For the latest information on the planned timing of future DOE regulatory milestones, see the current Office of Management and Budget Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. All planned dates are preliminary and subject to change.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a pre-publication Federal Register notice of Direct Final Rule (DFR) pertaining to energy conservation standards for miscellaneous refrigeration products. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, (EPCA), prescribes standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including miscellaneous refrigeration products. In this DFR, DOE is adopting amended standards for miscellaneous refrigeration products. DOE has determined that the amended standards for these products would result in significant conservation of energy and are technologically feasible and economically justified.

• The effective date of this rule is 120 days after the notice has been published in the Federal Register. DOE will send a follow-up e-mail once the notice publishes to announce the effective date.
• If adverse comments are received by 110 days after the notice has been published in the Federal Register and DOE determines that such comments may provide a reasonable basis for withdrawal of the direct final rule under 42 U.S.C. 6295(o), a timely withdrawal of this rule will be published in the Federal Register. If no such adverse comments are received, compliance with the amended standards established for dishwashers in this direct final rule is required on and after 3 years after the notice has been published in the Federal Register.
• Comments regarding the likely competitive impact of the standards contained in this direct final rule should be sent to the Department of Justice on or before 30 days after the notice has been published in the Federal Register.

DOE has also issued a pre-publication Federal Register notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) that proposes amended standards for miscellaneous refrigeration products identical to those set forth in the direct final rule. If DOE receives adverse comment and determines that such comment may provide a reasonable basis for withdrawal of the direct final rule, DOE will publish a notice of withdrawal rule and will proceed with this proposed rule.

• DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding the NOPR until 110 days after date of publication in the Federal Register. DOE will send a follow-up e-mail once the notice publishes to announce the closing date of the comment period.
• Interested persons may submit comments identified by docket number (EERE-2020-BT-STD-0039) by email (MRP2020STD0039@ee.doe.gov), Federal eRulemaking portal (http://www.regulations.gov).

The direct final rule for miscellaneous refrigeration products published on October 28, 2016 (81 FR 75194) became effective on February 27, 2017. Compliance with the new standards in the direct final rule was required on October 28, 2019.

Miscellaneous refrigeration products are not currently required to be tested and rated according to a DOE test procedure. However, miscellaneous refrigeration product manufacturers must follow the test procedure methods specified at 10 CFR 430, Subpart B, Appendix A for all representations of energy use on or after January 17, 2017.