Tennessee U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) recently introduced the Hot Showers Act to nullify a proposed Department of Energy (DOE) rule that would significantly limit the availability of water heaters in the country.

The DOE’s rule, proposed in July, would “prescribe energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including consumer water heaters.”

Ogles’ bill would specifically require the U.S. Secretary of Energy to “withdraw the proposed rule titled ‘‘Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Water Heaters”,” and be barred from taking “any action to finalize, implement, or enforce the proposed rule or any substantially similar rule.”

“Joe Biden’s climate crusade has gone too far. He has weaponized the federal rulemaking process to place non-electric technology off the market artificially. When it seemed like prices couldn’t get any higher, this rule continues that trend and bankrupts consumers even more,” Ogles said in a statement. “I will always fight against any ‘Green New Deal’ directive that actively targets consumers and puts America last.”

“Dealing with big government is stressful enough, and a good cure for those woes is a long hot shower. But, like most good things, Joe Biden wants to take that away from you too,” Ogles added.

Ogles’ Hot Showers Act is supported by the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC) and Competitive Enterprise Institute.

“Seniors will face significant increases in maintenance costs for water heaters already in operation as they attempt to comply with this rule. This will further stress their cash flow that is already compromised due to Bidenomics,” Bob Carlstrom, President of AMAC Action said in a statement.

Ben Lieberman, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, added, “DOE’s proposed rule would raise water heater costs while compromising features and performance. This bill would stop the regulators and protect consumers.”

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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Water Heater” by Tony Alter. CC BY 2.0.