83 FR 17811 - Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Representative Average Unit Costs of Energy

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 79 (April 24, 2018)

Page Range		17811-17812
FR Document		2018-08519

In this notice, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is forecasting the representative average unit costs of five residential energy sources for the year 2018 pursuant to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (Act). The five sources are electricity, natural gas, No. 2 heating oil, propane, and kerosene.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 79 (Tuesday, April 24, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 24, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17811-17812]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08519]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Representative 
Average Unit Costs of Energy

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of 
Energy.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In this notice, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is 
forecasting the representative average unit costs of five residential 
energy sources for the year 2018 pursuant to the Energy Policy and 
Conservation Act (Act). The five sources are electricity, natural gas, 
No. 2 heating oil, propane, and kerosene.

DATES: The representative average unit costs of energy contained in 
this notice will become effective May 24, 2018 and will remain in 
effect until further notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    John Cymbalsky, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy Forrestal Building, Mail Station EE-5B, 
1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 287-1692, 
[email protected].
    Francine Pinto, Esq. U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General 
Counsel Forrestal Building, Mail Station GC-33, 1000 Independence 
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0103, (202) 586-7432, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 323 of the Energy Policy and 
Conservation Act requires that DOE prescribe test procedures for the 
measurement of the estimated annual operating costs or other measures 
of energy consumption for certain consumer products specified in the 
Act. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3)) These test procedures are found in Title 10 
of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 430, subpart B.
    Section 323(b)(3) of the Act requires that the estimated annual 
operating costs of a covered product be calculated from measurements of 
energy use in a representative average use cycle or period of use and 
from representative average unit costs of the energy needed to operate 
such product during such cycle. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3)) The section 
further requires that DOE provide information to manufacturers 
regarding the representative average unit costs of energy. (42 U.S.C. 
6293(b)(4)) This cost information should be used by manufacturers to 
meet their obligations under section 323(c) of the Act. Most notably, 
these costs are used to comply with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) 
requirements for labeling. Manufacturers are required to use the 
revised DOE representative average unit costs when the FTC publishes 
new ranges of comparability for specific covered products, 16 CFR part 
305. Interested parties can also find information covering the FTC 
labeling requirements at http://www.ftc.gov/appliances.
    DOE last published representative average unit costs of residential 
energy in a Federal Register notice entitled, ``Energy Conservation 
Program for Consumer Products: Representative Average Unit Costs of 
Energy'', dated May 5, 2017, 82 FR 21213.
    On May 24, 2018, the cost figures published in this notice will 
become effective and supersede those cost figures published on May 5, 
2017. The cost figures set forth in this notice will be effective until 
further notice.
    DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA) has developed the 
2018 representative average unit after-tax residential costs found in 
this notice. These costs for electricity, natural gas, No. 2 heating 
oil, and propane are based on simulations used to produce the April 
2018, EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook (EIA releases the Outlook monthly). 
The representative average unit after-tax cost for kerosene is derived 
from its price relative to that of heating oil, based on the 2010-to 
2013 averages of the U.S. refiner price to end users, which include all 
the major energy-consuming sectors in the U.S. for these fuels. The 
source for these price data is the April 2018, Monthly Energy Review 
DOE/EIA-0035(2018/03). The representative average unit after-tax cost 
for propane is derived from its price relative to that of heating oil, 
based on the 2018 averages of the U.S. residential sector prices found 
in the Annual Energy Outlook 2018, AEO2018 (February 6, 2018). The 
Short-Term Energy Outlook, the Monthly Energy Review, and the Annual 
Energy Outlook are available on the EIA website at http://www.eia.doe.gov. For more information on the data sources used in this 
Notice, contact the National Energy Information Center, Forrestal 
Building, EI-30, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585, 
(202) 586-8800, email: [email protected].
    The 2018 representative average unit costs under section 323(b)(4) 
of the Act are set forth in Table 1, and will become effective May 24, 
2018. They will remain in effect until further notice.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 16, 2018.
Daniel R Simmons,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy.

         Table 1--Representative Average Unit Costs of Energy for Five Residential Energy Sources (2018)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Per million
           Type of energy                Btu \1\     In commonly used terms     As required by test procedure
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electricity........................          $38.66  13.2[cent]/kWh \2\....  $0.132/kWh.
Natural Gas........................           10.22  1.022/therm \4\ or      0.00001022/Btu.
                                                      $10.55/MCF \5 6\.
No. 2 Heating Oil..................           20.66  2.84/gallon \7\.......  0.00002066/Btu.
Propane............................           17.92  1.64/gallon \8\.......  0.00001792/Btu.

[[Page 17812]]

 
Kerosene...........................           24.47  3.30/gallon \9\.......  0.00002447/Btu.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook (April 10, 2018), Annual Energy
  Outlook (February 6, 2018), and Monthly Energy Review (March 27, 2018).
Notes: Prices include taxes.
1. Btu stands for British thermal units.
2. kWh stands for kilowatt hour.
3. 1 kWh = 3,412 Btu.
4. 1 therm = 100,000 Btu.
5. MCF stands for 1,000 cubic feet.
6. For the purposes of this table, one cubic foot of natural gas has an energy equivalence of 1,032 Btu.
7. For the purposes of this table, one gallon of No. 2 heating oil has an energy equivalence of 137,473 Btu.
8. For the purposes of this table, one gallon of liquid propane has an energy equivalence of 91,333 Btu.
9. For the purposes of this table, one gallon of kerosene has an energy equivalence of 135,000 Btu.

[FR Doc. 2018-08519 Filed 4-23-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 79 / Tuesday, April 24, 2018 / Notices 17811

public at its advisory committee will become effective May 24, 2018 and in a Federal Register notice entitled,
meetings and will make every effort to will remain in effect until further notice. ‘‘Energy Conservation Program for
accommodate persons with physical FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Consumer Products: Representative
disabilities or special needs. If you John Cymbalsky, U.S. Department of Average Unit Costs of Energy’’, dated
require special accommodations due to Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and May 5, 2017, 82 FR 21213.
a disability, please contact Barbara Renewable Energy Forrestal Building, On May 24, 2018, the cost figures
Ulmer at least seven days in advance of Mail Station EE–5B, 1000 Independence published in this notice will become
the meeting at the phone number listed Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585– effective and supersede those cost
above. Written statements may be filed 0121, (202) 287–1692, figures published on May 5, 2017. The
with the Board either before or after the ApplianceStandardsQuestions@ cost figures set forth in this notice will
meeting. Individuals who wish to make ee.doe.gov. be effective until further notice.
oral presentations pertaining to agenda Francine Pinto, Esq. U.S. Department
items should contact Barbara Ulmer at of Energy, Office of General Counsel DOE’s Energy Information
the telephone number listed above. The Forrestal Building, Mail Station GC–33, Administration (EIA) has developed the
request must be received five days prior 1000 Independence Avenue SW, 2018 representative average unit after-
to the meeting and reasonable provision Washington, DC 20585–0103, (202) 586– tax residential costs found in this
will be made to include the presentation 7432, Francine.Pinto@hq.doe.gov. notice. These costs for electricity,
in the agenda. The Deputy Designated SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section natural gas, No. 2 heating oil, and
Federal Officer is empowered to 323 of the Energy Policy and propane are based on simulations used
conduct the meeting in a fashion that Conservation Act requires that DOE to produce the April 2018, EIA Short-
will facilitate the orderly conduct of prescribe test procedures for the Term Energy Outlook (EIA releases the
business. Individuals wishing to make measurement of the estimated annual Outlook monthly). The representative
public comments can do so during the operating costs or other measures of average unit after-tax cost for kerosene
15 minutes allotted for public energy consumption for certain is derived from its price relative to that
comments. consumer products specified in the Act. of heating oil, based on the 2010-to 2013
Minutes: Minutes will be available by (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3)) These test averages of the U.S. refiner price to end
writing to Barbara Ulmer at the address procedures are found in Title 10 of the users, which include all the major
listed above or at the following website: Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part energy-consuming sectors in the U.S. for
http://www.nnss.gov/NSSAB/pages/ 430, subpart B. these fuels. The source for these price
MM_FY18.html. data is the April 2018, Monthly Energy
Section 323(b)(3) of the Act requires
Issued at Washington, DC, on April 19, that the estimated annual operating Review DOE/EIA–0035(2018/03). The
2018. costs of a covered product be calculated representative average unit after-tax cost
Latanya Butler, from measurements of energy use in a for propane is derived from its price
Deputy Committee Management Officer. representative average use cycle or relative to that of heating oil, based on
[FR Doc. 2018–08544 Filed 4–23–18; 8:45 am] period of use and from representative the 2018 averages of the U.S. residential
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P average unit costs of the energy needed sector prices found in the Annual
to operate such product during such Energy Outlook 2018, AEO2018
cycle. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3)) The section (February 6, 2018). The Short-Term
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY further requires that DOE provide Energy Outlook, the Monthly Energy
information to manufacturers regarding Review, and the Annual Energy Outlook
Energy Conservation Program for the representative average unit costs of are available on the EIA website at
Consumer Products: Representative energy. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(4)) This cost http://www.eia.doe.gov. For more
Average Unit Costs of Energy information should be used by information on the data sources used in
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and manufacturers to meet their obligations this Notice, contact the National Energy
Renewable Energy, Department of under section 323(c) of the Act. Most Information Center, Forrestal Building,
Energy. notably, these costs are used to comply EI–30, 1000 Independence Avenue SW,
ACTION: Notice. with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586–8800,
requirements for labeling. email: infoctr@eia.doe.gov.
SUMMARY: In this notice, the U.S. Manufacturers are required to use the The 2018 representative average unit
Department of Energy (DOE) is revised DOE representative average unit costs under section 323(b)(4) of the Act
forecasting the representative average costs when the FTC publishes new are set forth in Table 1, and will become
unit costs of five residential energy ranges of comparability for specific effective May 24, 2018. They will
sources for the year 2018 pursuant to covered products, 16 CFR part 305. remain in effect until further notice.
the Energy Policy and Conservation Act Interested parties can also find
(Act). The five sources are electricity, information covering the FTC labeling Issued in Washington, DC, on April 16,
natural gas, No. 2 heating oil, propane, requirements at http://www.ftc.gov/ 2018.
and kerosene. appliances. Daniel R Simmons,
DATES: The representative average unit DOE last published representative Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Energy
costs of energy contained in this notice average unit costs of residential energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

TABLE 1—REPRESENTATIVE AVERAGE UNIT COSTS OF ENERGY FOR FIVE RESIDENTIAL ENERGY SOURCES (2018)
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

Per million As required by test
Type of energy In commonly used terms
Btu 1 procedure

Electricity ............................................................... $38.66 13.2¢/kWh 2 ........................................................... $0.132/kWh.
Natural Gas ........................................................... 10.22 1.022/therm 4 or $10.55/MCF 5 6 ........................... 0.00001022/Btu.
No. 2 Heating Oil ................................................... 20.66 2.84/gallon 7 .......................................................... 0.00002066/Btu.
Propane ................................................................. 17.92 1.64/gallon 8 .......................................................... 0.00001792/Btu.

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17812 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 79 / Tuesday, April 24, 2018 / Notices

TABLE 1—REPRESENTATIVE AVERAGE UNIT COSTS OF ENERGY FOR FIVE RESIDENTIAL ENERGY SOURCES (2018)—
Continued
Per million As required by test
Type of energy In commonly used terms
Btu 1 procedure

Kerosene ............................................................... 24.47 3.30/gallon 9 .......................................................... 0.00002447/Btu.
SOURCES: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook (April 10, 2018), Annual Energy Outlook (February 6, 2018), and
Monthly Energy Review (March 27, 2018).
NOTES: Prices include taxes.
1. Btu stands for British thermal units.
2. kWh stands for kilowatt hour.
3. 1 kWh = 3,412 Btu.
4. 1 therm = 100,000 Btu.
5. MCF stands for 1,000 cubic feet.
6. For the purposes of this table, one cubic foot of natural gas has an energy equivalence of 1,032 Btu.
7. For the purposes of this table, one gallon of No. 2 heating oil has an energy equivalence of 137,473 Btu.
8. For the purposes of this table, one gallon of liquid propane has an energy equivalence of 91,333 Btu.
9. For the purposes of this table, one gallon of kerosene has an energy equivalence of 135,000 Btu.

[FR Doc. 2018–08519 Filed 4–23–18; 8:45 am] • Administrative Issues DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P • Subcommittee Updates
Notice of Orders Issued Under Section
• Public Comments 3 of the Natural Gas Act During
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY • Final Comments from the Board February 2018

Environmental Management Site- • Adjourn
FE Docket
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meeting of the Environmental Socco, Inc. .............................. 18–25–NG
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a disability, please contact Greg
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Register. listed above. Written statements may be Merrill Lynch Commodities 18–33–NG
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DATES: Thursday, May 10, 2018 6:00 after the meeting. Individuals who wish Golden Pass Products LLC .... 12–156–LNG
p.m. to make oral statements pertaining to Magnolia LNG, LLC ................ 13–132–LNG
ADDRESSES: Ohio State University, agenda items should contact Greg
Endeavor Center, 1862 Shyville Road, Simonton at the address or telephone AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy,
Piketon, Ohio 45661. number listed above. Requests must be Department of Energy.
received five days prior to the meeting ACTION: Notice of orders.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg
Simonton, Alternate Deputy Designated and reasonable provision will be made
SUMMARY: The Office of Fossil Energy
Federal Officer, Department of Energy to include the presentation in the
(FE) of the Department of Energy gives
Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office, Post agenda. The Deputy Designated Federal
notice that during March 2018, it issued
Office Box 700, Piketon, Ohio 45661, Officer is empowered to conduct the
orders granting authority to import and
(740) 897–3737, Greg.Simonton@ meeting in a fashion that will facilitate
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Individuals wishing to make public an opinion and order granting motion
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
comments will be provided a maximum for leave to answer request for rehearing
Purpose of the Board: The purpose of
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the Board is to make recommendations
comments. These orders are summarized in the
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of Agenda Issued at Washington, DC, on April 19,
Energy (FE–34), Division of Natural Gas
• Approval of March 2018 Minutes 2018.
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• Liaison’s Comments [FR Doc. 2018–08542 Filed 4–23–18; 8:45 am] Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585,
• Presentation BILLING CODE 6450–01–P (202) 586–9478. The Docket Room is

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Document Created: 2018-04-24 00:38:40
Document Modified: 2018-04-24 00:38:40

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice.
Dates		The representative average unit costs of energy contained in this notice will become effective May 24, 2018 and will remain in effect until further notice.
Contact		John Cymbalsky, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Forrestal Building, Mail Station EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 287-1692, [email protected]
FR Citation		83 FR 17811