Bill
Bill > S259
summary
Introduced
01/27/2015
01/27/2015
In Committee
01/27/2015
01/27/2015
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/03/2017
01/03/2017
Introduced Session
114th Congress
Bill Summary
A bill to modify the efficiency standards for grid-enabled water heaters. Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) to provide additional energy conservation standards applicable to grid-enabled water heaters for use as part of an electric thermal storage or demand response program (a program that enables customers to reduce or shift their power use during peak demand periods). Requires annual reports from: (1) manufacturers of such water heaters regarding the quantity of the products shipped each year, and (2) utilities and other demand response and thermal storage program operators regarding the quantity of products activated for their programs. Requires the Secretary of Energy to publish analyses of data collected from such reports and to establish procedures to prevent product diversion if sales of the products exceed by at least 15% the quantity activated for use in the demand response and thermal storage programs annually. Maintains the standards and publication procedures established by this Act until the Secretary determines that: (1) such water heaters do not require a separate efficiency requirement, or (2) procedures to prevent product diversion for non-program purposes would not be adequate to prevent such product diversion. Requires the Secretary to consider the impact of EPCA electric water heater standards on thermal storage and demand response programs, including on energy savings, electric bills, peak load reduction, electric reliability, integration of renewable resources, and the environment. Directs the Secretary to require the water heaters be equipped with communication capability to enable the grid-enabled water heaters to participate in ancillary services programs if the technology is available, practical, and cost-effective. Makes it unlawful for any person to: activate an activation lock for a grid-enabled water heater with knowledge that it is not used as part of such program, distribute an activation key for such a water heater with knowledge that it will be used to activate a heater that is not used as part of the program, enable such water heater to operate at its designed specification and capabilities with knowledge that it is not used as part of the program, or knowingly remove or render illegible the label of a such water heater.
AI Summary
This bill modifies efficiency standards for "grid-enabled water heaters," which are electric resistance water heaters over 75 gallons designed for use in electric thermal storage or demand response programs, meaning they can reduce or shift power use during peak demand periods. The bill requires manufacturers to provide activation keys only to program operators and mandates annual reports from both manufacturers on product shipments and program operators on activated units. The Secretary of Energy will analyze this data and establish procedures to prevent "product diversion" – where these water heaters are sold for non-program use – if sales exceed program activations by 15% or more. These new standards will remain in place until the Secretary determines they are no longer necessary or that diversion prevention is inadequate. The Secretary must also consider the impact of these standards on various aspects of energy programs and require communication capabilities for ancillary services if feasible. Finally, the bill makes it illegal to improperly activate, distribute keys for, or tamper with the labels of these specialized water heaters.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (7)
John Hoeven (R)*,
Daniel Coats (R),
Joe Donnelly (D),
Al Franken (D),
Heidi Heitkamp (D),
Amy Klobuchar (D),
John Thune (R),
Last Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (on 01/27/2015)
Official Document
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