Bipartisan Appliance Energy Efficiency Standards bill considered by House Energy Committee
Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler February 27, 2025 | 4:26 PM
HARRISBURG, Feb. 27 – The House Energy Committee held a public hearing Thursday to consider H.B. 660, introduced by state Reps. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware; and Rep. Thomas Mehaffie, R-Dauphin.
The Appliance Energy Efficiency Standards bill sets energy efficiency and water conservation standards for the sale of some new appliances sold in Pennsylvania, ensuring they use no more energy or water than necessary. Products included in the legislation include commercial dishwashers, commercial ovens, commercial fryers, faucets, and gas fireplaces.
Adopting energy efficiency standards is one crucial tool that will save the commonwealth’s consumers and businesses money on their utility bills. Doing so will also reduce emissions and avoid harmful pollutants, improving the quality of the air Pennsylvanians breathe.
"Due to factors including the fast emergence of AI and data centers, energy demand is rising sharply—while energy supply, for several reasons, is not keeping pace. The reality is: this means rising energy costs for consumers,” said state Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., who serves as Majority Chair of the House Energy Committee. “It is important in this critical moment that this committee consider measures to encourage energy efficiency. Why wouldn’t we adopt smart policies that help Pennsylvanians save on their electric, gas, and water bills?”
“At a time when both energy demand and energy prices are rising, I encourage members of this committee to study this bipartisan bill and not to dismiss it out of hand for ideological or political reasons,” said O’Mara. “This is a pragmatic bill that will save Pennsylvania residents and businesses money.”
Though Governor Shapiro reached an agreement with provider PJM Interconnection in January to prevent billions in unnecessary increases on energy bills, testifiers noted that costs are still expected to rise.
Madeline Parker spoke on behalf of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP), which estimates that adopting H.B. 660 will save Pennsylvanians a total of $9.2 billion in utility costs by 2050.
“Rising utility bills and uncertainty with PJM have all of us wondering what we can do to help Pennsylvania families afford the energy that is necessary for powering our lives,” said Flora Cardoni, Deputy Director of Penn Environment. “We need to tackle this problem from every angle—and that includes making sure that our appliances are as efficient as possible so we’re not wasting and paying for energy we don’t need to be using in the first place. H.B. 660 does just that.”
Adopting appliance efficiency standards would also help minimize pollution. An ASAP analysis estimates that by 2050, Pennsylvania would avoid more than nine million tons of carbon dioxide if the bill is adopted—the equivalent of taking 2.1 million cars off the road for a year.
Other testimony was provided by the Appliance Energy Efficiency Coalition, the Home Ventilating Institute, the Hot Tub Alliance, and Greg Moreland, Pennsylvania State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business.
“Clean Water Action and our roughly 90,000 statewide members want to convey support for H.B. 660. Energy efficiency is a crucial tool for saving the Commonwealth’s consumers and businesses money on their utility bills, conserving our water resources, reducing air pollution, and lowering climate pollution,” Steve Hvozdovich, Pennsylvania Campaigns Director for Clean Water Action.
“Stronger efficiency standards offer multiple health benefits by reducing harmful emissions that contribute to serious conditions such as heart disease, stroke, COPD, lung cancer, type 2 diabetes, and respiratory infections,” said Elizabeth Hensil, PA and WV Advocacy Director for the American Lung Association.
A photo gallery from the hearing is available here.