Central ND News

Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak, representing North Dakota, cast her vote in favor of H.J. Res. 20, a resolution aimed at nullifying recent regulations imposed by the Department of Energy (DOE) on gas-fired instantaneous water heaters. These regulations were finalized during the final months of the Biden administration and have been criticized for limiting consumer choice and increasing costs for families in North Dakota.

Fedorchak expressed her concerns about the regulation, stating, "This regulation is out of touch with both the realities of the marketplace and the household budgets of most American families." She further criticized it as "government overreach at its worst," particularly for its impact on residents in her state who would be forced to replace their existing water heaters.

The DOE's rule intends to establish stringent energy efficiency standards that would render many current models obsolete. This change would compel consumers to purchase more expensive units that may not be readily available, especially in rural areas. While the DOE estimated an additional cost of $231 per new model, industry experts suggest a higher increase ranging from $450 to $665 per unit.

H.J. Res. 20 was passed using the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which permits Congress to annul federal agency regulations deemed excessive. The CRA mandates that Congress must pass individual joint resolutions for each rule it seeks to disapprove, which can slow down efforts to curb burdensome agency regulations and maintain administrative accountability. In response, earlier this month, the House approved H.R. 77, known as the Midnight Rules Act, allowing for a single vote to overturn multiple last-minute regulations issued by an outgoing administration.