Natural Gas Appliances Standards Act of 2023 or the Natural GAS Act of 2023
This bill modifies energy efficiency requirements under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to limit what the Department of Energy (DOE) may include in future rules related to the following natural gas appliances: gas water heaters, furnaces, boilers, kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens.
Specifically, the bill requires DOE to certify that rules are not likely to result in a significant shift from gas appliances to electric appliances. DOE must also require a full fuel cycle analysis for energy efficiency standards as part of the rulemaking process.
In addition, the bill exempts certain small manufacturers of major household appliances from future energy efficiency standards for such appliances. Future rules for such appliances must require energy efficiency labels displayed at the point of sale to disclose full-fuel-cycle efficiency rather than point-of-use energy consumption.
The bill also prohibits any future rule relating to kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens from limiting the features (e.g., quick-to-boil times) and functionality available on residential gas kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4395 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4395
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
June 30, 2023
Mrs. Bice (for herself and Mr. Moolenaar) 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 2023'' or the ``Natural GAS Act of 2023''.
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.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate and Grid Security.
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