PHTA Secures DOE Relief on Pool Pump Motor Rule

(Alexandria, Va.) — The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), the trade association representing the swimming pool, hot tub, and spa industry, has secured a significant advocacy win with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) regarding enforcement of key requirements within the pool pump motor rule.

DOE has announced that it will delay enforcement of certain energy conservation and certification requirements for small-size dedicated-purpose pool pump motors (DPPPMs), providing meaningful near-term relief for manufacturers, distributors, and other industry stakeholders. Under this enforcement policy, DOE will not seek civil penalties for certain compliance and certification requirements until March 26, 2029, for motors manufactured between September 28, 2027, and March 26, 2029.

While the rule itself remains in effect, this enforcement relief allows the industry additional time to prepare for compliance while helping to avoid unnecessary disruption to the marketplace.

“This is a meaningful and practical outcome for the industry,” says Sabeena Hickman, CAE, President and CEO of PHTA. “PHTA worked directly with DOE to communicate the real-world challenges our members were facing, including product availability, manufacturing constraints, and conflicts with existing safety standards. This decision provides the time needed to align those factors and ensure a smoother path to compliance.”

The original DOE rule, finalized in September 2023, established staggered compliance deadlines, requiring standard-size motors (1.15 ≤ THP ≤ 5) to comply by September 2025 and small-size motors (0.5 ≤ THP < 1.15) by September 2027. DOE acknowledged at the time that limited product availability and manufacturing scale challenges would require additional lead time for smaller motors.

PHTA’s advocacy efforts emphasized not only those manufacturing constraints but also the need to address misalignment between DOE requirements and existing industry safety standards, including UL 1004-10, which is widely used across the industry but not yet fully harmonized with DOE’s regulations for small-size motors.

“This outcome reflects the value of targeted, data-driven advocacy,” says Justin Wiley. “By working collaboratively with DOE, we were able to highlight both the technical and market realities facing the industry. This additional time will help ensure manufacturers can scale production, align with safety standards, and bring compliant products to market without creating unnecessary supply disruptions.”

The enforcement delay will:

• Provide additional time for industry readiness and compliance planning
• Reduce the risk of product shortages and supply chain disruption
• Help address misalignment with existing safety standards
• Demonstrate the impact of effective industry advocacy

PHTA will continue to monitor developments related to the pool pump motor rule and provide guidance and resources to members as the industry prepares for full compliance.
For more information on PHTA’s advocacy efforts and updates on regulatory developments, please visit www.phta.org/advocacy.

About the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance:

The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), a non-profit organization with over 4,000 members from around the world, was established in 1956 to support, promote, and protect the common interests of the $62B pool, hot tub, and spa industry. PHTA provides education, advocacy, standards development, research, and market growth initiatives to increase our members’ professionalism, knowledge, and profitability. Additionally, PHTA promotes the use of pools by expanding swimming, water safety, and related research and outreach activities aimed at introducing more people to swimming, making swimming environments safer, and keeping pools open to serve communities. For more information, visit www.phta.org.