95-2348. Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products; Energy Efficiency Standards for Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts, Television Sets, and Electric Water Heaters

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 31, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5880-5881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-2348]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 430


Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products; Energy 
Efficiency Standards for Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts, Television Sets, 
and Electric Water Heaters

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

ACTION: Rulemaking determination.

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SUMMARY: On March 4, 1994, the Department proposed standards for room 
air conditioners, water heaters, direct heating equipment, mobile home 
furnaces, kitchen ranges and ovens, pool heaters, fluorescent lamp 
ballasts and television sets. This notification discusses the 
Department of Energy's decision to proceed with separate rulemakings 
for fluorescent lamp ballasts, televisions, and heat pump water 
heaters. For all three products, the Department will publish revised 
notices of proposed rulemaking.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Terry Logee, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy, Forrestal Building, Mail Station EE-431, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585. [phone]
Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General 
Counsel, Forrestal Building, Mail Station GC-72, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, [phone]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Background

    As directed by the National Energy Conservation Policy Act, P.L. 
95-619, the Department published an advance notice of proposed 
rulemaking for the eight products. 55 FR 39624, September 28, 1990. On 
March 4, 1994, the Department published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking. 59 FR 10464, March 4, 1994.

2. Discussion

    The Department received over 8,000 comments on the proposed rule, 
including comments from manufacturers, consumers, members of Congress, 
retailers, broadcasters, national trade associations, national energy 
advocates, utilities and other Federal agencies. The Department is 
presently reviewing and evaluating the comments. DOE believes the 
record is sufficient for room air conditioners, gas and oil-fired water 
heaters, direct heating equipment, mobile home furnaces, kitchen ranges 
and ovens and [[Page 5881]] pool heaters to proceed to a final rule and 
will use the data and useful information contained in the comments in 
developing that rulemaking. However, based on the Department's review 
of the comments on the proposed standards for fluorescent lamp 
ballasts, television sets and electric water heaters, the Department 
has concluded that a number of significant issues exist which require 
additional data and/or analysis to address. The Department believes 
that because of the resulting changes to the data and analyses 
underlying the proposed standards for these products, it would be 
appropriate to publish revised notices of proposed rulemaking. If the 
results of the analysis do not support a change in the standards, then 
the Department will propose that the levels in the Act remain unchanged 
or, regarding television sets, the Department may propose that 
standards are not justified.
    (a) Fluorescent lamp ballasts. Based on the comments in the record, 
the Department has determined that revised data from a larger sample of 
fluorescent lamp ballast types is needed. Data from sources identified 
in the record, data from manufacturers, and data from other independent 
sources will be used in the reanalysis.
    (b) Televisions. Based on the comments in the record, the 
Department has determined that new data from television sets with 
current features and from a larger sample of television manufacturers 
is needed. The Department is planning to test television sets to 
develop such data. These new data, together with data and other 
information obtained from the comments submitted on the proposed 
standard, will be used to reanalyze whether efficiency standards are 
warranted for television sets and, if so, at what level.
    (c) Electric water heaters. The Department received comments on a 
wide range of issues regarding the proposed standard for electric water 
heaters, including the Department's estimates of average household hot 
water use, the costs of heat pump water heaters and the extent to which 
the proposed standard would result in fuel switching. In addition, the 
comments addressed the impacts of standards on consumers, including low 
income households, households with small electric water heaters 
installed in confined spaces, and those with large water heaters which 
take advantage of reduced off-peak electric utility rates. The 
Department agrees that these issues need to be reassessed. DOE will 
gather additional data on the costs and other impacts of the standards 
and will explore options for reducing or eliminating possible adverse 
impacts, including the possible establishment of distinct classes of 
electric waster heaters. Because fully addressing these issues may 
require substantial changes in the analysis of the impacts of water 
heater standards, the Department will issue a new proposed rule.

    Issued in Washington, D.C., January 25, 1995.
Christine A. Ervin,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 95-2348 Filed 1-30-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P