DOE has published a Federal Register notice pertaining to energy conservation standards for consumer boilers. DOE previously proposed amended standards for consumer boilers in a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) published in the Federal Register on August 14, 2023, which also announced a public meeting via webinar to receive input on these proposed standards and associated analyses and results. On August 15, 2023, DOE received a letter from the Air- Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) asking DOE to extend the NOPR comment period by 30 days and also to hold an in-person public meeting regarding the NOPR. In this document, DOE grants AHRI’s request for an in-person meeting and announces that the public meeting will now be held in person, in addition to being broadcast as a webinar. DOE is denying AHRI’s request for a comment period extension for the reasons explained in this document.

• DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding this NOPR until October 13, 2023.
• Interested persons may submit comments identified by docket number EERE–2019–BT– STD-0036, by email (ConsumerBoilers2019STD0036@ee.doe.gov), Federal eRulemaking portal (http://www.regulations.gov).

DOE has published a Federal Register notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) pertaining to energy conservation standards for consumer boilers. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) requires DOE to periodically determine whether more- stringent standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified and would result in significant energy savings. In this NOPR, DOE proposes amended standards for consumer boilers, and also announces a public meeting to receive comment on these proposed standards and associated analyses and results.

DOE has published a Federal Register final rule pertaining to test procedures for consumer boilers. DOE amends its test procedure for consumer boilers established under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. This rulemaking fulfills DOE’s obligation to review its test procedures for covered products at least once every seven years. The revisions include: incorporating by reference the latest versions of the industry standards currently referenced in the Federal test procedure; relocating the test procedure to a new appendix separate from the residential furnace test procedure; removing an extraneous definition from its regulatory definitions; and making clarifying corrections to calculations. These revisions will improve the representativeness of the test method and will not be unduly burdensome to conduct.

• The effective date of this rule is April 12, 2023.

• The amendments will be mandatory for product testing starting  starting September 11, 2023.
• The incorporation by reference of certain materials listed in the rule is approved by the Director of the Federal Register April 12, 2023.
• The incorporation by reference of certain other material listed in the rule was approved by the Director of the Federal Register on March 23, 2009, and February 16, 2016.

For the latest information on the planned timing of future DOE regulatory milestones, see the current Office of Management and Budget Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. All planned dates are preliminary and subject to change.

Residential boilers manufactured and distributed in commerce, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 6291(16), must meet the energy conservation standards specified in the Code of Federal Regulations at 10 CFR 432(e)(2).

To determine that residential boilers that are currently manufactured or distributed into commerce are in compliance with DOE standards, manufacturers must follow the test procedure methods specified at Appendix N to Subpart B of 10 CFR 430.