California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with a coalition of eight attorneys general and New York City, has submitted two comment letters to the United States Department of Energy (DOE). The letters urge the DOE to implement energy efficiency standards for gas-fired instantaneous water heaters and walk-in coolers and freezers. Last month, the DOE delayed these standards' effective dates and indicated potential further delays.
Attorney General Bonta criticized these actions as unlawful and harmful to consumers, businesses, and the environment. He stated, "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."
On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued a memorandum titled “Regulatory Freeze Pending Review,” which instructed federal departments to consider postponing certain rules' effective dates for 60 days. Following this directive, on February 20, 2025, the DOE delayed the energy efficiency standards' effective dates from March 11 and February 21 to March 21.
In his comment letters, Attorney General Bonta emphasized that without these improvements in efficiency standards, outdated equipment will continue to be used by businesses and consumers. This would lead to increased electricity and gas costs over time. The DOE projects nearly $1 trillion in consumer savings over 30 years due to these standards.
Bonta also highlighted environmental concerns: "Inefficient walk-in coolers and water heaters burn more fossil fuels," contributing significantly to climate change. The DOE estimates its standards could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 2.5 billion metric tons over three decades.
The coalition argues that delaying these standards violates both the Energy Policy Conservation Act and the Administrative Procedure Act. Joining California in this initiative are attorneys general from Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, along with New York City.