumer choice and how to quantify 
this impact in its regulatory analysis in future rulemakings.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \172\ Sanstad, A.H. Notes on the Economics of Household Energy 
Consumption and Technology Choice. 2010. Lawrence Berkeley National 
Laboratory. www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/pdfs/consumer_ee_theory.pdf (last accessed October 15, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Benefits and Burdens of TSLs Considered for Consumer Pool Heaters 
Standards
    Table V.24 and Table V.25 summarize the quantitative impacts 
estimated for each TSL for consumer pool heaters. The national impacts 
are measured over the lifetime of consumer pool heaters purchased in 
the 30-year period that begins in the anticipated year of compliance 
with amended standards (2028-2057). The energy savings, emissions 
reductions, and value of emissions reductions refer to full-fuel-cycle 
results. DOE is presenting monetized benefits in accordance with the 
applicable Executive orders and DOE would reach the same conclusion 
presented in this notice in the absence of the social cost of 
greenhouse gases, including the Interim Estimates presented by the 
Interagency Working Group. The efficiency levels contained in each TSL 
are described in section V.A of this document.

           Table V.24--Summary of Analytical Results for Consumer Pool Heaters TSLs: National Impacts
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Category                     TSL 1       TSL 2       TSL 3       TSL 4       TSL 5       TSL 6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Cumulative FFC National Energy Savings
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quads...................................        0.25        0.31        0.41        0.45        0.70        3.07
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Cumulative FFC Emissions Reduction
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CO2 (million metric tons)...............         8.6        10.4        13.7        15.0        28.9       155.5
CH4 (thousand tons).....................        66.4        78.9       102.2       111.4       284.4     1,840.2
N2O (thousand tons).....................         0.1         0.1         0.1         0.1         0.2         0.4
NOX (thousand tons).....................        23.4        26.2        31.4        33.5       240.8       488.5
SO2 (thousand tons).....................         3.2         4.0         5.4         6.0         6.0         7.6
Hg (tons)...............................        0.02        0.03        0.03        0.04        0.04        0.04
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Present Value of Monetized Benefits and Costs (3% discount rate, billion 2021$)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consumer Operating Cost Savings.........         1.7         2.1         2.8         3.1         4.3        15.7
Climate Benefits *......................         0.4         0.5         0.7         0.7         1.5         8.4
Health Benefits **......................         0.7         0.9         1.1         1.2         2.3        11.5
Total Benefits [dagger].................         2.9         3.5         4.6         5.0         8.0        35.6
Consumer Incremental Product Costs               0.1         0.2         0.3         0.6         1.3         6.1
 [Dagger]...............................
Consumer Net Benefits...................         1.6         1.9         2.4         2.4         3.0         9.6
Total Net Benefits......................         2.7         3.3         4.3         4.4         6.7        29.5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Present Value of Monetized Benefits and Costs (7% discount rate, billion 2021$)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consumer Operating Cost Savings.........         0.8         0.9         1.2         1.3         1.8         6.7
Climate Benefits *......................         0.4         0.5         0.7         0.7         1.5         8.4
Health Benefits **......................         0.3         0.3         0.4         0.5         0.9         4.3
Total Benefits [dagger].................         1.5         1.8         2.3         2.5         4.2        19.4
Consumer Incremental Product Costs               0.1         0.1         0.2         0.3         0.7         3.1
 [Dagger]...............................
Consumer Net Benefits...................         0.7         0.8         1.0         1.0         1.2         3.5
Total Net Benefits......................         1.4         1.7         2.2         2.2         3.5        16.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: This table presents the costs and benefits associated with pool heaters shipped in 2028-2057. These
  results include benefits to consumers which accrue after 2057 from the products shipped in 2028-2057.
* Climate benefits are calculated using four different estimates of the SC-CO2, SC-CH4 and SC-N2O. Together,
  these represent the global SC-GHG. For presentational purposes of this table, the climate benefits associated
  with the average SC-GHG at a 3-percent discount rate are shown, but the Department does not have a single
  central SC-GHG point estimate. To monetize the benefits of reducing GHG emissions this analysis uses the
  interim estimates presented in the Technical Support Document: Social Cost of Carbon, Methane, and Nitrous
  Oxide Interim Estimates Under Executive Order 13990 published in February 2021 by the Interagency Working
  Group on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases (IWG).
** Health benefits are calculated using benefit-per-ton values for NOX and SO2. DOE is currently only monetizing
  (for NOX and SO2) PM2.5 precursor health benefits and (for NOX) ozone precursor health benefits, but will
  continue to assess the ability to monetize other effects such as health benefits from reductions in direct
  PM2.5 emissions. The health benefits are presented at real discount rates of 3 and 7 percent. See section IV.L
  of this document for more details.
[dagger] Total and net benefits include consumer, climate, and health benefits. For presentation purposes, total
  and net benefits for both the 3-percent and 7-percent cases are presented using the average SC-GHG with 3-
  percent discount rate, but the Department does not have a single central SC-GHG point estimate. DOE emphasizes
  the importance and value of considering the benefits calculated using all four sets of SC-GHG estimates.
[Dagger] Costs include incremental equipment costs as well as installation costs.


                       Table V.25--Summary of Analytical Results for Consumer Pool Heaters TSLs: Manufacturer and Consumer Impacts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Category                               TSL 1           TSL 2           TSL 3           TSL 4           TSL 5           TSL 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Manufacturer Impacts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Industry NPV (million 2021$) (No-new-standards case INPV     583.6-585.2     581.9-584.5     570.8-577.0     563.0-575.0     548.4-587.7     482.7-631.6
 = 585.7)...............................................
Industry NPV (% change).................................     (0.4)-(0.1)     (0.7)-(0.2)     (2.6)-(1.5)     (3.9)-(1.8)       (6.4)-0.3      (17.6)-7.8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 34694]]

 
                                                          Consumer Average LCC Savings (2021$)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electric Pool Heaters...................................           8,090           4,403           1,302           1,130           1,130             946
Gas-fired Pool Heaters..................................             783             783             783             783              80             497
Shipment-Weighted Average *.............................           8,090           4,403           1,302           1,276             748             728
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Consumer Simple PBP (years)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electric Pool Heaters...................................             0.3             0.4             0.4             0.5             0.5             0.6
Gas-fired Pool Heaters..................................             0.2             0.2             0.2             0.2             2.3             4.2
Shipment-Weighted Average *.............................             0.3             0.4             0.4             0.2             1.8             3.2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Percent of Consumers that Experience a Net Cost
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electric Pool Heaters...................................             1.1             2.3            22.4            45.3            45.3            62.9
Gas-fired Pool Heaters..................................             0.2             0.2             0.2             0.2            39.1            72.6
Shipment-Weighted Average *.............................             0.3             0.7             6.6             6.8            40.9            69.8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parentheses indicate negative (-) values.
* Weighted by shares of each product class in total projected shipments in 2028.

    DOE first considered TSL 6, which represents the max-tech 
efficiency levels for all product classes. Approximately 3.0 percent of 
electric pool heaters and 8.6 percent of gas-fired pool heaters are 
estimated to meet these levels in 2028 (as shown in Table IV.14 and 
Table IV.15). The max-tech efficiency levels are achieved using the 
most efficient heat pump technology for electric pool heaters and 
condensing technology for gas-fired pool heaters (as well as electrical 
upgrades to reduce the standby mode and off mode power consumption of 
electric pool heaters and gas-fired pool heaters). TSL 6 would save an 
estimated 3.07 quads of energy, an amount DOE considers significant. 
Under TSL 6, the NPV of consumer benefit would be $3.5 billion using a 
discount rate of 7 percent, and $9.6 billion using a discount rate of 3 
percent.
    The cumulative emissions reductions at TSL 6 are 156 Mt of 
CO2, 7.6 thousand tons of SO2, 489 thousand tons 
of NOX, 0.04 tons of Hg, 1,840 thousand tons of 
CH4, and 0.4 thousand tons of N2O. The estimated 
monetary value of the climate benefits from reduced GHG emissions 
(associated with the average SC-GHG at a 3-percent discount rate) at 
TSL 6 is $8.4 billion. The estimated monetary value of the health 
benefits from reduced SO2 and NOX emissions at 
TSL 6 is $4.3 billion using a 7-percent discount rate and $11.5 billion 
using a 3-percent discount rate.
    Using a 7-percent discount rate for consumer benefits and costs, 
health benefits from reduced SO2 and NOX 
emissions, and the 3-percent discount rate case for climate benefits 
from reduced GHG emissions, the estimated total NPV at TSL 6 is $16.3 
billion. Using a 3-percent discount rate for all benefits and costs, 
the estimated total NPV at TSL 6 is $29.5 billion. The estimated total 
NPV is provided for additional information, however DOE primarily 
relies upon the NPV of consumer benefits when determining whether a 
proposed standard level is economically justified.
    At TSL 6, the average LCC impact is a savings of $946 for electric 
pool heaters and $497 for gas-fired pool heaters. The simple payback 
period is 0.6 years for electric pool heaters and 4.2 years for gas-
fired pool heaters. The fraction of consumers experiencing a net LCC 
cost is 62.9 percent for electric pool heaters and 72.6 percent for 
gas-fired pool heaters. This is driven largely by variation in hours of 
use across consumer subgroups.
    At TSL 6, the projected change in INPV ranges from a decrease of 
$103.0 million to an increase of $45.9 million, which corresponds to a 
decrease of 17.6 percent and an increase of 7.8 percent, respectively. 
DOE estimates that industry must invest $126.4 million to comply with 
standards set at TSL 6. DOE estimates that approximately 8.6 percent of 
gas-fired consumer pool heater shipments and 3.0 percent of electric 
consumer pool heater shipments would meet the efficiency levels 
analyzed at TSL 6.
    There are 18 consumer pool heater manufacturers that manufacture 
electric consumer pool heaters covered by this rulemaking. Only three 
electric consumer pool heater manufacturers currently offer a model 
that meets the efficiency level required at TSL 6 for electric consumer 
pool heaters. All other electric consumer pool heater models offered by 
consumer pool heater manufacturers do not meet the efficiency level 
required at TSL 6 for electric pool heaters covered by this rulemaking.
    There are six consumer pool heater manufacturers that manufacture 
gas-fired consumer pool heaters covered by this rulemaking. One gas-
fired consumer pool heater manufacturer currently offers one model that 
meets the efficiency level required at TSL 6 for gas-fired pool 
heaters. All other gas-fired consumer pool heater models offered by the 
other five gas-fired consumer pool heater manufacturers do not meet the 
efficiency level required at TSL 6 for gas-fired pool heaters covered 
by this rulemaking.
    At TSL 6, most consumer pool heater manufacturers would be required 
to redesign every consumer pool heater model covered by this 
rulemaking. It is unclear if most manufacturers would have the 
engineering capacity to complete the necessary redesigns within the 5-
year compliance period. If manufacturers require more than 5 years to 
redesign all their covered consumer pool heater models, they will 
likely prioritize redesigns based on sales volume.
    The Secretary concludes that at TSL 6 for consumer pool heaters, 
the benefits of energy savings, positive NPV of consumer benefits, 
emission reductions, and the estimated monetary value of the emissions 
reductions would be outweighed by the economic burden on a high 
percentage of consumers, and the impacts on manufacturers, including 
the large conversion costs, profit margin

[[Page 34695]]

impacts that could result in a large reduction in INPV, and the lack of 
manufacturers currently offering products meeting the efficiency levels 
required at this TSL, including most small businesses. A majority of 
electric pool heater consumers (62.9 percent) and gas-fired pool heater 
consumers (72.6 percent) would experience a net cost due to the 
increases in purchase costs. Only three consumer pool heater 
manufacturers offer models that meet the efficiency level required at 
TSL 6 for electric consumer pool heaters covered by this rulemaking, 
and only one consumer pool heater manufacturer offers models that meet 
the efficiency level required at TSL 6 for gas-fired consumer pool 
heaters covered by this rulemaking. Due to the limited amount of 
engineering resources each manufacturer has, it is unclear if most 
manufacturers will be able to redesign their entire product offerings 
of consumer pool heaters covered by this rulemaking in the 5-year 
compliance period. Lastly, only two small businesses offer consumer 
pool heater models that meet the efficiency levels required at TSL 6. 
No other small businesses offer any consumer pool heater models that 
meet the efficiency levels required at TSL 6. Consequently, the 
Secretary has concluded that TSL 6 is not economically justified.
    DOE then considered TSL 5, which represents efficiency level 4 for 
electric consumer pool heaters and efficiency level 2 for gas-fired 
consumer pool heaters. Approximately 12.3 percent of electric pool 
heaters and 49.7 percent of gas-fired pool heaters are estimated to 
meet these levels in 2028 (as shown in Table IV.14 and Table IV.15). 
For electric pool heaters, this level utilizes heat pump technology. 
For gas-fired pool heaters, the level utilizes electronic ignition and 
blower driven gas/air mix (as shown in Table IV.6). TSL 5 would save an 
estimated 0.70 quads of energy, an amount DOE considers significant. 
Under TSL 5, the NPV of consumer benefit would be $1.2 billion using a 
discount rate of 7 percent, and $3.0 billion using a discount rate of 3 
percent.
    The cumulative emissions reductions at TSL 5 are 29 Mt of 
CO2, 6.0 thousand tons of SO2, 489 thousand tons 
of NOX, 0.03 tons of Hg, 284 thousand tons of 
CH4, and 0.4 thousand tons of N2O. The estimated 
monetary value of the climate benefits from reduced GHG emissions 
(associated with the average SC-GHG at a 3-percent discount rate) at 
TSL 5 is $1.5 billion. The estimated monetary value of the health 
benefits from reduced SO2 and NOX emissions at 
TSL 5 is $0.9 billion using a 7-percent discount rate and $2.3 billion 
using a 3-percent discount rate.
    Using a 7-percent discount rate for consumer benefits and costs, 
health benefits from reduced SO2 and NOX 
emissions, and the 3-percent discount rate case for climate benefits 
from reduced GHG emissions, the estimated total NPV at TSL 5 is $3.5 
billion. Using a 3-percent discount rate for all benefits and costs, 
the estimated total NPV at TSL 5 is $6.7 billion. The estimated total 
NPV is provided for additional information, however DOE primarily 
relies upon the NPV of consumer benefits when determining whether a 
proposed standard level is economically justified.
    At TSL 5, the average LCC impact is a savings of $1,130 for 
electric pool heaters and $80 for gas-fired pool heaters. The simple 
payback period is 0.5 years for electric pool heaters and 2.3 years for 
gas-fired pool heaters. The fraction of consumers experiencing a net 
LCC cost is 45.3 percent for electric pool heaters and 39.1 percent for 
gas-fired pool heaters.
    At TSL 5, the projected change in INPV ranges from a decrease of 
$37.3 million to an increase of $2.0 million, which correspond to a 
decrease of 6.4 percent and an increase of 0.3 percent, respectively. 
DOE estimates that industry must invest $48.4 million to comply with 
standards set at TSL 5. DOE estimates that approximately 49.7 percent 
of gas-fired consumer pool heater shipments and 12.3 percent of 
electric consumer pool heater shipments would meet or exceed the 
efficiency levels analyzed at TSL 5. All 6 gas-fired consumer pool 
heater manufacturers and 10 of the 18 electric consumer pool heater 
manufacturers currently offer models that meet or exceed the efficiency 
levels required at TSL 5.
    After considering the analysis and weighing the benefits and 
burdens, the Secretary has concluded that at a standard set at TSL 5 
for consumer pool heaters would be economically justified. At this TSL, 
the average LCC savings for both electric and gas-fired pool heater 
consumers are positive. The FFC national energy savings are 
significant, and the NPV of consumer benefits is positive using both a 
3-percent and 7-percent discount rate. Notably, the benefits to 
consumers outweigh the cost to manufacturers. At TSL 5, the NPV of 
consumer benefits, even measured at the more conservative discount rate 
of 7 percent, is over 32 times higher than the maximum estimated 
manufacturers' loss in INPV. The standard levels at TSL 5 are 
economically justified even without weighing the estimated monetary 
value of emissions reductions, representing $1.5 billion in climate 
benefits (associated with the average SC-GHG at a 3-percent discount 
rate), and $0.9 billion (using a 3-percent discount rate) or $2.3 
billion (using a 7-percent discount rate) in health benefits.
    Accordingly, the Secretary has concluded that TSL 5 would offer the 
maximum improvement in efficiency that is technologically feasible and 
economically justified and would result in the significant conservation 
of energy.
    As stated, DOE conducts the walk-down analysis to determine the TSL 
that represents the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that is 
technologically feasible and economically justified as required under 
EPCA. The walk-down is not a comparative analysis, as a comparative 
analysis would result in the maximization of net benefits instead of 
the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that is technologically 
feasible and economically justified, which would be contrary to the 
statute. 86 FR 70892, 70908. Although DOE has not conducted a 
comparative analysis to select the new and amended energy conservation 
standards, DOE notes that, as compared to TSL 6, TSL 5 has higher 
average LCC savings for consumers of electric pool heaters, 
significantly smaller percentages of consumers of electric pool heaters 
and gas-fired pool heaters experiencing a net cost, a lower maximum 
decrease in INPV, and lower manufacturer conversion costs.
    Although results are presented here in terms of TSLs, DOE analyzed 
and evaluated all possible ELs for each product class in its analysis. 
For both gas-fired pool heaters and electric pool heaters, TSL 5 is 
comprised of the highest efficiency level below max-tech. Therefore, 
DOE below considers the max-tech efficiency levels for both gas-fired 
pool heaters and electric pool heaters.
    For gas-fired pool heaters, the max-tech efficiency level results 
in a large percentage of consumers that experience a net LCC cost due 
to the increases in purchase costs. While the average LCC would be 
positive, this is due to a small segment of consumers receiving the 
bulk of the benefits. Additionally, there would be a significant impact 
to manufacturers at EL 3, as most gas-fired pool heater manufacturers 
would be required to redesign every gas-fired pool heater model covered 
by this rulemaking. Most of the costs to manufacturers at TSL 6 is 
driven by the increased cost to gas-fired pool heater manufacturers, as 
indicated in the analysis in Section V.2. of this document. It is 
unclear if most

[[Page 34696]]

manufacturers would have the engineering capacity to complete the 
necessary redesigns within the 5-year compliance period.
    For electric pool heaters the max-tech efficiency level is 
currently only achieved by three of the 18 manufacturers, resulting in 
large conversion costs and potentially significant reductions in INPV. 
The max-tech efficiency level also results in a large percentage of 
consumers that experience a net LCC cost due to the increases in 
purchase costs.
    Additionally, at the max-tech efficiency levels for both electric 
pool heaters and gas-fired pool heaters there is a substantial risk of 
manufacturers being unable to offer a competitive range of equipment 
across the range of input capacities currently available. The benefits 
of max-tech efficiency levels for electric pool heaters and gas-fired 
pool heaters do not outweigh the negative impacts to consumers and 
manufacturers. Therefore, DOE has concluded that the max-tech 
efficiency levels are not justified. The ELs one level below max-tech, 
representing the finalized standard levels in TSL 5, significantly 
reduce the number of consumers experiencing a net cost and reduce the 
potential decrease in INPV and conversion costs to the point where DOE 
has concluded these levels are economically justified, as discussed for 
TSL 5 in the preceding paragraphs.
    Therefore, based on the previous considerations, DOE adopts the 
energy conservation standards for consumer pool heaters at TSL 5. The 
amended energy conservation standards for consumer pool heaters, which 
are expressed as TEI, are shown in Table V.26.
    DOE understands that pool heater use can vary widely depending on a 
number of factors, including climate, size of the pool, whether it 
serves as a commercial facility, and annual usage. As the annual usage 
increases, the economics of purchasing more-efficient pool heaters 
improve. For example, for high-usage pool heaters such as those serving 
recreation centers or indoor pool facilities that are operated year 
round, condensing pool heaters would provide higher than average 
utility bill savings as compared to the increase in first cost to 
purchase the more-efficient equipment. While DOE is not adopting a 
standard requiring condensing technology for gas-fired pool heaters in 
this final rule, DOE believes there is merit to voluntary programs and 
education campaigns highlighting the value of these more-efficient 
options for high-use pool heater operations, in terms of both the net 
cost savings available for such consumers and the public benefits 
flowing from the energy savings. DOE encourages trade associations and 
other groups representing consumers likely to have relatively higher 
annual usage of their pool heaters--such as hotels and other lodging 
facilities, gymnasiums and spas, community pools, and schools--to 
communicate with their members about the private and public benefits of 
considering more-efficient options and also to engage, to the extent 
appropriate, with manufacturers and distributors to discuss the market 
interest in more-efficient options. Outside the context of this final 
rule, DOE will consider whether it can facilitate further consumer 
education about these products. Related to these efforts, DOE may 
explore additional information collection such as notices of data 
availability (NODAs) or requests for information (RFIs) to further 
inform TSL analyses regarding hours of use assumptions and price 
elasticity variations across consumer subgroups. This information may 
be helpful both in improving underlying analyses including regarding 
distributional impacts in future ECS, and may also improve the 
effectiveness of agency outreach regarding voluntary adoption for high-
use consumers of appliances.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR30MY23.010

2. Annualized Benefits and Costs of the Adopted Standards
    The benefits and costs of the adopted standards can also be 
expressed in terms of annualized values. The annualized net benefit is 
(1) the annualized national economic value (expressed in 2021$) of the 
benefits from operating products that meet the adopted standards 
(consisting primarily of operating cost savings from using less 
energy), minus increases in product purchase costs, and (2) the 
annualized monetary value of the climate and health benefits.
    Table V.27 shows the annualized values for consumer pool heaters 
under TSL 5, expressed in 2021$. The results under the primary estimate 
are as follows.
    Using a 7-percent discount rate for consumer benefits and costs and 
health benefits from reduced NOX and SO2 
emissions, and the 3-percent discount rate case for climate benefits 
from reduced GHG emissions, the estimated cost of the standards adopted 
in this rule is $74.1 per year in increased equipment costs, while the 
estimated annual benefits are $208.0 million in reduced equipment 
operating costs, $88.3 million in climate benefits, and $97.7 million 
in health benefits. In this case, the net benefit will amount to $319.8 
million per year.
    Using a 3-percent discount rate for all benefits and costs, the 
estimated cost of the standards is $75.3 million per year in increased 
equipment costs, while the estimated annual benefits are $252.7 million 
in reduced operating costs, $88.3 million in climate benefits, and 
$133.1 million in health benefits. In this case, the net benefit will 
amount to $398.8 million per year.

[[Page 34697]]



   Table V.27--Annualized Monetized Benefits and Costs of Adopted Standards (TSL 5) for Consumer Pool Heaters
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                Million 2021$/year
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Low-net-        High-net-
                                                                      Primary        benefits        benefits
                                                                     estimate        estimate        estimate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                3% discount rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consumer Operating Cost Savings.................................           252.7           238.5           270.0
Climate Benefits *..............................................            88.3            85.3            91.2
Health Benefits **..............................................           133.1           128.8           137.6
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total Benefits [dagger].....................................           474.1           452.6           498.7
Consumer Incremental Product Costs [Dagger].....................            75.3            76.5            73.4
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Net Monetized Benefits......................................           398.8           376.1           425.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                7% discount rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consumer Operating Cost Savings.................................           208.0           197.5           220.3
Climate Benefits * (3% discount rate)...........................            88.3            85.3            91.2
Health Benefits **..............................................            97.7            94.8           100.7
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total Benefits [dagger].....................................           393.9           377.6           412.2
Consumer Incremental Product Costs [Dagger].....................            74.1            74.6            73.2
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Net Monetized Benefits......................................           319.8           303.0           339.1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VI. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review

A. Review Under Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

    Executive Order (``E.O.'') 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and 
Review,'' as supplemented and reaffirmed by E.O. 13563, ``Improving 
Regulation and Regulatory Review, 76 FR 3821 (Jan. 21, 2011), requires 
agencies, to the extent permitted by law, 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 E.O. 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, the 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (``OIRA'') in the Office 
of Management and Budget (``OMB'') 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 this preamble, this final regulatory action 
is consistent with these principles.
    Section 6(a) of E.O. 12866 also requires agencies to submit 
``significant regulatory actions'' to OIRA for review. OIRA has 
determined that this final regulatory action constitutes a 
``significant regulatory action'' within the scope of section 3(f)(1) 
of E.O. 12866. Accordingly, pursuant to section 6(a)(3)(C) of E.O. 
12866, DOE has provided to OIRA an assessment, including the underlying 
analysis, of benefits and costs anticipated from the final 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 are summarized in this preamble and 
further detail can be found in the technical support document for this 
rulemaking.

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'') 
and a final regulatory flexibility analysis (``FRFA'') 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 E.O. 13272, ``Proper Consideration of Small Entities in Agency 
Rulemaking,'' 67 FR 53461 (Aug. 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 website 
(www.energy.gov/gc/office-general-counsel). DOE has prepared the 
following FRFA for the products that are the subject of this 
rulemaking.
    For manufacturers of consumer pool heaters, the SBA has set a size 
threshold, which defines those entities classified as ``small 
businesses'' for the purposes of the statute. DOE used the SBA's small 
business size standards to

[[Page 34698]]

determine whether any small entities would be subject to the 
requirements of the rule. (See 13 CFR part 121.) The size standards are 
listed by North American Industry Classification System (``NAICS'') 
code and industry description and are available at www.sba.gov/document/support-table-size-standards. Manufacturing of consumer pool 
heaters is classified under NAICS 333414, ``Heating Equipment (except 
Warm Air Furnaces) Manufacturing.'' The SBA sets a threshold of 500 
employees or fewer for an entity to be considered as a small business 
for this category.
1. Description of Reasons Why Action Is Being Considered
    DOE has undertaken this rulemaking pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 
6295(e)(4)(B), which requires DOE to conduct a second round of amended 
standards rulemaking for consumer pool heaters. The Energy Policy and 
Conservation Act, as amended (EPCA), also requires that not later than 
six years after issuance of any final rule establishing or amending a 
standard, DOE must publish either a notice of the 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)) This rulemaking is in accordance with 
DOE's obligations under EPCA.
2. Objectives of, and Legal Basis for, Rule
    As discussed previously in section II, Title III, Part B of EPCA, 
sets forth a variety of provisions designed to improve energy 
efficiency and established the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer 
Products Other Than Automobiles, a program covering most major 
household appliances and certain industrial and commercial equipment. 
The National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987 (NAECA), Public 
Law 100-12, amended EPCA to establish energy conservation standards for 
residential pool heaters and set requirements to conduct two cycles of 
rulemaking to determine whether these standards should be amended. (42 
U.S.C. 6295(e)(2) and (4)) The first of these two rulemakings, which 
amended standards for gas-fired pool heaters, concluded with the 
promulgation of a final rule on April 16, 2010. 75 FR 20112. (Codified 
at 10 CFR 430.32(k)). This rulemaking satisfies the statutory 
requirements under EPCA to conduct a second round of review of the pool 
heaters standard. (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(4)(B)) This rulemaking is also in 
accordance the six-year review required under 42 U.S.C. 6295(m)(1).
3. Description on Estimated Number of Small Entities Regulated
    For manufacturers of consumer pool heaters, the SBA has set a size 
threshold, which defines those entities classified as ``small 
businesses'' for the purposes of the statute. DOE used the SBA's small 
business size standards to determine whether any small entities would 
be subject to the requirements of this proposed rule. See 13 CFR part 
121. The size standards are listed by NAICS code and industry 
description and are available at www.sba.gov/document/support-table-size-standards.
    Manufacturing of consumer pool heaters is classified under NAICS 
code 333414, ``heating equipment (except warm air furnaces) 
manufacturing.'' The SBA sets a threshold of 500 employees or fewer for 
an entity to be considered as a small business for this category.
    DOE reviewed the potential standard levels considered in this final 
rule under the provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act and the 
procedures and policies published on February 19, 2003. During its 
market survey, DOE used publicly available information to identify 
potential small manufacturers. DOE's research involved industry trade 
association membership directories (e.g., AHRI), information from 
previous rulemakings, individual company websites, and market research 
tools (e.g., D&B Hoover's reports) to create a list of companies that 
manufacture consumer pool heaters. DOE also asked stakeholders and 
industry representatives if they were aware of any additional small 
manufacturers during manufacturer interviews. DOE reviewed publicly 
available data and contacted various companies on its complete list of 
manufacturers to determine whether they met the SBA's definition of a 
small business manufacturer. 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 20 companies manufacturing consumer pool heaters 
covered by this rulemaking. Of these manufacturers, DOE identified six 
companies that meet SBA's definition of a small business. All six 
domestic small businesses only manufacture electric pool heaters. DOE 
did not identify any domestic small businesses that manufacture gas-
fired pool heaters.
    DOE was able to reach and discuss potential standards with two of 
the six small businesses. Additionally, DOE requested information about 
small businesses and potential impacts on small businesses while 
interviewing large manufacturers.
    Gas-fired pool heaters account for most of the consumer pool heater 
market, with approximately 72 percent of all consumer pool heater units 
shipped annually. Within the electric consumer pool heater market, 
approximately 92 percent of shipments are heat pump pool heaters and 
only a small fraction of the shipments are electric resistance consumer 
pool heaters. (See chapter 9 of the final rule TSD for more information 
on the shipments analysis conducted for this rulemaking.) Although the 
electric consumer pool heater market is smaller than the gas-fired 
consumer pool heater market, it is also more fragmented. Whereas DOE 
identified six manufacturers of gas-fired consumer pool heaters, DOE 
identified 18 manufacturers of electric consumer pool heaters (four of 
the companies make both gas-fired and electric consumer pool heaters).
    Four manufacturers dominate the market for electric pool heaters, 
three large manufacturers and one small business. The rest of the 
market is served by a combination of large and small businesses with 
market shares estimated to be in the single digits. Of these 
manufacturers, DOE identified six as domestic small businesses. All six 
domestic small businesses only manufacture electric pool heaters. Of 
those six, five only manufacture electric heat pump pool heaters. The 
other small business only manufactures electric resistance pool 
heaters. DOE did not identify any domestic small businesses that 
manufacture gas-fired pool heaters.
4. Description and Estimate of Compliance Requirements Including 
Differences in Cost, if Any, for Different Groups of Small Entities
    As stated previously, DOE identified six small manufacturers of 
electric consumer pool heaters and no small manufacturers of gas-fired 
consumer pool heaters. Accordingly, this analysis of small business 
impacts focuses exclusively on the electric consumer pool heater 
industry.
    This final rule adopts minimum energy conservation standards for 
electric consumer pool heaters at efficiency levels above those capable 
of being achieved by electric resistance pool heaters. Given that the 
designs of electric heat pump pool heaters and electric resistance pool 
heaters use different types of technology, DOE assumes manufacturers of 
electric resistance consumer pool heaters would

[[Page 34699]]

discontinue those electric resistance consumer pool heater models 
rather than redesign them as electric heat pump consumer pool heaters. 
As a result, expected impacts on manufacturers vary based on the type 
of electric consumer pool heaters they manufacture.
    As described in section IV.J.2.c of this document, there are two 
types of conversion costs that small businesses could incur due to the 
adopted standard for electric consumer pool heaters: product conversion 
costs and capital conversion costs. Product conversion costs are 
investments in R&D, testing, marketing, and other non-capitalized costs 
necessary to make product designs comply with new and amended energy 
conservation standards. Capital conversion costs are investments in 
property, plant, and equipment necessary to adapt or change existing 
production facilities such that new compliant product designs can be 
fabricated and assembled. Manufacturers will only need to make these 
investments if they have products that do not meet the adopted energy 
conservation standards. Testing costs are costs manufacturers must make 
to test their electric consumer pool heaters in accordance with DOE's 
test procedure to demonstrate compliance with adopted energy 
conservation standards. Manufacturers must do this for all compliant 
electric consumer pool heaters that are in the scope of this 
rulemaking.
    DOE estimates there are two small businesses that do not have any 
electric heat pump consumer pool heater models that would meet the 
adopted standard for electric consumer pool heaters. DOE applied the 
conversion cost methodology described in section IV.J.2.c of this 
document to calculate each small business's estimate product and 
capital conversion costs. To calculate product conversion costs, DOE 
estimated it would take 12 months of engineering time to redesign a 
single electric heat pump consumer pool heater model to meet the 
adopted standards for electric consumer pool heater (EL 4). DOE 
estimates that there are approximately 50 electric heat pump consumer 
pool heater unique basic models manufactured by small businesses that 
may need to be redesigned to comply with the adopted energy 
conservation standard for electric consumer pool heaters. To calculate 
capital conversion costs DOE estimates that most small businesses would 
need to make investments in tooling to accommodate electric heat pump 
consumer pool heater models with a larger evaporator. Small business 
conversion costs are presented in Table VI.1.
    The five small businesses that manufacture electric heat pump 
consumer pool heaters would incur testing costs to demonstrate 
compliance in accordance with DOE's test procedure to the electric 
consumer pool heater energy conservation standard. Electric consumer 
pool heaters are currently not subject to a DOE energy conservation 
standard. This final rule establishes new energy conservation standards 
for electric consumer pool heaters. Therefore, all manufacturers, 
including small businesses, will have to test all electric consumer 
pool heaters that are subject to this rulemaking after the compliance 
date of the energy conservation standards established in this final 
rule. DOE estimates that small businesses manufacture approximately 65 
unique basic models of electric heat pump consumer pool heaters. All 65 
electric heat pump consumer pool heater models will need to be tested 
after the compliance date. DOE estimates a per model testing cost for 
these electric heat pump consumer pool heater models of approximately 
$6,500 per model. Small business conversion and testing costs are 
presented in Table VI.1.

                                        Table VI.1--Small Business Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Small business costs (2021$      Average cost per small business
                                                        millions)                       (2021$ millions)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product Conversion Costs.................  6.35..............................  1.27
Capital Conversion Costs.................  0.65..............................  0.13
Testing Costs for Compliance.............  0.42..............................  0.08
                                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Small Business Costs...........  7.42..............................  1.48
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOE estimates the average small business will incur approximately 
$1.48 million per small business. DOE assumes that all consumer pool 
heater manufacturers would spread these costs over the five-year 
compliance timeframe, as compliance with the standards adopted in this 
final rule is required within five years after the publication of this 
document. Therefore, DOE assumes that the average consumer pool heater 
small business would incur on average $296,000 annually in each of the 
five years leading up to the compliance date for consumer pool heaters. 
Using publicly available data, DOE estimated the average annual revenue 
of the five small businesses that manufacturer electric heat pump 
consumer pool heaters to be $13.7 million. Table VI.2 compares these 
average small business costs to average annual revenue of small 
businesses.

                                           Table VI.2--Average Small Business Costs Compared to Annual Revenue
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               Compliance costs                        Compliance costs
                                                           Estimated        Annual revenue      as a percent of       5 Years of       as a percent of 5
                                                       compliance costs    (2021$ millions)     annual revenue      revenue  (2021$    years of revenue
                                                       (2021$ millions)                               (%)              millions)              (%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average Small Business..............................               1.48                13.7                10.8                68.5                 2.2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Lastly, for the one small business that manufactures only electric 
resistance consumer pool heaters, based on public company literature, 
this small business manufactures approximately nine electric resistance 
consumer pool

[[Page 34700]]

heaters that would not be able to meet the adopted energy conservation 
standards for electric consumer pool heaters and therefore would no 
longer be allowed to sell these products in the United States. This 
small business also manufactures electric resistance spa heaters and 
commercial electric resistance heating products that would still be 
allowed to be sold in the United States, even after the compliance date 
of this final rule. This manufacturer's business and competitive 
position in the electric consumer pool heater market will be negatively 
impacted, since the adopted standards result in a minimum efficiency 
level that is not feasible for electric resistance pool heaters to 
achieve. This small business does not offer any compliant consumer pool 
heater products that could serve as a replacement product for the non-
compliant electric resistance consumer pool heaters. However, this 
small business can still sell electric resistance spa heaters in the 
United States and will still be able to export electric resistance 
consumer pool heaters to other countries, including into Canada.
5. 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 considered here.
6. Significant Alternatives to the Rule
    The discussion in the previous section analyzes impacts on small 
businesses that would result from the adopted standards, represented by 
TSL 5. In reviewing alternatives to the adopted standards, DOE examined 
energy conservation standards set at lower efficiency levels. While TSL 
1, TSL 2, TSL 3, and TSL 4 would reduce the impacts on small business 
manufacturers, it would come at the expense of a reduction in energy 
savings. TSL 1 achieves 64 percent lower energy savings compared to the 
energy savings at TSL 5 and between 42 percent and 47 percent lower 
consumer NPV savings compared to the consumer NPV savings at TSL 5 (at 
a 3 percent discount rate and a 7 percent discount rate respectively); 
TSL 2 achieves 56 percent lower energy savings compared to the energy 
savings at TSL 5 and between 33 percent and 37 percent lower consumer 
NPV savings compared to the consumer NPV savings at TSL 5 (at a 3 
percent discount rate and a 7 percent discount rate respectively); TSL 
3 achieves 42 percent lower energy savings compared to the energy 
savings at TSL 5 and between 17 percent and 20 percent lower consumer 
NPV savings compared to the consumer NPV savings at TSL 5 (at a 3 
percent discount rate and a 7 percent discount rate respectively); TSL 
4 achieves 36 percent lower energy savings compared to the energy 
savings at TSL 5 and between 17 percent and 20 percent lower consumer 
NPV savings compared to the consumer NPV savings at TSL 5 (at a 3 
percent discount rate and a 7 percent discount rate respectively).
    Establishing standards at TSL 5 balances the benefits of the energy 
savings at TSL 5 with the potential burdens placed on consumer pool 
heaters manufacturers, including small business manufacturers. 
Accordingly, DOE is not adopting one of the other TSLs considered in 
the analysis, or the other policy alternatives examined as part of the 
regulatory impact analysis and included in chapter 17 of the final rule 
TSD.
    Additional compliance flexibilities may be available through other 
means. 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 standard. (42 U.S.C. 6295(t)) Additionally, 
manufacturers subject to DOE's energy efficiency standards may apply to 
DOE's Office of Hearings and Appeals for exception relief under certain 
circumstances. Manufacturers should refer to 10 CFR part 430, subpart 
E, and 10 CFR part 1003 for additional details.

C. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction Act

    Manufacturers of consumer pool heaters 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 DOE test procedures for consumer pool 
heaters, including any amendments adopted for those test procedures. 
DOE has established regulations for the certification and recordkeeping 
requirements for all covered consumer products and commercial 
equipment, including consumer pool heaters. (See generally 10 CFR part 
429). 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. Public reporting burden for 
the certification is estimated to average 35 hours per response, 
including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data 
sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and 
reviewing the collection of information.
    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 of 1969 
(``NEPA''), DOE has analyzed this rule in accordance with NEPA and 
DOE's NEPA implementing regulations (10 CFR part 1021). DOE has 
determined that this rule qualifies for categorical exclusion under 10 
CFR part 1021, subpart D, appendix B5.1 because it is a rulemaking that 
establishes energy conservation standards for consumer products or 
industrial equipment, none of the exceptions identified in appendix 
B5.1(b) apply, no extraordinary circumstances exist that require 
further environmental analysis, and it meets the requirements for 
application of a categorical exclusion. See 10 CFR 1021.410. Therefore, 
DOE has determined that promulgation of this rule is not a major 
Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human 
environment within the meaning of NEPA, and does not require an 
environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement.

E. Review Under Executive Order 13132

    E.O. 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. DOE has examined this rule and has determined 
that it would not have a substantial direct effect on the States,

[[Page 34701]]

on the relationship between the national government and the States, or 
on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various 
levels of government. EPCA governs and prescribes Federal preemption of 
State regulations as to energy conservation for the products that are 
the subject of this final 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) Therefore, 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 E.O. 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 E.O. 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 E.O. 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 final rule meets the relevant standards of E.O. 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 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 ``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 them. 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 
www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/gcprod/documents/umra_97.pdf.
    DOE has concluded that this final rule 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 consumer pool heaters 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 consumer pool heaters, starting at the 
compliance date for the applicable standard.
    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 final 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. This 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section and the TSD for this final 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 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(e)(4)(B) and 42 U.S.C. 6295(m), this final rule establishes new 
and amended energy conservation standards for consumer pool heaters 
that are designed to achieve the maximum improvement in energy 
efficiency that DOE has determined to be both technologically feasible 
and economically justified, as required by 42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(A) and 
6295(o)(3)(B). A full discussion of the alternatives considered by DOE 
is presented in chapter 17 of the TSD for this final 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 E.O. 12630, ``Governmental Actions and Interference 
with Constitutionally Protected Property Rights,'' 53 FR 8859 (March 
18, 1988), DOE has determined that this rule would not result in any 
takings that might require compensation under the Fifth Amendment to 
the U.S. Constitution.

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). Pursuant to OMB Memorandum M-19-15, Improving 
Implementation of the Information Quality Act (April 24, 2019), DOE 
published updated guidelines which are available at www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2019/12/f70/DOE%20Final%20Updated%20IQA%20Guidelines%20Dec%202019.pdf. DOE has 
reviewed this final rule under the OMB and DOE guidelines and has 
concluded that it is consistent with applicable policies in those 
guidelines.

[[Page 34702]]

K. Review Under Executive Order 13211

    E.O. 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 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 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 concluded that this regulatory action, which sets forth new 
and amended energy conservation standards for consumer pool heaters, is 
not a significant energy action because the 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 this final rule.

L. Information Quality

    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 2664, 2667.
    In response to OMB's Bulletin, DOE conducted formal peer reviews of 
the energy conservation standards development process and the analyses 
that are typically used and prepared a report describing that peer 
review.\173\ 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. 
Because available data, models, and technological understanding have 
changed since 2007, DOE has engaged with the National Academy of 
Sciences to review DOE's analytical methodologies to ascertain whether 
modifications are needed to improve the Department's analyses. DOE is 
in the process of evaluating the resulting report.\174\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \173\ The 2007 ``Energy Conservation Standards Rulemaking Peer 
Review Report'' is available at the following website: energy.gov/eere/buildings/downloads/energy-conservation-standards-rulemaking-peer-review-report-0 (last accessed October 17, 2022).
    \174\ The report is available at www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/review-of-methods-for-setting-building-and-equipment-performance-standards.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

M. Congressional Notification

    As required by 5 U.S.C. 801, DOE will report to Congress on the 
promulgation of this rule prior to its effective date. The report will 
state that it has been determined that the rule is a ``major rule'' as 
defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
    The following standards included in this final rule were previously 
approved for incorporation by reference for the locations in which they 
appear in the regulatory text: ANSI Z21.56 and ASHRAE 146.

VII. Approval of the Office of the Secretary

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

List of Subjects

10 CFR Part 429

    Administrative practice and procedure, Confidential business 
information, Energy conservation, Household appliances, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

10 CFR Part 430

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

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on March 30, 
2023, by Francisco Alejandro Moreno, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, pursuant to delegated authority 
from the Secretary of Energy. That document with the original signature 
and date is maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in 
compliance with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the 
undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to 
sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as 
an official document of the Department of Energy. This administrative 
process in no way alters the legal effect of this document upon 
publication in the Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on May 17, 2023.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
    For the reasons stated in the preamble, DOE amends 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. Amend Sec.  429.134 by adding paragraph (cc) to read as follows:


Sec.  429.134  Product-specific enforcement provisions.

* * * * *
    (cc) Pool heaters. Beginning on May 30, 2028:
    (1) Verification of input capacity for gas-fired pool heaters. The 
input capacity of each tested unit will be measured pursuant to the 
test requirements of Sec.  430.23(p) of this subchapter. The results of 
the measurement(s) will be compared to the represented value of input 
capacity certified by the manufacturer for the basic model. The 
certified input capacity will be considered valid only if the 
measurement(s) (either the measured input capacity for a single unit 
sample or the average of the measured input capacity for a multiple 
unit sample) is within two percent of the certified input capacity.

[[Page 34703]]

    (i) If the representative value of input capacity is found to be 
valid, the certified input capacity will serve as the basis for 
determination of the applicable standard and the mean measured input 
capacity will be used as the basis for calculation of the integrated 
thermal efficiency standard for the basic model.
    (ii) If the representative value of input capacity is not within 
two percent of the certified input capacity, DOE will first attempt to 
increase or decrease the gas pressure within the range specified in 
manufacturer's installation and operation manual shipped with the gas-
fired pool heater being tested to achieve the certified input capacity 
(within two percent). If the input capacity is still not within two 
percent of the certified input capacity, DOE will attempt to modify the 
gas inlet orifice. If the input capacity still is not within two 
percent of the certified input capacity, the mean measured input 
capacity (either for a single unit sample or the average for a multiple 
unit sample) determined from the tested units will serve as the basis 
for calculation of the integrated thermal efficiency standard for the 
basic model.
    (2) Verification of active electrical power for electric pool 
heaters. The active electrical power of each tested unit will be 
measured pursuant to the test requirements of Sec.  430.23 of this 
subchapter. The results of the measurement(s) will be compared to the 
represented value of active electrical power city certified by the 
manufacturer for the basic model. The certified active electrical power 
will be considered valid only if the measurement(s) (either the 
measured active electrical power for a single unit sample or the 
average of the measured active electrical power for a multiple unit 
sample) is within five percent of the certified active electrical 
power.
    (i) If the representative value of active electrical power is found 
to be valid, the certified active electrical power will serve as the 
basis for determination of the applicable standard and the mean 
measured active electrical power will be used as the basis for 
calculation of the integrated thermal efficiency standard for the basic 
model.
    (ii) If the representative value of active electrical power is not 
within five percent of the certified active electrical power, the mean 
measured active electrical power (either for a single unit sample or 
the average for a multiple unit sample) determined from the tested 
units will serve as the basis for calculation of the integrated thermal 
efficiency standard for the basic model.

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. Amend Sec.  430.2 by adding in alphabetical order definitions for 
``Electric pool heater'', ``Electric spa heater'', ``Gas-fired pool 
heater'', and ``Oil-fired pool heater'' to read as follows:


Sec.  430.2  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Electric pool heater means a pool heater other than an electric spa 
heater that uses electricity as its primary energy source.
* * * * *
    Electric spa heater means a pool heater that--
    (1) Uses electricity as its primary energy source;
    (2) Has an output capacity (as measured according to appendix P to 
subpart B of part 430) of 11 kW or less; and
    (3) Is designed to be installed within a portable electric spa.
* * * * *
    Gas-fired pool heater means a pool heater that uses gas as its 
primary energy source.
* * * * *
    Oil-fired pool heater means a pool heater that uses oil as its 
primary energy source.
* * * * *

0
5. Appendix P of subpart B of part 430 is amended by:
0
a. Revising the introductory note;
0
b. Revising sections 1., 5.2, and 5.3; and
0
c. Adding sections 5.5, 5.5.1, and 5.5.2;
    The revisions and additions read as follows:

Appendix P to Subpart B of Part 430--Uniform Test Method for Measuring 
the Energy Consumption of Pool Heaters

    Note:  On and after November 27, 2023, any representations made 
with respect to the energy use or efficiency of all pool heaters 
must be made in accordance with the results of testing pursuant to 
this appendix. Until November 27, 2023, manufacturers must test gas-
fired pool heaters in accordance with this appendix, or appendix P 
as it appeared at 10 CFR part 430, subpart B revised as of January 
1, 2021. Prior to November 27, 2023, if a manufacturer makes 
representations of standby mode and off mode energy consumption, 
then testing must also include the provisions of this appendix, or 
appendix P as it appeared at 10 CFR part 430, subpart B revised as 
of January 1, 2021, related to standby mode and off mode energy 
consumption.

    1. Definitions:
    Active electrical power means the maximum electrical power 
consumption in active mode for an electric pool heater.
    Active mode means the condition during the pool heating season 
in which the pool heater is connected to the power source, and the 
main burner, electric resistance element, or heat pump is activated 
to heat pool water.
    Coefficient of performance (COP), as applied to heat pump pool 
heaters, means the ratio of heat output in kW to the total power 
input in kW.
    Electric heat pump pool heater means an appliance designed for 
heating nonpotable water and employing a compressor, water-cooled 
condenser, and outdoor air coil.
    Electric resistance pool heater means an appliance designed for 
heating nonpotable water and employing electric resistance heating 
elements.
    Fossil fuel-fired pool heater means an appliance designed for 
heating nonpotable water and employing gas or oil burners.
    Hybrid pool heater means an appliance designed for heating 
nonpotable water and employing both a heat pump (compressor, water-
cooled condenser, and outdoor air coil) and a fossil fueled burner 
as heating sources.
    Input capacity means the maximum fuel input rate for a fossil 
fuel-fired pool heater.
    Off mode means the condition during the pool non-heating season 
in which the pool heater is connected to the power source, and 
neither the main burner, nor the electric resistance elements, nor 
the heat pump is activated, and the seasonal off switch, if present, 
is in the ``off'' position.
    Output capacity for an electric pool or spa heater means the 
maximum rate at which energy is transferred to the water.
    Seasonal off switch means a switch that results in different 
energy consumption in off mode as compared to standby mode.
    Standby mode means the condition during the pool heating season 
in which the pool heater is connected to the power source, and 
neither the main burner, nor the electric resistance elements, nor 
the heat pump is activated.
* * * * *
    5.2 Average annual fossil fuel energy for pool heaters. For 
electric resistance and electric heat pump pool heaters, the average 
annual fuel energy for pool heaters, EF = 0.
    For fossil fuel-fired pool heaters, the average annual fuel 
energy for pool heaters, EF, is defined as:

EF = BOH QIN + (POH-BOH) QPR + 
(8760 - POH) Qoff,R
Where:
BOH = average number of burner operating hours = 104 h,
POH = average number of pool operating hours = 4,464 h,
QIN = input capacity, in Btu/h, calculated as the 
quantity CF x Q x H in the equation for thermal efficiency in 
section 2.10.1 of ANSI Z21.56 (incorporated by reference; see Sec.  
430.3) and divided by 0.5 h (For electric resistance and electric 
heat pump pool heaters, QIN = 0.),

[[Page 34704]]

QPR = average energy consumption rate of continuously 
operating pilot light, if employed, = (QP/1 h),
QP = energy consumption of continuously operating pilot 
light, if employed, as measured in section 4.2 of this appendix, in 
Btu,
8760 = number of hours in one year,
Qoff,R = average off mode fossil fuel energy consumption 
rate = Qoff/(1 h), and
Qoff = off mode energy consumption as defined in section 
4.3 of this appendix.

    5.3 Average annual electrical energy consumption for pool 
heaters. The average annual electrical energy consumption for pool 
heaters, EAE, is expressed in Btu and defined as:

(1) EAE = EAE,active + 
EAE,standby,off
(2) EAE,active = BOH * PE
(3) EAE,standby,off = (POH-BOH) PW,SB(Btu/h) + 
(8760-POH) PW,OFF(Btu/h)

where:

EAE,active = electrical consumption in the active mode,
EAE,standby,off = auxiliary electrical consumption in the 
standby mode and off mode,
PE = active electrical power, calculated as:
= 2Ec, for fossil fuel-fired heaters tested according to 
section 2.10.1 of ANSI Z21.56 and for electric resistance pool 
heaters, in Btu/h,
= 3.412 PEaux,rated, for fossil fuel-fired heaters tested 
according to section 2.10.2 of ANSI Z21.56, in Btu/h,
= Ec,HP * (60/tHP), for electric heat pump 
pool heaters, in Btu/h.
Ec = electrical consumption in Btu per 30 min. This 
includes the electrical consumption (converted to Btus) of the pool 
heater and, if present, a recirculating pump during the 30-minute 
thermal efficiency test. The 30-minute thermal efficiency test is 
defined in section 2.10.1 of ANSI Z21.56 for fossil fuel-fired pool 
heaters and section 9.1.4 of ASHRAE 146 (incorporated by reference; 
see Sec.  430.3) for electric resistance pool heaters. 2 = 
conversion factor to convert unit from per 30 min. to per h.
PEaux,rated = nameplate rating of auxiliary electrical 
equipment of heater, in Watts
Ec,HP = electrical consumption of the electric heat pump 
pool heater (converted to equivalent unit of Btu), including the 
electrical energy to the recirculating pump if used, during the 
thermal efficiency test, as defined in section 9.1 of ASHRAE 146, in 
Btu.
tHP = elapsed time of data recording during the thermal 
efficiency test on electric heat pump pool heater, as defined in 
section 9.1 of ASHRAE 146, in minutes.
BOH = as defined in section 5.2 of this appendix,
POH = as defined in section 5.2 of this appendix,
PW,SB (Btu/h) = electrical energy consumption rate during 
standby mode expressed in Btu/h = 3.412 PW,SB, Btu/h,
PW,SB = as defined in section 4.2 of this appendix,
PW,OFF (Btu/h) = electrical energy consumption rate 
during off mode expressed in Btu/h = 3.412 PW,OFF, Btu/h, 
and
PW,OFF = as defined in section 4.3 of this appendix.
* * * * *
    5.5 Output capacity for electric pool heaters.
    5.5.1 Calculate the output capacity of an electric heat pump 
pool heater as:

QOUT,HP = k * W * (Tohp-Tihp) * 
(60/tHP)

where k is the specific heat of water, W is the mass of water 
collected during the test, Tohp is the average outlet 
water temperature during the standard rating test, Tihp 
is the average inlet water temperature during the standard rating 
test, all as defined in section 11.2 of ASHRAE 146, and 
tHP is the elapsed time in minutes of data recording 
during the thermal efficiency test on electric heat pump pool 
heater, as defined in section 9.1 of ASHRAE 146.

    5.5.2 Calculate the output capacity of an electric resistance 
pool heater as:

QOUT,ER = k * W * (Tmo-Tmi) * (60/
30)

where k is the specific heat of water, W is the mass of water 
collected during the test, Tmo is the average outlet 
water temperature recorded during the primary test, and 
Tmi is the average inlet water temperature record during 
the primary test, all as defined in section 11.1 of ASHRAE 146, and 
60/30 is the conversion factor to convert unit from per 30 minutes 
to per hour.

0
6. Amend Sec.  430.32 by revising paragraph (k) to read as follows:


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

* * * * *
    (k) Pool heaters. (1) Gas-fired pool heaters manufactured on and 
after April 16, 2013 and before May 30, 2028, shall have a thermal 
efficiency not less than 82%.
    (2) Gas-fired pool heaters and electric pool heaters manufactured 
on and after May 30, 2028, shall have an integrated thermal efficiency 
not less than the following:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR30MY23.008

where QIN is the certified input capacity of a gas-fired 
pool heater basic model, in Btu/h, and PE is the certified active 
electrical power of an electric pool heater, in Btu/h.
* * * * *

    Note:  The following letter will not appear in the Code of 
Federal Regulations.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Antitrust Division, RFK Main Justice 
Building, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20530-0001, (202) 
514-2401/(202) 616-2645 (Fax).

June 16, 2022

Ami Grace-Tardy, Assistant General Counsel for Legislation, Regulation 
and Energy Efficiency, 1000 Independence Ave. SW, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Washington, DC 20585.

Dear Assistant General Counsel Grace-Tardy:

    I am responding to your April 15, 2022 letter seeking the views of 
the Attorney General about the potential impact on competition of 
proposed energy conservation standards for consumer pool heaters. Your 
request was submitted under Section 325(o)(2)(B)(i)(V) of the Energy 
Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (ECPA), 42 U.S.C. 
6295(o)(2)(B)(i)(V), and 42 U.S.C. 6316(a), which requires the Attorney 
General to make a determination of the impact of any lessening of 
competition that is likely to result from the imposition of proposed 
energy conservation standards. The Attorney General's responsibility 
for responding to requests from other departments about the effect of a 
program on competition has been delegated to the Assistant Attorney 
General for the Antitrust Division in 28 CFR 0.40(g). The Assistant 
Attorney General for the Antitrust Division has

[[Page 34705]]

authorized me, as the Policy Director for the Antitrust Division, to 
provide the Antitrust Division's views regarding the potential impact 
on competition of proposed energy conservation standards on his behalf.
    In conducting its analysis, the Antitrust Division examines whether 
a proposed standard may lessen competition, for example, by 
substantially limiting consumer choice or increasing industry 
concentration. A lessening of competition could result in higher prices 
to manufacturers and consumers. We have reviewed the proposed standards 
contained in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (87 FR 22640, April 15, 
2022), and the related technical support documents. We also reviewed 
the transcript from the public meeting held on May 4, 2022 and reviewed 
public comments submitted by industry members in response to DOE's 
Request for Information and Notice of Data Availability in this matter.
    Based on the information currently available, we do not believe 
that the proposed energy conservation standards for consumer pool 
heaters are likely to have a significant adverse impact on competition.

Sincerely,

David G.B. Lawrence,
Director of Policy

[FR Doc. 2023-10849 Filed 5-26-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P