Energy Conservation Program: Procedures, Interpretations, and Policies for Consideration of New or Revised Energy Conservation Standards and Test Procedures for Consumer Products and Certain Commercial/Industrial Equipment

What it does

The U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE" or "the Department") proposes to update the Department's current rulemaking methodology titled, "Procedures, Interpretations, and Policies for Consideration of New or Revised Energy Conservation Standards and Test Procedures for Consumer Products and Certain Commercial/Industrial Equipment" ("Process Rule"). Specifically, DOE proposes to: make Appendix A binding on DOE for certain actions; amend objectives and considerations consistent with recent Executive orders and Department policies; add a definition of "significant energy savings"; re-instate the comparative analysis requirement, described as a "walk up" approach; include certain economic thresholds; re-instate the description of clear and convincing evidence; and revert to language from the 2020 Process Rule text, with minor edits, in several sections. In addition to requesting written comments on its proposal, DOE will also hold a public meeting to discuss this proposal and obtain additional input.

The Energy Department's summary, as published in the Federal Register.

What it would change

1 part of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations:

10 CFR 430

Before this

1 earlier Federal Register document under regulation identifier 1904-AF72 since Jan. 1, 2025.

• April 17, 2025 Request for information. Energy Conservation Program: Procedures, Interpretations, and Policies for Consideration of New or Revised Energy Conservation Standards and Test Procedures for Consumer Products and Certain Commercial/Industrial Equipment

Since then:

• July 28, 2026 Notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of public comment period. Energy Conservation Program: Procedures, Interpretations, and Policies for Consideration of New or Revised Energy Conservation Standards and Test Procedures for Consumer Products and Certain Commercial/Industrial Equipment; Extension of Public Comment Period

What happens next and when

Comments: DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding all aspects of this notice of proposed rulemaking ("NOPR") no later than August 6, 2026.

The agency's dates, word for word.

Check it yourself

• The document in the Federal Register
• Docket EERE-2025-BT-STD-0001 on Regulations.gov
• Title 10 on eCFR

The record as published

Source: the Federal Register (public domain). The document in the Federal Register