DOE Proposes Repeal of Light Bulb Efficiency Regulation

The Department of Energy (DOE) issued a proposal to repeal regulations issued in 2017 that expanded the number of light bulbs subject to energy efficiency standards  which go into effect next year (82 Fed. Reg. 7322; 82 Fed. Reg. 7276). Those regulations redefined the term “general service lamps” to include certain light bulbs that were previously considered to be so specialized that they should not be subject to standard rules, primarily bulbs known as incandescent reflector lamps. Commentators have noted that this rollback could cost U.S. consumers billions of dollars in lost energy savings.

Comments are due on April 12, 2019.