RESCINDING BURDENSOME WATER RULES: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a memorandum to eliminate restrictive water pressure and efficiency rules that make household appliances less effective and more expensive. The memorandum directs the Secretary of Energy to:
- Review and rescind—or revert to the minimum standards required by statute—rules that limit water use in showerheads, faucets, dishwashers, toilets, urinals, and washing machines.
- Publish in the Federal Register a notice clarifying the scope of federal preemption of state rules for water use in showerheads, faucets, toilets, and urinals.
- Pause enforcement any of rules mentioned in the memorandum until they are rescinded or revised.
- Work with the Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs to recommend to Congress any water pressure or related energy efficiency laws, including the Energy Policy Act of 1992, that should be repealed or amended.
RESTORING CONSUMER CHOICE AND AFFORDABILITY: President Trump believes that the Federal Government should not impose or enforce regulations that make taxpayers’ lives worse.
- Water conservation requirements for faucets, showers, bathtubs, and toilets make bathroom appliances more expensive and less functional.
- Efficiency standards render other American appliances, like clothes washers and dishwashers, less useful, more breakable, and more expensive to repair.
- Ultra-efficient washing machines cost at least $100 more according to the Department of Energy.
- Updated dishwasher regulations caused those appliances to take two hours or more to complete a normal load of dishes—about twice the time of pre-standards models.
FREEING HOUSEHOLDS FROM BAD REGULATIONS: President Trump if fulfilling his promise to free Americans from costly and ineffective appliance rules.
- On his first day in office, President Trump signed an Executive Order to “safeguard the American people’s freedom to choose from a variety of goods and appliances, including but not limited to lightbulbs, dishwashers, washing machines, gas stoves, water heaters, toilets, and shower heads…”
- President Trump also signed a Day One Presidential Memorandum directing agencies to “eliminate counterproductive requirements that raise the costs of home appliances.”
- Under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Energy has already withdrawn or postponed numerous energy efficiency rules on key home appliances.