House Passes Bills That Would Worsen Energy Affordability & Reliability

WASHINGTON, D.C. — House Republicans passed a pair of bills this week that would undercut energy affordability and decrease energy reliability.

Passed yesterday, H.R. 4626, the Home Appliance Protection and Affordability Act, would make it easier to weaken or revoke federal appliance efficiency standards and harder to update them, locking families into higher energy and water bills over time and increasing grid strain. Efficiency standards are one of the most reliable tools for lowering household bills. According to an analysis by the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, the typical household has saved about $6,000 in utility bills over the last decade thanks to existing appliance standards.

Today, H.R. 4758, the Homeowner Energy Freedom Act, was passed. This bill would repeal key consumer savings and workforce programs, including the High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Program, that help households and contractors deliver cost-saving upgrades that lower bills and save energy.

In reaction, Sierra Club Deputy Legislative Director Xavier Boatright issued the following statement: 

“House Republicans like to say they care about bringing costs down for Americans, or otherwise pretend the affordability crisis does not exist, but they are actively voting to make energy more expensive and less reliable. These bills are a step backward for people who are already struggling with rising energy costs. By gutting efficiency standards and undermining consumer savings and rebate programs, these bills would lock households into higher bills, forcing families to pay more every month when many are already struggling with rising energy costs. At the same time, undercut U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, since standards and modernization drive innovation, lower operating costs, and keep U.S. products competitive in global markets. The Sierra Club stands with the consumers, workers, and communities who want lower bills, cleaner air, and modern energy solutions, not inefficient, costly relics from the past.”

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person’s right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.