Press Releases and Statements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Stuart Saulters, Vice President of Government Affairs

Phone: (202) 464-2742

Email: ssaulters@apga.org

APGA Concerned about DOE Final Rule for Commercial Water Heaters

 Washington, D.C. (July 31, 2023) – The American Public Gas Association (APGA), representing more than 730 local, municipally-owned natural gas systems in 38 states, issued the following statement in response to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) release of the pre-publication final rule for energy-conservation standards of commercial water heaters:

“APGA is concerned with the alarming precedent that this standard will set for other DOE appliance efficiency rulemakings, including the residential furnace rule, as it establishes a condensing-only standard. This means that those with existing non-condensing technology will not have an easy or cost-effective way to replace their appliance when the time comes due to the additional costs associated with converting from non-condensing to condensing venting systems.

The replacement of non-condensing commercial water heaters with condensing alternatives would ultimately undermine efficiency goals while significantly increasing consumer costs. APGA and its members are strong proponents of energy efficiency standards that are rooted in sound science, transparent analyses and economic justification — all of which save Americans money and minimize emissions without threatening to eliminate consumer energy choice.

Changes such as this to appliance efficiency standards can undermine natural gas utilities’ efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower consumer costs. Further, the final rule will likely lead to fuel switching, despite the direct use of natural gas being roughly three times more efficient from point of extraction to point of use than electricity generated by natural gas.

APGA members remain steadfast in their commitment to serving their communities with safe, affordable and reliable natural gas, and will continue to advocate for policies that protect consumer choice.”