U.S. Supreme Court Furnace Rule Decision Ends DOE Rule

The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) announced June 9 that a U.S. Supreme Court furnace rule decision vacated the judgment of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in a challenge to a U.S. Department of Energy furnace rule. According to NPGA, the challenge was filed jointly with other natural gas industry organizations.

NPGA said the DOE rule would have required all furnace sales to meet a 95% annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) standard by the end of 2028. The association argued that the rule would have effectively eliminated sales of non-condensing propane furnaces because existing models would not have met the requirement.

According to NPGA, the Supreme Court issued a 56-word opinion and cited a brief filed by the U.S. solicitor general supporting the challenge.

“NPGA started the Legal Action Committee three years ago with the goal to harness the power of the courts in exactly this way to fight for our industry,” the association stated. “Today is a great day for the industry, and the fight continues in courts throughout the country.”