HJRES 20119th CongressBecame Law

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to "Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-fired Instantaneous Water Heaters".

Introduced: Jan 15, 2025

Environment & Climate

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill is a joint resolution using the Congressional Review Act to disapprove a Department of Energy (DOE) rule titled “Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-fired Instantaneous Water Heaters.” If Congress passes and the President signs (or a veto is overridden), the rule will have no force or effect. In practical terms, this means the proposed energy efficiency standards for these water heaters would not be implemented, and DOE could not enforce them as written. The action does not delete DOE authority to issue future rules; it simply blocks the specific rule that was published in the Federal Register on December 26, 2024.

Key Points

1The joint resolution uses the Congressional Review Act to disapprove the DOE rule on energy conservation standards for consumer gas-fired instantaneous water heaters.
2If enacted, the rule dies; it would have no legal effect or enforceable standards as written in the opposed rule.
3The rule in question was published in the Federal Register as 89 Fed. Reg. 105188 (December 26, 2024).
4This disapproval does not repeal DOE authority to regulate energy efficiency in the future; DOE could propose a new rule, subject to the same regulatory process (including potential Congressional disapproval).
5The measure is introduced as a formal check on a specific administrative rule and requires passage by both chambers and (typically) signature by the President to become law.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected:- Consumers and households using gas-fired instantaneous water heaters (potentially higher or unchanged operating costs depending on the current standards).- Manufacturers and retailers of gas-fired instantaneous water heaters (regulatory burden and product design decisions tied to the standards).Secondary group/area affected:- Utilities and energy policy actors, who may see changes in anticipated energy savings and efficiency gains.Additional impacts:- Federal regulatory process: reiterates Congress’s ability to review and block agency rules under the Congressional Review Act.- Environmental and energy efficiency outcomes (potential delay or change in anticipated energy savings from stricter standards).

Generated by gpt-5-nano on Oct 7, 2025