AGA Submits Comments on the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Request for Information from the Public about Anticompetitive Laws and Regulations that Make it More Difficult for Businesses to Compete Effectively.
On March 27, 2025, DOJ issued a Press Release announcing that an Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force had been formed “to advocate for the elimination of anticompetitive state and federal laws and regulations that undermine free market competition and harm consumers, workers, and businesses”. A similar announcement was issued by the FTC on April 14, 2025 that “launched a public inquiry into the impact of federal regulations on competition, with the goal of identifying and reducing anticompetitive regulatory barriers.” On Monday, AGA submitted the attached comments filed in two dockets, one at the DOJ and one at the FTC, that had sought comments on anticompetitive state/federal regulations. Our comments addressed the anticompetitive, anti-fossil fuel, proposals, and processes for the development of the International Energy Conservation Code and ASHRAE 90.1. These included, electric ready provisions for appliances, EV ready infrastructure and solar ready infrastructure as well as GHG emission requirements – none of which are tied to the purpose of these codes which is energy savings that are technically feasible, life cycle cost effective, and economic. The draft of our comments was circulated to the AGA Legal Committee Executive Committee and the Building Energy Codes and Standards (BECS) Committee. We appreciate the feedback received by the BECS Committee utility members and incorporated modifications that improved the draft comments. They are consistent with repeated filings, comments, or arguments in appeals hearings AGA has made on proposals negatively impacting the direct use of natural gas within the building energy codes and standards covered by the ASHRAE 90.1 standard and the International Energy Conservation Code in recent years. We will provide the DOJ and FTC response to our comments when available.
DOE Proposing to Rescind Efficiency Requirements Conventional Gas Cooking Tops and for Ovens, Issues Request for Comment Due July 15, 2025.
On May 16, 2025, DOE issued two Federal Register Notices one on conventional cooking tops and one on conventional ovens proposing to rescind the amended design requirements for conventional cooking tops and conventional ovens. This will return the design requirements for both conventional cooking tops and conventional ovens to the standards for kitchen ranges and ovens set by Congress: Gas kitchen ranges and ovens having an electrical supply cord shall not be equipped with a constant burning pilot for products manufactured on or after January 1, 1990. DOE is requesting comments on or before July 15, 2025. If finalized by DOE, this would essentially remove the DOE minimum efficiency requirements for cooking products issued by DOE on January 29, 2024. According to the notice, DOE is “proposing to rescind these regulations for multiple independent reasons, including but not limited to the following. The design requirements are not economically justifiable. Furthermore, the Secretary is proposing a new policy to reduce regulatory burden wherever possible. Unless a regulatory standard is required by statute, the Secretary proposes eliminating that requirement. These design requirements are not necessary to fulfill DOE’s statutory mission.” AGA BECS staff is reviewing the Request for Comments and request BECS members to provide comments to us by June 20 on the DOE proposal.
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.