Panasonic, Samsung contest BEE claims over AC star rating

Panasonic and Samsung have contested announcement made by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) which said certain air conditioner models made by the two companies and Godrej failed to meet energy consumption norms.
Supporting the companies, Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA) also said BEE's testing norms are not in conformity with international standards as it was done in a single laboratory.
"We are not satisfied with the testing methodology of BEE and have challenged test outcome," Panasonic India Dy Managing Director Air Conditioners Suresh Bandi told PTI.
He said the challenge has been made on the basis that there was "discrepancy in calibration and comparison of the testing facilities of BEE labs, variations in consequent bands of star rating and variation in results of different labs".

When contacted, Samsung spokesperson said: "Samsung had got its product tested at three renowned private laboratories in India and the product achieved the label declaration.
"We encourage the Bureau of Energy Efficiency to recall the advertisement on this subject pending the review of our product in a different laboratory."

In a public announcement last week, BEE, which is responsible for developing energy efficiency ratings, said three different airconditioner models of Samsung, Panasonic and Godrej failed to meet energy consumption declared on their label.
When contacted, Godrej Appliances Business Head & EVP Kamal Nandi said: "We were selling the model last year and we have discontinued it. This year, we have brought models based on the new energy tables of the BEE."

Asked whether the company would contest BEE's findings, Nandi said: "We may, but we have to see the full report and then only we can say on that."
Supporting the companies, CEAMA questioned BEE's method of testing.
"BEE has only one lab and as per the international norms such findings should be corroborated with the report of the second lab. It's a well established norms," CEAMA Secretary General Suresh Khanna said.
CEAMA had in fact written to BEE in March this year highlighting that the tests for airconditioner and refrigerators for compliance with star rating that came into effect from 2013 were being done in a single certified lab.

"It is to be noted that chances of error, if any, become higher if only one entity is involved and carry out the same procedure again and again due to same manpower, sequencing of procedures, oversight," the letter said.
This is amounting to a lot of complications and leading to monopolistic practices, it added.