U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Building Technologies Office – Appliance & Equipment Standards

Small Electric Motors

This page presents information on test procedures, energy conservation standards, and rulemaking activities for small electric motors.

Statutory Authority

Part A–1 of title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) provides for an energy conservation program for certain commercial and industrial equipment (42 U.S.C. 6311–6317). In particular, section 346(b)(1) of EPCA directs the Secretary of Energy to prescribe testing requirements and energy conservation standards for those small electric motors for which the Secretary determines that standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result in significant energy savings. (42 U.S.C. 6317(b)(1))

On July 10, 2006, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) completed its determination analysis for small electric motors. In this study, the Secretary of Energy determined that energy conservation standards for small electric motors appeared to be technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result in significant energy savings. Accordingly, DOE developed test procedures to measure the efficiency of small electric motors. DOE will also evaluate whether to establish energy conservation standards for small electric motors, and if so, at what level.

Test Procedures

DOE prescribes test procedures to measure the energy efficiency of certain single-phase and polyphase small electric motors in the July 7, 2009 final rule. In addition, it (1) incorporates by reference industry test procedures already in use for measuring the efficiency of these types of small motors, (2) clarifies definitions that apply to small electric motors, and (3) provides the requirements for determining small electric motor efficiency by testing or by application of an alternative method.

• Final Rule: Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Electric Motors and Small Electric Motors, 77 FR 26608, May 4, 2012
• Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Electric Motors and Small Electric Motors, Federal Register, 76 FR 648, January 5, 2011
• Final Rule: Test Procedures for Small Electric Motors, Federal Register, 74 FR 32059, July 7, 2009
• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Test Procedures for Electric Motors, Federal Register, 73 FR 78220, December 22, 2008
• Electric Motors Test Procedures Public Meeting

Energy Conservation Standards

Final Rule

• Energy Conservation Standards for Small Electric Motors; Final Rule: Technical Correction, Federal Register, 75 FR 17036, April 5, 2010
• Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Small Electric Motors; March 9, 2010
• Energy Conservation Standards Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Small Electric Motors: Finding of No Significant Impact, February 22, 2010
• Technical Support Document
• Analytical Spreadsheets

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Federal Register, 74 FR 61410 November 24, 2009
• Public Meeting
• Technical Support Document
• Analytical Spreadsheets

Notice of Public Meeting and Availability of Preliminary Technical Support Document

• Notice of Public Meeting and Availability of the Preliminary Technical Support Document, Federal Register, 73 FR 79723, December 30, 2008
• Public Meeting
• Preliminary Technical Support Document
• Preliminary Analytical Spreadsheets

Framework

• Notice of Public Meeting and Availability of Framework Document, Federal Register, 72 FR 44990, August 10, 2007
• Framework Document, July 30, 2007

Determination Analysis

• Determination Concerning the Potential for Energy Conservation Standards for Small Electric Motors, Federal Register, 71 FR 38799, July 10, 2006
• Determination Analysis Technical Support Document: Analysis of Energy Conservation Standards for Small Electric Motors, June 2006

Contact Information

James Raba
Project Manager
202-586-8654