WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (AZ-08) introduced the DOE Appliance and Equipment Standards Reform and Consumer Protection Act to allow the U.S. Secretary of Energy to update and reform energy conservation standards for electrical appliances.

“In our haste to reach a sometimes over-optimistic conservation goal, we have often made household appliances less efficient and more costly. It makes no sense that appliances today require longer run times than earlier models to get the same job done, just to achieve often minuscule energy savings,” said Congresswoman Lesko. “I am proud to introduce this legislation to ensure that the Secretary of Energy can create reasonable and technologically feasible standards for electric appliances.”

This legislation simplifies the process for the Secretary of Energy to amend or revoke energy conservation standards if the current standards are costly to consumers or do not result in significant energy or water conservation. The bill ensures that new or amended standards are economically justified and technologically feasible. Under the bill, new conservation standards cannot affect the compatibility of the covered product with existing systems, product performance, life span, the operating conditions, maintenance requirements, and disposal requirements; will not result in price discrimination or an impact on the free market; and will not result in a type or class of products becoming unavailable in the United States.

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