Appliance Makers Get Relief From Federal Court Ruling
A U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California has issued a permanent injunction enjoining the California Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (CEC) from enforcing its appliance marking, information filing and compliance regulations on certain equipment.
The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) and the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association (GAMA), and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) filed a complaint with the federal court seeking relief from regulations promulgated by the CEC regarding federally "covered products" and "covered equipment" that are preempted expressly by Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA). The federally covered products affected by the CEC's regulations were air conditioners and heat pumps, package terminal air conditioners, water heaters, and furnaces, as well as other residential and commercial appliances.