Bill to set appliance energy efficiency standards passes PA House, moves to state Senate
Legislation would set energy efficiency requirements for 15 appliances sold in PA, predicted to reduce climate pollution by more than 6 million tons, save consumers over $7.7 billion
Rep. Jennifer M. O'Mara February 3, 2026 | 11:49 AM
HARRISBURG, PA - State Reps. Jennifer O’Mara (D-Delaware County) and Tom Mehaffie (R-Dauphin County)’s House Bill 660 passed the Pennsylvania House with bipartisan support Monday. If signed into law, the bill would set minimum appliance efficiency standards for a set of 15 household and commercial appliances and plumbing fixtures sold new in the commonwealth.
If enacted, these standards are projected to save Pennsylvania residents and businesses hundreds of millions of dollars each year, and cut climate pollution by hundreds of thousands of tons annually.
“I am thrilled that this legislation has once again passed the House with bipartisan support,” said State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara. “By establishing energy and water efficiency standards, we keep more money in the pockets of Pennsylvania business owners and residents while also reducing our carbon footprint. With the cost of living continuing to increase, it’s more important than ever to find ways to lower costs for Pennsylvania families. ”
“The cleanest, cheapest energy is the energy that you don’t need to use in the first place. That’s why energy efficiency standards are such a smart policy option,” said Flora Cardoni, PennEnvironment’s Deputy Director. “Small but mighty, appliance efficiency standards are a simple way to reduce energy consumption, lower pollution, and generate huge savings for Pennsylvania consumers and businesses.”
By 2035, the annual benefits from the efficiency standards in HB660 would include:
- Save enough electricity to power around 46,000 Pennsylvania homes each year.
- Reduce consumer utility bills by $291 million each year, with total savings reaching more than $7.7 billion by 2050
- Reduce carbon emissions by 269 thousand metric tons annually, the equivalent of taking almost 63,000 cars off the road each year. By 2050 those reductions would reach more than 6 million metric tons.
- Save 8,663 million gallons of water annually; equivalent to the annual water consumption of about 163,00 Pennsylvania families. By 2050, the state would save 227 billion gallons of water.
“Energy-efficient appliances save money for consumers month after month, allowing the savings to build,” said Representative Tom Mehaffie. “This is a bill to ease pressures on Pennsylvanians’ household budgets.”
HB660 had more than 40 House cosponsors from across the state. It now moves to the state Senate.
“Establishing energy efficiency standards for appliances will give hardworking Pennsylvanians all the information they need to make the best choices for their families and their budgets, “said Rep Elizabeth Fiedler, Chair of the House Energy Committee. “HB660’s passage by the House of Representative is especially significant at a time when our neighbors are facing sky-high utility bills. I’m hopeful that my colleagues in the Senate will take up the bill.”
“Data centers and AI companies have caused electric and water bills to skyrocket,” said Senator Lindsey Williams, the lead sponsor of HB 660’s companion language in the state Senate (SB 424).“While we work to make sure that these billionaire tech companies pay their share without passing costs onto Pennsylvanians, individuals can reduce their utility bills with modern, energy-efficient appliances that use less energy. The House has done its work to lower everyday costs for families; I encourage Senate leadership to do the same and bring this legislation up for a vote.”
The legislation has been supported by over 30 environmental and consumer organizations, including the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project and Audubon Mid-Atlantic.
“It makes no sense to continue using energy-wasting technologies when we have high-performing, efficient appliance models that lower our costs and better protect the environment,” said Brooke Lockwood, State Policy Associate at the Appliance Standards Awareness Project. “Let’s make sure Pennsylvania is a part of the movement to embrace efficient products that save money and reduce pollution.”
We ask the senate to take up and approve this legislation swiftly, and send it to the Governor’s desk for passage.
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