Rhode Island Appliance and Equipment Energy Efficiency Standards

August 24, 2023

Summary

NOTE: The federal government has imposed and updated appliance efficiency standards through several legislative acts,* and now has standards in place or under development for 30 classes of products. In general, states which had set standards prior to federal action may enforce their own standards until the federal standards take effect. States that had not set standards prior to federal action must use the federal standards. This summary addresses (1) state appliance standards that will be in place until the federal standards take effect and (2) products for which the federal government is not currently developing an efficiency standard. Much of the information in this summary comes from the Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP). Visit the ASAP web site and the U.S. Department of Energy's Appliance and Equipment Standards site for comprehensive information about appliance standards.

Rhode Island’s Energy and Consumer Savings Act of 2005 established minimum energy efficiency standards for twelve commercial and residential products, nine of which were immediately preempted by federal law later that year, and another of which was preempted later. Rhode Island has adopted and enforces standards for bottle-type water dispensers, mercury vapor lamp ballasts and commercial hot-food holding cabinets.

On July 1, 2021, the Rhode Island General Assembly passed SB339, codifying new water and energy efficiency standards effective immediately at passage. Additionally, the state is phasing out the sale of fluorescent lighting. Screw-base CFL bulbs will be phased out on January 1, 2024, and pin-base CFL and fluorescent tubes will be phased out on January 1, 2025. Products with new or updated energy standards, without federal preemption are listed below:

Commercial dishwashers (2021)
Commercial Fryers (2022)
Commercial Steam Cookers (2021)
Commercial Ovens (2021)
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (2021)
Faucets (2021)
Gas Fireplaces (2021)
Hot Food Holding Cabinets (2007)
Mercury Vapor Lamp Ballasts (2005)
Portable electric spas (2021)
Residential Ventilating Fans (2021)
Showerheads (2021)
Spray Sprinkler Bodies (2021)
Toilets (2021)
Urinals (2021
Water Coolers (2021)

These provisions do not apply to: new products manufactured in the state and sold outside the state; new products manufactured outside the state and sold at wholesale inside the state for final retail sale and installation outside the state; products installed in mobile manufactured homes at the time of construction; or products designed expressly for installation and use in recreational vehicles.

* These acts include the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987, the Energy Policy Act of 1992, the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

Program Overview

Implementing Sector:	State
Category:	Regulatory Policy
State:	Rhode Island
Incentive Type:	Appliance/Equipment Efficiency Standards
Web Site:
Administrator:
Start Date:
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:	Lighting Custom/Others pending approval Other EE Commercial Cooking Equipment Level-2 Electric Vehicle Service Equipment
Equipment Requirements:	Specified R.I. Stat § 39-27.1-4.
Test Methods:	Specified in standards or State Building Code of Rhode Island
Implementing Agency:	Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources

Authorities

Name:	R.I. Gen. Laws Â§ 39-27-1, et seq.
Date Enacted:	06/01/2007
Effective Date:	06/01/2008

Name:	RI PUC Rules for Efficiency Standards for Certain Products Sold in the State (4626)
Effective Date:	06/01/2007

Name:	R.I. Stat. Title 39
Date Enacted:	07/01/2021
Effective Date:	07/01/2021

Contact

Name:	Christopher Kearns
Organization:	Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources
Address:	One Capitol Hill Providence RI 02908-5890
Phone:	(401) 574-9117
Email:	christopher.kearns@energy.ri.gov

Name:	Daniel Majcher
Organization:	Rhode Island Dept. of State
Address:	RI
Phone:	(401) 222-8880

This information is sourced from DSIRE; the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States. Established in 1995, DSIRE is operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University.