Pennsylvania SB 424: An Act providing for minimum energy and water efficiency standards for certain products sold in this Commonwealth; imposing penalties; and making repeals.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 397
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 424
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY L. WILLIAMS, FONTANA, SAVAL, COMITTA, COLLETT,
TARTAGLIONE, HAYWOOD, HUGHES, KANE, KEARNEY, STREET, SCHWANK,
COSTA, SANTARSIERO, PISCIOTTANO AND MUTH, MARCH 17, 2025
REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
MARCH 17, 2025
AN ACT
Providing for minimum energy and water efficiency standards for
certain products sold in this Commonwealth; imposing
penalties; and making repeals.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Pennsylvania
Energy and Water Efficiency Standards Act.
Section 2. General purpose, legislative findings and scope.
(a) General purpose.--This act establishes minimum energy
and water efficiency standards for certain products sold or
installed in this Commonwealth.
(b) Legislative findings.--The General Assembly finds that:
(1) Efficiency standards for certain products sold or
installed in this Commonwealth assure consumers and
businesses that the products meet minimum efficiency
performance levels, resulting in reduced energy and water
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waste and saving consumers and businesses money on utility
bills.
(2) Efficiency standards contribute to the economy of
this Commonwealth by helping to better balance supply and
demand for both energy and water, resulting in reduced
pressure that creates higher natural gas, electricity and
water prices. By saving consumers and businesses money on
utility bills, efficiency standards help the Commonwealth and
local economy save on utility bills that can be spent on
local goods and services.
(3) The efficiency standards save energy and thus reduce
pollution and other environmental impacts associated with the
production, distribution and use of electricity, natural gas
and other fuels.
(4) The water efficiency standards save water and thus
reduce the strain on the water supply. Improved water
efficiency can reduce or delay the need for water and sewer
infrastructure improvements.
(5) The efficiency standards can make electricity and
natural gas systems more reliable by reducing the strain on
systems during peak demand periods. Improved efficiency can
reduce or delay the need for new power plants, power
transmission lines and power distribution system upgrades as
well as new and expanded gas pipelines.
(c) Scope.--The provisions of this act apply to:
(1) Commercial dishwashers.
(2) Commercial fryers.
(3) Commercial hot-food holding cabinets.
(4) Commercial ovens.
(5) Commercial steam cookers.
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(6) Faucets.
(7) Gas fireplaces.
(8) High CRI fluorescent lamps, cold-temperature
fluorescent lamps and impact-resistant fluorescent lamps.
(9) Portable electric spas.
(10) Residential ventilating fans.
(11) Showerheads.
(12) Spray sprinkler bodies.
(13) Urinals.
(14) Water closets.
(15) Water coolers.
(d) Limitation.--Nothing in this act may be construed to:
(1) Apply to new products manufactured in this
Commonwealth and sold outside of this Commonwealth.
(2) Apply to new products manufactured outside of this
Commonwealth and sold at wholesale inside this Commonwealth
for final retail sale and installation outside of this
Commonwealth.
(3) Apply to products installed in mobile manufactured
homes at the time of construction.
(4) Apply to products designed expressly for
installation and use in recreational vehicles.
(5) Constitute a ban on products covered under this act.
(6) Prohibit the use, sale or installation of used
products or parts.
Section 3. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Accessory." A component that can, at the discretion of the
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user, be readily added, removed or replaced and that, when
removed, will not prevent the fitting from fulfilling its
primary function. The term includes aerators, handheld shower
assemblies, showerheads and in-line flow controls.
"Board." The Environmental Quality Board.
"Cold-only unit." A water cooler that emits cold water only.
"Cold-temperature fluorescent lamp." A fluorescent lamp that
is not a compact fluorescent lamp that:
(1) is specifically designed to start at -20°F when used
with a ballast conforming to the requirements of ANSI C78.81
and ANSI C78.901; and
(2) is expressly designated as a cold-temperature lamp
both in markings on the lamp and in marketing materials,
including catalogs, sales literature and promotional
material.
"Commercial dishwasher." A machine designed to clean and
sanitize plates, pots, pans, glasses, cups, bowls, utensils and
trays by applying sprays of detergent solution, with or without
blastin