DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 1999 REGULATORY PLAN

Energy Efficiency Program for Consumer Products and Commercial Equipment

During fiscal year 1999, the Department made substantial progress with the high priority standards rulemakings (i.e., clothes washers, fluorescent lamp ballasts, water heaters, and residential central air conditioning and central air conditioning heat pumps). In November 1998, the Department published a supplemental advanced notice of proposed rulemaking for clothes washers. A final report on marginal energy prices was issued in July 1999. A proposed rule for distribution transformer test procedures was published in November 1998.

The Department established an Advisory Committee on Appliance Energy Efficiency Standards in January 1997. The advisory committee is made up of interested stakeholders and is chaired by the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The Department issued a final report on marginal energy prices in July 1999. Recommendations for future studies include the range of future energy prices and primary energy conversion factors.

The Department's rulemaking activities related to energy efficiency standards and determinations have been categorized as high, medium, or low priority. The schedules in this regulatory plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions reflect priorities established with significant input from the public. The standards rulemakings incorporate the process improvements established in July 1996, including more workshops to collect public input and new, more transparent forecasting models developed with the help of industry experts, including manufacturers.

During fiscal year 2000, the Department expects to publish final rules for clothes washer, fluorescent lamp ballast, and water heater efficiency standards, and to propose efficiency standards for residential central air conditioners and heat pumps. The Department expects to begin preparation of efficiency standards for commercial air conditioners and heat pumps, furnaces and boilers, and water heaters. Proposed rules for test procedures for these commercial products should be published by the early part of fiscal year 2000. Additional information and timetables for these actions are presented below. Information concerning the medium priority rulemakings (small electric motors and high intensity discharge lamps) and low priority rulemakings (i.e., clothes dryers, dishwashers, electric cooking products, mobile home furnaces, plumbing fixtures/fittings, refrigerators, residential furnaces and boilers, pool heaters, room air conditioners, direct heating equipment, 1-200 HP motors, and fluorescent and incandescent lamps) and the test procedures rulemakings can be found in the Department's regulatory agenda, which appears elsewhere. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 1999 REGULATORY PLAN

Energy Efficiency Program for Consumer Products and Commercial Equipment

During fiscal year 1999, the Depattmentmade substantial progress with the high priority standards rulemakings (i.e., clothes washers, fluorescent lamp ballasts, water heaters, and residential central air conditioning and central air conditioningheat pumps). In November 1998, the Department published a supplemental advanced notice ofproposed rulemaking for clothes washers. A final report on marginal energyprices was issued inJuly 1999. A proposed mlefor distribution transformer test procedures was published in November 1998.

TheDepartment established an Advisory Committee on Appliance Energy Efficiency Standards in January 1997. The advisory committee is made up ofinterested stakeholders and is chaired bythe Assistant Secretaryfor Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The Department issued a final repOlt onmarginal energyprices in July 1999. Recommendations for future studies include the range offuture energyprices and primary energy conversion factors.

The Department's mlemaking activities related to energy efficiency standards and determinations have been categorized as high, medium, or low priority. The schedules in this regulatoryplan and the Unified Agenda ofFederal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions reflect priorities established with significant inputfrom the public. The standards mlemakings incorporate the process improvements established inJuly 1996, including more workshops to collectpublic input and new, more transparent forecasting models developed with the help of industry experts, including manufacturers.

During fiscal year 2000, the Department expects to publish finalmles for clothes washer, fluorescent lamp ballast, and water heater efficiency standards, and to propose efficiency standards for residential central air conditioners andheatpumps. The Department expects to beginpreparation ofefficiency standards for commercial air conditioners andheatpumps, furnaces and boilers, and waterheaters. Proposed mles for test procedures for these commercial products shouldbepublishedbythe earlypart offiscal year 2000. Additional information and timetables for these actions are presentedbelow. Information concerning the medium priority mlemakings (small electric motors and high intensity discharge lamps) and low priority rulemakings (i.e., clothes dryers, dishwashers, electric cooking products, mobilehome furnaces, plumbing fixtures/fittings, refrigerators, residential furnaces and boilers, pool heaters, room air conditioners, direct heating equipment, 1-200 HP motors, and fluorescent and incandescent lamps) and the test procedures mlemakings canbe found in the Department's regulatory agenda, which appears elsewhere.