U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

PUBLIC MEETING ON ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAM FOR 

CONSUMER PRODUCTS: TEST PROCEDURE FOR MICROWAVE OVENS

U.S. Department of Energy 

1000 Independence Avenue, SW. 

Washington, DC 20585 

Thursday, September 16, 2010 

9 a.m. – 4 p.m. ET, Room 8E-089

Purpose

During this meeting the Department of Energy (DOE) will present the supplemental 

notice of proposed rulemaking on test procedures for microwave ovens in standby mode 

and off mode. This meeting is intended to familiarize interested parties with DOE’s 

statutory requirements and proposed test procedures. DOE will also provide an 

opportunity for interested parties to discuss steps to initiate a new active mode test 

procedure rulemaking for microwave ovens. 

Agenda

 9:00-9:05 am Welcome

 

 9:05-9:15 am Opening Remarks, Introductions, and Agenda Review

Doug Brookman 

 9:15-9:45 am Stakeholder Opening Statements 

Doug Brookman 

 9:45-10:00 am Introduction, Background and Legal Authority 

Wes Anderson 

Overview of past and current microwave oven rulemakings, 

including statutory authority, schedules, and associated 

documents. 

 10:00-10:30 am Standby and Off Mode Power Test Procedure: Covered 

Products, Effective Date, and Measures of Energy 

Consumption

Judith Reich

Definition of covered products, effective date of the 

amended test procedure, and discussion of the technical 

feasibility of incorporating standby and off mode power 

into the energy descriptor. 
 10:30-10:45 am Standby and Off Mode Power Test Procedure: 

Incorporation by Reference of IEC Standard 62301 

Judith Reich

Proposed incorporation of the methodology of IEC 

Standard 62301 for measuring standby and off mode power 

consumption. 

 10:45-11:00 am Break

 11:00-11:30 am Standby and Off Mode Power Test Procedure: 

Definitions of “Active Mode”, “Standby Mode”, and 

“Off Mode”

Judith Reich

Proposed mode definitions under EPCA, as amended by the 

Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, including 

consideration of IEC Standard 62301 CDV. 

 11:30-11:45 am Standby and Off Mode Power Test Procedure: 

Specifications for Test Methods and Measurements for 

Standby and Off Mode Testing

Judith Reich

Proposed amendments to add specificity to test 

methodology in IEC Standard 62301 for measuring 

microwave oven standby and off mode power. 

 11:45-11:55 am Compliance with Other EPCA Requirements

Judith Reich

Summary presentation of the test burden requirements 

under EPCA. 

 11:55-12:00 am Standby and Off Mode Power Test Procedure 

Conclusions and Closing Remarks

Wes Anderson 

Discuss outstanding issues and make concluding remarks. 

 12:00-1:00 pm Break for Lunch (on your own)

 1:00-1:10 pm Active Mode Test Procedure Introduction 

Wes Anderson 

Overview of microwave oven active mode repeal final rule 

and steps for a potential new active mode rulemaking. 

1:10-1:30 pm Previous Active Mode Provisions

Judith Reich

Summary of the previous DOE test procedure provisions 

and testing conducted for the microwave oven energy 

conservations standards rulemaking. 
 1:30-1:45 pm Potential Methodology 

Judith Reich

Discussion of other existing microwave oven active mode 

test procedures and request for inputs. 

 1:45-2:00 pm Active Mode Test Procedure Conclusions and Closing 

Remarks

Wes Anderson 

Discuss outstanding issues and make concluding remarks.. 

2:00 pm Adjourn