Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Classifying Products as Covered Products

Under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) promulgates a rule to define the term "household" and related terms. These definitions provide a basis for DOE to determine whether the household energy use of products not currently covered by EPCA meets the levels required for DOE to classify a product as a "covered product" under EPCA; such a classification would mean that DOE potentially could establish energy conservation requirements for the covered product. With the "household" definition in place, the Secretary may exercise statutory authority to classify as covered products additional qualifying consumer products beyond the products already specified in EPCA, and set test procedures and efficiency standards for them.