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Federal Trade Commission.
Final rule.
The Federal Trade Commission (“Commission”) amends its Energy Labeling Rule (“Rule”) by publishing new ranges of comparability for required EnergyGuide labels on televisions.
The amendments are effective May 2, 2024.
Relevant portions of the record of this proceeding, including this document, are available at https://www.ftc.gov.
Hampton Newsome, (202) 326-2889, or Hong Park, (202) 326-2158, Attorneys, Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Room CC-6316, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580.
The Commission issued the Energy Labeling Rule in 1979 pursuant to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of ( printed page 7268) 1975 (“EPCA”).[1] The Rule covers several categories of major household products, including televisions. It requires manufacturers of covered products to disclose specific energy consumption or efficiency information (derived from Department of Energy (“DOE”) test procedures) at the point of sale. In addition, each label must include a “range of comparability” indicating the highest and lowest energy consumption or efficiencies for comparable models. The Commission updates these ranges periodically.
The Commission amends its television ranges in 16 CFR 305.25(f)(5) based on test data generated from DOE's revised test procedure. In a rule document published in October 2022 issuing range updates for other covered products, the Commission postponed television range updates until DOE finalized a new test procedure for those products.[2] The document stated the FTC would publish updated ranges after data derived from the upcoming test procedure became available. DOE has issued a final test update, and new data is now available.[3] Accordingly, this publication contains the updates to the television ranges, along with related sample labels. In addition, these amendments update the cost figure on the television label to 16 cents per kWh based on the most recent national electricity cost information published by DOE.[4] Manufacturers should begin using the new ranges on labels for newly-produced units no later than May 2, 2024.
The provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act relating to a Regulatory Flexibility Act analysis [5] are not applicable to this proceeding because the amendments do not impose any new obligations on entities regulated by the Energy Labeling Rule. These technical amendments merely provide a routine change to the range and cost information already required on EnergyGuide labels. The Commission has concluded, therefore, that a regulatory flexibility analysis is not necessary, and certifies, under Section 605 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, that the amendments announced today will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.[6]
The current Rule contains recordkeeping, disclosure, testing, and reporting requirements that constitute information collection requirements as defined by 5 CFR 1320.3(c), the definitional provision within the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) regulations that implement the Paperwork Reduction Act (“PRA”). OMB has approved the Rule's existing information collection requirements through February 29, 2024 (OMB Control No. 3084-0069). The amendments now being adopted do not change the substance or frequency of the recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting requirements and, therefore, do not require further OMB clearance.
Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), the OMB's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs designated this rule as not a “major rule,” as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
Accordingly, 16 CFR part 305 is amended as follows:
1. The authority citation for Part 305 continues to read as follows:
2. In § 305.25, revise paragraphs (f)(4) and (5) to read as follows:
(f) * * *
(4) Estimated annual energy costs determined in accordance with this part, and based on a usage rate of 5 hours in on mode and 19 hours in standby (sleep) mode per day, and an electricity cost rate of 16 cents per kWh.
(5) The applicable ranges of comparability for estimated annual energy costs based on the labeled product's diagonal screen size, according to the following table:
| Screen size (diagonal) | Annual energy cost ranges for televisions | |
|---|---|---|
| Low | High | |
| 16-20″ (16.0 to 20.49″) | $7 | $7 |
| 21-23″ (20.5 to 23.49″) | (*) | (*) |
| 24-29″ (23.5 to 29.49″) | 5 | 15 |
| 30-34″ (29.5 to 34.49″) | 8 | 30 |
| 35-39″ (34.5 to 39.49″) | 19 | 20 |
| 40-44″ (39.5 to 44.49″) | 13 | 51 |
| 45-49″ (44.5 to 49.49″) | 40 | 40 |
| 50-54″ (49.5 to 54.49″) | 22 | 51 |
| 55-59″ (54.5 to 59.49″) | 24 | 69 |
| 60-64″ (59.5 to 64.49″) | 29 | 113 |
| 65-69″ (64.5 to 69.49″) | 27 | 110 |
| 69.5″ or greater | 32 | 155 |
| * No data. | ||
3. In § 305.27, revise paragraph (b)(1)(i)(F) to read as follows:
(b) * * *
(1) * * *
(i) * * *
(F) Televisions. The estimated annual operating cost determined in accordance with this part, and a disclosure stating “Your energy cost depends on your utility rates and use. The estimated cost is based on 16 cents per kWh and 5 hours of use per day. For more information, visit www.ftc.gov/energy.”
4. Revise Prototype Labels 8, 9, and 10 and Sample Labels 14, 15, and 16 in Appendix L to read as follows:
By direction of the Commission.
April J. Tabor,
Secretary.
1. 42 U.S.C. 6294; 44 FR 66466 (Nov. 19, 1979). EPCA also requires the Department of Energy (“DOE”) to set minimum efficiency standards and develop test procedures to measure energy use.
Back to Citation2. 87 FR 61465 (Oct. 12, 2022); see87 FR 11892 (Mar. 2, 2022) (DOE NPRM).
Back to Citation3. 88 FR 16082 (Mar. 15, 2023) (DOE Final Rule).
Back to Citation4. 88 FR 58575 (Aug. 28, 2023) (cost figure rounded consistent with 16 CFR 305, Appendices K1 and K2).
Back to Citation5. See 5 U.S.C. 603-604.
Back to Citation