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A corrigendum of this notice was published on 20 May 2025, Notice No. 2025-go2715.

Notice Type
Departmental
Notice Title

Notification of Proposal to Amend the Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002 and to Incorporate Material by Reference

Publication Date
5 May 2025

Tags

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act Proposed amendments Energy efficiency Business, Innovation and Employment

Notice Number

2025-go2368
Title
View PDF
File Type and Size
PDF (42 KB)

Pursuant to section 36 of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act 2000, the Minister for Energy gives the following notice.

The Minister for Energy proposes to change, or introduce, standards for the energy performance of the products listed below.

If the proposals proceed, they will result in amendments to the Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002.

Background material on these proposed changes can be found at https://www.mbie.govt.nz/building-and-energy/energy-and-natural-resources/low-emissions-economy/energy-efficiency-in-new-zealand.

Product Class

Proposed Regulatory Change

Air-conditioners / heat pumps > 65kW
  • Introduce minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for air-conditioners/heat pumps with a capacity over 65 kilowatts (used mainly in commercial and industrial premises) in line with those adopted in Australia in 2022.

Clothes washing machines
  • Update the regulatory labelling requirements for clothes washing machines to accommodate higher efficiency products, in line with those adopted in Australia in 2015.

Dishwashers
  • Update the regulatory labelling requirements for dishwashers to accommodate higher efficiency products, in line with those adopted in Australia in 2015.

Rotary clothes dryers
  • Update the regulatory labelling and MEPS requirements for rotary clothes dryers to accommodate higher efficiency products, in line with those adopted in Australia in 2015.

Household refrigerators and freezers
  • Revise the MEPS for household refrigerators and freezers to levels adopted in the United States in 2014; apply the international test method IEC 62552:2018, both changes in line with those adopted in Australia in 2019.
  • Update the regulatory labelling requirements for household refrigerators and freezers aligned to the new standards and test methods, in line with those adopted in Australia in 2019.

Three-phase cage induction motors
  • Adopt the international test methods IEC 60034 (2014/2017), IEEE 112 2004/2017 for determining the energy consumption of three-phase cage induction motors (electric motors) in place of the currently specified test method; increase the MEPS requirements, both changes in line with those adopted in Australia in 2019.
  • Revise the labelling requirements.

External Power Supplies
  • Introduce regulatory labelling and introduce a designated efficiency level (Mark VI) to recognise higher efficiency products in the market, in line with those adopted in Australia in 2014.

Tubular fluorescent lamps
  • Minor technical update to remove tubular fluorescent lamps of a specialised nature that are supplied in very low volumes, therefore no longer warranting of regulation.

Chillers
  • Minor technical update to clarify the appropriate test standard for certain chillers (liquid chilling packages).

Close control air conditioners
  • Minor technical update to remove from regulation a certain low volume close control air conditioner used in computer rooms.


Pursuant to Schedule 2 of the Legislation Act 2019, the Manager, Energy Use Policy, acting under delegated authority from the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment gives notice of the proposal to incorporate standards by reference into the Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002.

The proposed regulations will update minimum energy performance standards (MEPS), testing standards and/or labelling standards for air conditioners / heat pumps, household refrigerating appliances and three phase cage electric motors (as listed in the table below) to increase the energy efficiency of products in line with Australia and other comparable jurisdictions.

The following table sets out those standards, where they can be purchased and the reason for the proposed incorporation.

Product Class

Standard

Reason for proposed incorporation into the Regulations and place of purchase

Air conditioners / heat pumps

AHRI 1230:2010 Air-Conditioning, Heating, & Refrigeration Institute Standard 1230 Performance Rating of Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Multi-Split Air-Conditioning and Heat Pump Equipment

AS/NZS 3823.1.1:2012 Performance of electrical appliances—Air conditioners and heat pumps. Part 1.1: Non-ducted air conditioners and heat pumps—Testing and rating for performance (ISO 5151:2010, MOD)

AS/NZS 3823.1.2:2012 Performance of electrical appliances—Air conditioners and heat pumps. Part 1.2: Ducted air conditioners and air-to-air heat pumps—Testing and rating for performance (ISO 13253:2011, MOD)

AS/NZS 3823.1.3:2005 Performance of electrical appliances—Air conditioners and heat pumps. Part 1.3: Water-source heat pumps—Water-to-air and brine-to-air heat pumps—Testing and rating of performance (ISO 13256-1, Ed. 01 (1998) MOD)

AS/NZS 3823.1.4:2012 Performance of electrical appliances—Air conditioners and heat pumps. Part 1.4: Multiple split-system air conditioners and air-to-air heat pumps—Testing and rating for performance (ISO 15042:2011, MOD)

AS/NZS 3823.1.5:2015 Performance of electrical appliances—Air conditioners and heat pumps. Part 1.5: Non-ducted portable air-cooled air conditioners and air-to-air heat pumps having a single exhaust duct—Testing and rating for performance

AS/NZS 3823.4.1:2014 Performance of electrical appliances—Air conditioners and heat pumps. Part 4.1: Air-cooled air conditioners and air-to-air heat pumps—Testing and calculating methods for seasonal performance factors—Cooling seasonal performance factor (ISO 16358 1:2013, (MOD))

AS/NZS 3823.4.2:2014 Performance of electrical appliances—Air conditioners and heat pumps. Part 4.2: Air-cooled air conditioners and air-to-air heat pumps—Testing and calculating methods for seasonal performance factors—Heating seasonal performance factor (ISO 16358 2:2013, (MOD))

EN 12102-1:2017 Air conditioners, liquid chilling packages, heat pumps, process chillers and dehumidifiers with electrically driven compressors—Determination of the sound power level. Part 1: Air conditioners, liquid chilling packages, heat pumps for space heating and cooling, dehumidifiers and process chillers

EN 14511:2018 Air conditioners, liquid chilling packages and heat pumps for space heating and cooling and process chillers, with electrically driven compressors

ISO 5151:2017 Non-ducted air-conditioners and heat pumps—Testing and rating for performance

ISO 13253:2017 Ducted air conditioners and air-to-air heat pumps—Testing and rating for performance

ISO 15042:2017 Multiple split-system air-conditioners and air-to-air heat pumps—Testing and rating for performance

To update MEPS and labelling requirements for air conditioners / heat pumps over 65 kW.

https://www.ahrinet.org/

https://www.standards.govt.nz/

https://www.en-standard.eu/

https://www.iso.org/home.html

Household Refrigerating Appliances

AS/NZS 4474:2018 Household refrigerating appliances—Energy labelling and minimum energy performance standards requirements

AS/NZS IEC 62552.1:2018 Household refrigerating appliances—Characteristics and test methods—Part 1: General requirements

AS/NZS IEC 62552.2:2018 Household refrigerating appliances—Characteristics and test methods - Part 2: Performance requirements

AS/NZS IEC 62552.3:2018 Household refrigerating appliances—Characteristics and test methods—Part 3: Energy consumption and volume

IEC 62552-1:2015 Ed. 1.0 Household refrigerating appliances—Characteristics and test methods – Part 1: General requirements

IEC 62552-2:2015 Ed. 1.0 Household refrigerating appliances—Characteristics and test methods - Part 2: Performance requirements

IEC 62552-3:2015 Ed. 1.0 Household refrigerating appliances—Characteristics and test methods- Part 3: Energy consumption and volume

To revise MEPS to align with levels adopted in the United States in 2014

To update the test methods to align with those adopted in Australia in 2019

To update the labelling requirements to align with those adopted in Australia in 2019

https://www.standards.govt.nz/

https://webstore.iec.ch/en/

Three Phase Cage Induction Motors

IEC 60034-1:2017 Ed. 13.0 Rotating electrical machines – Part 1: Rating and performance

IEC 60034-2-1:2014 Ed. 2.0 Rotating electrical machines – Part 2-1: Standard methods for determining losses and efficiency from tests (excluding machines for traction vehicles)

IEC 60034-30-1:2014 Ed. 1.0 Rotating electrical machines – Part 30-1: Efficiency classes of line operated AC motors (IE code)

IEC 60050-411:1996 Ed. 2.0 International Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV) – Part 411: Rotating machinery

IEEE Standard 112-2004 IEEE Standard Test Procedure for Polyphase Induction Motors and Generators

IEEE Standard 112-2017 IEEE Standard Test Procedure for Polyphase Induction Motors and Generators

IEC 60072-1:2022 Ed. 7.0 Rotating electrical machines – Dimensions and output series – Part 1: Frame numbers 56 to 400 and flange numbers 55 to 1080

IEC 60072-2:1990 Ed. 1.0 Dimensions and output series for rotating electrical machines – Part 2: Frame numbers 355 to 1000 and flange numbers 1180 to 2360

IEC 60072-3:1994 Ed. 1.0 Dimensions and output series for rotating electrical machines – Part 3: Small built-in motors - Flange numbers BF10 to BF50

IEC 60027-1:1992 Ed. 6.0 Letters symbols to be used in electrical technology – Part 1: General

IEC 60027-4:2006 Ed. 2.0 Letter symbols to be used in electrical technology – Part 4: Rotating electric machines

IEC 60034-5:2020 Ed. 5.0 Rotating electrical machines – Part 5: Degrees of protection provided by the integral design of rotating electrical machines (IP code) – Classification

IEC 60034-6:1991 Ed. 2.0 Rotating electrical machines – Part 6: Methods of cooling (IC Code)

IEC 60034-8:2007 Ed. 3.0 Rotating electrical machines – Part 8: Terminal markings and direction of rotation

IEC 60034-12:2024 Ed. 4.0 Rotating electrical machines – Part 12: Starting performance of single-speed three-phase cage induction motors

IEC 61293:2019 Ed. 2.0 Marking of electrical equipment with ratings related to electrical supply – Safety requirements

IEEE Standard 118-1978 IEEE Standard Test Code for Resistance Measurements

IEEE Standard 119-1974 IEEE Recommended Practice for General Principles of Temperature Measurement as Applied to Electrical Apparatus

IEEE Standard 120-1989 IEEE Master Test Guide for Electrical Measurements in Power Circuits

IEEE 120-2023 IEEE Master Test Guide for Electrical Measurements in Power Circuits

ANSI NEMA MG 00001-2024 Motors and Generators

To increase the MEPS requirements to align with those adopted in Australia in 2019

To update the test methods to be used to determine compliance with MEPS and labelling requirements

https://webstore.iec.ch/en/

https://standards.ieee.org/

https://www.nema.org/Standards/view/Motors-and-Generators


The standards are available by appointment for inspection, at no charge, between the hours of 9.00am and 5.00pm from Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays) until 27 May 2025 at:

  • the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment office located at 15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011.

If you wish to comment on the proposal to incorporate these standards by reference, please email energyuse@mbie.govt.nz no later than 31 May 2025.

Dated at Wellington this 24th day of April 2025.

Hon SIMON WATTS, Minister for Energy.

SCOTT RUSSELL, Manager Energy Use Policy, Energy Markets, acting under delegated authority from the Chief Executive, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.