Ugh…Your water heater is making strange noises. The water in your home isn’t as hot as it used to be, and the temperature is fluctuating. Is it time to get a new one? Yep.
You head to your favorite home appliance store, or you open your laptop, and as you study the options, you notice the energy efficiency label for the water heaters. Some are more energy efficient than others, and it looks like there is a minimum energy efficiency level.
And that leads to another question: Who comes up with these appliance efficiency standards?
The answer is that the standards for many appliances are set and periodically reviewed by the Department of Energy (DOE), working under authority provided by Congress in the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. Unfortunately, during the Biden administration, DOE used this authority to finalize flawed rules affecting consumer access to gas-fired appliances, including that tankless water heater you’re considering as a possible replacement for your failing water heater.
In making these rules, DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office failed to appropriately evaluate how the rules would hurt American homeowners and manufacturers. That failure deprived people of their right to choose the water heater, range, or furnace that best fits the needs and budget of their homes and businesses.
Policymakers are now in the process of blocking the tankless water heater appliance efficiency rule through the Congressional Review Act. The House passed a measure on Feb. 27, 2025, and the Senate is expected to take up the issue soon.
“The people, not the government, should be choosing the home appliances and products they want at prices they can afford,” said the new Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Under Secretary Wright’s leadership, the DOE will propose and finalize appliance regulations that will allow for affordable and efficient appliance options.
So, next time you walk through your favorite home appliance store or research online to determine what new appliance you need, be sure you notice that energy efficiency rating. There’s a lot that goes into it — including innovation by manufacturers and government regulation — and efficiency is an important consideration affecting the cost of purchasing and operating the appliance. As Secretary Wright might say, you deserve the chance to choose the water heater that best meets your needs and budget.
Stuart Saulters is Vice President, Federal Affairs, for GPA Midstream. In that role, he leads the trade association’s effort to engage policymakers on Capitol Hill and within the President’s administration.
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