Appliances, consumer; energy consumption and water use information in labeling and advertising: Central air conditioners and heat pumps,

[Federal Register: September 16, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 179)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 58327-58328]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr16se02-7]

[[Page 58327]]

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.

SUMMARY: The Federal Trade Commission (``Commission'') announces that the current ranges of comparability for central air conditioners, and heat pumps will remain in effect until further notice. Finally, the Commission amends the portions of Appendices H (Cooling Performance and Cost for Central Air Conditioners) and I (Hearing Performance and Cost for Central Air Conditioners) to reflect the current (2002) Representative Average Unit Cost of Electricity that was published on April 24, 2002 (67 FR 20104), by the Department of Energy (``DOE''), and on June 7, 2002 (67 FR 39269) by the Commission.

EFFECTIVE DATES: The amendments to Appendices H and I to Part 305 will become effective December 16, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hampton Newsome, Attorney, Division of Enforcement, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580 (202-326- 2889); hnewsome@ftc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Rule was issued by the Commission in 1979, 44 FR 66466 (Nov. 19, 1979), in response to a directive in the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (``EPCA'').\1\ The Rule covers several categories of major household appliances including central air conditioners and heat pumps.

\1\ 42 USC 6294. The statute also requires the Department of Energy (``DOE'') to develop test procedures that measure how much energy the appliances use, and to determine the representative average cost a consumer pays for the different types of energy available.

1. Background

   The Rule requires manufacturers of all covered appliances to disclose specific energy consumption or efficiency information (derived from the DOE test procedures) at the point of sale in the form of an ``EnergyGuide'' label, fact sheets (for some appliances), and in catalogs. The Rule requires manufacturers to include, on labels and fact sheets, an energy consumption or efficiency figure and a ``range of comparability.'' This range shows the highest and lowest energy consumption or efficiencies for all comparable appliance models so consumers can compare the energy consumption or efficiency of the other models (perhaps competing brands) similar to the label model. The Rule also requires manufacturers to include, on labels for some products, a secondary energy usage disclosure in the form of an estimated annual operating cost based on a specified DOE national average cost for the fuel the appliance uses.

   Section 305.8(b) of the Rule requires manufacturers, after filing an initial report, to report certain information annually to the Commission by specified dates for each product type.\2\ These reports, which are to assist the Commission in preparing the ranges of comparability, 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 consistent with these changes, the Commission will publish new ranges 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 will publish a statement that the prior range remain in effect for the next year.

   \2\ Reports for central air conditioners and heat pumps are due July 1.

2. 2002 Central Air Conditioner and Heat Pump Information

   The annual submissions of data for central air conditioners, and heat pumps have been made and analyzed by the Commission. The ranges of comparability for central air conditioners and heat pumps have not changed by more than 15% from the current ranges for these products. Therefore, the current ranges for these products, which were published on September 16, 1996 (61 FR 48620), will remain in effect until further notice.

3. Cost Figures for Central Air Conditioner and Heat Pump Fact Sheets

   The Commission is amending the cost calculation formulas in Appendices H and I to Part 305 that manufacturers of central air conditioners and heat pumps must include on fact sheets and in directories to reflect this year's energy costs figures published by DOE. These routine amendments will become effective December 16, 2002.

4. Administrative Procedure Act

   The amendments published in this notice involve routine, technical and minor, or conforming changes to the Rule's disclosure requirements so that the information on fact sheets and directories is accurate and up to date. Accordingly, the Commission finds for good cause that public comment for these technical, procedural amendments is impractical and unnecessary (5 USC 553(b)(A)(B) and (d)).

5. Regulatory Flexibility Act

   The provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act relating to a Regulatory Flexibility Act analysis (5 U.S.C. 603-604) are not applicable to this proceeding because the amendments do not impose any new obligations on entities regulated by the Applicance Labeling Rule. These technical amendments merely provide a routine change to the range information required by the Rule. Thus, the amendments will not have a ``significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.'' 5 U.S.C. 605. The Commission has concluded, therefore, that a regulatory flexibility analysis is not necessary, and certifies, under Section 605 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 605(b)), that the amendments announced today will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

6. Paperwork Reduction Act

   In a June 13, 1988 notice (53 FR 22106), the Commission stated that the Rule contains disclosure and reporting requirements that constitute ``information collection requirements'' as defined by 5 CFR 1320.7(c), the regulation that implements the Paperwork Reduction Act.\3\ The Commission noted that the Rule had been reviewed and approved in 1984 by the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') and assigned OMB Control No. 3084-0068. OMB has reviewed the Rule and extended its approval for its recordkeeping and reporting requirements until September 30, 2004. The amendments now being adopted do not change the substance or frequency of the recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting requirements and therefore, do not require further OMB clearance.

   \3\ 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.

   List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 305

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

   Accordingly, 16 CFR part 305 is amended as follows:

   [[Page 58328]]

   PART 305--[AMENDED]

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

      Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6294.

   2. In section 2 of Appendix H of Part 305, the text is amended by removing the figure ``8.29[cent]'' wherever it appears and by adding, in its place, the figure ``8.28[cent]''. In addition, the text in this section is amended by removing the figure ``12.45[cent]'' wherever it appears and by adding, in its place, the figure ``12.42[cent]''.

   3. The formula in section 2 of Appendix H of Part 305 is revised to read as follows in both places that it appears:

      Appendix H to Part 305--Cooling Performance and Cost for Central Air Conditioners

      * * * * *

      [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR16SE02.046

      * * * * *

   4. In section 2 of Appendix I of Part 305, the text is amended by removing the figure ``8.29[cent]'' wherever it appears and by adding, in its place, the figure ``8.28[cent]''. In addition, the text and formulas are amended by removing the figure ``12.45[cent]'' wherever it appears and by adding, in its place, the figure ``12.42[cent]''.

   5. In section 2 of Appendix I of Part 305, the Formula is revised to read as follows in both places that it appears:

      Appendix I to Part 305--Heating Performance and Cost for Central Air Conditioners

      * * * * *

      [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR16SE02.047

      * * * * *

      By direction of the Commission. Donald S. Clark, Secretary.

      [FR Doc. 02-23467Filed9-13-02; 8:45 am]

      BILLING CODE 6750-01-M