Changes how the Energy Department sets and repeals appliance efficiency standards

§1What it does

Why this matters: A plain-English description of the bill as it was voted on, written by us from the official summary and text.

✎ Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

This bill would change how the Department of Energy sets, updates and repeals energy-efficiency standards for household appliances and other consumer products.^2,3,4 A new or stricter standard would be allowed only if the department found it technologically feasible and economically justified, which the bill defines to require, among other things, that buyers' energy or water savings within three years outweigh any added costs and that no type of product become unavailable because of the fuel it uses.⁴ The department could not weigh estimated social costs or benefits of greenhouse gas emissions, would have to recheck each new standard within two years and void any that fail these tests, and would have to act on petitions to revoke standards that meet certain conditions.^3,4 Amendments adopted on the House floor added a provision keeping an April 2024 efficiency rule for electrical distribution transformers from taking effect and a requirement that the department disclose certain meetings with groups tied to China before issuing a standard.^3,4

§2Status

§3How Congress voted

Why this matters: The official count.