US Court Strikes Down Biden-Era Stove Efficiency Rule

A federal appeals court has invalidated a Biden-administration rule that set energy-efficiency standards for gas and electric stoves and ovens. The unanimous three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled that the Department of Energy improperly used a fast-track procedure meant for uncontroversial matters.

The August 2024 rule aimed to reduce energy consumption in kitchen appliances and phase out older linear power supply technology. Seven Republican-led states — Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah — challenged the rule in court.

Circuit Judge Andrew Oldham wrote that the DOE should not have bypassed public comment procedures, especially given that numerous states had opposed a similar 2023 attempt. He characterized the rule as part of a broader push by the previous administration to make home appliances "more expensive and less useful."

Oldham noted that the department relied on support from industry groups, environmental activists, and three Democratic-led states — California, Massachusetts, and New York — but said those states could not fairly represent the entire country. He also said the DOE failed to consider whether added technological complexity would hurt reliability or raise costs.

"The previous administration's gas-stove measures were among its most controversial energy proposals," Oldham wrote. "The idea that all that controversy could be elided using the DFR — a mechanism designed for consensus rulemaking — is untenable."

The Energy Department has not commented on the ruling. It remains unclear whether the current Trump administration will defend the rule. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has pledged to restrict efficiency mandates for home appliances that "raise costs and disrupt consumer choice."