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APPENDIX 12A. MANUFACTURER IMPACT ANALYSIS INTERVIEW GUIDE

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

12A.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 12A-1

12A.2 PRELIMINARY MANUFACTURER IMPACT ANALYSIS TOPICS ............. 12A-1

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12A.1 INTRODUCTION 

Prior to conducting manufacturer impact analysis interviews, Navigant Consulting gave 

each manufacturer an interview guide that included possible questions to be asked during the 

interview. Section 12A.2 presents the guide used for battery charger and external power supply 

interviews. 

12A.2 PRELIMINARY MANUFACTURER IMPACT ANALYSIS TOPICS 

1. Key Issues 

1.1. What are the key issues for your company regarding this (BC/EPS) rulemaking? 

1.2. Are there any patent, technology, or other issues that you are aware of that would 

prevent your company or competitors from implementing higher-efficiency designs? 

2. Shipment Projections 

2.1. What is your company’s approximate market share for (BCs/EPSs) or (BC/EPS) 

components in each of the representative product classes that DOE is considering 

covering? 

2.2. Would you expect your market share to change once standards become effective? 

You’re your outlook change with higher efficiency levels?

2.3. How would you expect shipments to change for your company or for the industry as a 

function of standards and why? 

2.4. Looking at price/cost effects only, how would you expect shipments to change for a 

25%, 50%, 100% or 200% manufacturer price/cost increase? 

3. Conversion Costs 

3.1. What level of capital expenditure and product conversion costs would you anticipate to 

make at higher standard levels? Please describe what they are and provide your best 

estimate of their respective magnitudes? 

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3.2. How would the imposition of new energy conservation standards affect capacity, 

utilization and manufacturing assets at your domestic production facilities? Would any 

facilities be closed, downsized, added or upgraded? 

3.3. Would a new standard result in stranded capital assets? 

3.4. How might a new standard impact product innovation? 

4. Product Mix and Profitability 

4.1. How would your company’s product mix and marketing strategy change with changes in 

the efficiency standard? 

4.2. Generally, how would new product standards impact your customer mix, distribution 

channels, and corresponding profit margins? 

4.3. How are your shipments of (BCs/EPSs) or (BC/EPS) components allocated across 

product types? That is, what percentage of your shipments is represented by each 

representative unit class? 

4.4. If you are a manufacturer of (BCs/EPSs), do you enjoy consistent profitability across all 

(BC/EPS) types? 

5. Market Shares and Industry Consolidation 

5.1. In the absence of new standards, do you expect any industry consolidation? 

5.2. How would new standards affect your ability to compete? 

5.3. Could new standards disproportionately advance or harm the competitive positions of 

some firms? 

5.4. Do you or any of your competitors own intellectual property that confers a significant 

cost advantage regarding achieving certain energy efficiency levels? 

5.5. Could new standards result in disproportionate economic or performance penalties for 

particular consumer/user subgroups, or particular subgroups of manufacturers? 

5.6. Beyond price and energy efficiency, could new standards result in products that will be 

more or less desirable to consumers due to changes in product functionality, utility, or 

other features? 

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6. Cumulative Regulatory Burden 

6.1. Are there recent or impending federal government regulations on your specific product 

or other products that impose a cumulative burden on the industry? 

6.2. If so, what is the total expected impact of those other regulations in terms of required 

capital investments, engineering hours spent addressing these issues, and/or product 

costs? 

6.3. Under what circumstances would you be able to coordinate any expenditures related to 

this and other regulations, thereby lessening the cumulative burden? 

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