Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with a coalition of eight attorneys general and New York City, has submitted two comment letters to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The letters urge the department to implement energy efficiency standards for gas-fired instantaneous water heaters and walk-in coolers and freezers without delay. This action follows DOE's recent rules that postponed the effective date of these standards.

Attorney General Bonta expressed concerns about the impact of these delays, stating, "President Trump promised to ‘immediately bring prices down, starting on day one’ of his presidency. Instead, he’s delaying rules that were designed to lower energy costs for businesses and consumers." He emphasized the importance of these standards in addressing climate issues like wildfires and droughts in California.

The delay stems from a memorandum issued by President Trump on January 20, 2025. The “Regulatory Freeze Pending Review” ordered federal departments to consider postponing certain rules for 60 days. Following this directive, DOE delayed the implementation dates for energy efficiency standards originally set for March 11 and February 21, 2025.

Attorney General Bonta argues that without these efficiency improvements, outdated equipment will continue leading to higher costs for electricity and gas over time. According to DOE projections, the standards could result in nearly $1 trillion in consumer savings over three decades. Specifically, $3.1 billion could be saved from water heaters and $6.5 billion from coolers and freezers over this period.

Additionally, inefficient appliances contribute significantly to fossil fuel consumption and climate change. DOE estimates suggest that enforcing these standards could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 2.5 billion metric tons over 30 years—comparable to emissions from millions of cars or homes.

Bonta also claims that delaying these standards violates both the Energy Policy Conservation Act and the Administrative Procedure Act.

The attorneys general joining Bonta include those from Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, Vermont, Washington as well as New York City.