FTC WOULD AMEND APPLIANCE LABEL RULE

FTC is proposing to amend its Appliance Labeling Rule to eliminate the "Front-Loading" and "Top-Loading" sub-categories from the EnergyGuide label for clothes washers. FTC's proposal to delete the sub-categories is in response to a petition from the Consortium for Energy Efficiency, Inc., which has said that it believes the sub-categories "confuse consumers and undermine CEE's and its members' efforts to promote high-efficiency clothes washers."

The Appliance Labeling Rule, which was adopted in November 1979 and covers this area, requires manufacturers to disclose energy information about major household appliances to enable consumers to compare the energy use or efficiency of competing models. In addition to clothes washers, the rule applies to refrigerators, freezers, water heaters, dishwashers, window air conditioners, furnaces, central air conditioners, and heat pumps.

FTC's Federal Register notice seeks comment on several questions, including:

1. What is the effect of the current "Top-Loading" and "Front-Loading" subdivisions of the "Standard" and "Compact" subcategories for clothes washers on consumers' ability to choose the most energy efficient model that will fill their clothes washing needs?

2. What would be the economic impact on manufacturers of the proposed amendment?

YOUR COMMENTS: If you'd like to comment on this proposal, send them to: FTC, Office of the Secretary, 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. Identify your comments as "Appliance Labeling Rule Clothes Washer Categories, 16 CFR Part 305 -- Comment." Deadline: December 17, 1998.

(Appliance Labeling Rule Clothes Washer Categories, 16 CFR Part 305 -- Comment, FTC File No. R611004, November 2, 1998; materials relating to this FTC matter are available on the Internet at FTC's World Wide Web site at: http://www.ftc.gov.)