Biden Administration Moves to Ban Most Natural Gas Water Heaters

The Biden administration has finalized a sweeping new rule that will ban most natural gas-powered water heaters, a move critics say will drive up costs and limit consumer choices. The Department of Energy (DOE) quietly published the regulation in the Federal Register the day after Christmas without a public announcement, signaling yet another push to phase out traditional energy sources in the name of climate policy.

• Ban on Tankless Gas Water Heaters: The regulation, set to take effect in March 2025, will eliminate roughly 40% of new tankless natural gas water heaters.

• Higher Costs for Consumers: DOE claims the ban will lead to cost savings, but industry experts argue that the real-world impact will be much higher.

• Fewer Options, More Government Overreach: The move follows a series of appliance restrictions under Biden, targeting everything from gas stoves to dishwashers and washing machines.

Matthew Agen, chief counsel for the American Gas Association, slammed the new rule as a clear violation of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), which prohibits the government from eliminating entire product categories.

“DOE’s decision to ban an entire segment of instantaneous water heaters is deeply concerning and irresponsible,” Agen stated, warning that the rule will disproportionately harm low-income and senior households.

According to Agen, the DOE vastly underestimated the price increase consumers will face. While the administration claims the cost difference will be $231 per unit, manufacturers estimate the real increase will be around $450 per unit more than double the DOE’s projections.

The Biden administration has aggressively pushed restrictive energy policies, bypassing Congress to impose regulations through executive agencies.

Diana Furchtgott-Roth of The Heritage Foundation pointed out that the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, which Biden is using to justify these regulations, was created when the U.S. was dependent on foreign oil. Today, America is one of the world’s top energy producers, making the law outdated and ripe for repeal.

“Biden has used his executive branch powers to regulate your household appliances because Congress, which answers to the people, refused to pass such restrictive laws,” she wrote.

This latest move is just one in a long line of Biden’s attempts to phase out natural gas in favor of electrification, despite the skyrocketing costs and infrastructure challenges associated with an all-electric future. As energy prices continue to rise, Americans should be asking: Why is the government making it harder to afford basic necessities?

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