Bill · S. 5338· Senate(119-S-5338)
Energy Efficiency Reform Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 8/6/2026
- Last activity
- 9/16/2026 — Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
- Sponsored by
- Mike Lee
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Energy Efficiency Reform Act of 2026 seeks to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act regarding energy conservation standards. It aims to restrict the Secretary of Energy from prescribing new or amended standards unless they are technologically feasible and economically justified. The bill establishes specific procedural requirements, such as mandatory comparative walk-up analyses and longer timelines for compliance dates. It also provides new definitions for "significant energy savings" and "consumer-valued performance characteristics." Additionally, the act aims to limit the impact of certain regulations on small manufacturers and prevent the unavailability of specific product types. Finally, it addresses specific requirements for product classes and distribution transformers.
Yes· 3 of 4
Does this make it easier to run a small business?+4
The bill includes provisions to avoid undue burdens on small manufacturers through economic justification requirements.
Would business owners be better off under this?+4
The bill reduces regulatory burdens and provides economic justifications for standards.
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?+3
The bill protects consumer-valued performance characteristics like reliability and product lifetime.
The opposite· 3 of 4
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?-5
The bill may slow energy efficiency progress by allowing less stringent standards and voiding existing rules.
Does this leave more decisions to the states?-5
The bill reduces state authority by preempting state and local regulations on energy products.
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?-4
The bill limits the Secretary's ability to set new conservation standards and preempts state-level environmental regulations.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Ensuring Product Availability and Affordability: The bill allows the Secretary to prescribe less stringent standards to ensure the availability of reliable, safe, and economically accessible products (Section 6(a)(2)(A)). It also seeks to avoid undue burdens on small manufacturers by considering supply chain and cost impacts (Section 6(a)(2)(B)).
-
Protecting Consumer Choice and Features: By requiring the Secretary to define "consumer-valued performance characteristics"—such as reliability, lifetime, and features—the bill ensures these elements are not eliminated by new standards (Section 6(a)(4)(B)(i)). It also includes a prohibition against prescribing standards that result in the unavailability of specific performance characteristics (Section 6(a)(5)(B)).
-
Streamlining Manufacturer Reporting: The act directs the Secretary to coordinate with the EPA and the Commission to eliminate duplicate reporting requirements, allowing for a single submission of information (Section 9(a)(4)(A)).
-
Providing Predictability for Product Changes: The bill establishes that amended standards generally apply to products manufactured at least five years after the final rule is published, and prohibits compliance dates from being earlier than 10 years after the most recent standard (Section 6(a)(8)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Voiding Existing Energy Rules: If the Secretary fails to issue a specific final rule by a set deadline, certain previous final rules regarding appliance standards will be rendered void (Section 2(c)(1)). Additionally, the bill explicitly states that certain final rules regarding consumer furnaces and commercial water heating equipment shall be null and void upon the act's enactment (Section 2(f)).
-
Restricting Local and State Regulation: The bill includes provisions that preempt state and local laws, codes, or regulations that prohibit the installation or use of covered products based on fuel source or air pollutant emissions (Section 10(j)).
-
Prohibiting New Standards for Specific Equipment: The act prohibits the Secretary from prescribing any new or amended energy conservation standards for distribution transformers (Section 11).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Reduces Carbon Emissions-5Improves Environmental Protections-4
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+4Improves Consumer Protection+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+3Increase States Rights-5Increases Federal Power-3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+4
- 9/16/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
- 8/6/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Introduced in Senate