DOE Sets Energy Standard Exemption for Some External Power Supplies

The Department of Energy on May 16 issued a final rule (here) that codifies an exemption from energy efficiency requirements for certain external power supplies sold as service and spare parts. The exemption, which was established in law by the EPS Service Parts Act of 2014, applies to external power supplies manufactured between Feb. 10, 2016 and Feb. 10, 2020, and made available as a spare part for an end-use product manufactured before Feb. 10, 2016, the date that new energy efficiency standards for external power supplies would otherwise come into effect. DOE will require that importers and domestic manufacturers annually report to the agency the total units of exempt external power supplies sold as service and spare parts that do not meet the 2016 standards. The final rule takes effect June 15, 2016.