This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed two bills as part of a broader and much-needed effort to modernize the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA).
Here’s a breakdown of each bill, what they mean for contractors, and how you can help advance contractor priorities:
1. H.R. 4626:Home Appliance Protection and Affordability Act
H.R. 4626 advances several important ACCA positions in EPCA reform, including:
- Avoiding stranded inventory and consumer confusion by basing efficiency regulation compliance dates on the date of manufacture rather than date of installation.
- Providing a pathway for relief from the furnace rule, which effectively bans non-condensing furnaces in December 2028.
- Ensuring that future efficiency rules are technically feasible and cost-effective for consumers over a reasonable 3-year timeframe.
While some efficiency standards are important to market stability and consumer protection, this bill represents an important step towards curtailing unrealistic rules that limit consumer access to safe and affordable air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, and water heaters.
2. H.R. 4758: Homeowner Energy Freedom Act
H.R. 4758 would repeal the Home Electrification and Appliances Rebate (HEAR), which promised $4.3 billion for states to help consumers afford home upgrades that ACCA members are well-positioned to provide. It should be noted, however, that HEAR funds have already been fully obligated to the states, and 11 states have currently operating programs, so it’s unclear whether that funding can be clawed back.
H.R. 4758 also repeals the Training for Residential Energy Contractors (TREC) program. It should be noted that unobligated funds for TREC were already rescinded in recent budget legislation.
Fortunately, H.R. 4758 leaves the other home energy rebate program — the whole-home, fuel-neutral Home Efficiency Rebates Program — untouched.
What’s next and what’s missing
Before you get too excited about fixing burdensome rules or worried about the home energy rebates, it’s important to note that these bills face a challenging path to 60 votes in the Senate. They should be seen as ingredients in upcoming negotiations, and we’re more concerned about what the House didn’t consider this week:
H.R. 3699: Energy Choice Act
In December, the House Energy and Commerce Committee also advanced H.R. 3699 alongside the bills listed above. The Energy Choice Act is a key solution under one of ACCA’s top priorities to protect fuel and technology choice. It reinforces a simple principle: homeowners and businesses should have access to whatever fuel source works best for them. The legislation would prevent state and local governments from enacting bans on specific types of fuel, including natural gas.
We can’t allow Congress to leave energy choice on the cutting room floor! Check the co-sponsor map and urge your senators and representatives to co-sponsor H.R. 3699 or S. 1945 today.
Even if you already took action on our previous Energy Choice Act alert, this new version puts it in the context of principles we’d like to see in EPCA reform, so we hope you’ll take action again.
This is also a case where support from Senate Democrats could be particularly impactful. As an advocate, it can be frustrating to be represented by the party out of power, but the need for 60 votes in the Senate could make Democratic support extremely valuable. Fossil fuel bans will also be most acutely felt in the Northeast and other cities with older building stock, so your stories could make a real difference. Thank you for taking action today.
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