President Obama signed the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015, authored by Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.). The legislation, which passed the Senate in late March and the House last week, allows for the continued manufacture and use of large-capacity, grid-enabled electric water heaters in electric thermal storage or demand-respond programs, which were banned under the Department of Energy water heater efficiency standard that took effect April 16. To be eligible, the water heaters must have a volume of more than 75 gallons, have a minimum energy efficiency factor, and work on grids that have a demand-response system. The Secretary of Energy will establish procedures to prevent product diversion if the number of units sold exceeds the number of units activated for use in electric thermal energy or demand-response programs by 15 percent or more.
Join the conversation: