H.R. 1281

119 HR 1281 IH: Natural Gas Appliances Standards Act of 2025
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2025-02-13
 text/xml
 EN
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 I  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  H. R. 1281  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.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Natural Gas Appliances Standards Act of 2025   or the   Natural GAS Act of 2025  .
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.
 .
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.
 .
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.
 .