CEC Certification California - Energy Efficiency Registration & Requirements

Certification Introduction

The California Energy Commission (CEC) is California's primary energy policy-making and regulatory agency, responsible for managing energy efficiency, renewable energy, power supply, and infrastructure. Among its functions, the CEC's Appliance Efficiency Regulations impose mandatory requirements on many electrical appliances, lighting products, and battery systems sold or used in California.

Scope of Application

Products subject to CEC registration include:

Home appliances
Air conditioners, heat pumps (gas, ground-source, small air-source, etc.), tumble dryers, washing machines, dishwashers, home cooking appliances, dehumidifiers, residential boiler fans, whole-house and residential exhaust fans, furnaces, combined space water heaters, gas space heaters/infrared heaters, refrigeration products (ice machines, refrigerators, cold drink vending machines, water dispensers, etc.), transformers, home water heaters.
Lighting products
Ballasts, residential recessed lighting ballasts, ceiling fan light kits, fluorescent lamps, deep dimming ballasts, light bulbs, metal halide fixtures, diodes (LED) lamps, small-diameter directional lamps, spotlights, traffic signal lamps, cabinet lighting fixtures.
General consumer products
Computer monitors, desktop computers, laptops and portable all-in-ones, medical computer monitors, small servers and rack workstations, consumer audio and video equipment, televisions and signage displays.
Commercial products
Commercial cooking products, commercial dishwashers (voluntary), commercial fryers (voluntary), commercial steam cookers (voluntary), commercial water heaters.
Others
Air filters, plumbing fittings (showerheads, faucets, bathtub outlet diverters, etc.), plumbing fixtures (toilets and urinals), pool products (heaters, portable electric spas, residential pool pumps), emergency lighting, battery chargers (large and small), sprinkler heads.

For the specific product scope, please refer to the official publication:
https://www.energy.ca.gov/programs-and-topics/programs/appliance-efficiency-program-outreach-and-education

Registration Process

Determine product category
Confirm whether the product falls within the scope of CEC regulation and clarify the applicable energy efficiency standards.
Product testing
The product must undergo energy efficiency testing by an accredited laboratory (e.g., ISO 17025 accredited lab) in accordance with regulatory testing methods to obtain a test report.
Submit registration
Submit data through CEC's MAEDbS system.
Await data review
Data updates are usually completed within 2-3 working days after submission, and product information can be queried on the website.

FAQ

How long is the CEC registration valid?
There is no fixed validity period. However, if regulations are updated or the product is modified, re-testing or re-registration is required.
Is a U.S. agent required?
No, CEC does not require local agent information. Manufacturers can log in to the MAEDbS system to submit registration data themselves after successfully applying for an account. They can also authorize third-party laboratories to submit data on their behalf through the manufacturer's account.
Is there a certificate after successful CEC registration?
No. A successful registration is confirmed when the model can be queried on the CEC official website after data review and approval. A PDF file of the successful registration page can be downloaded for reference.
Is there a fixed CEC energy efficiency label?
No. CEC itself does not mandate a specific energy efficiency label (such as the EU's ErP label or Energy Star label). Instead, it requires products to be registered, meet minimum energy performance standards (MEPS), and provide energy efficiency information on the product or in technical documentation.

Ensure that the brand and model on the product are clearly identifiable and exactly match the records in the official database for regulatory purposes.