Energy officials decline to testify on Biden’s gas stove regulations at House hearing.

Katabella RobertsMay 25, 2023

DOE Officials Refuse to Testify on Gas Stove Rule

Two senior Department of Energy (DOE) officials have refused to testify before the House Oversight Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs regarding the Biden administration’s proposed rule on gas stoves. The hearing was titled “Consumer Choice on the Backburner: Examining the Biden Administration’s Regulatory Assault on Americans’ Gas Stoves.”

Why Did They Refuse?

Alejandro Moreno, the acting assistant secretary for DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and Carolyn Snyder, the office’s deputy assistant secretary, did not attend the hearing despite being asked to testify. They cited the ongoing rule-making process surrounding their new appliance efficiency standards as the reason for the failure to attend, according to Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas).

What Did the Subcommittee Chairman Say?

Fallon took aim at the department’s no-shows during the hearing, saying they “ought to be here at this hearing to answer questions about rule-making on gas stoves.” He also asked, “What are they hiding? Why are they afraid to come and answer questions about one of [the department’s] own priorities before the elected representatives of the people?”

What’s Next?

Fallon said he and Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) sent a letter (pdf) to Geraldine Richmond, under secretary for science and innovation at the DOE, asking her to provide testimony at another hearing on the issue of gas stoves slated for July. The letter notes the subcommittee’s disappointment that the DOE officials refused to appear at the May 24 hearing, adding that committee members are “concerned by the lack of transparency and cooperation demonstrated by the Department and the Biden Administration regarding proposed rules which could significantly affect consumers.”

Impacts of Gas Stove Rule

In an updated analysis (pdf) published later in February, the DOE said that nearly half of gas stove models currently being sold on the market wouldn’t be in compliance with the new efficiency standards. According to the Energy Information Administration, about 38 percent of U.S. households use gas stoves. This means that the new rule could have a significant impact on consumers and the industry.

What Can We Expect?

As the DOE continues to work on the new efficiency standards, it remains to be seen how the rule will ultimately affect consumers and the gas stove industry. However, the refusal of DOE officials to testify before Congress has raised concerns about transparency and cooperation in the rule-making process.