[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 161 (Monday, August 21, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43367-43370]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-20654]
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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
16 CFR Part 305
Rule Concerning Disclosures Regarding Energy Consumption and
Water Use of Certain Home Appliances and Other Products Required Under
the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (``Appliance Labeling Rule'')
AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Trade Commission (``Commission'') amends its
Appliance Labeling Rule by publishing new ranges of comparability to be
used on required labels for dishwashers, instantaneous water heaters,
heat pump water heaters, room air conditioners, and pool heaters. The
Commission also announces that the ranges of comparability for storage-
type water heaters, furnaces, and boilers, which were published on
September 23, 1994,\1\ will remain in effect until further notice.
\1\ 59 FR 48796.
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EFFECTIVE DATE: November 20, 1995.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
James Mills, Attorney, Division of Enforcement, Federal Trade
Commission, Washington, DC 20580 (202-326-3035).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 324 of the Energy Policy and
Conservation Act of 1975 (``EPCA'') \2\ requires the Commission to
consider labeling rules for the disclosure of estimated annual energy
cost or alternative energy consumption information for at least
thirteen categories of appliances. Dishwashers, room air conditioners,
water heaters, furnaces, and boilers are included in those categories.
The statute also requires the Department of Energy (``DOE'') to develop
test procedures that measure how much energy the appliances use. In
addition, DOE is required to determine the representative average cost
a consumer pays for the different types of energy available.
\2\ 42 U.S.C. 6294.
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On November 19, 1979, the Commission issued the Appliance Labeling
Rule (``Rule''), which covered seven of the thirteen appliance
categories that were then covered by DOE test procedures: Refrigerators
and refrigerator-freezers, freezers, dishwashers, clothes washers,
water heaters, room air conditioners and furnaces (this category
includes boilers).\3\ The Commission has extended the coverage of the
Rule five time since it originally issued the Rule: In 1987 (central
air conditioners, heat pumps, and pulse combustion and condensing
furnaces \4\); 1989 (fluorescent lamp ballasts \5\); 1993 (certain
plumbing products \6\ and certain lighting products \7\), and, in 1994
(pool heaters, instantaneous water heaters, and heat pump water heaters
\8\).
\3\ 44 FR 66466, 16 CFR part 305 (Nov. 19, 1979). The Statement
of Basis and Purpose for the final Rule describes the reasons the
Commission declined to cover the other categories of covered
products. Id. at 66467-69.
\4\ 52 FR 46888 (Dec. 10, 1987).
\5\ 54 FR 28031 (July 5, 1989).
\6\ 58 FR 54955 (Oct. 25, 1993).
\7\ 59 FR 25176 (May 13, 1993).
\8\ 59 FR 49556 (Sept. 28, 1994). The original effective date of
these amendments was December 29, 1994. Because it became apparent
that manufacturers of pool heaters, instantaneous water heaters and
heat pump water heaters would have difficulty preparing the revised
labels by December 29, however, the Commission, on December 8, 1994,
published a partial delay of compliance dates for these products. 59
FR 63688. In this second notice, the Commission gave manufacturers
of these products extra time to prepare the new labels. The
Commission announces today that manufacturers of pool heaters,
instantaneous water heaters, and heat pump water heaters must begin
using the new labels (and ranges of comparability published herein)
on all covered products manufactured on or after the effective date
of today's notice.
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On July 1, 1994, the Commission amended the Rule to make certain
improvements, including making the label format more ``user-friendly,''
changing the energy usage descriptors required on labels, and adopting
new product sub-categories for ranges of
[[Page 43368]]
comparability purposes.\9\ The new format applies to labels for all
products, including the newly required labels for instantaneous water
heaters, heat pump water heaters, and pool heaters. The amendments
change the labels for dishwashers and room air conditioners. For
dishwashers, the principal energy usage descriptor has been changed
from an estimated annual operating cost to an estimated annual energy
consumption. For both dishwashers and room air conditioners, the cost
grid has been eliminated and a secondary disclosure of energy usage has
been added in the form of an estimated annual operating cost in a box
at the bottom of the label together with a disclosure of the usage
assumptions and electrical cost upon which the operating cost is based.
For room air conditioners, the products are now grouped into new sub-
categories identical to the sub-categories used by DOE in its minimum
efficiency standards program.
\9\ 59 FR 34014. The original effective date of these amendments
was December 28, 1994. As was the case with pool heaters,
instantaneous water heaters, and heat pump water heaters (see note
8, above), it became apparent that manufacturers of refrigerators,
refrigerator-freezers, freezers, dishwashers, clothes wasters, and
room air conditioners would have difficulty preparing the revised
labels by December 28. Consequently, the Commission, on December 8,
1994, granted a partial delay of compliance dates for these products
in the same notice announcing the partial delay for the water
heating products. 59 FR 63688. The Commission announces today that
manufacturers of dishwashers and room air conditioners must begin
using the new labels (and ranges of comparability published herein)
on all covered products manufactured on or after the effective date
of today's notice.
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Section 305.8(b) of the Rule requires manufacturers, after filing
an initial report, to report annually by specified dates for each
product type.\10\ These reports contain the estimated annual energy
consumption or energy efficiency ratings for the appliances derived
from tests performed pursuant to the DOE test procedures. Because
manufacturers regularly add new models to their lines, improve existing
models, and drop others, the data base from which the ranges of
comparability are calculated is constantly changing. To keep the
required information on labels up to date, the Commission is empowered,
under Section 305.10 of the Rule, to publish new ranges (but not more
often than annually) if an analysis of the new information indicates
that the upper or lower limits of the ranges have changed by more than
15%. Otherwise, the Commission must publish a statement that the prior
ranges remain in effect for the next year.
\10\ Reports for dishwashers are due June 1; reports for room
air conditioners, water heaters, furnaces, boilers, and pool heaters
are due May 1.
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The annual submissions of data for dishwashers, room air
conditioners, water heaters, furnaces, boilers, and pool heaters have
been made and have been analyzed by the Commission. These submissions
of data were made by the affected manufacturers in compliance with the
new requirements, where applicable, for new energy use descriptors and
sub-categories in the amendments the Commission published on July 1,
1994.
The ranges for storage-type water heaters, furnaces, and boilers
have not changed by more than 15% from the current ranges for these
products, which were published on September 23, 1994, and which were
based on the new energy usage descriptors and sub-categories published
on July 1, 1994.\11\ Therefore, these ratings will remain in effect
until further notice.
\11\ See note 1, above.
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The data submissions for dishwashers and room air conditioners were
based on the new energy usage descriptors and new sub-categories
required by the July 1, 1994, amendments and, therefore, have resulted
in entirely new ranges of comparability figures for these two product
categories. The new ranges for dishwashers will supersede the current
ranges for dishwashers, which were published on January 12, 1994,\12\
and the new ranges for room air conditioners will supersede the current
ranges for room air conditioners, which were published on September 22,
1989.\13\
\12\ 59 FR 1627.
\13\ 54 FR 38966.
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The new ranges of comparability for instantaneous water heaters,
heat pump water heaters, and heat pool heaters are based on the first
data submissions for these products, and will not, therefore, supersede
existing ranges of camparability.
The following ranges of comparability are for use in required
disclosures (including labeling) for dishwashers, instantaneous water
heaters, heat pump water heaters, room air conditioners, and pool
heaters manufactured on or after November 20, 1995.
List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 305
Advertising, Energy conservation, Household appliances, Labeling,
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Accordingly, 16 CFR part 305 is amended as follows:
PART 305--[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 305 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6294.
2. Appendix C to part 305 is revised to read as follows:
Appendix C to Part 305--Dishwashers
Range Information:
``Compact'' includes countertop dishwasher models with a
capacity of fewer that eight (8) place settings.
``Standard'' includes portable or built-in dishwasher models
with a capacity of eight (8) or more place settings.
Place settings shall be in accordance with Appendix C to 10 CFR
part 430, subpart B. Load patterns shall conform to the operating
normal for the model being tested.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Range of estimated
annual energy,
energy consumption
Capacity (kWh/yr.)
---------------------
Low High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compact........................................... (*) (*)
Standard.......................................... 496 699
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*No data submitted.
3. Appendix D4 to Part 305 is revised to read as follows:
Appendix D4 to Part 305--Water Heaters--Instantaneous--Gas
Range Information:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capacity Range of estimated annual energy
--------------------- consumption(therms/yr. and gallons/yr.)
---------------------------------------------------
Natural gas therms/yr. Propanegallons/yr.
First hour rating ---------------------------------------------------
Low High Low High
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Less than 21........ (*) (*) (*) (*)
21 to 24............ (*) (*) (*) (*)
25 to 29............ (*) (*) (*) (*)
[[Page 43369]]
30 to 34............ (*) (*) (*) (*)
35 to 40............ (*) (*) (*) (*)
41 to 47............ (*) (*) (*) (*)
48 to 55............ (*) (*) (*) (*)
56 to 64............ (*) (*) (*) (*)
65 to 74............ 411 411 451 451
75 to 86............ (*) (*) (*) (*)
87 to 99............ (*) (*) (*) (*)
100 to 114.......... 230 422 230 464
115 to 131.......... (*) (*) (*) (*)
Over 131............ (237 402 238 444
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* No data submitted.
4. Appendix D5 to Part 305 is revised to read as follows:
Appendix D5 to Part 305--Water Heaters--Instantaneous--Oil
Range Information
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Capacity Range of estimated
--------------------------------------------------- annual energy
consumption (gallons/
yr.)
First hour rating ---------------------
Low High
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Less than 21...................................... (*) (*)
21 to 24.......................................... (*) (*)
25 to 29.......................................... (*) (*)
30 to 34.......................................... (*) (*)
35 to 40.......................................... (*) (*)
41 to 47.......................................... (*) (*)
48 to 55.......................................... (*) (*)
56 to 64.......................................... (*) (*)
65 to 74.......................................... (*) (*)
75 to 86.......................................... (*) (*)
87 to 99.......................................... (*) (*)
100 to 114........................................ (*) (*)
115 to 131........................................ (*) (*)
Over 131.......................................... (*) (*)
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* No data submitted.
5. Appendix D6 to Part 305 is revised to read as follows:
Appendix D6 to Part 305--Water Heaters--Heat Pump
Range Information
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Capacity Range of estimated
--------------------------------------------------- annual energy
consumption (kWh/
yr.)
First hour rating ---------------------
Low High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 21...................................... (*) (*)
21 to 24.......................................... (*) (*)
25 to 29.......................................... (*) (*)
30 to 34.......................................... (*) (*)
35 to 40.......................................... (*) (*)
41 to 47.......................................... (*) (*)
48 to 55.......................................... (*) (*)
56 to 64.......................................... 1756 2091
65 to 74.......................................... (*) (*)
75 to 86.......................................... (*) (*)
87 to 99.......................................... 1756 1996
100 to 114........................................ (*) (*)
115 to 131........................................ (*) (*)
Over 131.......................................... (*) (*)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* No data submitted.
6. Appendix E to Part 305 is revised to read as follows:
Appendix E to Part 305--Room Air Conditioners
Range Information
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Range of energy
efficiency
Manufacturer's rated cooling capacity in Btu's/hr. ratios (EERs)
-----------------
Low High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Without Reverse Cycle and with Louvered Sides:
Less than 6,000 Btu............................... 8.0 10.0
6,000 to 7,999 Btu................................ 8.5 10.3
8,000 to 13,999 Btu............................... 8.5 12.0
14,000 to 19,999 Btu.............................. 9.0 10.7
20,000 and more Btu............................... 8.8 10.0
Without Reverse Cycle and without Louvered Sides:
Less than 6,000 Btu............................... (*) (*)
6,000 to 7,999 Btu................................ 8.5 9.6
8,000 to 13,999 Btu............................... 8.5 9.2
14,000 to 19,999 Btu.............................. (*) (*)
20,000 and more Btu............................... (*) (*)
With Reverse Cycle and with Louvered Sides............ 8.5 11.5
With Reverse Cycle, without Louvered Sides............ 8.0 9.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* No data submitted.
7. Appendices J1 and J2 to Part 305 are revised to read as follows:
Appendix J1 to Part 305--Pool Heaters--Gas
Range Information
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Range of thermal efficiencies (percent)
---------------------------------------------------
Manufacturer's rated Natural gas Propane
heating capacities ---------------------------------------------------
Low High Low High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
All capacities...... 78.4 97.0 78.4 97.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 43370]]
Appendix J2 to Part 305--Pool Heaters--Oil
Range Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Range of thermal
efficiencies
Manufacturer's rated heating capacities (percent)
---------------------
Low High
------------------------------------------------------------------------
All capacities.................................... 78.0 78.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
By direction of the Commission.
Benjamin I. Berman,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-20654 Filed 8-18-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-M
