DOE is Proposing One of the Biggest Deregulatory Plans in its History.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing one of the biggest deregulatory plans in its history, proposing sweeping changes to programs affecting fossil fuels, renewables, and efficiency. DOE is expected to outline the plans in dozens of proposals in the Federal Register in the near future, including roughly 20 rules calling for elimination of mandatory efficiency standards for products including gas appliances including gas kitchen cook tops, dishwashers and portable air conditioners. Energy Secretary Chris Wright previewed the rulemaking in a TV interview last Sunday. According to the Secretary,  “We have worked with the team here day and night to look at all the regulations put out by the DOE, and we’ll announce 47 changes to regulations, mostly just straight-out elimination of regulations on everything from your dishwasher to your stove to your washing machine, your microwave, and maybe biggest of all your showerhead.” AGA will be reviewing the DOE proposal and providing additional details on the DOE program,  natural gas appliances impacted and the DOE review process that will be the vehicle for providing public comments on the DOE program.

AGA Final Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) Reform Policy Proposals.

As previously reported, there is growing interest on Capitol Hill to advance a broad reform of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA). Given the potential implications for our industry, AGA staff recently surveyed utility members of both the Climate and Sustainability Committee (CSC) and the Building and Energy Codes & Standards Committee (BECS) to review a draft EPCA Reform Principles. Based on feedback from members of both committee, AGA has developed the attached EPCA Reform Principals that reflect specific recommendations for reforming EPCA. Thanks to all BECS and CSC committee members who provided comments on the draft EPCA Principals that resulted in the more comprehensive suggested reform needs for EPCA.

State Codes Activity Update.

Attached is a weekly feature of the “Friday Update” covering state code calendar activities as presented by the online utility “Fiscal Note,” which is sponsored by APGA and AGA Code and Standards. Please review the update and determine if there are state code activities that impact your service territory or organization.