WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a proposed determination that wine chillers and other residential refrigeration products that incorporate a compressor but do not meet the current regulatory definitions for electric refrigerator, refrigerator-freezer, and freezer, qualify for coverage under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) as amended. This proposal also covers residential ice makers.

DOE said this notice supplements an earlier proposed determination in which DOE tentatively concluded that residential refrigeration products that do not incorporate a compressor should be covered by energy conservation standards. As part of its review of residential refrigeration products, DOE is seeking public comment on the feasibility of covering compressor-based miscellaneous residential refrigeration products based on the same criteria that had been evaluated earlier for non-compressor based residential refrigeration products.

DOE will accept comments on this proposed rule with a deadline of Dec. 2, 2013.