WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (AZ-08) introduced the Hands Off Our Home Appliances Act to reform the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) procedures for issuing energy efficiency standards for home appliances. This legislation prohibits DOE from prescribing any new or amended energy efficiency standards for a product that are not technologically feasible and economically justified.

“Under the Biden Administration, the Department of Energy is unleashing an avalanche of new regulations for household products, including stoves, dishwashers, washing machines, showers, toilets, water heaters, air conditioners, heat pumps, and furnaces,” said Congresswoman Lesko. “My bill will stop federal bureaucrats from banning popular models of appliances and products in our homes and raising costs for middle class families. I am proud to again stand on the side of choice for American consumers.”

The Hands Off Our Home Appliances Act implements policies to help everyday American consumers. First, the legislation requires a new energy efficiency standard to be cost-effective to the consumers. Second, the proposal mandates actual savings for any new standard – either a ten percent reduction in energy or water usage, or a reduction of overall energy usage in the country of over thirty quads over a 30-year period. Finally, this bill prevents any household appliance from being banned by the federal government based on what kind of fuel it uses.

Last month, a discussion draft of the bill was passed favorably out of the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security, and the bill now awaits passage in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

###