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This bill would change how the federal government writes energy efficiency rules for certain gas appliances, including water heaters, furnaces, boilers, cooktops, ranges, and ovens. Before any new rule is finalized, the Energy Secretary would have to look at the full energy impact of the appliance from start to finish, not just how it works at the home. The bill also says the government must be able to show that a rule is not likely to push a major switch from gas appliances to electric ones in homes, businesses, or when appliances are replaced. It would also protect smaller appliance makers from these rules and require more of the analysis to be shown clearly on consumer energy labels.
- For water heaters, furnaces, and boilers, the Energy Secretary would need to use a full fuel cycle analysis before finalizing any new rule.
- The Secretary would also have to certify that the rule is not likely to cause a major shift from gas models to electric models in new buildings or replacements.
- Rules for these appliances would not apply to small major household appliance manufacturers, as defined in federal regulations.
- For gas cooktops, ranges, and ovens, new rules could not limit features such as fast boiling, the number and size of burners, or grate design, and the same full analysis and label disclosure requirements would apply.
Official Summaries
Natural Gas Appliances Standards Act of 2025 or the Natural GAS Act of 2025
This bill limits what the Department of Energy (DOE) may include in future energy conservation rules related to water heaters, furnaces, boilers, and kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens. Energy conservation rules establish standards that set minimum energy efficiency levels or maximum energy usage for certain consumer products, such as appliances.
Specifically, the bill requires DOE to certify that the rules are not likely to result in a significant shift from gas appliances to electric appliances.
As part of the rulemaking process, DOE must require a full fuel cycle analysis for energy efficiency standards. In addition to measuring energy use at the site where the appliance is operated, a full fuel cycle analysis estimates the energy consumed in the extraction, processing, and transport of primary fuels; energy losses in thermal combustion in power-generation plants; and energy losses in transmission and distribution to homes and commercial buildings.
Further, such rules must require energy efficiency labels to disclose the full-fuel-cycle efficiency. Currently, the labels only disclose point-of-use energy consumption, which is based on the amount of energy used at the site where the appliance is operated.
In addition, the bill exempts certain small major household appliance manufacturers from future energy conservation rules for such appliances.
The bill also prohibits any future energy conservation rule relating to kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens from limiting the features and functionality (e.g., quick-to-boil times) available on residential gas kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1281 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1281
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
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.''.
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