DOE has published a Federal Register final determination pertaining to energy conservation standards for general service fluorescent lamps (GSFLs). The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) requires DOE to periodically determine whether more- stringent, amended standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result in significant energy savings. In this final determination, DOE has determined that energy conservation standards for GSFLs do not need to be amended. 

• This Final Determination will be effective March 15, 2023.

DOE has published a Federal Register Final Rule adopting amendments to the test procedures for general service fluorescent lamps (GSFLs), incandescent reflector lamps (IRLs), and general service incandescent lamps (GSILs) to update references to industry test standards and provide citations to specific sections of these standards; amend definitions; reference specific sections within industry test standards for further clarity; provide test methods for measuring coloring rendering index (CRI) for incandescent lamps and measuring lifetime of IRLs; clarify test frequency and inclusion of cathode power in measurements for GSFLs; decrease the sample size and specify all metrics for all lamps be measured from the same sample; and align terminology across relevant sections of the Code of Federal Regulations relating to GSFLs, IRLs and GSILs.

• The effective date of this rule is September 30, 2022.
• The final rule changes will be mandatory for product testing February 27, 2023. 
• The incorporation by reference of certain material listed in this rule is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of September 30, 2022. 
• The incorporation by reference of certain other material listed in this rule was approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of June 30, 1997, March 23, 2009, September 14, 2009, and February 27, 2012.

Definitions 

For the latest information on the planned timing of future DOE regulatory milestones, see the current Office of Management and Budget Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. All planned dates are preliminary and subject to change.

GSFLs manufactured and distributed in commerce, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 6291(16), must meet the energy conservation standards specified in the Code of Federal Regulations at 10 CFR 430.32(n).

To determine that GSFLs that are currently manufactured or distributed into commerce are in compliance with DOE standards, manufacturers must follow the test procedure methods specified at 10 CFR 430.23(r). The methods to conduct the test procedure are further specified in 10 CFR 430, Subpart B, Appendix R.