Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to "Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-fired Instantaneous Water Heaters".
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This enacted law nullifies a Department of Energy rule that would have tightened energy efficiency standards for gas-fired instantaneous (tankless) water heaters, using Congress's power under the Congressional Review Act to void the regulation entirely.
Because the law also bars the Department of Energy from issuing a substantially similar rule in the future, it permanently forecloses that specific efficiency standard rather than just delaying it.
What this law does
What it does
The law disapproves and nullifies a Department of Energy rule, published December 26, 2024, that had set amended energy conservation standards for consumer gas-fired instantaneous water heaters. Using the Congressional Review Act procedure under chapter 8 of title 5, U.S. Code, Congress voted to reject the rule, and the joint resolution states the rule "shall have no force or effect." The law does not itself set any new efficiency standard for these water heaters; it simply eliminates the one the Department of Energy had adopted. Under the Congressional Review Act, the agency is also barred from reissuing a substantially similar rule without new statutory authority.
Key provisions
- 1Disapproves the Department of Energy's rule setting energy conservation standards for consumer gas-fired instantaneous water heaters, published at 89 Fed. Reg. 105188.
- 2States that the disapproved rule shall have no force or effect.
Who is affected
Manufacturers and sellers of gas-fired instantaneous (tankless) water heaters, who no longer face the Department of Energy's amended efficiency standards, and consumers who purchase these appliances, whose available models are no longer constrained by the nullified rule.
Why it matters
Manufacturers avoid the compliance costs and design changes the Department of Energy's efficiency rule would have required, while the specific efficiency gains the rule aimed to achieve will not take effect. The Department of Energy cannot issue a substantially similar rule going forward without new legislative authority.
What changed
Changes to existing law
Repeals Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-fired Instantaneous Water Heaters (DOE rule, 89 Fed. Reg. 105188)
Nullifies the Department of Energy's amended energy efficiency standards for gas-fired instantaneous water heaters, voiding the rule entirely.
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- Congressional disapproval of the Department of Energy rule
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Became Public Law No: 119-6.
Official CRS summary
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This joint resolution nullifies the rule titled Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-fired Instantaneous Water Heaters and submitted by the Department of Energy (DOE) on December 26, 2024. Under the rule, DOE adopted amended energy conservation standards for gas-fired instantaneous water heaters to achieve the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that DOE determined was technologically feasible and economically justified.
Legislative subjects
Administrative law and regulatory procedures; Department of Energy; Energy; Energy efficiency and conservation; Lighting, heating, cooling; Oil and gas