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Congress·Passed House

House Passes Home Appliance Protection and Affordability Act, Curbing Energy Department's Rule-Making Power

Also known as: Home Appliance Protection and Affordability Act

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
✓ Review
✓ House

217–190

Senate
President

Key Points

  • Would limit the Energy Department from setting new or tougher energy- or water-saving rules unless they are proven doable to build and worth the cost for families.
  • Would require a detailed cost-and-jobs analysis before new standards can take effect, including impacts on low-income households and differences by region and climate.
  • Would block new standards unless they produce meaningful energy or water savings, and unless the product’s performance (like lifespan and compatibility) would not get worse.
  • Would let people petition to change or even cancel existing standards if they raise costs, don’t save much energy or water, aren’t feasible, or make products hard to buy in the U.S.
  • Would permanently stop the Energy Department from creating new or updated efficiency standards for distribution transformers (while keeping current rules in place).
EnergyEnvironmentConsumer Protection

Milestones

5 milestones29 actions
Feb 25, 2026Senate

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Feb 24, 2026House

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Feb 24, 2026House

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 190 (Roll no. 76).

Feb 24, 2026

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 190 (Roll no. 76).

Feb 24, 2026House

On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 197 - 208 (Roll no. 75).

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Right after the bill becomes law (date of enactment)

New limits apply to any future Energy Department appliance-efficiency rules

Future federal efficiency updates would need to prove: no added net consumer costs, quick (3-year) savings, and no performance drop before they can take effect.

On the date the bill becomes law

Distribution transformer standards are frozen at current federal levels

The Energy Department could not issue new or revised federal efficiency standards for distribution transformers after enactment, so future upgrades would be driven more by utility choices and any state requirements.

After enactment, as petitions are filed

Petitions to amend or revoke existing standards become easier to trigger review

Manufacturers or other petitioners could ask to weaken or remove certain standards by presenting evidence they raise consumer costs, don’t save much energy/water, aren’t feasible, or limit product availability.

Within 180 days after a revocation petition is granted

Fast timeline for decisions when a petition seeks to revoke a standard

If the Energy Department grants a petition to revoke, it would have 180 days to either revoke the standard or explain why revocation isn’t needed, which could create quicker changes in what products must meet.

About 2 years after any future standard is finalized

Required 2-year “check-up” after any new or amended standard is finalized

Even if a new standard is issued, the Energy Department would have to re-evaluate it within 2 years; if it’s found not feasible or not justified, it would stop applying going forward.

Vote Results

2 votes
HouseFailedProceduralFeb 24, 2026

On Motion to Recommit

197
208
Democrat
197 – 0 · 17
Republican
0 – 208 · 10
View full roll call
HousePassedPassageFeb 24, 2026

On Passage

217
190
Democrat
7 – 190 · 17
Republican
210 – 0 · 8
View full roll call

Related News

2 articles
POLITICO Pro·7 days ago

House GOP sets more votes on efficiency rollbacks

House Republicans are escalating their campaign against federal efficiency standards with H.R. 4626. The bill would allow the Energy Secretary to revoke standards deemed to increase costs or lack feasibility, while erecting new procedural hurdles for future regulations.

C=
The Maine Wire·4 days ago

U.S. House Passes Bill to Curtail Costly Appliance Efficiency Standards

The U.S. House passed a bill aimed at ending 'burdensome' efficiency standards. The act would require the DOE to alter its criteria, allowing for the removal of standards that result in additional consumer costs or do not significantly conserve energy, specifically protecting gas stoves.

R+

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Home Appliance Protection and Affordability Act

Bill NumberHR 4626
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReceived in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Sponsor

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.