PELP FAQs

AIR CONDITIONERS

It says that air conditioner is covered by the PELP, does it mean that all kinds of air conditioners should have a DOE Label?

Not necessarily. Each product type covered by PELP has a scope that is stated in the IG for that product. Only products that falls within the specification of that scope are required to have an Energy Label.

However, please note that the DOE will continue to work on the expansion of the scope of PELP to cover more ECPs so it will be best to regularly check on the PELP coverage.

Are portable air conditioners and electric fans included in the PELP?

Portable air conditioners and electric fans are not yet included in the current scope of the PELP. However, these will be considered in the future expansion of the PELP coverage, which will cover more electricity consuming products.

REFRIGERATING APPLIANCES

Why are there 2 different star ratings for Refrigerating Appliances?

The Star Rating, visible on the DOE energy label, refers to the energy efficiency of the Refrigerating Appliance. The other rating is the Coldness Star Rating, which can be viewed by scanning the QR Code, refers to how cold the unit can get or the lowest temperature it can achieve. This coldness star rating is unique to refrigerating appliances.

TELEVISION SETS

For television sets, are OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) covered by PELP?

Yes. If the unit has a tuner, then it is covered by PELP.

LIGHTING SYSTEMS

Do Ballasts have a prescribed MEP?

There is no set MEP for Ballasts but they are included in the labeling program.

What is the minimum rated life of lighting product covered by PELP? (Lighting)

The minimum rated life of the following: 

1. Light Emitting Diode (LED) Lamps ≥15,000 hours 
2. Self-Ballasted Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) ≥6,000 hours 
3. Linear or Double Capped Fluorescent Lamps (LFL or DFL) 
   3.1 Halophosphate lamp ≥10,000 hours 
   3.2 Triphosphor lamp ≥15,000 hours 
4. Single-Capped Fluorescent Lamps (SFL) ≥10,000 hours 

REGISTRATION

What is Company Registration?

This is a one-time registration that would generate the PELP user account for a Company, which will enable them to proceed with the Product Registration and Energy Label Request features for that company’s product models.

What is Product Registration?

This provides for the registration of PELP-covered products and is accessible only to PELP-registered companies. Specific information about the product model is submitted by the PELP company representative (or PCR) for evaluation, together with supporting documentation such as a valid test report. Once approved, the PCR may proceed to request for the energy label of the registered product.

Can we register manually in the PELP?

Yes. If the online system is not operational of becomes unusable for any reason, registration may be done manually by submitting the accomplished forms and requirements, indicated in the IG Annexes, to the DOE.

During product registration, what product information do I need to submit?

Please refer to the product registration form at the bottom of the IG for the specific product for the necessary information. A test report for that product will also be required during the registration.

When we register our product & get an energy label, the DOE Energy Label has a unique control number. Is this the new product ID

When we register our product & get an energy label, the DOE Energy Label has a unique control number. Is this the new product ID? Do we need to change our original product model to align with DOE? 

No, the control number will serve as DOE’s guide during monitoring activities. There is no need for the applicant to change the product’s model number.

I am a retailer of a product. Am I required to register to the PELP System?

If you have a product that has no energy label but you still wish to sell that specific model, then you would need to register to the PELP System as the distributor of the said product model and comply with the necessary requirements to secure the energy label.

Are online sellers required to register under the PELP?

Only those who will directly import products for selling shall be required to register. If the products that they sell online do not have an energy label, they should coordinate with their suppliers for the energy label or register as the distributor of the product.

What if we submitted an incomplete / incorrect application?

DOE will notify the applicant of the required document and/or data for re-submission.

Can we make additional changes or updates on the Company Profile after the registration has been approved?

Once the company registration has been approved, any succeeding changes / updates on the account will automatically change the registration status from “approved” to “for approval”. Any changes made will have to undergo DOE's approval before you can proceed to the next process.

How can we change the password on our account?

A temporary password will be issued once the company registration has been approved, which you can change under the PELP Compliance Representative section in the Company Profile.

Can I recover my password in case I forget it?

Yes, the system is designed with a password recovery command which will automatically send instructions to the email provided for the recovery or resetting of password.

Can we get copies of the normative references / standards indicated in the IG from the DOE or through the DOE website?

The said references may be purchased from the source, i.e., from the DTI Library (website) for PNS references and ANSI webstore (website) for IEC standards. These references are protected copies and cannot be circulated for free by the DOE. It is recommended that users (applicants) should procure the needed references for their own use.

I heard that DOE is going to accept test reports from PS-Licensed Companies. Is this true?

Yes, but only for 12 months after the launch of the specific product registration platform under the PELP.

In the IG, the test reports have a validity period. Once the validity period for the test report has expired, do we need to atta

No. The submission of test report is required only during the initial product registration phase and when the product model has undergone specification or performance changes, which needs to be updated in the PELP system.

In the Testing Facility Qualification checkboxes, do I need to check only one box to proceed?

You will need to tick off a minimum of boxes. The applicant must indicate first whether the laboratory is Company-owned or a 3rd party laboratory then identify the actual qualification of the testing laboratory (I.e., ILAC/APLAC, MRA signatory, etc.).

What if the company has more than one laboratory test result?

For companies having more than one test result, DOE recommends saving all results in one file using PDF format.

The refrigerant being used by our cooling product is not on the list. Do we still need to declare it?

Yes, there will be a field wherein you can type in the refrigerant being used by your product if it is not included in the list.

Our company does not have a Landbank account or online payment platform. Can we pay the registration fee over-the-counter instea

Yes, you may pay over-the-counter at the DOE account indicated during registration. Likewise, payment procedures will also be included in the email for the Order of Payment.

When can we register our product?

DOE will announce, through its website, when the portal will be ready to accept applications for specific products. Products may be registered 30 days after the publication of the advisory.

When do we need to submit inventory report? If we don’t have shipments or orders, are we required to submit?

Yes, Product inventory report must be submitted annually to the DOE. This form should still be submitted since it covers all existing stocks, in transit and for order. Submission of the inventory report is also one of the requirements during Company registration.

In the Product Registration, can we revise or delete documents once it is already submitted?

Entries in the product registration may be updated or cancelled but will be subjected to DOE's approval.

Do we need to issue an Authorization Letter for the Assistant Product Compliance Representative?

Yes, for documentation purposes. The company should assign an Assistant PCR and this should be included in the PCR Authorization letter, which is one of the requirements for company registration. The template of the said letter is in Appendix C of the PELP IG – REMVCM.

What will be the basis for the model year?

The model year should be indicated as the year when the model was first released in the market.

Is the scope of PELP similar to the DTl's performance requirement for product safety certification?

Yes, the DTI issued DAO 22-01 and MC 22-09, which aligned the performance requirement for their safety certification to the scope of the PELP.

ENERGY LABEL

What are Energy Labels?

As defined in the Department Circular 2020-06-0015, Energy Labels refer to the prescribed tag / sticker / marker that bears the DOE logo and essential energy performance ratings (such as efficiency, energy consumption, etc.).

Who are eligible to apply for an Energy Label?

Those who are engaged in the manufacturing, importing, distributing, or dealing of ECPs are eligible to apply for an Energy Label.

How can we get an Energy Label?

Energy labels may be requested through the PELP Online Registration System. Once the PELP platform for a specific product type has been launched, the DOE Energy Label for a specific product model may be requested by completing the online Company Registration, Product Registration and Request for Energy Label procedures.

How can we use the Energy Label?

The energy label can be used in determining the efficiency of a certain product or to compare its efficiency with similar products. The more stars there is in the label is an indication that the appliance is more efficient as compared with other units, with the same specifications, with lesser stars.  A one-star rating shows that the product is still efficient but not as efficient as those with five-star rating. If you wish to further compare two (2) or more products that have the same number of stars, then you can use the Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) or the numerical representation of the efficiency metric. 

As applicants, how should we place the energy labels?

The DOE Energy Label file, that will be provided by DOE, after completing the PELP online processes, can be used to print / replicate a specific label as many times as needed. Applicants can also forward them to their retailers so that they can produce the “label display” as means of alternate compliance mechanism for PELP, as stated in the REMVCM IG.

Some of our products have the old yellow labels already. Do we need to replace all yellow labels with DOE Energy Label?

For incoming products, you may attach the new label in the product or its packaging. For products already in the market, you may either physically affix the new label or display a copy of the new a copy in a ½ A4 sized paper of the old label alongside with the new energy label and must be visible to customers at the point of sale.

Can we still sell products that have already been issued with the old yellow labels?

Yes, products that were issued with the old yellow labels can still be sold as long as they are registered under the PELP and have been issued with the new DOE Energy Label.

It was indicated in the IG that DOE Energy Labels are valid for 12 months. Do we need to replace the labels attached to the prod

If the product energy label was updated and renewed without any change to the product information, then there is no need to replace it. The control number will simply be updated and will be reflected in the QR code link.

On the other hand, if the energy label was updated and changes have been made in the product information, then the applicant can either affix the updated energy labels to the products (incoming or existing in the market) or make use of the label display to showcase the updated label (for products already in the market), as detailed in the REMVCM IG.    

If we scan the QR Code in the label, where will it take us and what should we expect to see?

The QR code is linked to the product information page within the PELP system. In this page, the product description declared by the applicant, as well as other relevant information about the product may be viewed for the user’s reference.

If we complete company registration and product registration and we need 500,000 pieces of a specific label, will DOE provide al

Upon a successful energy label request, the applicant will receive an electronic file copy of the official energy label of the registered product. The applicant will be responsible for the printing, replication and attachment of the labels in the corresponding products.

The IG did not say anything about what materials should be used to create the actual label. Do we get to decide on that?

Yes, the material for the energy label will be up to the applicant.

If the product already has a label, but certain aspects of the products were changed and modified as part of product improvement

There are efficiency ranges in each star rating, will they be updated in the future?

Yes. The DOE, through the help of a Technical Working Group, will continuously work on the expansion of the scope of the PELP and updating of the MEP, as well as the range for the star rating of the PELP, as the market evolves.

ENFORCEMENT

Who will be considered accountable for violations made against the PELP IG? Will it be the retailer, the manufacturer, or both

Liability will depend on the person/entity who have committed the particular violation. Due investigation will be made during the conduct of enforcement measures to ensure that the responsible party will be the one penalized.

What happens when information in the labels were found to be incorrect?

DOE shall initiate enforcement measures indicated in Section 14 of the PELP DC.

When will the energy labels become mandatory?

The DOE requires the mandatory labeling of PELP-covered products, which became effective starting June 18, 2021 through DOE Department Circular DC2020-06-0015.

Under Transitory Provisions in Rule 5 of DTI-issued MC No. 22-09, mandatory certification for performance requirements shall beg

No. As indicated in the PELP IG, enforcement will commence 12 months after the start of product registration. This means that DOE will start monitoring compliance to PELP by November 2022 for lighting products and January 2023 for air conditioners, refrigerating appliances and television sets.

The transitory provision in DTI MC No. 22-09 indicates that DTI will only requiring the energy label as performance requirement starting 05 September 2023 for the issuance of their product safety certification.

MONITORING

What is the difference between monitoring and verification activities under the PELP?

In monitoring activities, DOE will check on the presence of the energy labels on products seen in the market, confirm if the label is updated and certify that the information printed is the same with those in the database.

On the other hand, verification activities will validate the product claims by getting actual samples and testing them in a DOE-recognized laboratory and confirm if the parameters and energy performance declared by their company is correct and/or accurate.

What will happen if the energy label is found to be expired during monitoring?

The team will verify, through the PELP system, the latest energy label that was issued of the product. If an updated label has been issued then it will not be a violation, if there is none then the company responsible for the product shall be notified of the findings and will be advised to request for an updated label.

How often will DOE conduct monitoring activities?

Monitoring the compliance to the PELP requirements by applicants and retailers in various regions of the country will be scheduled by the DOE monitoring team and shall be conducted at least once a year.

VERIFICATION

What is the purpose of declaring the generic models?

This will be used by DOE as reference in selecting samples for verification testing. When a certain product model has already been verified, all the models associated with it or “generic” to it, including the base model, will be deprioritized in terms of product sampling.

Why are there 3 batches in the verification testing sampling?

The 2nd and 3rd batches will only be necessary if the testing results of the 1st batch fails the prescribed requirements under PELP.

Will sampling be done for products with energy labels only or will it include products without energy labels?

Sampling will be done only for products registered in the PELP online system.

On the other hand, products without energy labels, if being sold in the market, will be noted for violation to the PELP guidelines and may be subjected to enforcement measures indicated in Section 14 of the PELP DC.

In case of disputes / challenges, who is the official laboratory that will conduct the testing?

The DOE-LATD or a DOE-recognized testing laboratory will do the verification testing.

How many market samples shall be drawn during verification testing?

For Lighting Products, the number of pieces per model and per brand are the following:

  • Light Emitting Diode (LED) Lamps - 30pcs
  • Self-Ballasted Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) - 23 pcs
  • Linear or Double Capped Fluorescent Lamps (LFL or DFL) - 12pcs
  • Single-Capped Fluorescent Lamps (SFL) - 12pcs

For Television Sets, Air Conditioners and Refrigerating Appliance - 1pc

Re-sampling (2nd and 3rd batch) may be done in case the 1st batch failed testing.

What will happen to products drawn during verification activities?

Products drawn will be tested at the DOE-LATD or any DOE-recognized laboratory (once the recognition guidelines have been issues). Samples drawn from the retail stores shall be replaced by the suppliers (as indicated in the signed Acknowledgement of Drawn Samples or ADS).

Who will bring the samples for verification testing from the store/warehouse to the testing facility?

The Applicant shall arrange for the transport of the samples to the DOE-LATD or DOE-recognized testing laboratory at an agreed schedule within three (3) working days after the conduct of verification activity.

In verification testing, who will shoulder the cost of the testing?

The cost for testing shall be shouldered by the applicant.