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To amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to modify standards for water heaters, furnaces, boilers, and kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens, and for other purposes.
Summary
The bill modifies energy efficiency standards for natural gas appliances by requiring the Department of Energy to conduct full fuel cycle analyses when issuing new efficiency rules for water heaters, furnaces, boilers, and kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens. For each of these appliance categories, the Secretary must certify that new efficiency rules will not cause a significant shift from gas-powered to electric-powered appliances in residential or commercial construction or replacement markets. The bill exempts small manufacturers from these requirements and mandates that the results of fuel cycle analyses be prominently displayed on energy efficiency labels visible to consumers at the point of sale. For cooktops, ranges, and ovens specifically, the bill prohibits efficiency rules from limiting features such as quick-to-boil times, burner size and number, or grate design.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
Actions (2)
- Feb 13, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. · house
- Feb 13, 2025 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
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Text versions (1)
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Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 13, 2025
Mrs. Bice introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to modify standards for water heaters, furnaces, boilers, and kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Natural Gas Appliances Standards Act of 2025” or the “Natural GAS Act of 2025”.
SEC. 2. RULE REQUIREMENTS FOR WATER HEATERS.
Section 325(e) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(7) Requirements.—
“(A) Rulemaking process.—For any rule relating to water heaters under this section that is finalized after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall—
“(i) require as part of the rulemaking process the performance of a full fuel cycle analysis for energy efficiency standards and a full fuel cycle energy descriptor, as described in a letter report of the National Academies entitled ‘Review of Site (Point-of-Use) and Full-Fuel-Cycle Measurement Approaches to DOE/ EERE Building Appliance Energy-Efficiency Standards’ and dated 2009; and
“(ii) certify that the rule is not likely to result in a significant shift from gas water heaters to electric water heaters with respect to residential construction, commercial construction, or water heater replacement.
“(B) Rules.—Any rule relating to water heaters under this section that is finalized after the date of enactment of this paragraph—
“(i) shall not apply to small major household appliance manufacturers (as defined in section 121.201 of title 13, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations)); and
“(ii) shall require the results of the analysis and resulting energy descriptor described in subparagraph (A)(i) to be prominently disclosed on any label that—
“(I) is required by the Federal Trade Commission to provide energy efficiency information of the water heater; and
“(II) is visible to consumers at the point of sale.”.
SEC. 3. RULE REQUIREMENTS FOR FURNACES AND BOILERS.
Section 325(f) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6295(f)) is amended—
(a) in paragraph (1)(B)—
(1) in clause (i), by adding “and” at the end after the semicolon;
(2) in clause (ii), by striking “and” at the end and inserting a period; and
(3) by striking clause (iii); and
(b) by adding at the end the following:
“(5) Requirements.—
“(A) Rulemaking process.—For any rule relating to furnaces or boilers under this section that is finalized after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall—
“(i) require as part of the rulemaking process the performance of a full fuel cycle analysis for energy efficiency standards and a full fuel cycle energy descriptor, as described in a letter report of the National Academies entitled ‘Review of Site (Point-of-Use) and Full-Fuel-Cycle Measurement Approaches to DOE/ EERE Building Appliance Energy-Efficiency Standards’ and dated 2009; and
“(ii) certify that the rule is not likely to result in a significant shift from gas furnaces or boilers to electric furnaces or boilers with respect to residential construction, commercial construction, or furnace or boiler replacement.
“(B) Rules.—Any rule relating to furnaces or boilers under this section that is finalized after the date of enactment of this paragraph—
“(i) shall not apply to small major household appliance manufacturers (as defined in section 121.201 of title 13, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations)); and
“(ii) shall require the results of the analysis and resulting energy descriptor described in subparagraph (A)(i) to be prominently disclosed on any label that—
“(I) is required by the Federal Trade Commission to provide energy efficiency information of the water heater; and
“(II) is visible to consumers at the point of sale.”.
SEC. 4. RULE REQUIREMENTS FOR COOKTOPS, RANGES, AND OVENS.
Section 325(h) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6295(h)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(3) Requirements.—
“(A) Rulemaking process.—For any rule relating to kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens under this section that is finalized after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall—
“(i) require as part of the rulemaking process the performance of a full fuel cycle analysis for energy efficiency standards and a full fuel cycle energy descriptor, as described in a letter report of the National Academies entitled ‘Review of Site (Point-of-Use) and Full-Fuel-Cycle Measurement Approaches to DOE/ EERE Building Appliance Energy-Efficiency Standards’ and dated 2009; and
“(ii) certify that the rule is not likely to result in a significant shift from gas kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens to electric kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens with respect to residential construction, commercial construction, or cooktop, range, and oven replacement.
“(B) Rules.—Any rule relating to kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens under this section that is finalized after the date of enactment of this paragraph—
“(i) shall not limit the features and functionality available on residential gas kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens, including—
“(I) quick-to-boil times;
“(II) the number and size of burners, including burners designed for simmering and high input rate burners; and
“(III) the design of grates, including continuous grates;
“(ii) shall not apply to small major household appliance manufacturers (as defined in section 121.201 of title 13, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations)); and
“(iii) shall require the results of the analysis and resulting energy descriptor described in subparagraph (A)(i) to be prominently disclosed on any label that—
“(I) is required by the Federal Trade Commission to provide energy efficiency information of the kitchen cooktop, range, or oven; and
“(II) is visible to consumers at the point of sale.”. <all>
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