DOE Rebuts Gas Groups’ Claims Against Furnace, Water Heater Standards

In litigation that could influence the gas sector’s market share for key appliances, the Energy Department (DOE) is defending its decision to set strict efficiency standards for furnaces and water heaters that effectively push categories of less-efficient models off the market. At issue is whether the rules violate a prohibition in the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) against issuing standards that eliminate products with a “performance characteristic” on which consumers rely. DOE says the type of heat exchanger at...