Govt Cracks Down on Dishonest Energy Star Labels

New regulations are in effect from this year, empowering the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) to penalize manufacturers of air conditioners, refrigerators, and televisions. These penalties will be imposed if appliances fail to meet their declared energy star ratings during testing or if labels are found to be tampered with. This move aims to curb power usage by ensuring stricter adherence to energy efficiency standards for electronic products.

The BEE will actively conduct market surveillance, both online and offline, to verify the particulars displayed on appliance labels. Upon discovering non-compliance, a show cause notice will be issued, followed by penalties and potential suspension of sales for the non-conforming model. E-commerce platforms are also required to de-register non-compliant models when directed by the BEE.

In addition to enforcement, energy labels are being redesigned for better consumer understanding, now including the country of manufacturing. This initiative aligns with the goal of controlling India's high power demand, especially as the GST on appliances has recently decreased, potentially boosting market penetration. Energy labelling is already compulsory for several major appliances, with plans to bring more products under its ambit.