WASHINGTON — The American Public Gas Association (APGA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have filed a settlement agreement in the ongoing lawsuit over regional efficiency standards. Intervening parties in the lawsuit, including the Heating, Air-conditioning, and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) and Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), now have 10 days to file a response with the court, after which time the court will accept or reject the settlement agreement.

The settlement would vacate the residential nonweatherized gas furnace and mobile home gas furnace standards, which were to become effective on May 1, 2013, and begin the process for developing a new standard within a year of finalization of the settlement agreement. The DOE has agreed to amend some of its data collection and information sharing procedures for this rulemaking.

This settlement agreement does not impact the regional efficiency standard for central air conditioners, said HARDI, nor does it provide any guarantee that a similar regional standard for these products may not again be set by DOE in the subsequent rulemaking.

HARDI noted that it is unclear how the settlement will impact an enforcement rulemaking, which was to be completed by DOE later this month and has yet to begin.

Publication date: 1/14/2013