US appeals court voids Biden-era efficiency rule for stoves, ovens
A federal appeals court on Tuesday struck down a Biden administration-era rule setting efficiency standards for gas and electric stoves and ovens, ruling that the Energy Department improperly bypassed public comment procedures.
In a unanimous 3-0 decision, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans sided with seven Republican-led states, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas and Utah, that challenged the department’s “direct final rule” for consumer-grade stoves and ovens.
The August 2024 rule sought to limit energy use in kitchen appliances and ban an older technology known as linear power supplies.
Circuit Judge Andrew Oldham said the department should not have fast-tracked the rule, particularly after states opposed a similar 2023 proposal. He called it part of the Biden administration’s effort to make appliances “more expensive and less useful.”
Direct final rules are generally reserved for uncontroversial matters.
It remains unclear whether the Trump administration will defend the rule. President Donald Trump has criticized energy conservation rules, while Energy Secretary Chris Wright last month pledged to permanently restrict appliance efficiency mandates that “raise costs and disrupt consumer choice.”
Oldham, a Trump appointee, said the department relied on support from industry groups, “environmental activists,” California, Massachusetts and New York, which he said could not fairly represent the country.
He also said the department failed to consider whether greater technological complexity would reduce reliability or increase costs.
Judges Catharina Haynes and James Ho joined the decision. Haynes was appointed by George W. Bush, and Ho by Trump.
