U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright recently announced the Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to permanently end home appliance and equipment mandates that raise costs and disrupt consumer choice. The proposal will update the Department’s Process Rule used to establish energy-conservation standards for household appliances and equipment, including air-conditioning units, gas stoves, washing and drying machines, water heaters, refrigerators and other products Americans rely on every day. In accordance with President Donald Trump’s Executive Order, “Unleashing Prosperity through Deregulation,” the proposal will preserve consumer choice and lower costs.
“In America, you should be able to choose a dryer that dries clothes on the first try rather than one that takes multiple cycles—unfortunately, past administrations thought otherwise,” Secretary Wright said. “For too long, the American people paid the price for mandates that restricted consumer choice and drove up costs. President Trump promised to end this nonsense and that is exactly what we are doing. This proposed rule will preserve the American people’s ability to choose home appliances and equipment that actually work — at prices they can afford. It’s called common sense.”
“From day one, the Trump Administration has offered relief to consumers, businesses, and industries through bold deregulatory action,” said Assistant Secretary of Energy (EERE) Audrey Robertson. “This proposal is about the future. It will ensure that new regulations promote affordability, preserve consumer choice, and meet the highest standards for transparency and due diligence.”
For further details, read the full text of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Comments will be accepted for 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
DOE also issued a Request for Information seeking public input on the methodologies used in developing energy-conservation standards for covered products and equipment. Comments will be accepted for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
Under the leadership of President Trump, these actions build on the Trump Administration’s commitment to remove burdensome regulations that raise prices, reduce consumer choice, and frustrate the American people.
