7A-i

APPENDIX 7A ADDITIONAL END-USER PRICE RESULTS 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

7A.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 7A-1

7A.2 METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................... 7A-1

7A.2.1 Fixed Light Output Ballasts ........................................................................ 7A-1

7A.2.2 Dimming Ballasts........................................................................................ 7A-2

7A.3 RESULTS ..................................................................................................................... 7A-2

LIST OF TABLES 

Table 7A.3.1 Fixed Light Output Ballast End-User Prices ...................................................... 7A-3

Table 7A.3.2 Dimming Ballast End-User Prices ...................................................................... 7A-3
7A-1

APPENDIX 7A ADDITIONAL END-USER PRICE RESULTS

7A.1 INTRODUCTION

 Because fluorescent lamps operate on a ballast in practice, DOE analyzed lamp-andballast systems in the engineering analysis. Therefore, in addition to developing end-user prices 

for lamps, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) also determined end-user prices for ballasts. 

These ballast prices were used as inputs in the life-cycle cost (LCC) analysis and the national 

impact analysis (NIA). This appendix presents the methodology DOE followed and the resulting 

fluorescent lamp ballast end-user prices. 

7A.2 METHODOLOGY 

 To determine the end-user ballast prices in this rulemaking, DOE utilized information 

from the recent rulemaking for fluorescent lamp ballasts, finalized in 2011 (hereafter the “2011 

Ballast Rule”). 76 FR 70548 (Nov. 14, 2011). In the 2011 Ballast Rule, DOE performed 

teardowns and a manufacturer markup analysis to develop manufacturer selling prices (MSPs) 

for representative ballast designs. DOE then applied distribution channel markups to derive enduser prices. See chapters 5 and 7 from the technical support document (TSD) for the 2011 Ballast 

Rule for more information.aFor this rulemaking, DOE utilized the end-user prices from the 2011 

Ballast Rule to determine prices for replacement ballasts. Because the fluorescent ballast prices 

developed in the 2011 Ballast Rule were presented in 2009$, DOE converted the end-user prices 

to 2011$ by multiplying the 2009 prices by the ratio of the 2011 Consumer Price Index (CPI) to 

the 2009 CPI. 

 DOE analyzed fixed light output ballasts in the engineering analysis and dimming 

ballasts in a lighting controls sensitivity. DOE developed different prices for each ballast type. 

7A.2.1 Fixed Light Output Ballasts 

 As stated in chapter 5 of this preliminary TSD, for this rulemaking, DOE analyzed lampand-ballast systems with the same starting method and number of lamps as those analyzed in the 

2011 Ballast Rule. In addition, because all ballasts selected by DOE comply with the standards 

adopted by the 2011 Ballast Rule, DOE assumed the prices of the representative ballasts in this 

rulemaking would be the same as the prices of the representative ballast units at the adopted 

efficiency level in the 2011 Ballast Rule. 

Although DOE analyzed normal ballast factor (BF) ballasts as representative in the 2011 

Ballast Rule, DOE also analyzed low BF ballasts in this rulemaking. Based on a review of blue 

book values and manufacturer feedback, DOE found that, in general, ballast prices for low and 

normal BF ballasts are very similar. Because the low BF replacement ballasts meet the efficiency 

level adopted by the 2011 Ballast Rule and DOE determined that low BF ballasts have the same 

 

a

 The TSD and other documents related to and supporting the 2011 Ballast Rule are available on regulations.gov, 

docket number EERE–2007–BT–STD–0016, at www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2007-BT-STD0016. 
7A-2

prices as normal BF ballasts, DOE utilized the same end-user pricing for low BF ballasts as the 

representative ballast units at the efficiency level adopted in the 2011 Ballast Rule. 

7A.2.2 Dimming Ballasts 

 Because most dimming ballasts are exempt from energy conservation standards,b DOE 

did not analyze these ballasts in the 2011 Ballast Rule. Therefore, it was necessary to develop 

prices for the dimming ballasts analyzed in the lighting controls scenario of this rulemaking (see 

appendix 6A of this TSD for further details on the lighting control scenario). To determine prices 

for dimming ballasts, DOE compared the blue book prices of dimming ballasts to comparable 

fixed light output ballasts and developed a scaling factor to apply to the end-user prices of fixed 

light output ballasts developed in the 2011 Ballast Rule. 

 For the product classes analyzed in the lighting controls scenario (i.e., 4-foot medium 

bipin (MBP), 4-foot T5 miniature bipin (MiniBP) standard output (SO), and 4-foot T5 MiniBP 

high output (HO) lamps in the commercial and industrial sectors), DOE matched commercially 

available fixed light output ballasts with a comparable dimming ballast offered by the same 

manufacturer. DOE considered ballasts with similar specifications, including starting method, 

maximum number of lamps operated, and efficiency, to be comparable. DOE calculated the 

percent difference in blue book prices for each pair of dimming and fixed light output ballasts. 

The average percent increase from fixed light output ballasts to dimming ballasts was 120 

percent. Because DOE determined that programmed start (PS) fixed light output ballasts were 

the most similar to the dimming ballasts selected for this analysis, DOE applied a scaling factor 

of 2.2 to the end-user ballast prices developed for the 2-lamp PS 4-foot MBP, 4-lamp PS 4-foot 

MBP, 2-lamp PS 4-foot T5 MiniBP SO, and 2-lamp PS 4-foot T5 MiniBP HO systems. 

7A.3 RESULTS 

Table 7A.3.1 summarizes the fixed light output ballast prices. Table 7A.3.2 summarizes 

the dimming ballast prices.

 

b

 Fluorescent lamp ballasts designed for dimming to 50 percent or less of its maximum output are exempt from 

standards with the exception of those listed in 10 CFR 430.32 (m)(10). 
7A-3

Table 7A.3.1 Fixed Light Output Ballast End-User Prices 

Product Class Diameter

Number of 

Lamps per 

Ballast

Starting 

Method Ballast Factor Range

Ballast End 

User Price 

(2011$, 

excluding 

sales tax)

4-foot MBP T8 2 IS Normal and 

Low 0.77 – 0.88 $16.49

4-foot MBP T8 2 PS Normal 0.88 $17.73

4-foot MBP T8 4 IS Normal and 

Low 0.77 – 0.87 $21.29

4-foot MBP T8 4 PS Normal 0.88 – 0.89 $23.20

4-foot MBP 

(residential) T8 2 IS Normal 0.83 – 0.87 $8.97

8-foot SP 

slimline T8 2 IS Normal 0.85 – 0.87 $19.61

8-foot RDC 

HO T8 2 IS Normal 0.81 $15.64

4-foot T5 

MiniBP SO T5 2 PS Normal 0.95 – 1.00 $26.93

4-foot T5 

MiniBP HO T5 2 PS Normal 1.00 $28.18

Table 7A.3.2 Dimming Ballast End-User Prices 

Product Class Diameter

Number of 

Lamps per 

Ballast

Starting 

Method

Ballast 

Factor at 

Full Light 

Output

Ballast 

Factor at 

Minimum 

Light 

Output

Ballast End 

User Price 

(2011$, 

excluding 

sales tax)

4-foot MBP T8 2 PS 0.88 0.05 $39.01

4-foot MBP T8 4 PS 0.88 0.05 $51.04

4-foot T5 

MiniBP SO T5 2 PS 1.00 0.01 $59.24

4-foot T5 

MiniBP HO T5 2 PS 1.00 0.01 $62.01