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

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. (202) 586-1689

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, (202) 586-9507

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]

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