How to File RTI with BEE for Energy Efficiency Star Rating, PAT Scheme Data and Appliance Testing Records

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) is a statutory body established under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001, operating under the Ministry of Power. BEE designs and implements policies and programmes aimed at reducing the energy intensity of the Indian economy. Its flagship initiatives include the Standards & Labelling (S&L) programme for energy-consuming appliances (the familiar star-rating labels on air conditioners, refrigerators, fans, and other equipment), the Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme for large energy-intensive industries, the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) for commercial and large residential buildings, and the ECO Niwas Samhita for residential complexes. BEE is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005.

Consumers purchasing star-rated appliances, manufacturers seeking clarity on test criteria, industries subject to PAT obligations, researchers studying energy benchmarks, and civil society organisations monitoring India's energy efficiency commitments all have legitimate reasons to seek information from BEE through RTI.

What BEE Does — and Why RTI Is Relevant

BEE administers several distinct programmes, each generating records that are accessible through RTI:

A key point for RTI applicants: BEE collects test data submitted by manufacturers during S&L registration. That manufacturer-specific test data may be protected under Section 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act as commercial confidence. The right strategy is to request aggregate, sector-wide, or anonymised data — such as the EPI threshold for each star band, or the range of energy consumption values across registered models in a category — rather than the test results of a named brand or model. This guide explains how to frame requests appropriately.

Key RTI Uses for BEE

Star-rating test criteria and methodology: BEE notifies the energy performance indicator (EPI) — the metric used to measure energy efficiency — and the threshold values for each star level (1-star through 5-star) for every regulated appliance category. These thresholds are published in official notifications and updated periodically. RTI is useful when a consumer or researcher needs a certified copy of the current thresholds, the test standard (IS/IEC reference) mandated for a category, or the historical evolution of thresholds across notification cycles. This information is clearly public and cannot be withheld.

Accredited testing laboratories: Manufacturers must get their appliances tested at BEE-empanelled or NABL-accredited laboratories before obtaining a star label. BEE maintains a list of such laboratories. An RTI asking for the current list — with each laboratory's name, address, accreditation number, and validity period — is straightforward and disclosable. Researchers, consumer organisations, and testing companies have used RTI to verify whether a laboratory cited on a label was actually accredited at the time of testing.

PAT scheme compliance and ESCerts: The PAT scheme has completed multiple cycles (PAT Cycle-I through Cycle-VI and ongoing). BEE publishes aggregate results, but RTI gives you certified, on-the-record data on sector-wise targets versus achievements, the total energy saved (in MTOE), the number of ESCerts issued and traded, and trading price ranges on the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) and Power Exchange India (PXIL). This data is used by researchers, journalists, and climate policy analysts to assess India's progress on industrial energy efficiency.

ECO Niwas Samhita and ECBC compliance: BEE coordinates the adoption of ECO Niwas Samhita (residential energy code) and ECBC (commercial building code) across states. RTI can reveal: how many states have formally adopted these codes into local bye-laws, the built-up area thresholds above which compliance is mandatory, and BEE's methodology for verifying compliance. Post-occupancy energy audits and third-party certifications are also within the scope of RTI queries.

Energy consumption benchmarks: BEE publishes sector-specific energy benchmarks (specific energy consumption norms) used in PAT calculations. RTI is a reliable route to obtain certified copies of these benchmarks, especially for industrial sectors or product categories where the publicly available data is incomplete or outdated.

Where to File

File on rtionline.gov.in:

1. Select Ministry of Power
2. Select Bureau of Energy Efficiency

BEE's headquarters is in New Delhi. Unlike bodies with extensive regional office networks, BEE operates primarily from its central office; the CPIO at the address above handles RTI applications across all BEE programmes. If BEE determines that your query relates to records held by a state energy conservation agency (which implements ECBC at the state level), it may transfer your application under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act.

What Specific Information Can You Ask For?

Standards & Labelling — test criteria and label registration:

1. EPI thresholds for each star level (1-star to 5-star) for Appliance Category under the current BEE S&L notification — including the test standard/procedure reference and the date from which the current thresholds are applicable
2. List of all BEE-empanelled / NABL-accredited laboratories authorised to test Appliance Category for S&L registration — with name, address, accreditation number, and validity period
3. Whether BEE star-label registration No. Registration No. for Brand/Model is currently valid, suspended, or cancelled — and the star level on record (note: aggregate or categorical data rather than confidential test results)

PAT scheme — targets and achievements: 4. Sector-wise specific energy consumption (SEC) targets set for Designated Consumers in PAT Cycle No. — by sector (aluminium, cement, iron & steel, thermal power, etc.) 5. Sector-wise SEC achievements reported at the end of PAT Cycle No. — aggregate energy saved in MTOE by sector 6. Total number of ESCerts issued in PAT Cycle No., total traded on Power Exchanges, and the price range at which ESCerts were traded 7. The methodology and baseline SEC calculation procedure BEE uses for a specific sector in PAT — to the extent not commercially sensitive

ECO Niwas Samhita and ECBC: 8. List of states and UTs that have formally notified / adopted ECO Niwas Samhita into local building bye-laws as of the date of this application, and the date of adoption in each case 9. Number of residential building projects that have obtained ECO Niwas Samhita compliance certification since the code was notified — disaggregated by year and state, if available 10. List of states and UTs that have adopted ECBC 2017 into their local bye-laws — the built-up area or connected load thresholds prescribed for mandatory compliance in each state 11. Whether BEE has conducted post-occupancy evaluations or energy audits of ECBC-compliant or ECO Niwas Samhita-compliant buildings — and, if so, a summary or list of such evaluations

Appeals

First Appeal (Section 19(1)): File with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at BEE within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable.

Second Appeal (Section 19(3)): File with the Central Information Commission (CIC) within 90 days. BEE is a statutory body under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001, functioning under the Ministry of Power — it is a Central Government public authority, and all second appeals go to the CIC, not any State Information Commission.