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.

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
  • Establishing a standing negotiated rulemaking committee

DOE published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) proposing to update DOE's current rulemaking titled, “Procedures, Interpretations, and Policies for Consideration of New or Revised Energy Conservation Standards and Test Procedures for Consumer Products and Certain Commercial/Industrial Equipment.” The notice provided an opportunity for submitting written comments by August 6, 2026. DOE received a joint request from multiple trade organizations to extend the public comment period to September 8, 2026. DOE has reviewed this request and has published a Federal Register notice granting an extension of the public comment period to allow public comments to be submitted until August 21, 2026.

  • DOE will accept comments and information regarding this NOPR no later than August 21, 2026.
  • Interested persons may submit comments identified by docket number EERE‑2025‑BT‑STD‑0001, by email (ProcessRule2025STD0001@ee.doe.gov), or via the Federal eRulemaking portal (http://www.regulations.gov).

DOE has published a Federal Register notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) proposing to update DOE's current rulemaking methodology titled, “Procedures, Interpretations, and Policies for Consideration of New or Revised Energy Conservation Standards and Test Procedures for Consumer Products and Certain Commercial/Industrial Equipment” (Process Rule). Specifically, DOE proposes to: make Appendix A the Process Rule binding on DOE for certain actions; amend objectives and considerations consistent with recent Executive orders and DOE's policies; add a definition of “significant energy savings”; re-instate the comparative analysis requirement, described as a “walk up” approach; include certain economic thresholds; re-instate the description of clear and convincing evidence; and revert to language from the 2020 Process Rule text. 

DOE has published a Federal Register request for information (RFI) regarding the assumptions, models, and methodologies that DOE uses in setting standards for covered products and equipment. Relatedly, DOE also requests comments on the report summarizing the work conducted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Committee on Review of Methods for Setting Building and Equipment Performance Standards. DOE also welcomes the submission of data, peer-reviewed studies, and other relevant information related to how DOE might implement NASEM report recommendations and to DOE’s analytical methodology for evaluating energy conservation standards in general.

Past Rulemakings

Procedures, Interpretations, and Policies for Consideration of New or Revised Energy Conservation Standards and Test Procedures for Consumer Products and Certain Commercial/Industrial Equipment  

Docket No. EERE-2025-BT-STD-0001 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents

  • Request for Information, Federal Register, 90 FR 16093 (April 17, 2025)

Procedures, Interpretations, and Policies for Consideration of New or Revised Energy Conservation Standards and Test Procedures for Consumer Products and Certain Commercial/Industrial Equipment  

Docket No. EERE-2021-BT-STD-0003 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents

  • Final Rule, Federal Register, 89 FR 24340 (April 8, 2024)
  • Final Rue, Federal Register, 86 FR 70892 (December 13, 2021)
  • Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 86 FR 35668 (July 7, 2021)
  • Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 86 FR 18901 (April 12, 2021)

Procedures for Use in New or Revised Energy Conservation Standards and Test Procedures for Consumer Products and Certain Commercial/Industrial Equipment  

Docket No. EERE-2017-BT-STD-0062 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents

  • Final Rule, Federal Register, 85 FR 8626 (February 14, 2020)

Public Meetings & Comment Deadlines >>