ENERGY EFFICIENCY ACT

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
Assented to June 23, 1992

OVERVIEW

An act respecting the energy efficiency of energy-using products and use of alternative energy
sources.

It gives the government of Canada the authority to make and enforce standards for the
performance of energy-consuming products that are imported into Canada, or that are
manufactured in Canada and shipped across provincial or territorial borders. The Act also gives
the federal government the authority to set labelling requirements for these products so
consumers can compare the energy efficiency of various models of the same product.

The Energy Efficiency Regulations 2016 came into effect on 28 June 2017 and repealed and
replaced the existing Energy Efficiency Regulations made under the Energy Efficiency Act.

Canada’s Energy Efficiency Act set the regulations on trade and sell regarding energy-using
products. It states that products shipped into Canada must comply with energy efficiency
standards. Further, it gives the Minister powers to promote the efficient use of energy and the
use of alternative energy sources. Under this act, every 3 years, the Minister has to include a
comparison of energy efficiency standards in the yearly report.

POLICY OBJECTIVE

The Act aims to

• Establish minimum energy efficiency standards for a broad range of products and
equipment in order to decrease overall Canadian energy consumption.
• Regulate trade in energy products
• Ensure that regulatory hearings and decision making process related to those
energy matters are fair, inclusive, transparent and efficient.

POLICY SCOPE AND APPLICATIONS

This policy applies to all the areas below

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 • Energy-Using products which includes Interprovincial trade and importation,
Tampering with label, and Savings. As well as the information to be
provided by dealers.

POLICY REQUIREMENTS AND IMPLEMENTATION

The Minister may require any dealer who ships or imports energy-using products as
described in subsection 4(1) to make available, at such place as the Minister may
specify, such number of those products as the Minister considers to be reasonably
necessary for examination and testing under this section, and the dealer shall
forthwith comply with the request.

• Product testing

• Retention

• Seizure

• Provisions applicable

• Outside testing
For the implementation, the Minister may designate as an inspector for the purposes
of this Act any person who, in the opinion of the Minister, is qualified to be so
designated.
For the purpose of ensuring compliance with this Act and the regulations, an
inspector may, subject to subsection (3), at any reasonable time enter and inspect
any place in which the inspector believes on reasonable grounds there is an energy-
using product for which an energy efficiency standard or a label has been
prescribed and that is owned by or is on the premises of a dealer or a consignee of
imported energy-using products or there is any document or record required by
section 7 to be kept, and may
(a) examine any energy-using product, or any other thing relevant to the
administration of this Act, that is found in that place;
(b) open and examine any package or receptacle found in the place that the
inspector believes on reasonable grounds contains an energy-using product;
(c) examine any document or record that the inspector believes on reasonable
grounds contains any information relevant to the administration of this Act and make
copies thereof or extracts therefrom; and
(d) conduct any tests or take any measurements.

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 CONSEQUENCES

Importing into Canada, or trading between provinces, products that do not meet such
energy efficiency standards, or tampering with an energy efficiency label, is a criminal
offence. Failure to comply with regulations will result in the possibility of prosecution, fines
and secondary offences.

REFERENCES

From Canada Justice Law website (https://lois-laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/E-

6.4/page-1.html#docCont)
Other resources: Merriam Webster Dictionary, The Canadian Encyclopedia