Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Notice of Petition for Waiver of the General Electric Company From the Department of Energy Residential Clothes Washer Test Procedure, and Grant of Interim Waiver, 57915-57920 [2010-23874]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 184 / Thursday, September 23, 2010 / Notices Power Administration, 615 South 43rd Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona. Order In view of the foregoing and under the authority delegated to me, I hereby confirm and approve on an interim basis, effective October 1, 2010, Rate Schedule BCP–F8, for the Boulder Canyon Project of the Western Area Power Administration. The rate schedule shall remain in effect on an interim basis, pending FERC confirmation and approval of it or substitute rates on a final basis up to September 30, 2015. Dated: September 16, 2010. Daniel B. Poneman, Deputy Secretary. United States Department of Energy Western Area Power Administration Boulder Canyon Project, Arizona, Nevada, Southern California Schedule of Rates for Electric Service Effective The first day of the first full billing period beginning on or after October 1, 2010, and remaining in effect through September 30, 2015, or until superseded. Available In the marketing area serviced by the Boulder Canyon Project (BCP). Applicable To power Contractors served by the BCP supplied through one meter, at one point of delivery, unless otherwise provided by contract. srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES Character and Conditions of Service Alternating current at 60 hertz, threephase, delivered and metered at the voltages and points established by contract. Base Charge The total charge paid by a Contractor for annual capacity and energy based on the annual revenue requirement. The base charge shall be composed of an energy component and a capacity component: Energy Charge: Each Contractor shall be billed monthly an energy charge equal to the Rate Year Energy Dollar multiplied by the Contractor’s firm energy percentage multiplied by the Contractor’s monthly energy ratio as provided by contract. Capacity Charge: Each Contractor shall be billed monthly a capacity charge equal to the Rate Year Capacity Dollar divided by 12 multiplied by the Contractor’s contingent capacity percentage as provided by contract. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:52 Sep 22, 2010 Jkt 220001 Forecast Rates DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Energy: Shall be equal to the Rate Year Energy Dollar divided by the lesser of the total master schedule energy or 4,501.001 million kWhs. This rate is to be applied for use of excess energy, unauthorized overruns, and water pump energy. Capacity: Shall be equal to the Rate Year Capacity Dollar divided by 1,951,000 kWs, to be applied for use of unauthorized overruns. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Calculated Energy Rate 57915 AGENCY: Within 90 days after the end of each rate year, a Calculated Energy Rate shall be calculated. If the energy deemed delivered is greater than 4,501.001 million kWhs, then the Calculated Energy Rate shall be applied to each Contractor’s energy deemed delivered. A credit or debit shall be established based on the difference between the Contractor’s Energy Dollar and the Contractor’s actual energy charge, to be applied the following month calculated or as soon as possible thereafter. Lower Basin Development Fund Contribution Charge The contribution charge is 4.5 mills/ kWh for each kWh measured or scheduled to an Arizona purchaser and 2.5 mills/kWh for each kWh measured or scheduled to a California or Nevada purchaser, except for purchased power. Billing for Unauthorized Overruns For each billing period in which there is a contract violation involving an unauthorized overrun of the contractual power obligations, such overrun shall be billed at 10 times the Forecast Energy Rate and Forecast Capacity Rate. The contribution charge shall be applied also to each kWh of overrun. Adjustments None. [FR Doc. 2010–23807 Filed 9–22–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 [Case No. CW–013] Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Notice of Petition for Waiver of the General Electric Company From the Department of Energy Residential Clothes Washer Test Procedure, and Grant of Interim Waiver Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice of petition for waiver, notice of grant of interim waiver, and request for comments. This notice announces receipt of and publishes the General Electric Company (GE) petition for waiver (hereafter, ‘‘petition’’) from specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of clothes washers. Today’s notice also grants an interim waiver of the clothes washer test procedure. Through this notice, DOE also solicits comments with respect to the GE petition. DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, and information with respect to the GE petition until, but no later than October 25, 2010. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by case number CW–013, by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • E-mail: AS_Waiver_Requests@ee.doe.gov Include ‘‘Case No. CW–013’’ in the subject line of the message. • Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE–2J/ 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121. Telephone: (202) 586–2945. Please submit one signed original paper copy. • Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Program, 950 L’Enfant Plaza SW., Suite 600, Washington, DC 20024. Please submit one signed original paper copy. Instructions: All submissions received should include the agency name and case number for this proceeding. Submit electronic comments in WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, Portable Document Format (PDF), or text (American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII)) file format and SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\23SEN1.SGM 23SEN1 srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES 57916 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 184 / Thursday, September 23, 2010 / Notices avoid the use of special characters or any form of encryption. Wherever possible, include the electronic signature of the author. DOE does not accept telefacsimiles (faxes). Any person submitting written comments must also send a copy to the petitioner, pursuant to 10 CFR 430.27(d). The contact information for the petitioner is: Ms Kelley A. Kline, Counsel—Regulatory Compliance, GE Consumer & Industrial, Appliance Park 2–225, Louisville, KY 40225, E-mail: Kelley.Kline@GE.com. According to 10 CFR 1004.11, any person submitting information that he or she believes to be confidential and exempt by law from public disclosure should submit two copies to DOE: One copy of the document including all the information believed to be confidential, and one copy of the document with the information believed to be confidential deleted. DOE will make its own determination about the confidential status of the information and treat it according to its determination. Docket: For access to the docket to review the background documents relevant to this matter, you may visit the U.S. Department of Energy, 950 L’Enfant Plaza SW., (Resource Room of the Building Technologies Program), Washington, DC 20024; (202) 586–2945, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Available documents include the following items: (1) This notice; (2) public comments received; (3) the petition for waiver and application for interim waiver; and (4) prior DOE waivers and rulemakings regarding similar clothes washer products. Please call Ms. Brenda Edwards at the above telephone number for additional information regarding visiting the Resource Room. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Michael G. Raymond, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Program, Mail Stop EE–2J, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121. Telephone: (202) 586–9611. E-mail: Michael.Raymond@ee.doe.gov. Ms. Elizabeth Kohl, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, Mail Stop GC–71, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585–0103. Telephone: (202) 586–7796. E-mail: Elizabeth.Kohl@hq.doe.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background and Authority Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (‘‘EPCA’’) sets forth a variety of provisions concerning energy VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:52 Sep 22, 2010 Jkt 220001 efficiency. Part A of Title III provides for the ‘‘Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles.’’ (42 U.S.C. 6291–6309). Part A includes definitions, test procedures, labeling provisions, energy conservation standards, and the authority to require information and reports from manufacturers. Further, Part A authorizes the Secretary of Energy to prescribe test procedures that are reasonably designed to produce results which measure energy efficiency, energy use, or estimated operating costs, and that are not unduly burdensome to conduct. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3)). The test procedure for automatic and semi-automatic clothes washers is contained in 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix J1. The regulations set forth in 10 CFR 430.27 contain provisions that enable a person to seek a waiver from the test procedure requirements for covered consumer products. A waiver will be granted by the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (the Assistant Secretary) if it is determined that the basic model for which the petition for waiver was submitted contains one or more design characteristics that prevents testing of the basic model according to the prescribed test procedures, or if the prescribed test procedures may evaluate the basic model in a manner so unrepresentative of its true energy consumption characteristics as to provide materially inaccurate comparative data. 10 CFR 430.27(l). Petitioners must include in their petition any alternate test procedures known to the petitioner to evaluate the basic model in a manner representative of its energy consumption. 10 CFR 430.27(b)(1)(iii). The Assistant Secretary may grant the waiver subject to conditions, including adherence to alternate test procedures. 10 CFR 430.27(l). Waivers remain in effect pursuant to the provisions of 10 CFR 430.27(m). The waiver process also allows the Assistant Secretary to grant an interim waiver from test procedure requirements to manufacturers that have petitioned DOE for a waiver of such prescribed test procedures. 10 CFR 430.27(a)(2). An interim waiver remains in effect for 180 days or until DOE issues its determination on the petition for waiver, whichever is sooner. An interim waiver may be extended for an additional 180 days. 10 CFR 430.27(h). II. Application for Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver On June 21, 2010, GE filed a petition for waiver and application for interim PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 waiver from the test procedure applicable to automatic and semiautomatic clothes washers set forth in 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix J1. In particular, GE requested a waiver to test its clothes washers with basket volumes greater than 3.8 cubic feet on the basis of the residential test procedures contained in 10 CFR part 430, Subpart B, Appendix J1, with a revised Table 5.1 which extends the range of container volumes beyond 3.8 cubic feet. GE’s petition seeks a waiver from the DOE test procedure because a test load is used within the procedure, and the mass of this test load is based on the basket volume of the test specimen, which is currently not defined for the basket sizes of the basic models cited in its waiver application. In the DOE test procedure, the relation between basket volume and test load mass is defined for basket volumes between 0 and 3.8 cubic feet. GE has designed a series of clothes washers that contain basket volumes greater than 3.8 cubic feet. Table 5.1 of Appendix J1 defines the test load sizes used in the test procedure as linear functions of the basket volume. GE has submitted a revised table to extend the maximum basket volume from 3.8 cubic feet to 6.0 cubic feet, a table provided by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM). AHAM provided calculations to extrapolate Table 5.1 of the DOE test procedure to larger container volumes. DOE believes that this procedure is reasonable because the DOE test procedure defines test load sizes as linear functions of the basket volume. An interim waiver may be granted if it is determined that the applicant will experience economic hardship if the application for interim waiver is denied, if it appears likely that the petition for waiver will be granted, and/or the Assistant Secretary determines that it would be desirable for public policy reasons to grant immediate relief pending a determination of the petition for waiver. (10 CFR 430.27(g)). DOE determined that GE’s application for interim waiver does not provide sufficient market, equipment price, shipments, and other manufacturer impact information to permit DOE to evaluate the economic hardship GE might experience absent a favorable determination on its application for interim waiver. In a previous similar case, however, DOE granted an interim test procedure waiver to Whirlpool for three of Whirlpool’s clothes washer models with container capacities greater than 3.8 ft 3. 71 FR 48913 (August 22, 2006). This notice contained an alternate test procedure, which E:\FR\FM\23SEN1.SGM 23SEN1 57917 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 184 / Thursday, September 23, 2010 / Notices extended the linear relationship between maximum test load size and clothes washer container volume in Table 5.1 to include a maximum test load size of 15.4 pounds (lbs) for clothes washer container volumes of 3.8 to 3.9 ft 3. DOE believes that the values in the test load size chart submitted by GE are appropriate. In addition, DOE believes that extending the linear relationship between test load size and container capacity to larger capacities is valid. Based on this discussion, and the interim waiver granted to Whirlpool, it appears likely that the petition for waiver will be granted. DOE notes, however, publication elsewhere in today’s Federal Register of a petition for waiver received subsequently from Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung), also for clothes washers with capacities larger than 3.8 ft3. Samsung submitted an alternate test procedure that uses a slightly more accurate conversion factor to convert pounds to kilograms than was used by AHAM and GE. Use of Samsung’s conversion factor results in small changes in revised Table 5.1. DOE will consider adopting the more accurate Table 5.1 in the subsequent decision and order. For the reasons stated above, the Department of Energy is granting an interim waiver to GE for its line of clothes washers with container volumes greater than 3.8 cubic feet, pursuant to 10 CFR 430.27(g). Therefore, it is ordered that: The application for interim waiver filed by GE is hereby granted for the specified GE clothes washer basic models, subject to the specifications and conditions below. 1. GE shall not be required to test or rate the specified clothes washer products on the basis of the test procedure under 10 CFR part 430 subpart B, appendix J1. 2. GE shall be required to test and rate the specified clothes washer products according to the alternate test procedure as set forth in section IV, ‘‘Alternate test procedure.’’ The interim waiver applies to the following basic model groups: PTWN8055*, PTWN8050*, PFWS4600*, PFWS4605*, PFWH4400*, PFWH4405*, GFWS3600*, GFWS3605*, GFWS3500*, GFWS3505*, GFWH3400*, GFWH3405*, GFWH2400*, GFWH2405* III. Alternate Test Procedure EPCA requires that manufacturers use DOE test procedures to make representations about the energy consumption and energy consumption costs of products covered by EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6293(c)). Consistent representations are important for manufacturers to make representations about the energy efficiency of their products and to demonstrate compliance with applicable DOE energy conservation standards. Pursuant to its regulations for the grant of a waiver or interim waiver from an applicable test procedure at 10 CFR 430.27, DOE is considering setting an alternate test procedure for GE in the subsequent Decision and Order. This alternate procedure is intended to allow manufacturers of clothes washers with basket capacities larger than provided for in the current test procedure to make valid representations. This test procedure is based on the expanded Table 5.1 of Appendix J1 submitted by GE. Furthermore, if DOE specifies an alternate test procedure for GE, DOE may consider applying the alternate test procedure or a similar one using the more accurate conversion factor discussed above to similar waivers for residential clothes washers. During the period of the interim waiver granted in this notice, GE shall test its clothes washer basic models according to the provisions of 10 CFR part 430 subpart B, appendix J1, except that the expanded Table 5.1 below shall be substituted for Table 5.1 of appendix J1. TABLE 5.1—TEST LOAD SIZES Container volume srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES cu. ft. ≥< (liter) ≥< 0–0.8 ............................................................................ 0.80–0.90 ..................................................................... 0.90–1.00 ..................................................................... 1.00–1.10 ..................................................................... 1.10–1.20 ..................................................................... 1.20–1.30 ..................................................................... 1.30–1.40 ..................................................................... 1.40–1.50 ..................................................................... 1.50–1.60 ..................................................................... 1.60–1.70 ..................................................................... 1.70–1.80 ..................................................................... 1.80–1.90 ..................................................................... 1.90–2.00 ..................................................................... 2.00–2.10 ..................................................................... 2.10–2.20 ..................................................................... 2.20–2.30 ..................................................................... 2.30–2.40 ..................................................................... 2.40–2.50 ..................................................................... 2.50–2.60 ..................................................................... 2.60–2.70 ..................................................................... 2.70–2.80 ..................................................................... 2.80–2.90 ..................................................................... 2.90–3.00 ..................................................................... 3.00–3.10 ..................................................................... 3.10–3.20 ..................................................................... 3.20–3.30 ..................................................................... 3.30–3.40 ..................................................................... 3.40–3.50 ..................................................................... 3.50–3.60 ..................................................................... 3.60–3.70 ..................................................................... VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:52 Sep 22, 2010 Minimum load Jkt 220001 PO 00000 0–22.7 22.7–25.5 25.5–28.3 28.3–31.1 31.1–34.0 34.0–36.8 36.8–39.6 39.6–42.5 42.5–45.3 45.3–48.1 48.1–51.0 51.0–53.8 53.8–56.6 56.6–59.5 59.5–62.3 62.3–65.1 65.1–68.0 68.0–70.8 70.8–73.6 73.6–76.5 76.5–79.3 79.3–82.1 82.1–85.0 85.0–87.8 87.8–90.6 90.6–93.4 93.4–96.3 96.3–99.1 99.1–101.9 101.9–104.8 Frm 00031 Fmt 4703 Maximum load Average load lb lb lb 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 Sfmt 4703 (kg) 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 (kg) 3.00 3.50 3.90 4.30 4.70 5.10 5.50 5.90 6.40 6.80 7.20 7.60 8.00 8.40 8.80 9.20 9.60 10.00 10.50 10.90 11.30 11.70 12.10 12.50 12.90 13.30 13.70 14.10 14.60 15.00 E:\FR\FM\23SEN1.SGM 23SEN1 1.36 1.59 1.77 1.95 2.13 2.31 2.49 2.68 2.90 3.08 3.27 3.45 3.63 3.81 3.99 4.17 4.35 4.54 4.76 4.94 5.13 5.31 5.49 5.67 5.85 6.03 6.21 6.40 6.62 6.80 3.00 3.25 3.45 3.65 3.85 4.05 4.25 4.45 4.70 4.90 5.10 5.30 5.50 5.70 5.90 6.10 6.30 6.50 6.75 6.95 7.15 7.35 7.55 7.75 7.95 8.15 8.35 8.55 8.80 9.00 (kg) 1.36 1.47 1.56 1.66 1.75 1.84 1.93 2.02 2.13 2.22 2.31 2.40 2.49 2.59 2.68 2.77 2.86 2.95 3.06 3.15 3.24 3.33 3.42 3.52 3.61 3.70 3.79 3.88 3.99 4.08 57918 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 184 / Thursday, September 23, 2010 / Notices TABLE 5.1—TEST LOAD SIZES—Continued Container volume Minimum load cu. ft. ≥< 3.70–3.80 3.80–3.90 3.90–4.00 4.00–4.10 4.10–4.20 4.20–4.30 4.30–4.40 4.40–4.50 4.50–4.60 4.60–4.70 4.70–4.80 4.80–4.90 4.90–5.00 5.00–5.10 5.10–5.20 5.20–5.30 5.30–5.40 5.40–5.50 5.50–5.60 5.60–5.70 5.70–5.80 5.80–5.90 5.90–6.00 (liter) ≥< ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... 104.8–107.6 107.6–110.4 110.4–113.3 113.3–116.1 116.1–118.9 118.9–121.8 121.8–124.6 124.6–127.4 127.4–130.3 130.3–133.1 133.1–135.9 135.9–138.8 138.8–141.6 141.6–144.4 144.4–147.3 147.3–150.1 150.1–152.9 152.9–155.8 155.8–158.6 158.6–161.4 161.4–164.3 164.3–167.1 167.1–169.9 Maximum load Average load lb lb lb 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 (kg) 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 (kg) 15.40 15.80 16.20 16.60 17.00 17.40 17.80 18.20 18.70 19.1 19.5 19.9 20.3 20.7 21.1 21.5 21.9 22.3 22.7 23.2 23.6 24.0 24.4 6.99 7.18 7.36 7.55 7.73 7.91 8.09 8.27 8.50 8.65 8.83 9.02 9.21 9.39 9.58 9.76 9.95 10.13 10.32 10.51 10.69 10.88 11.06 9.20 9.40 9.60 9.80 10.00 10.20 10.40 10.60 10.85 11.03 11.24 11.44 11.65 11.85 12.06 12.26 12.46 12.67 12.87 13.08 13.29 13.49 13.70 (kg) 4.17 4.27 4.36 4.45 4.55 4.64 4.73 4.82 4.93 5.00 5.10 5.19 5.28 5.38 5.47 5.56 5.65 5.75 5.84 5.93 6.03 6.12 6.21 Notes: (1) All test load weights are bone dry weights. (2) Allowable tolerance on the test load weights are ±0.10 lbs (0.05 kg). IV. Summary and Request for Comments srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES Through today’s notice, DOE announces receipt of GE’s petition for waiver from certain parts of the test procedure that apply to clothes washers and grants an interim waiver to GE. DOE is publishing GE’s petition for waiver in its entirety pursuant to 10 CFR p 430.27(b)(1)(iv). The petition contains no confidential information. The petition includes a suggested alternate test procedure which is to measure the energy consumption of clothes washers with capacities larger than the 3.8 ft 3 specified in the current DOE test procedure. DOE is interested in receiving comments from interested parties on all aspects of the petition, including the suggested alternate test procedure and any other alternate test procedure. Pursuant to 10 CFR p 430.27(b)(1)(iv), any person submitting written comments to DOE must also send a copy to the petitioner, whose contact information is included in the ADDRESSES section above. Issued in Washington, DC on September 16, 2010. Henry Kelly, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. U.S. Department of Energy Application for Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver, 10CFR430, Subpart B, Appendix J1—U.S. Department of Energy VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:52 Sep 22, 2010 Jkt 220001 (‘‘DOE’’ or ‘‘the Department’’) Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption of Automatic and SemiAutomatic Clothes Washers Case No. Public Version Submitted by: Kelley A. Kline Counsel–Regulatory Compliance GE Consumer & Industrial Appliance Park 2–225 Louisville, KY 40225 Kelley.Kline@ge.com 502–452–7603 (voice) 502–452–0395 (fax) U.S. Department of Energy Application for Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver, 10CFR430, Subpart B, Appendix J1— Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption of Automatic and Semi-Automatic Clothes Washers Introduction GE Appliances & Lighting, an operating division of General Electric Co., (‘‘GE’’) is a leading manufacturer and marketer of household appliances, including, as relevant to this proceeding, clothes washers, files this Petition for Waiver and Application for Interim Waiver (‘‘Petition’’). GE requests that the Assistant Secretary grant it a waiver from certain parts of the test procedure promulgated by the U.S. Department of Energy (‘‘DOE’’ or ‘‘the Department’’) for determining residential automatic and semiautomatic clothes washer energy consumption and allow GE to test its clothes washers pursuant to the modified table submitted herewith. This request is filed pursuant to 10 C.F.R. § 430.27. PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 GE is in the process of designing and launching new clothes washer models. A total investment and expense of $17.5MM has been made for research, development, facility upgrade, acquisition of tooling and equipment and product testing. Current production plans call for these products to begin to be manufactured on July 6, 2010. In order to be assured that it is correctly calculating the energy consumption of the product, that the product meets the minimum energy requirements for its product class and is properly labeled, GE seeks the Department’s expeditious concurrence to its proposed amendment to the clothes washer test procedure. Even a casual review of the clothes washer test procedure 1 reveals that this regulation has been overtaken by advances in technology, especially in terms of basket volume sizes of clothes washers on the market today. GE files this Petition for Waiver and Application for Interim Waiver to modify the portions of the regulations that do not permit accurate calculation of energy performance as related to basket volume size and test load mass. The Department’s regulations provide that the Assistant Secretary will grant a Petition upon ‘‘determin[ation] that the basic model for which the waiver was requested contains a design characteristic which either prevents testing of the basic model according to the prescribed test procedures, or the prescribed test procedures may evaluate the basic model in a manner so unrepresentative of its true energy consumption characteristics as to provide materially inaccurate comparative data.2’’ 1 10 2 10 E:\FR\FM\23SEN1.SGM C.F.R. Part 430, Subpart B, App. J1 C.F.R. Part 430.27 23SEN1 57919 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 184 / Thursday, September 23, 2010 / Notices GE requests that the Assistant Secretary grant this Petition on both grounds. First, because failure of the clothes washer energy test procedure to correlate load size and basket volume for larger units does not allow the energy used by GE’s new clothes washer to be accurately calculated. The new clothes washers contain baskets above 3.8 cubic feet, ranging up to 4.5 cubic feet. Since Table 5.1 of Appendix J1 currently defines test load sizes used during the procedure as linear functions of the basket volume, but only up to 3.8 cubic feet, the basket sizes of GE’s new models are currently not defined. Second, if GE were to test its new clothes washers as if the basket size were 3.8 cubic feet, i.e., with an average load size of 9.4 pounds, the results of the energy test so conducted would understate the energy used by the new models. Need for Relief The test procedure for calculating energy consumption defines the relation between basket volume and test load mass for basket volumes between 0 and 3.8 cubic feet. Market trends, however, have led manufacturers to design clothes washers with volumes greater than 3.8 cubic feet. Therefore, the existing test procedure is not applicable for units GE will be manufacturing. Indeed, the Department recognized this lack of applicability in the decision to grant a similar waiver to GE Corp. (71FR48913) GE hereby requests an Interim Waiver and Waiver that will allow sale of the following models based on the attached table, previously provided by AHAM to the Department in AHAM Comments on the Framework Document for Residential Clothes Washers; EERE–2008–BT–STD–0019; RIN 1904–AB90, dated October 2, 2009. Those models will be General Electric brand clothes washer models. PTWN8055*, PTWN8050*, PFWS4600*, PFWS4605*, PFWH4400*, PFWH4405*, GFWS3600*, GFWS3605*, GFWS3500*, GFWS3505*, GFWH3400*, GFWH3405*, GFWH2400*, GFWH2405*. Since there is a linear relationship between container volume and test load size, AHAM provided calculations to extend Table 5.1 in Appendix B of these comments (attached). Thank you for your timely attention to this request for Interim Waiver and Waiver. Respectfully submitted, Kelley A. Kline, Authorized Representative of GE Appliances & Lighting CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that GE has notified all clothes washer manufacturers listed below known to GE to sell products in the United States and forwarded them a copy of this application: Alliance Laundry Systems, Inc., BSH Home Appliances Corp. (Bosch-Siemens Hausgerate GmbH), Electrolux Home Products, Fisher & Paykel Appliances, Inc., Haier America Trading, L.L.C., LG Electronics USA INC., Miele Appliances, Inc., Samsung Electronics America, Inc. and GE Corporation. In addition, GE has provided courtesy copies to: The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), which is generally interested in DOE proceedings affecting the industry. lllllllllllllllllllll Kelley A. Kline Appendix B TABLE 5.1—TEST LOAD SIZES Container volume srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES cu. ft. ≥< (liter) ≥< 0–0.8 ............................................................................ 0.80–0.90 ..................................................................... 0.90–1.00 ..................................................................... 1.00–1.10 ..................................................................... 1.10–1.20 ..................................................................... 1.20–1.30 ..................................................................... 1.30–1.40 ..................................................................... 1.40–1.50 ..................................................................... 1.50–1.60 ..................................................................... 1.60–1.70 ..................................................................... 1.70–1.80 ..................................................................... 1.80–1.90 ..................................................................... 1.90–2.00 ..................................................................... 2.00–2.10 ..................................................................... 2.10–2.20 ..................................................................... 2.20–2.30 ..................................................................... 2.30–2.40 ..................................................................... 2.40–2.50 ..................................................................... 2.50–2.60 ..................................................................... 2.60–2.70 ..................................................................... 2.70–2.80 ..................................................................... 2.80–2.90 ..................................................................... 2.90–3.00 ..................................................................... 3.00–3.10 ..................................................................... 3.10–3.20 ..................................................................... 3.20–3.30 ..................................................................... 3.30–3.40 ..................................................................... 3.40–3.50 ..................................................................... 3.50–3.60 ..................................................................... 3.60–3.70 ..................................................................... 3.70–3.80 ..................................................................... 3.80–3.90 ..................................................................... 3.90–4.00 ..................................................................... 4.00–4.10 ..................................................................... 4.10–4.20 ..................................................................... 4.20–4.30 ..................................................................... 4.30–4.40 ..................................................................... 4.40–4.50 ..................................................................... 4.50–4.60 ..................................................................... 4.60–4.70 ..................................................................... 4.70–4.80 ..................................................................... 4.80–4.90 ..................................................................... VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:52 Sep 22, 2010 Minimum load Jkt 220001 PO 00000 0–22.7 22.7–25.5 25.5–28.3 28.3–31.1 31.1–34.0 34.0–36.8 36.8–39.6 39.6–42.5 42.5–45.3 45.3–48.1 48.1–51.0 51.0–53.8 53.8–56.6 56.6–59.5 59.5–62.3 62.3–65.1 65.1–68.0 68.0–70.8 70.8–73.6 73.6–76.5 76.5–79.3 79.3–82.1 82.1–85.0 85.0–87.8 87.8–90.6 90.6–93.4 93.4–96.3 96.3–99.1 99.1–101.9 101.9–104.8 104.8–107.6 107.6–110.4 110.4–113.3 113.3–116.1 116.1–118.9 118.9–121.8 121.8–124.6 124.6–127.4 127.4–130.3 130.3–133.1 133.1–135.9 135.9–138.8 Frm 00033 Fmt 4703 Maximum load Average load lb lb lb 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 Sfmt 4703 (kg) 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 (kg) 3.00 3.50 3.90 4.30 4.70 5.10 5.50 5.90 6.40 6.80 7.20 7.60 8.00 8.40 8.80 9.20 9.60 10.00 10.50 10.90 11.30 11.70 12.10 12.50 12.90 13.30 13.70 14.10 14.60 15.00 15.40 15.80 16.20 16.60 17.00 17.40 17.80 18.20 18.70 19.1 19.5 19.9 E:\FR\FM\23SEN1.SGM 23SEN1 1.36 1.59 1.77 1.95 2.13 2.31 2.49 2.68 2.90 3.08 3.27 3.45 3.63 3.81 3.99 4.17 4.35 4.54 4.76 4.94 5.13 5.31 5.49 5.67 5.85 6.03 6.21 6.40 6.62 6.80 6.99 7.18 7.36 7.55 7.73 7.91 8.09 8.27 8.50 8.65 8.83 9.02 3.00 3.25 3.45 3.65 3.85 4.05 4.25 4.45 4.70 4.90 5.10 5.30 5.50 5.70 5.90 6.10 6.30 6.50 6.75 6.95 7.15 7.35 7.55 7.75 7.95 8.15 8.35 8.55 8.80 9.00 9.20 9.40 9.60 9.80 10.00 10.20 10.40 10.60 10.85 11.03 11.24 11.44 (kg) 1.36 1.47 1.56 1.66 1.75 1.84 1.93 2.02 2.13 2.22 2.31 2.40 2.49 2.59 2.68 2.77 2.86 2.95 3.06 3.15 3.24 3.33 3.42 3.52 3.61 3.70 3.79 3.88 3.99 4.08 4.17 4.27 4.36 4.45 4.55 4.64 4.73 4.82 4.93 5.00 5.10 5.19 57920 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 184 / Thursday, September 23, 2010 / Notices TABLE 5.1—TEST LOAD SIZES—Continued Container volume Minimum load cu. ft. ≥< 4.90–5.00 5.00–5.10 5.10–5.20 5.20–5.30 5.30–5.40 5.40–5.50 5.50–5.60 5.60–5.70 5.70–5.80 5.80–5.90 5.90–6.00 (liter) ≥< ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... ..................................................................... BILLING CODE 6450–01–P Southeastern Power Administration lb lb 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 (kg) 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 1.36 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Kerr-Philpott System Deputy Secretary Southeastern Power Administration, (Southeastern), Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice of interim approval. AGENCY: In the Matter of: Southeastern Power Administration, KerrPhilpott System Power Rates; Rate Order No. SEPA–52 The Deputy Secretary, Department of Energy, confirmed and approved, on an interim basis new rate schedules VA–1–B, VA–2–B, VA–3–B, VA–4–B, CP&L–1–B, CP&L–2–B, CP&L– 3–B, CP&L–4–B, AP–1–B, AP–2–B, AP– 3–B, AP–4–B, NC–1–B, and Replacement–2–A. These rate schedules are applicable to Southeastern power sold to existing preference customers in the Virginia and North Carolina service area. The rate schedules are approved on an interim basis up to September 30, 2015, and are subject to confirmation and approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on a final basis. DATES: Approval of rates on an interim basis is effective October 1, 2010. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leon Jourolmon, Assistant Administrator, Finance and Marketing, Southeastern Power Administration, Department of Energy, 1166 Athens Tech Road, Elberton, Georgia 30635– 4578, (706) 213–3800. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, by Order issued December 8, 2006, in Docket No. EF06–3041–000 (117 FERC ¶ 62,220), confirmed and approved Wholesale Power Rate Schedules VA–1– A, VA–2–A, VA–3–A, VA–4–A, CP&L– 1–A, CP&L–2–A, CP&L–3–A, CP&L–4– A, AP–1–A, AP–2–A, AP–3–A, AP–4–A, NC–1–A, and Replacement–2 through SUMMARY: srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES lb Dated: September 16, 2010. Daniel B. Poneman, Deputy Secretary. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 16:52 Sep 22, 2010 Average load September 30, 2011. This order replaces these rate schedules on an interim basis, subject to final approval by FERC. [FR Doc. 2010–23874 Filed 9–22–10; 8:45 am] VerDate Mar<15>2010 138.8–141.6 141.6–144.4 144.4–147.3 147.3–150.1 150.1–152.9 152.9–155.8 155.8–158.6 158.6–161.4 161.4–164.3 164.3–167.1 167.1–169.9 Maximum load Jkt 220001 Order Confirming and Approving Power Rates on an Interim Basis Pursuant to Sections 302(a) of the Department of Energy Organization Act, Public Law 95–91, the functions of the Secretary of the Interior and the Federal Power Commission under Section 5 of the Flood Control Act of 1944, 16 U.S.C. 825s, relating to the Southeastern Power Administration (Southeastern), were transferred to and vested in the Secretary of Energy. By Delegation Order No. 00–037.00, effective December 6, 2001, the Secretary of Energy delegated to Southeastern’s Administrator the authority to develop power and transmission rates, to the Deputy Secretary of Energy the authority to confirm, approve, and place in effect such rates on interim basis, and to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) the authority to confirm, approve, and place into effect on a final basis or to disapprove rates developed by the Administrator under the delegation. This rate is issued by the Deputy Secretary pursuant to that delegation order. Background Power from the Kerr-Philpott Projects is presently sold under Wholesale Power Rate Schedules VA–1–A, VA–2– A, VA–3–A, VA–4–A, CP&L–1–A, CP&L–2–A, CP&L–3–A, CP&L–4–A, AP– 1–A, AP–2–A, AP–3–A, AP–4–A, NC– PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 (kg) 20.3 20.7 21.1 21.5 21.9 22.3 22.7 23.2 23.6 24.0 24.4 9.21 9.39 9.58 9.76 9.95 10.13 10.32 10.51 10.69 10.88 11.06 11.65 11.85 12.06 12.26 12.46 12.67 12.87 13.08 13.29 13.49 13.70 (kg) 5.28 5.38 5.47 5.56 5.65 5.75 5.84 5.93 6.03 6.12 6.21 1–A, and Replacement-2. These rate schedules were approved by the FERC on December 8, 2006, for a period ending September 30, 2011 (117 FERC ¶62,220). Public Notice and Comment Notice of a proposed rate adjustment for the Kerr-Philpott System was published in the Federal Register February 22, 2010 (75 FR 7580). The notice advised interested parties that a public information and comment forum would be held in Raleigh, North Carolina, on March 30, 2010. One party, representing the Southeastern Federal Power Customers, Inc. (SeFPC), made comments at the forum. Written comments were due on or before May 24, 2010. Southeastern received written comments from one party, the SeFPC. SeFPC’s comments have been condensed into the following 3 major categories: 1. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Expense 2. Revenue Tracking 3. True-Up Mechanisms Southeastern’s response follows each comment. Category 1: Corps O&M Comment 1: The SeFPC believes the repayment study includes costs for the Corps’ joint O&M that have been improperly assigned to the hydropower function. Furthermore, SeFPC believes that the amount of O&M expense set forth in the repayment study for the Corps joint O&M expense is overstated. In fact, the projected overall O&M expense for fiscal year (FY) 2010 is likely overstated in light of the fact that Congress cut appropriations for O&M at the Kerr and Philpott Projects in the most recent Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill. Comment 2: The SeFPC members served by the Kerr-Philpott system of E:\FR\FM\23SEN1.SGM 23SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 184 (Thursday, September 23, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57915-57920]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-23874]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

[Case No. CW-013]

Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Notice of
Petition for Waiver of the General Electric Company From the Department
of Energy Residential Clothes Washer Test Procedure, and Grant of
Interim Waiver

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.

ACTION: Notice of petition for waiver, notice of grant of interim
waiver, and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt of and publishes the General
Electric Company (GE) petition for waiver (hereafter, ``petition'')
from specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test
procedure for determining the energy consumption of clothes washers.
Today's notice also grants an interim waiver of the clothes washer test
procedure. Through this notice, DOE also solicits comments with respect
to the GE petition.

DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, and information with respect to
the GE petition until, but no later than October 25, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by case number CW-013,
by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: AS_Waiver_Requests@ee.doe.gov Include ``Case No.
CW-013'' in the subject line of the message.
Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy,
Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-2J/1000 Independence Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-2945. Please
submit one signed original paper copy.
Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department
of Energy, Building Technologies Program, 950 L'Enfant Plaza SW., Suite
600, Washington, DC 20024. Please submit one signed original paper
copy.
Instructions: All submissions received should include the agency
name and case number for this proceeding. Submit electronic comments in
WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, Portable Document Format (PDF), or text
(American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII)) file
format and

[[Page 57916]]

avoid the use of special characters or any form of encryption. Wherever
possible, include the electronic signature of the author. DOE does not
accept telefacsimiles (faxes).
Any person submitting written comments must also send a copy to the
petitioner, pursuant to 10 CFR 430.27(d). The contact information for
the petitioner is: Ms Kelley A. Kline, Counsel--Regulatory Compliance,
GE Consumer & Industrial, Appliance Park 2-225, Louisville, KY 40225,
E-mail: Kelley.Kline@GE.com.
According to 10 CFR 1004.11, any person submitting information that
he or she believes to be confidential and exempt by law from public
disclosure should submit two copies to DOE: One copy of the document
including all the information believed to be confidential, and one copy
of the document with the information believed to be confidential
deleted. DOE will make its own determination about the confidential
status of the information and treat it according to its determination.
Docket: For access to the docket to review the background documents
relevant to this matter, you may visit the U.S. Department of Energy,
950 L'Enfant Plaza SW., (Resource Room of the Building Technologies
Program), Washington, DC 20024; (202) 586-2945, between 9 a.m. and 4
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Available
documents include the following items: (1) This notice; (2) public
comments received; (3) the petition for waiver and application for
interim waiver; and (4) prior DOE waivers and rulemakings regarding
similar clothes washer products. Please call Ms. Brenda Edwards at the
above telephone number for additional information regarding visiting
the Resource Room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Michael G. Raymond, U.S.
Department of Energy, Building Technologies Program, Mail Stop EE-2J,
Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-9611. E-mail:
Michael.Raymond@ee.doe.gov.
Ms. Elizabeth Kohl, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the
General Counsel, Mail Stop GC-71, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0103. Telephone: (202) 586-7796. E-
mail: Elizabeth.Kohl@hq.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background and Authority

Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (``EPCA'') sets
forth a variety of provisions concerning energy efficiency. Part A of
Title III provides for the ``Energy Conservation Program for Consumer
Products Other Than Automobiles.'' (42 U.S.C. 6291-6309). Part A
includes definitions, test procedures, labeling provisions, energy
conservation standards, and the authority to require information and
reports from manufacturers. Further, Part A authorizes the Secretary of
Energy to prescribe test procedures that are reasonably designed to
produce results which measure energy efficiency, energy use, or
estimated operating costs, and that are not unduly burdensome to
conduct. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3)). The test procedure for automatic and
semi-automatic clothes washers is contained in 10 CFR part 430, subpart
B, appendix J1.
The regulations set forth in 10 CFR 430.27 contain provisions that
enable a person to seek a waiver from the test procedure requirements
for covered consumer products. A waiver will be granted by the
Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (the
Assistant Secretary) if it is determined that the basic model for which
the petition for waiver was submitted contains one or more design
characteristics that prevents testing of the basic model according to
the prescribed test procedures, or if the prescribed test procedures
may evaluate the basic model in a manner so unrepresentative of its
true energy consumption characteristics as to provide materially
inaccurate comparative data. 10 CFR 430.27(l). Petitioners must include
in their petition any alternate test procedures known to the petitioner
to evaluate the basic model in a manner representative of its energy
consumption. 10 CFR 430.27(b)(1)(iii). The Assistant Secretary may
grant the waiver subject to conditions, including adherence to
alternate test procedures. 10 CFR 430.27(l). Waivers remain in effect
pursuant to the provisions of 10 CFR 430.27(m).
The waiver process also allows the Assistant Secretary to grant an
interim waiver from test procedure requirements to manufacturers that
have petitioned DOE for a waiver of such prescribed test procedures. 10
CFR 430.27(a)(2). An interim waiver remains in effect for 180 days or
until DOE issues its determination on the petition for waiver,
whichever is sooner. An interim waiver may be extended for an
additional 180 days. 10 CFR 430.27(h).

II. Application for Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver

On June 21, 2010, GE filed a petition for waiver and application
for interim waiver from the test procedure applicable to automatic and
semi-automatic clothes washers set forth in 10 CFR part 430, subpart B,
appendix J1. In particular, GE requested a waiver to test its clothes
washers with basket volumes greater than 3.8 cubic feet on the basis of
the residential test procedures contained in 10 CFR part 430, Subpart
B, Appendix J1, with a revised Table 5.1 which extends the range of
container volumes beyond 3.8 cubic feet.
GE's petition seeks a waiver from the DOE test procedure because a
test load is used within the procedure, and the mass of this test load
is based on the basket volume of the test specimen, which is currently
not defined for the basket sizes of the basic models cited in its
waiver application. In the DOE test procedure, the relation between
basket volume and test load mass is defined for basket volumes between
0 and 3.8 cubic feet. GE has designed a series of clothes washers that
contain basket volumes greater than 3.8 cubic feet.
Table 5.1 of Appendix J1 defines the test load sizes used in the
test procedure as linear functions of the basket volume. GE has
submitted a revised table to extend the maximum basket volume from 3.8
cubic feet to 6.0 cubic feet, a table provided by the Association of
Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM). AHAM provided calculations to
extrapolate Table 5.1 of the DOE test procedure to larger container
volumes. DOE believes that this procedure is reasonable because the DOE
test procedure defines test load sizes as linear functions of the
basket volume.
An interim waiver may be granted if it is determined that the
applicant will experience economic hardship if the application for
interim waiver is denied, if it appears likely that the petition for
waiver will be granted, and/or the Assistant Secretary determines that
it would be desirable for public policy reasons to grant immediate
relief pending a determination of the petition for waiver. (10 CFR
430.27(g)). DOE determined that GE's application for interim waiver
does not provide sufficient market, equipment price, shipments, and
other manufacturer impact information to permit DOE to evaluate the
economic hardship GE might experience absent a favorable determination
on its application for interim waiver. In a previous similar case,
however, DOE granted an interim test procedure waiver to Whirlpool for
three of Whirlpool's clothes washer models with container capacities
greater than 3.8 ft \3\. 71 FR 48913 (August 22, 2006). This notice
contained an alternate test procedure, which

[[Page 57917]]

extended the linear relationship between maximum test load size and
clothes washer container volume in Table 5.1 to include a maximum test
load size of 15.4 pounds (lbs) for clothes washer container volumes of
3.8 to 3.9 ft \3\.
DOE believes that the values in the test load size chart submitted
by GE are appropriate. In addition, DOE believes that extending the
linear relationship between test load size and container capacity to
larger capacities is valid. Based on this discussion, and the interim
waiver granted to Whirlpool, it appears likely that the petition for
waiver will be granted. DOE notes, however, publication elsewhere in
today's Federal Register of a petition for waiver received subsequently
from Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung), also for clothes
washers with capacities larger than 3.8 ft\3\. Samsung submitted an
alternate test procedure that uses a slightly more accurate conversion
factor to convert pounds to kilograms than was used by AHAM and GE. Use
of Samsung's conversion factor results in small changes in revised
Table 5.1. DOE will consider adopting the more accurate Table 5.1 in
the subsequent decision and order. For the reasons stated above, the
Department of Energy is granting an interim waiver to GE for its line
of clothes washers with container volumes greater than 3.8 cubic feet,
pursuant to 10 CFR 430.27(g). Therefore, it is ordered that:
The application for interim waiver filed by GE is hereby granted
for the specified GE clothes washer basic models, subject to the
specifications and conditions below.
1. GE shall not be required to test or rate the specified clothes
washer products on the basis of the test procedure under 10 CFR part
430 subpart B, appendix J1.
2. GE shall be required to test and rate the specified clothes
washer products according to the alternate test procedure as set forth
in section IV, ``Alternate test procedure.''
The interim waiver applies to the following basic model groups:
PTWN8055*, PTWN8050*, PFWS4600*, PFWS4605*, PFWH4400*, PFWH4405*,
GFWS3600*, GFWS3605*, GFWS3500*, GFWS3505*, GFWH3400*, GFWH3405*,
GFWH2400*, GFWH2405*

III. Alternate Test Procedure

EPCA requires that manufacturers use DOE test procedures to make
representations about the energy consumption and energy consumption
costs of products covered by EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6293(c)). Consistent
representations are important for manufacturers to make representations
about the energy efficiency of their products and to demonstrate
compliance with applicable DOE energy conservation standards. Pursuant
to its regulations for the grant of a waiver or interim waiver from an
applicable test procedure at 10 CFR 430.27, DOE is considering setting
an alternate test procedure for GE in the subsequent Decision and
Order. This alternate procedure is intended to allow manufacturers of
clothes washers with basket capacities larger than provided for in the
current test procedure to make valid representations. This test
procedure is based on the expanded Table 5.1 of Appendix J1 submitted
by GE. Furthermore, if DOE specifies an alternate test procedure for
GE, DOE may consider applying the alternate test procedure or a similar
one using the more accurate conversion factor discussed above to
similar waivers for residential clothes washers.
During the period of the interim waiver granted in this notice, GE
shall test its clothes washer basic models according to the provisions
of 10 CFR part 430 subpart B, appendix J1, except that the expanded
Table 5.1 below shall be substituted for Table 5.1 of appendix J1.

Table 5.1--Test Load Sizes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Container volume Minimum load Maximum load Average load
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
cu. ft. >= < (liter) >= < lb (kg) lb (kg) lb (kg)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0-0.8......................... 0-22.7 3.00 1.36 3.00 1.36 3.00 1.36
0.80-0.90..................... 22.7-25.5 3.00 1.36 3.50 1.59 3.25 1.47
0.90-1.00..................... 25.5-28.3 3.00 1.36 3.90 1.77 3.45 1.56
1.00-1.10..................... 28.3-31.1 3.00 1.36 4.30 1.95 3.65 1.66
1.10-1.20..................... 31.1-34.0 3.00 1.36 4.70 2.13 3.85 1.75
1.20-1.30..................... 34.0-36.8 3.00 1.36 5.10 2.31 4.05 1.84
1.30-1.40..................... 36.8-39.6 3.00 1.36 5.50 2.49 4.25 1.93
1.40-1.50..................... 39.6-42.5 3.00 1.36 5.90 2.68 4.45 2.02
1.50-1.60..................... 42.5-45.3 3.00 1.36 6.40 2.90 4.70 2.13
1.60-1.70..................... 45.3-48.1 3.00 1.36 6.80 3.08 4.90 2.22
1.70-1.80..................... 48.1-51.0 3.00 1.36 7.20 3.27 5.10 2.31
1.80-1.90..................... 51.0-53.8 3.00 1.36 7.60 3.45 5.30 2.40
1.90-2.00..................... 53.8-56.6 3.00 1.36 8.00 3.63 5.50 2.49
2.00-2.10..................... 56.6-59.5 3.00 1.36 8.40 3.81 5.70 2.59
2.10-2.20..................... 59.5-62.3 3.00 1.36 8.80 3.99 5.90 2.68
2.20-2.30..................... 62.3-65.1 3.00 1.36 9.20 4.17 6.10 2.77
2.30-2.40..................... 65.1-68.0 3.00 1.36 9.60 4.35 6.30 2.86
2.40-2.50..................... 68.0-70.8 3.00 1.36 10.00 4.54 6.50 2.95
2.50-2.60..................... 70.8-73.6 3.00 1.36 10.50 4.76 6.75 3.06
2.60-2.70..................... 73.6-76.5 3.00 1.36 10.90 4.94 6.95 3.15
2.70-2.80..................... 76.5-79.3 3.00 1.36 11.30 5.13 7.15 3.24
2.80-2.90..................... 79.3-82.1 3.00 1.36 11.70 5.31 7.35 3.33
2.90-3.00..................... 82.1-85.0 3.00 1.36 12.10 5.49 7.55 3.42
3.00-3.10..................... 85.0-87.8 3.00 1.36 12.50 5.67 7.75 3.52
3.10-3.20..................... 87.8-90.6 3.00 1.36 12.90 5.85 7.95 3.61
3.20-3.30..................... 90.6-93.4 3.00 1.36 13.30 6.03 8.15 3.70
3.30-3.40..................... 93.4-96.3 3.00 1.36 13.70 6.21 8.35 3.79
3.40-3.50..................... 96.3-99.1 3.00 1.36 14.10 6.40 8.55 3.88
3.50-3.60..................... 99.1-101.9 3.00 1.36 14.60 6.62 8.80 3.99
3.60-3.70..................... 101.9-104.8 3.00 1.36 15.00 6.80 9.00 4.08

[[Page 57918]]

3.70-3.80..................... 104.8-107.6 3.00 1.36 15.40 6.99 9.20 4.17
3.80-3.90..................... 107.6-110.4 3.00 1.36 15.80 7.18 9.40 4.27
3.90-4.00..................... 110.4-113.3 3.00 1.36 16.20 7.36 9.60 4.36
4.00-4.10..................... 113.3-116.1 3.00 1.36 16.60 7.55 9.80 4.45
4.10-4.20..................... 116.1-118.9 3.00 1.36 17.00 7.73 10.00 4.55
4.20-4.30..................... 118.9-121.8 3.00 1.36 17.40 7.91 10.20 4.64
4.30-4.40..................... 121.8-124.6 3.00 1.36 17.80 8.09 10.40 4.73
4.40-4.50..................... 124.6-127.4 3.00 1.36 18.20 8.27 10.60 4.82
4.50-4.60..................... 127.4-130.3 3.00 1.36 18.70 8.50 10.85 4.93
4.60-4.70..................... 130.3-133.1 3.00 1.36 19.1 8.65 11.03 5.00
4.70-4.80..................... 133.1-135.9 3.00 1.36 19.5 8.83 11.24 5.10
4.80-4.90..................... 135.9-138.8 3.00 1.36 19.9 9.02 11.44 5.19
4.90-5.00..................... 138.8-141.6 3.00 1.36 20.3 9.21 11.65 5.28
5.00-5.10..................... 141.6-144.4 3.00 1.36 20.7 9.39 11.85 5.38
5.10-5.20..................... 144.4-147.3 3.00 1.36 21.1 9.58 12.06 5.47
5.20-5.30..................... 147.3-150.1 3.00 1.36 21.5 9.76 12.26 5.56
5.30-5.40..................... 150.1-152.9 3.00 1.36 21.9 9.95 12.46 5.65
5.40-5.50..................... 152.9-155.8 3.00 1.36 22.3 10.13 12.67 5.75
5.50-5.60..................... 155.8-158.6 3.00 1.36 22.7 10.32 12.87 5.84
5.60-5.70..................... 158.6-161.4 3.00 1.36 23.2 10.51 13.08 5.93
5.70-5.80..................... 161.4-164.3 3.00 1.36 23.6 10.69 13.29 6.03
5.80-5.90..................... 164.3-167.1 3.00 1.36 24.0 10.88 13.49 6.12
5.90-6.00..................... 167.1-169.9 3.00 1.36 24.4 11.06 13.70 6.21
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes: (1) All test load weights are bone dry weights.
(2) Allowable tolerance on the test load weights are 0.10 lbs (0.05 kg).

IV. Summary and Request for Comments

Through today's notice, DOE announces receipt of GE's petition for
waiver from certain parts of the test procedure that apply to clothes
washers and grants an interim waiver to GE. DOE is publishing GE's
petition for waiver in its entirety pursuant to 10 CFR p
430.27(b)(1)(iv). The petition contains no confidential information.
The petition includes a suggested alternate test procedure which is to
measure the energy consumption of clothes washers with capacities
larger than the 3.8 ft \3\ specified in the current DOE test procedure.
DOE is interested in receiving comments from interested parties on all
aspects of the petition, including the suggested alternate test
procedure and any other alternate test procedure. Pursuant to 10 CFR p
430.27(b)(1)(iv), any person submitting written comments to DOE must
also send a copy to the petitioner, whose contact information is
included in the ADDRESSES section above.

Issued in Washington, DC on September 16, 2010.
Henry Kelly,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy.

U.S. Department of Energy

Application for Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver, 10CFR430,
Subpart B, Appendix J1--U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'' or ``the
Department'') Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy
Consumption of Automatic and Semi-Automatic Clothes Washers

Case No.

Public Version

Submitted by:

Kelley A. Kline
Counsel-Regulatory Compliance
GE Consumer & Industrial
Appliance Park 2-225
Louisville, KY 40225
Kelley.Kline@ge.com
502-452-7603 (voice)
502-452-0395 (fax)

U.S. Department of Energy Application for Interim Waiver and
Petition for Waiver, 10CFR430, Subpart B, Appendix J1--Uniform Test
Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption of Automatic and Semi-
Automatic Clothes Washers

Introduction

GE Appliances & Lighting, an operating division of General
Electric Co., (``GE'') is a leading manufacturer and marketer of
household appliances, including, as relevant to this proceeding,
clothes washers, files this Petition for Waiver and Application for
Interim Waiver (``Petition''). GE requests that the Assistant
Secretary grant it a waiver from certain parts of the test procedure
promulgated by the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'' or ``the
Department'') for determining residential automatic and semi-
automatic clothes washer energy consumption and allow GE to test its
clothes washers pursuant to the modified table submitted herewith.
This request is filed pursuant to 10 C.F.R. Sec. 430.27.
GE is in the process of designing and launching new clothes
washer models. A total investment and expense of $17.5MM has been
made for research, development, facility upgrade, acquisition of
tooling and equipment and product testing. Current production plans
call for these products to begin to be manufactured on July 6, 2010.
In order to be assured that it is correctly calculating the
energy consumption of the product, that the product meets the
minimum energy requirements for its product class and is properly
labeled, GE seeks the Department's expeditious concurrence to its
proposed amendment to the clothes washer test procedure.
Even a casual review of the clothes washer test procedure \1\
reveals that this regulation has been overtaken by advances in
technology, especially in terms of basket volume sizes of clothes
washers on the market today. GE files this Petition for Waiver and
Application for Interim Waiver to modify the portions of the
regulations that do not permit accurate calculation of energy
performance as related to basket volume size and test load mass.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\1\ 10 C.F.R. Part 430, Subpart B, App. J1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Department's regulations provide that the Assistant
Secretary will grant a Petition upon ``determin[ation] that the
basic model for which the waiver was requested contains a design
characteristic which either prevents testing of the basic model
according to the prescribed test procedures, or the prescribed test
procedures may evaluate the basic model in a manner so
unrepresentative of its true energy consumption characteristics as
to provide materially inaccurate comparative data.\2\''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\2\ 10 C.F.R. Part 430.27

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 57919]]

GE requests that the Assistant Secretary grant this Petition on
both grounds. First, because failure of the clothes washer energy
test procedure to correlate load size and basket volume for larger
units does not allow the energy used by GE's new clothes washer to
be accurately calculated. The new clothes washers contain baskets
above 3.8 cubic feet, ranging up to 4.5 cubic feet. Since Table 5.1
of Appendix J1 currently defines test load sizes used during the
procedure as linear functions of the basket volume, but only up to
3.8 cubic feet, the basket sizes of GE's new models are currently
not defined.
Second, if GE were to test its new clothes washers as if the
basket size were 3.8 cubic feet, i.e., with an average load size of
9.4 pounds, the results of the energy test so conducted would
understate the energy used by the new models.

Need for Relief

The test procedure for calculating energy consumption defines
the relation between basket volume and test load mass for basket
volumes between 0 and 3.8 cubic feet. Market trends, however, have
led manufacturers to design clothes washers with volumes greater
than 3.8 cubic feet. Therefore, the existing test procedure is not
applicable for units GE will be manufacturing. Indeed, the
Department recognized this lack of applicability in the decision to
grant a similar waiver to GE Corp. (71FR48913)
GE hereby requests an Interim Waiver and Waiver that will allow
sale of the following models based on the attached table, previously
provided by AHAM to the Department in AHAM Comments on the Framework
Document for Residential Clothes Washers; EERE-2008-BT-STD-0019; RIN
1904-AB90, dated October 2, 2009. Those models will be General
Electric brand clothes washer models. PTWN8055*, PTWN8050*,
PFWS4600*, PFWS4605*, PFWH4400*, PFWH4405*, GFWS3600*, GFWS3605*,
GFWS3500*, GFWS3505*, GFWH3400*, GFWH3405*, GFWH2400*, GFWH2405*.
Since there is a linear relationship between container volume and
test load size, AHAM provided calculations to extend Table 5.1 in
Appendix B of these comments (attached).
Thank you for your timely attention to this request for Interim
Waiver and Waiver.
Respectfully submitted,
Kelley A. Kline,
Authorized Representative of GE Appliances & Lighting

CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that GE has notified all clothes washer
manufacturers listed below known to GE to sell products in the
United States and forwarded them a copy of this application:
Alliance Laundry Systems, Inc., BSH Home Appliances Corp.
(Bosch-Siemens Hausgerate GmbH), Electrolux Home Products, Fisher &
Paykel Appliances, Inc., Haier America Trading, L.L.C., LG
Electronics USA INC., Miele Appliances, Inc., Samsung Electronics
America, Inc. and GE Corporation.
In addition, GE has provided courtesy copies to: The Association
of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), which is generally
interested in DOE proceedings affecting the industry.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Kelley A. Kline

Appendix B

[[Page 57920]]

4.90-5.00..................... 138.8-141.6 3.00 1.36 20.3 9.21 11.65 5.28
5.00-5.10..................... 141.6-144.4 3.00 1.36 20.7 9.39 11.85 5.38
5.10-5.20..................... 144.4-147.3 3.00 1.36 21.1 9.58 12.06 5.47
5.20-5.30..................... 147.3-150.1 3.00 1.36 21.5 9.76 12.26 5.56
5.30-5.40..................... 150.1-152.9 3.00 1.36 21.9 9.95 12.46 5.65
5.40-5.50..................... 152.9-155.8 3.00 1.36 22.3 10.13 12.67 5.75
5.50-5.60..................... 155.8-158.6 3.00 1.36 22.7 10.32 12.87 5.84
5.60-5.70..................... 158.6-161.4 3.00 1.36 23.2 10.51 13.08 5.93
5.70-5.80..................... 161.4-164.3 3.00 1.36 23.6 10.69 13.29 6.03
5.80-5.90..................... 164.3-167.1 3.00 1.36 24.0 10.88 13.49 6.12
5.90-6.00..................... 167.1-169.9 3.00 1.36 24.4 11.06 13.70 6.21
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[FR Doc. 2010-23874 Filed 9-22-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P

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