DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Statement of Regulatory and Deregulatory Priorities

The Department of Energy (Department or DOE) makes vital contributions to the Nation's welfare through its activities focused on improving national security, energy supply, energy efficiency, environmental remediation, and energy research. The Department's mission is to:

  • Promote dependable, affordable and environmentally sound production and distribution of energy;

  • Advance energy efficiency and conservation;

  • Provide responsible stewardship of the Nation's nuclear weapons;

  • Provide a responsible resolution to the environmental legacy of nuclear weapons production; and

  • Strengthen U.S. scientific discovery, economic competitiveness, and improve quality of life through innovations in science and technology.

    The Department's regulatory activities are essential to achieving its critical mission and to implementing major initiatives of the President's National Energy Policy. Among other things, the Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda contain the rulemakings the Department will be engaged in during the coming year to fulfill the Department's commitment to meeting deadlines for issuance of energy conservation standards and related test procedures. The Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda also reflect the Department's continuing commitment to cut costs, reduce regulatory burden, and increase responsiveness to the public.

    Retrospective Review of Existing Regulations

    Pursuant to section 6 of Executive Order 13563 "Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review'' (Jan. 18, 2011), several regulations have been identified as associated with retrospective review and analysis in the Department's retrospective review of regulations plan. Some of the entries on this list may be completed actions, which do not appear in the Regulatory Plan. However, more information can be found about these completed rulemakings in past publications of the Unified Agenda on www.reginfo.gov in the Completed Actions section. These rulemakings can also be found on www.regulations.gov. The final agency plan can be found at https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/other/2011-regulatory-action-plans/departmentofenergyregulatoryreformplanaugust2011.pdf. DOE has published a number of retrospective review update reports that are available at http://www.energy.gov/gc/services/open-government/restrospective-regulatory-review.

    Energy Efficiency Program for Consumer Products and Commercial Equipment

    The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) requires DOE to set appliance efficiency standards at levels that achieve the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that is technologically feasible and economically justified. The Department continues to follow its schedule for setting new appliance efficiency standards. These rulemakings are expected to save American consumers billions of dollars in energy costs.

    Estimate of Combined Aggregate Costs and Benefits

    In 2015, the Department published final rules that adopted new or amended energy conservation standards for 13 different products, including, commercial air-cooled air conditioners and heat pumps, ceiling fan light kits, commercial pre-rinse spray valves, and beverage vending machines. The 13 standards finalized in 2015 are estimated to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 429 million metric tons and save American families and businesses $84 billion in electricity bills through 2030.

    Since 2009, the Energy Department has finalized new efficiency standards for more than 45 household and commercial products, including dishwashers, refrigerators and water heaters, which are estimated to save consumers $540 billion through 2030. To build on this momentum, the Department is committed to continuing to establish new efficiency standards that - when combined with the progress already made through previously finalized standards - will reduce carbon pollution by approximately 3 billion metric tons in total by 2030, equal to more than a year's carbon pollution from the entire U.S. electricity system.

    As part of the President's Climate Action Plan, the Energy Department has committed to an ambitious goal of finalizing at least 14 additional energy efficiency standards by the end of 2016. The overall plan for implementing the schedule is contained in the Report to Congress pursuant to section 141 of EPACT 2005, which was released on January 31, 2006. This plan was last updated in the August 2016 report to Congress and now includes the requirements of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007), the American Energy Manufacturing Technical Corrections Act (AEMTCA), and the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015. The reports to Congress are posted at: http://energy.gov/eere/buildings/reports-and-publications. While each of these high priority rules will build on the progress made to date, and will continue to move the U.S. closer to a low carbon future, DOE believes that seven rulemakings are the most important of its significant regulatory actions and, therefore, comprise the Department's Regulatory Plan.

  • Walk-In Coolers and Walk-In Freezers (1904-AD59)

  • Residential Non-Weatherized Gas Furnaces and Mobile Home Gas Furnaces (1904-AD20)

  • Commercial Water Heaters (1904-AD34)

  • Commercial Packaged Boilers (1904-AD01)

  • General Service Fluorescent Lamps (1904-AD09)

  • Dedicated Purpose Pool Pumps (1904-AD52)

  • Manufactured Housing (1904-AC11)

    For walk-in coolers and freezers, DOE estimates that energy savings from electricity will be 0.90 quads over 30 years and the net benefit to the Nation will be between $1.8 billion and $4.3 billion. For non-weatherized gas furnaces and mobile home gas furnaces, DOE estimates that energy savings will be 2.78 quads over 30 years and the net benefit to the Nation will be between $3.1 billion and $16.1 billion. For commercial water heaters, DOE estimates that energy savings for combined natural gas and electricity will be 1.8 quads over 30 years and the net benefit to the Nation will be between $2.26 billion and $6.75 billion. For commercial packaged boilers, DOE estimates that energy savings will be 0.349 quads over 30 years and the net benefits to the Nation will be between $0,414 billion and $1,687 billion. For general service fluorescent lamps, DOE estimates that energy savings will be 0.85 quads over 30 years and the net benefit to the nation will be between $4.4 billion and $9.1 billion. For manufactured housing, DOE estimates that energy savings will be 0.884 quads (Single-section) and 1.428 quads (Multi-section) over 30 years and the net benefit to the Nation will be between $1.26 billion (Single-section) and $2.18 billion (Multi-section) and $4.03 billion (Single-section) and $6.75 billion (Multi-section). For dedicated purpose pool pumps, DOE has not yet proposed candidate standard levels and therefore, cannot provide an estimate of combined aggregate 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. Estimates of energy savings will be provided when DOE issues the notice of proposed rulemaking for dedicated purpose pool pumps.