DOE has published a Federal Register notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) pertaining to energy conservation standards for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), prescribes standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers. In this NOPR, DOE proposes new standards for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers identical to those set forth in a direct final rule published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register. If DOE receives adverse comment and determines that such comment may provide a reasonable basis for withdrawal of the direct final rule, DOE will publish a notice of withdrawal and will proceed with this proposed rule.

• DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding this NOPR until May 6, 2024
• Interested persons may submit comments identified by docket number EERE-2017-BT-STD- 0003, by email (ConsumerRefrigFreezer2017STD0003@ee.doe.gov), Federal eRulemaking portal (http://www.regulations.gov).

DOE has published a Federal Register direct final rule pertaining to energy conservation standards for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers. In this direct final rule, DOE is adopting amended standards for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers. DOE has determined that the amended standards for these products would result in significant conservation of energy, and are technologically feasible and economically justified.

• The effective date of this rule is May 16, 2024.
• If adverse comments are received by May 6, 2024 and DOE determines that such comments may provide a reasonable basis for withdrawal of the direct final rule under 42 U.S.C. 6295(o), a timely withdrawal of this rule will be published in the Federal Register. If no such adverse comments are received, compliance with the amended standards established for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers in this direct final rule is required on and after January 31, 2029 for the product classes listed in Table I.1 and January 31, 2030 for the product classes listed in Table I.2.

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

Consumer refrigerators and freezers 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 430.32(a).

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