Process Rule
The Department of Energy (DOE) conducted a formal effort between 1995 and 1996 to improve the process it used to develop appliance efficiency standards. This effort involved many different stakeholders, including manufacturers, energy-efficiency advocates, trade associations, state agencies, utilities, and other interested parties. The result was the publication of the Process Rule: 61 FR 36974 (July 15, 1996).
Found in the Code of Federal Regulations at 10 CFR 430 Appendix A to Subpart C, the Process Rule describes the procedures, interpretations, and policies that guide DOE in establishing new or revised energy-efficiency standards for consumer products. Elements of the Process Rule have been superseded or supplemented by more recent practices described elsewhere on this website or in other notices issued by DOE.
In November 2010, DOE announced that it would, in appropriate cases, implement the following changes to expedite its rulemaking process:
- Employing more efficient data gathering methods;
- Moving analytical information to the technical support document; and
- Establishing a standing negotiated rulemaking committee.