The Biden administration is once again turning up the heat on household energy costs—this time by banning certain natural gas water heaters.
In a move critics call a “lame-duck regulation,” the new restrictions are set to phase out scores of affordable, reliable models in favor of more expensive alternatives.
While the administration touts the changes as a step toward environmental progress, many Americans see it as yet another financial burden at a time when inflation is already squeezing household budgets.
The ban, issued by the Department of Energy, targets water heaters that fail to meet stringent new efficiency standards, effectively sidelining many natural gas models widely used in American homes.
Industry experts warn that the regulation will raise manufacturing costs, forcing consumers to shoulder higher upfront expenses for compliant appliances. Additionally, critics argue that these changes disproportionately impact lower-income households, who rely on affordable options to meet their basic needs, all while providing minimal environmental benefit.
From the Free Beacon:
Overall, under the regulations, roughly 40 percent of the new tankless water heaters available in the United States today will be taken off the market by 2029. Experts and industry officials say that will force consumers to purchase either more expensive or less efficient water heater models.One industry analysis estimates that consumers will pay $450 more on average when purchasing new water heaters thanks to the regulations. And that will impact low-income and senior households, which are most reliant on the models targeted by the Department of Energy.The move represents the latest climate-related action taken by the Biden administration in the weeks following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump has vowed to roll back a wide swath of the climate regulations issued under President Joe Biden in an effort to boost energy production and drive economic growth.
Prominent Conservatives on Twitter slammed the Biden administration for sneaking this in the day after Christmas:
This latest rule is just one in a series of Biden administration policies that seem more focused on virtue signaling than practical solutions for American families. By forcing a transition to costlier appliances, Washington elites appear out of touch with the financial realities faced by millions of working-class Americans. As the administration doubles down on its regulatory agenda, consumers are left to wonder: how much more will they be expected to pay for the sake of political points?
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