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Under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, DOE may set energy conservation standards for types of pumps, including dedicated-purpose pool pumps (42 U.S.C. 3211(1)(A)). On August 8, 2015, DOE announced its intention to establish a negotiated rulemaking working group to negotiate proposed federal standards for dedicated-purpose pool pumps. The working group presented a final term sheet to the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ASRAC) on December 8, 2015.

Statement of Need:

Under 42 U.S.C. 6311(a), DOE has established performance-based energy conservation standards for general-purpose pumps and created a separate category for dedicated-purpose pool pumps.  DOE is now conducting this rulemaking to set energy conservation standards for dedicated-purpose pool pumps.

Summary of the Legal Basis:

This rulemaking is being conducted under DOE’s authority pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 6311, which establishes the agency’s legal authority over pumps as one type of covered equipment that DOE may regulate, and 42 U.S.C. 6311(a), which allows DOE to conduct a rulemaking to establish performance-based energy conservation standards for this equipment.

Alternatives:

The statute requires DOE to conduct rulemakings to review standards and to revise standards to achieve the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that the Secretary determines is technologically feasible and economically justified.  In making this determination, DOE is conducting a full analysis by evaluating a range of standard levels to determine whether potential standards for dedicated-purpose pool pumps would save energy and whether such standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits:

DOE has not yet proposed candidate standard levels for dedicated purpose pool pumps and therefore, cannot provide an estimate of combined aggregated costs and benefits for this action.  DOE will, however, in compliance with all applicable law, issue standards that provide the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that is technologically feasible and economically justified.

Risks: