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 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 will develop 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.
Some of the following documents are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.
Rulemakings in Progress
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: Test Procedures for Small Electric Motors, Federal Register, 74 FR 32059, July 7, 2009 (PDF 168 KB)
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Test Procedures for Electric Motors, Federal Register, 73 FR 78220, December 22, 2008 (PDF 372 KB)
- Electric Motors Test Procedures Public Meeting
Energy Conservation Standards
DOE is evaluating potential energy conservation standards for certain single-phase and polyphase small electric motors. DOE will hold a public meeting to discuss and receive comments on the classes of small electric motors that it plans to analyze for purposes of establishing energy conservation standards; the analytical framework, models, and tools that it is using to evaluate standards for these motors; the results of preliminary analyses; and potential energy conservation standard levels.
- Notice of Public Meeting and Availability of the Preliminary Technical Support Document, Federal Register, 73 FR 79723, December 30, 2008 (PDF 64 KB)
- Electric Motors Energy Conservation Standards Public Meeting
- Preliminary Technical Support Document
- Preliminary Analytical Spreadsheets
- Notice of Public Meeting and Availability of Framework Document, Federal Register, August 10, 2007 (PDF 80 KB)
- Framework Document, July 30, 2007 (PDF 321 KB)
- Determination Concerning the Potential for Energy Conservation Standards for Small Electric Motors, Federal Register, 72 FR 44990, July 10, 2006 (PDF 112 KB)
- Determination Analysis Technical Support Document: Analysis of Energy Conservation Standards for Small Electric Motors, June 2006 (PDF 625 KB)
Contact Information
James Raba
Project Manager
(202) 586-8654