U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Building Technologies Program – Appliance & Equipment Standards
Determination for Non-Class A External Power Supplies
This page presents information on a determination rulemaking and contact information for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Return to the Battery Charger and External Power Supplies page for information on all of DOE's activities related to these products.
Background
Section 301 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) amended the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), creating a subset of external power supplies called Class A External Power Supplies. These devices are "able to convert to only 1 AC or DC output voltage at a time" and have "nameplate output power that is less than or equal to 250 watts." (42 U.S.C. 6291(36)(C)(i)) Section 301 of EISA also amended EPCA, establishing minimum standards for Class A EPSs effective July 1, 2008, and directing DOE to conduct two successive rulemakings to review and possibly amend the energy conservation standards for external power supplies, the first of which is to be completed by July 1, 2011.
Section 309 of EISA amended EPCA instructing DOE to "[n]o later than 2 years after the date of enactment ... issue a final rule that determines whether energy conservation standards shall be issued for external power supplies or classes of external power supplies." (42 U.S.C. 6295(u)(1)(E)(i)(I)).
Because DOE cannot conduct a determination analysis on whether it should issue energy conservation standards for a product for which standards have already been set, DOE interpreted these sections jointly as a requirement to determine, in a separate rulemaking, whether energy conservation standards shall be issued for external power supplies that are not classified as Class A External Power Supplies, referred to as "Non-Class A External Power Supplies." DOE identified four types of such products:
- Multiple-Voltage EPSs: These devices are able to convert to more than one AC or DC output voltage at a time.
- High-Power EPSs: These devices have a nameplate output power greater than 250 watts.
- Medical EPSs: These devices are used to power medical devices regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.
- MADB EPSs: These devices provide power to the battery chargers of motorized applications and detachable battery packs.
Notice of Proposed Determination (NOPD)
DOE published its Notice of Proposed Determination and Availability of the Technical Support Document (TSD) for Non-Class A External Power Supplies on November 3, 2009. In this notice, DOE proposed to determine that energy conservation standards are warranted for Non-Class A external power supplies. The accompanying TSD provided additional analysis in support of the proposed determination.
Public Comments
A public meeting to discuss the proposal did not take place. However, DOE welcomed comments and inquiries from interested parties during the designated comment period, which ended on December 18, 2009.
Final Rule
DOE published a final rule on May 14, 2010, in which it determined, based on the best information currently available, that energy conservation standards for non-Class A external power supplies are technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result in significant energy savings. DOE did not revise the TSD for this final rule determination. DOE is now developing standards for non-Class A external power supplies as part of its standards rulemaking for battery chargers and external power supplies.
Contact Information
Jeremy Dommu
Project Manager
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