DOE Issues Notice of Data Availability (NODA) on Cooking Products – Comments Due September 1.

On Wednesday, the DOE issued a Federal Register Notice of Data Availability  (attached) on residential cooking products as a follow up to its earlier, February 1, 2023, published supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (‘‘SNOPR’’). In that SNOPR,  DOE had proposed new and amended energy conservation standards for consumer conventional cooking products and were extremely concerning on the negative impact the proposed minimum efficiency standard would have on gas cooktops (AGA April 17, 2023 comments attached) . In this NODA, DOE states that it is “updating its analysis for consumer conventional cooking products based on stakeholder data and information it received in response to that SNOPR. DOE is requesting comments, data, and information regarding the updated analysis by September 1. AGA is currently analyzing the NODA including the revised data related to its analysis of gas cooktops, but DOE did not formally revise the proposal issued back on February 1.  This issuance and the use of updated data by DOE confirms stakeholder objections to the DOE Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for cooking products and it remains to be seen how DOE will proceed from here. While comments are sought on the NODA, it’s not clear whether DOE will issue a further supplemental notice of rulemaking and seek public comment on a revised efficiency standard, which would include an analysis on the impact on the availability of products, as well as the cost and the payback term for consumers. AGA along with other stakeholders, are planning to seek clarification from DOE on how they plan to pursue the rulemaking process for consumer cooking products and will provide and update when available. Finally, attached is the August 3, 2023 Press Release from the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) that provides the consumer cooking products manufacturers perspective on the DOE NODA.

State Codes Activity Update.

Attached is a weekly feature of the “Friday Update” covering state code calendar activities as presented by the online utility “Fiscal Note,” which is sponsored by APGA and AGA Code and Standards. Please review the update and determine if there are state code activities that impact your service territory or organization.