In June, Congressman Nick Langworthy (R-NY) and Senator Jim Justice (R-WV) introduced H.R. 3699 and S. 1945, the Energy Choice Act, federal legislation that prohibits states and local governments from restricting access to energy services based on the type or source of energy, including natural gas. The bill directly responds to a growing movement in at least 11 states and many municipalities to ban, limit, or phase out certain energy sources ─ especially natural gas ─ in homes and buildings.
While often framed under climate or electrification initiatives, these mandates unnecessarily increase costs, reduce reliability, and eliminate consumer choice, all while creating major uncertainty for HVACR professionals. As a longstanding proponent of fuel choice and market-based policy, ACCA strongly supports this legislation.
How the Energy Choice Act works
The bill prevents state or local governments from adopting or enforcing policies that prohibit or limit:
- The connection or reconnection of energy service,
- The installation or modification of equipment or infrastructure, or
- Access to energy based solely on the type or source of energy delivered.
The legislation ensures that future energy decisions remain in the hands of consumers, not political bodies advancing one-size-fits-all energy mandates.
The costs of restricting consumer choice
Policies that ban or restrict fuels restructure the energy market unfairly and unnecessarily by:
- Limiting consumer choice
- Increasing upfront costs and utility bills
- Complicating system designs and retrofits
- Disrupting contractor planning and inventory investments
- Reducing reliability
- Increasing overall strain on the grid
The HVACR industry is already navigating historic challenges, including the refrigerant transition, labor shortages, and regulatory actions affecting equipment, installation, and service. Eliminating fuels from the marketplace would only compound these pressures and leave America with fewer options, less resilience, and higher costs.
Tracking the bill’s progress through Congress
Momentum in the House continues to grow. The bill has 107 cosponsors and was featured in a September 16 House Energy & Commerce Committee hearing titled “Appliance and Building Policies: Restoring the American Dream of Home Ownership and Consumer Choice.” We expect the Committee to consider additional action on the bill in the coming months, as part of broader efforts to modernize and reform the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA).
The Senate has moved more slowly. S. 1945 currently has five cosponsors. As EPCA reform discussions evolve, the Energy Choice Act will likely resurface as a major point of the national energy policy debate.
ACCA’s position and how you can help
ACCA believes consumers, not governments, should choose how to heat and cool their homes and businesses by whatever means make the most sense to them. The Energy Choice Act reinforces that principle. We will continue to work with House and Senate champions to advance this legislation as part of a balanced national energy strategy that prioritizes choice, reliability, and affordability.
You can help. Participate in our Energy Choice Act Action Alert to let your members of Congress know why they should support fuel choice and stand with our industry.
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