What: On April 17, 2025, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the Department of Energy (DOE) published a Request for Information (RFI) seeking comments and information. The RFI requests feedback that may assist DOE in identifying potential modifications to its procedures, interpretations, and policies for considering new or revised energy conservation standards and test procedures for consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment (i.e., the “Process Rule”).
Why: In January 2025, the President issued Executive Order (EO) 14154, Unleashing American Energy. EO 14154 stated the policy of the United States regarding energy production and management. Among the stated elements of this policy are:
- to safeguard the American people’s freedom to choose from a variety of goods and appliances, including but not limited to lightbulbs, dishwashers, washing machines, gas stoves, water heaters, toilets, and shower heads, and to promote market competition and innovation within the manufacturing and appliance industries;
- to ensure that the global effects of a rule, regulation, or action shall, whenever evaluated, be reported separately from its domestic costs and benefits, to promote sound regulatory decision making and prioritize the interests of the American people; and
- to guarantee that all executive departments and agencies provide an opportunity for public comment and rigorous, peer-reviewed scientific analysis.
To implement E.O. 14154, DOE is evaluating existing policy regarding its approach for consideration of new or amended energy conservation standards and test procedures for consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment. In this RFI, DOE is seeking public comments on how best to achieve the objectives enumerated in E.O. 14154, while continuing to satisfy DOE’s statutorily prescribed obligations. DOE intends to use the responses to this RFI in the development of revisions to the Process Rule, which DOE generally uses to prescribe energy conservation standards and test procedures for both consumer products and commercial equipment.
DOE intends to provide additional opportunities for public feedback if DOE moves forward to effectuate improvements to the Process Rule.
Action: Written comments, data, and information are requested and will be accepted on or before June 2, 2025.
Is your small business or entity being impacted by a proposed rule? If yes, write a comment letter to the proposing agency.