The US has a well-established process for reviewing and implementing new energy efficiency requirements since the US Department of Energy (DOE) began regulating products in the early 1990s. Typically, following statutes covering this topic, the DOE will review the scope and test methods for energy regulations every seven years. Separately, the DOE is required to review the minimum efficiency performance standards (MEPS) for existing covered products every six years.

However, from 2016 to 2020, largely due to certain policy decisions by the administration in control during this period, this cadence was disrupted. Nearly all regulatory work was paused, creating a backlog of energy efficiency-related rulemakings.

In 2020, the administration reversed course, and has over the last several years, devoted extra resources to restore expected timelines, eliminate the past due rulemakings, and update regulations to mirror advances in technology.

Electric motors are an area that has seen significant activity as the DOE works through these backlogs. Over the last two years, the DOE has issued five major rulemakings. In addition, to provide the industry additional time to meet the significantly expanded scope of covered product, the DOE issued an official delay-of-enforcement.

This paper will provide an overview of the various rules that have been modified, including revised scope, compliance requirements, and updated efficiency levels. The paper will also address the marking and testing requirements for products within the updated scopes but where no MEPS exist. Finally, the paper will provide the implementation/enforcement dates for all rules discussed to help attendees understand when they should expect to see products reflecting the new and amended requirements.