This bill puts new restrictions on how the Department of Energy can regulate natural gas appliances like water heaters, furnaces, stoves, and ovens. Right now, the government can set efficiency standards for these products to reduce energy use. This bill says the DOE can't make rules that would push people away from gas appliances toward electric ones—basically, it's trying to protect the natural gas appliance market from being phased out through regulation.

The bill also changes how efficiency is measured and labeled. Instead of just looking at how much energy an appliance uses when you're using it, manufacturers would have to analyze the full fuel cycle—meaning they'd need to account for all the energy involved in producing and delivering the natural gas itself. When you buy an appliance, the label would show this full-cycle efficiency number rather than just what happens at your home.

Additionally, small appliance manufacturers get an exemption from having to meet new efficiency standards, and the government is prohibited from making rules that would limit features on gas stoves and ovens—like how quickly they can boil water. Essentially, this bill protects natural gas appliances from stricter efficiency regulations and ensures they remain competitive with electric alternatives.

Natural GAS Act of 2023

Barrasso, John

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.