Energy.gov

On December 8, 2010, the Department of Energy General Counsel’s office hosted a seminar on the topic of spectrum policy, attended by approximately fifty representatives of the utility industry.  At this spectrum policy seminar, senior officials from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) provided information on spectrum policy issues in light of the role wireless communications will play in the deployment of Smart Grid technologies.  They reviewed the current spectrum management process and

The Department last week invited interested parties to submit views on the proper application of waivers establishing alternative test procedures for existing large-capacity residential clothes washer models and units. We received responses from several parties, which can be found below. 

The Department of Energy published a final rule establishing procedures under which a former employee of the executive branch may obtain approval to make communications to DOE solely for the purpose of furnishing scientific or technological information during the period the former employee is subject to post-employment restrictions set forth in 18 U.S.C. 207(a), (c), and (d).

The Department of Energy has recently granted several requests for waivers establishing an alternative test procedure for certain large-capacity residential clothes washer models.  We have now received follow-up questions about the proper application of these waivers.  Since these questions affect multiple manufacturers and the public, we have decided the proper course is to invite interested parties to submit views on the proper application of these waivers to existing clothes washer models and units by Tuesday, December 7th.

The Department of Energy has settled the civil penalty action it initiated against Air-Con International for Air-Con’s sale of air conditioners in the United States that used more energy than allowed by federal law.  On September 20, 2010, based on Air-Con’s responses to a DOE subpoena, DOE ordered Air-Con to stop selling noncompliant air conditioners in the United States and proposed civil penalties for the noncompliant units sold by the company.

On October 5, 2010, after an extensive public notice and comment process, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a report entitled, "Communications Requirements of Smart Grid Technologies". The complete text of the report, and of a second report addressing data access and privacy issues arising from the deployment of smart grid technologies, can be found here.

The Department of Energy today announced it is making changes to expedite its rulemaking process.  Historically, the Department has had difficulty meeting deadlines imposed by Congress for adopting energy efficiency standards.   The Department has already taken steps to improve its internal management of the rulemaking process, and is now making further changes designed to make the rulemaking process more efficient.  Those changes are as follows:

• Notice of Proposed Rule

The Department of Energy today launched a new Fraud Reporting web page to make it easier for members of the public to report suspected incidents of fraud, waste, and abuse, and to enable the Department to keep the public better informed about potential fraud involving DOE programs.  DOE is strongly committed to effective program oversight and takes seriously any allegations of potential fraud, waste, or abuse.

Today, the Department of Energy announced that it has resolved the civil penalty action against Mackle Company for its failure to certify that refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers sold under the Avanti brand name meet federal energy efficiency standards.  These legally required certifications provide DOE with information critical to determining that American consumers are buying products that deliver significant energy and cost savings in accord with DOE’s regulations.  On June 14, 2010, the Departme