AGA Praises Vote to Protect Energy Choice, Seniors and Low-Income Americans 

WASHINGTON – The American Gas Association applauds the bipartisan passage of Rep. Gary Palmer’s H.J. Res. 20, which rolls back a regulation promulgated in the final days of the Biden administration that would have effectively outlawed an entire product class of instantaneous natural gas water heaters. The bipartisan vote with 221 Yeas and 192 Nays, including the support of 11 Democrats, prevents raising costs for tens of millions of senior and low-income households, and ensures consumer access to one of the most popular water heating options on the market today. 

“Today was a win for working-class Americans and the environment,” said AGA President and CEO Karen Harbert. “This bipartisan vote to preserve access to one of the most popular and efficient appliances on the market is a victory for customer’s pocketbooks. The Biden-era rule was deeply flawed on both legal and practical grounds and would have placed a disproportionate financial burden on seniors and low-income Americans—and pushed many of the most financially vulnerable consumers toward less efficient electric products with higher ongoing energy costs.” 

Non-condensing and condensing instantaneous water heaters help reduce overall energy consumption, lowering energy bills for American families and businesses who use these appliances. According to AGA’s recently released study, “Building for Efficiency: Home Appliance Cost and Emissions Comparison,” efficient natural gas equipment is expected to cut home greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2040. 

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s own numbers suggested that nearly 40% of customers affected by the Biden-era rule would have experienced a net cost increase over the appliance’s lifespan, with some of the heaviest increases falling on seniors and low-income households. According to direct manufacturer pricing, the difference in average product price could have been as high as $450 — nearly double the $231 differential cited by DOE. By banning an entire product class of instantaneous natural gas water heaters, the rule would have forced many consumers to switch to electric resistance water heaters and would have resulted in significantly higher costs over the lifespan of the appliance and increased emissions.