American Gas Association criticizes Energy Department's proposed furnace conservation rules

The American Gas Association (AGA) recently said the Department of Energy's (DOE) Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Furnaces is structurally flawed.

“AGA is profoundly disappointed that DOE has blatantly ignored well-substantiated concerns expressed by numerous stakeholders, including natural gas utilities, during the past three years of continued discussions about these energy conservation standards for residential furnaces,” AGA President and CEO Dave McCurdy said.

"The rule will have the effect of eliminating workable options for gas furnaces for many homeowners and renters, who will be forced to make hard choices about whether to repair an existing gas furnace beyond recommended operation, or to use more expensive alternatives that are far less clean for their home heating," McCurdy said.

"The AGA cited a DOE technical support document that found the rule would have the largest negative impact on low-income consumers in the Southern United States. Moving forward with the regulation despite these concerns pushes the effects of technical issues onto vulnerable segments of the population, making gas furnaces an unworkable option," McCurdy said.

“Throughout this process, AGA has brought a rigorous, fact-based approach to our engagement on this rulemaking,” McCurdy said. “We have identified serious structural flaws and have worked consistently to underscore the negative consequences of these flaws, but time and time again these concerns have been put aside — it is now more clear than ever that the administration is more focused on political expedience over technical accuracy.”