Teleconference to discuss DOE’s Proposed Rule to Revise Various Processes for Energy Efficiency and Test Procedures
The Office of Advocacy will be hosting a teleconference to discuss the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s proposal to modify portions of its final rule concerning polices and procedures for establishing energy efficiency standards and test procedures for consumer and commercial products on Tuesday April 27, 2021 from 3 – 4:00 p.m. Teleconference participation details will be provided upon receipt of RSVP. RSVPs should be sent to Prianka.Sharma@sba.gov. The purpose of the teleconference will be to gather specific small entity input and presentations on the proposed rule. DOE has been invited to attend this roundtable; however, their participation has not yet been confirmed. Parties interested in making oral presentations during the teleconference should indicate this in their RSVP.
Agenda
3:00 p.m. – 3:05 p.m. Introduction and Background
Prianka Sharma, Assistant Chief Counsel, Office of Advocacy
Elisabeth Newcomb, Regulatory Economist, Office of Advocacy
3:05 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Input from Interested Small Entity Stakeholders
Please note that in the event that DOE attends this teleconference, pursuant to the agency’s ex parte rules, comments provided during the teleconference will be summarized and added to the official docket for this rulemaking. These comments will not, however, substitute for written comments directly from interested parties. Advocacy encourages those entities specifically interested in this rulemaking to provide both oral and written comments.
Roundtable meetings are open to all interested persons, with the exception of the press, in order to facilitate open and frank discussion about the impacts of Federal regulatory activities on small entities. Agendas and presentations are available to all, including the press. Anyone who wants to receive roundtable agendas or presentations, or to be included in the distribution list, should forward such requests to prianka.sharma@sba.gov. The purpose of these Roundtable meetings is to exchange opinions, facts and information and to obtain the attendees’ individual views and opinions regarding small entity concerns. The meetings are not intended to achieve or communicate any consensus positions of the attendees.
Small Entity Energy Roundtable
Issue for Discussion
April 27, 2021
Energy Conservation Program for Appliance Standards: Procedures, Interpretations, and Policies for Consideration in New or Revised Energy Conservation Standards and Test Procedures for Consumer Products and Commercial/Industrial Equipment
On April 12, 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a proposed rule that would revise processes and procedures the agency follows in developing energy conservation standards and test procedures for consumer products and commercial and industrial equipment. Chief among these revisions are the following:
(1) Restore discretion to depart from the Process Rule’s general guidance
(2) Remove thresholds for determining when a significant energy criterion has been met
(3) Remove the requirement to conduct a comparative analysis in addition to an economic justification
(4) Revert specific test procedure rulemaking processes
(5) Revert to prior practice on direct final rules
DOE plans to hold a webinar on the proposed rule on Friday, April 23, 2021 from 10:00 am- 3:00 p.m. Individuals may register for the webinar and request to speak during the webinar by emailing: ApplianceStandardsQuestions@ee.doe.gov.
Written comments are due by May 27, 2021.
Read the Federal Register notice and submit comments here.