At House energy hearing, Republicans urge loosening of appliance rules

At a House energy subcommittee hearing last week, Republicans called for loosening federal regulations on appliances and buildings, which they described as costly and burdensome, while Democrats pushed back, arguing that efficient appliances lower consumers’ utility bills. 

Why it matters: The hearing was convened by Republican leaders to “examine the impact of green buildings and appliance policies on housing affordability, energy costs, grid reliability, national security, and consumer choice.”

State of play: Since the 1970s, the Department of Energy (DOE) has set energy-efficiency standards and issued regulations for over 60 products, including central air conditioners, heat pumps, and water heaters, which are required to be reviewed every six years. 

What’s happening: “The Biden-Harris administration’s DOE issued nearly 30 energy-efficient regulations totaling over $60 billion in cost to the economy,” said Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, during the hearing. 

• “Today’s homeowners spend about 34 percent more on appliances than they did 15 years ago,” he added.  
• Democrats contended that energy efficiency rules save Americans money on utility bills; under President Biden, the DOE projected that standards advanced by his administration would provide nearly $1 trillion in consumer savings over 30 years. 

Zoom in: Republican legislators and several witnesses during the hearing said energy regulations force consumers to spend money on new appliances, cause new-build home prices to rise, and stress the electric grid. 

The highlights: Georgia Rep. Rick Allen promoted a bill he introduced in July — the ‘Don’t Mess With My Home Appliances Act’ — which would authorize the Secretary of Energy to amend or revoke a product standard if, among other factors, it increases costs for consumers. (It also prohibits the Secretary from considering the social benefits or costs of greenhouse gases in rulemaking.) 

• Ben Lieberman, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, spoke in favor of the ‘Homeowner Energy Freedom Act,’ which would repeal one of the two remaining HVAC-focused rebate programs that have so far dodged the Trump administration’s axe.  
• Meanwhile, James Steffes, a senior vice president at natural gas company Washington Gas, touted the ‘Energy Choice Act,’ which he said “prevents state and local gas bans from restricting energy choice in a balkanized and haphazard manner.” 

What they’re saying: Congressman Randy Weber (R-TX), who previously founded Weber’s Air & Heat, recalled SEER rating changes over the years — and rising appliance costs. “Families can’t always afford these mandates,” he said. 

• He also criticized a Biden-era rule designed to phase out noncondensing gas furnaces by 2028. “There’s no reason why the Department of Energy or anybody else should be mandating that Texans have to have a certain efficiency,” he added.   

The other side: “Republicans don’t care about lowering costs,” said Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ), referencing the Trump administration’s tariff initiatives. “All they care about is rewarding their oil and gas friends, punishing clean energy, and keeping President Trump happy. Doesn’t matter what the facts are.”

• Kara Saul-Rinaldi, Chief Policy Officer at the Building Performance Association, testified that without efficiency standards, “homeowners would buy whatever is cheapest in order to put it in their house.”
• “[T]hat would likely not include the higher-efficiency technologies,” she added. “And they would be spending more on their monthly utility bills.”